Firing without hearing protection?

[Cop Bob]

After a lifetime of shooting, rock-n-roll, and racing both cars and motorcycles...I can only say... HUH?????

As far as permanent ear damage... oh, yeah... again... HUH?

In an actual "Oh Crap! I'm gonna die ! shooting"... Auditory exclusion is the real deal... I'm been in several, and I can honestly say... I didn't hear, feel, and in one, wasn't even aware that I was pulling the trigger. When asked, I had no idea how many shots I had fired.... in that one, the suspect shot 1st, with a 25 Auto, all I saw was the muzzle flash and a muffled "Pop"...

BTW: "Slow Time" is also VERY real as well.. and I hate that feeling..

On the positive side, when the wife starts nagging, it's a lot easier to tune it out!..

 

[mortablunt]

Due to parental moaning, I have gotten a crossbow for HD. It is nearly silent and definitely nasty enough to stop someone quickly. Anyway, firing a gun, period, will do some hearing damage. If you fire away over several decades, the damage will accrue, but otherwise, a few rounds once in your life ought to not do anything too severe, although your ears will ring later.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

E-muffs are definitely the way to go in a HD situation. Mine give me better hearing than I normally have, due to my hearing loss. Don't ever fire a gun even once without hearing protection if you can avoid it. Don't end up like me.

 

[Effigy]

Another vote for the electronic muffs. You'll be able to hear even better than normal, and not have to worry about damaging your hearing.

 

[thorazine]

Obviously, I always wear hearing protection at the range.

I typically never wear hearing protection while at my private range unless shooting shotguns or rifles.

Then again...

All my pistols are suppressed.

 

[-v-]

I'd say its not a big issue for defensive shooting. Now, don't make a habit of going to the range without hearing protection, but a few shots indoors has a very minimal risk of incurring hearing loss. I can recall a few times shooting shotgun or rifle in 3gun when the stock has pulled my right earplug out, but I none-the-less finished the string with no ill-effects from a lack of hearing protection the weapon-side of the weapon.

In particular, just this weekend I was at an indoor rifle range, and the stock pulled my right earplug out (stock on string, moved head to get a better angle through optic, earplug pops out), right as I lighted off an AR-10 indoors. Was it loud and uncomfortable? Yes, but no ill effects, the best I can measure.

All that said, I am a firm believer of if you have hearing protection make every possible effort you can to have it on. Just want to point out that a singular isolated event isn't going to make you suddenly go deaf.

 

[Bawheed]

I do not believe that 1 instance without ear protection will lead to permanent hearing loss. It should also be noted that here in the UK some police in real gunfights are starteled when they fire their weapon for the first time with no muffers, compromising their performance. Might be an idea to try it once before ending up in a real gun fight.

 

[Beaux Nehr]

I did fire a .38 special (4" barrel) without hearing protection once.
The sudden, loud report confused me, as I was expecting the muffled sound, but it did not distract me.

I kept the revolver on target, while shouting to my friend to stop firing.

I only noticed that everything seemed quieter, and didn't notice the pain or ringing until I'd walked back to the table.