jonmerritt
Member.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2007
- Messages
- 463
What!!!????
Hearing protection?
- Thread starter marktx
- Start date
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TStorm
Member
Electronic earmuffs when outdoors.
Indoors I double-up with regular earmuffs and foamies. The sound is much more intense.
Indoors I double-up with regular earmuffs and foamies. The sound is much more intense.
JImbothefiveth
Member
I wear ear muffs, always.
I used to shoot a very long barrel .22 without hearing protection, but I started closing my eyes just before I shot. Put on hearing protection, problem solved!
With a shorter barrelled .22, like a 10/22, it's way louder, and it hurts if I don't wear any.
I shoot outdoors.
I used to shoot a very long barrel .22 without hearing protection, but I started closing my eyes just before I shot. Put on hearing protection, problem solved!
With a shorter barrelled .22, like a 10/22, it's way louder, and it hurts if I don't wear any.
I shoot outdoors.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Always. Electronic muffs most of the time (even wear them when hunting with a handgun); foam plugs in a pinch (have a bottle of them in the truck); and occasionally both when shooting really heavy stuff.
Sheet metal has no sound absorbing qualities as does foam. Think of insulation in your walls. Insulation works not because of the actual fiber, but because the fiber captures dead air spaces. It's the dead air space that limits transmission of sound and temperature change.
Foam works similarly. Sheet metal does not.
J Star
Member
Damn, somebody beat me to it.
searcher451
Member
I went to the range last weekend with my son and took the Walther P5 out for a test-drive; also had a .22 caliber Walther PP in the range bag and ran a hundred or so rounds through that as well. I started out with plugs for the .22, and they were just fine. But when I shot eight rounds through the P5, I returned to the range bag and dug out the muffs; the earplugs were no match for the 9mm -- made my ears ring, in fact.
As an industrial hygine/occupational safety specialist with about 20 years experience who consults for firing ranges I assure you harmonic is absolutely correct.
No one should follow the advice to use a spent casing (or an unfired round) for hearing protection. Doing so puts your hearing at risk.
WoofersInc
Member
I recently got on the ball with electronic ears and now won't go back to regular protectors. I always use them for shooting, the only exception being when shooting the suppressed guns.
sixgunner455
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 3,052
I do not shoot firearms without hearing protection. I very rarely use double (plugs and muffs at the same time). Usually only at the public range when it is very active. My own shooting, one or the other is usually sufficient.
When hunting, I use electronic plugs. One shotgun blast at a time, or even a couple and then nothing for minutes or hours, is just fine with electronic plugs. Hearing what is going on around me is very important when hunting -- we have lots and lots of illegals around here, drug smugglers, and the like. Not to mention rattlesnakes and mountain lions to watch out for.
When hunting, I use electronic plugs. One shotgun blast at a time, or even a couple and then nothing for minutes or hours, is just fine with electronic plugs. Hearing what is going on around me is very important when hunting -- we have lots and lots of illegals around here, drug smugglers, and the like. Not to mention rattlesnakes and mountain lions to watch out for.
32winspl
Member
I always use plugs when at the range or plinking at my Folks house. When I used to shoot USPSA, I wore both plugs and muffs- especially when someone was shooting hotted-up .38 Supers.
I don't wear anything when Deer Hunting, though I know I should, but I'm willing to accept one loud noise a year. I wear plugs when mowing the lawn, weed-whacking, chainsawing, or using powertools louder than a drill.
I don't wear anything when Deer Hunting, though I know I should, but I'm willing to accept one loud noise a year. I wear plugs when mowing the lawn, weed-whacking, chainsawing, or using powertools louder than a drill.
Old Grump
Member
Both, always, even for my Gamo air rifle that is nearly as loud as a 22.
thebaldguy
Member
I always wear good ear plugs with a good noise reduction level; not all ear plugs are the same.
I use ear muffs when I'm using power tools. I keep them handy so when I use a circular saw, I throw them on, make the cut, and take them off. My brother in law now wears hearing aids as 20+ years of construction work without hearing protection killed his hearing.
I've been wearing ear plugs at music shows since the early 90's. I know loud music does damage as well.
I've started wearing ear protection when I shoot my Gamo air rifle with the lightweight supersonic pellets in my basement. It's pretty loud when the pellets break the sound barrier.
I use ear muffs when I'm using power tools. I keep them handy so when I use a circular saw, I throw them on, make the cut, and take them off. My brother in law now wears hearing aids as 20+ years of construction work without hearing protection killed his hearing.
I've been wearing ear plugs at music shows since the early 90's. I know loud music does damage as well.
I've started wearing ear protection when I shoot my Gamo air rifle with the lightweight supersonic pellets in my basement. It's pretty loud when the pellets break the sound barrier.
BeltfedMG
member
Only wear them when shootin the beltfeds or the HK51, they hurt if you dont wear them.
halfbreed808
Member
Gotta save the ears. Ruptured both of them in my first year of enlistment in the infantry. The hearings not real bad, but not what it was. Gotta save whats left so I don't end up like my father inlaw.(Lots of smiling and nodding even when we're not talking to him.)
shadowalker
Member
I've known too many nearly deaf people, I value my hearing and protect it. I wear 33 db nrr muffs, if the muffs have less than 30 nrr I usually use plugs as well.
If I don't have hearing protection I don't shoot, good motivation to make sure I have them.
I also wear them for lawn mowing, power tool use, etc. It is amazing how loud some of the daily stuff can be, I didn't notice it until I started proactively wearing hearing protection.
If I don't have hearing protection I don't shoot, good motivation to make sure I have them.
I also wear them for lawn mowing, power tool use, etc. It is amazing how loud some of the daily stuff can be, I didn't notice it until I started proactively wearing hearing protection.
graygun
Member
Not for 22 but that'll probably change for me. I fired a few shells from a new 12 ga two days w/o hearing protection. The sound did not hurt my ears but a friend who fired it 4x said it hurt his somewhat.
Also,if you go to a race track, it's a good idea to wear hp. Most of the stuff going down a drag strip is very loud and the blown nitro cars emit sound that is well into pain level. Some of the "cool"(ie: foolish)guys like to use no hp at all even at the fence closest to the starting line. When two TFs or FCs leave the line, it's unbelievable the assault you get...but it can be fun.
Also,if you go to a race track, it's a good idea to wear hp. Most of the stuff going down a drag strip is very loud and the blown nitro cars emit sound that is well into pain level. Some of the "cool"(ie: foolish)guys like to use no hp at all even at the fence closest to the starting line. When two TFs or FCs leave the line, it's unbelievable the assault you get...but it can be fun.
gidaeon
Member
I want to be able to hear my grandchildren someday and the voice of my beloved every day. On occasion I forgot hp and shot anyway, the .22 wasn't terribly bad but still a bad idea, then I shot my 7.62x39 less than 18 rounds I had ringing and unbalanced hearing for a few days and I'm 26. Yeah you seemingly recover quick but its not good. I'm not a soldier so I don't want the hearing damage of one. That's bad, I told my wife and she was correctly upset. Farming family all have hearing problems from equipment over the years, personally I will wear ear muffs and maybe at least one plug inside as well for when I take them off. Its a cheap investment compared to what we do for insurance in so many other areas.
Any otologist's or ear doctors on board to comment around here on accumulated damages?
Any otologist's or ear doctors on board to comment around here on accumulated damages?
bnkrazy
Member
I always use plugs as I don't really like muffs.
My ears are very sensitive now as I damaged my ears when younger going to too many concerts. I wouldn't wish tinnitus on my worst enemy, but some of you guys that shoot with no protection or "improvised" protection are asking for trouble.
There's no excuse to not have proper ear protection when the simple foam ones come in packs of a dozen for $1.50. For $4/pair you can get the reusable rubber ones.
Don't mess around with your hearing. I'm only 27 and have a long time to go with this blasted ringing.
My ears are very sensitive now as I damaged my ears when younger going to too many concerts. I wouldn't wish tinnitus on my worst enemy, but some of you guys that shoot with no protection or "improvised" protection are asking for trouble.
There's no excuse to not have proper ear protection when the simple foam ones come in packs of a dozen for $1.50. For $4/pair you can get the reusable rubber ones.
Don't mess around with your hearing. I'm only 27 and have a long time to go with this blasted ringing.
Quoheleth
Member
I always wear ear plugs. I had a set of muffs, but somehow they got misplaced 
- $20 down the drain...
I even wear the foam plugs when cutting the grass, woodwork (electric tools), using a hammer for more than 3 or 4 swings, or any other sharp, repetetive sound.
My ears are so bad it's not funny. In a quiet room, I can hear a pin drop and tell you if its point up or down. If there is the slightest bit of noise in the room (i.e. TV, radio) and my kids or wife try to talk to me and I'm not REALLY focused, I lose it in the background.
Too many hours shooting, working with power & air/pneumatic tools, and hammers have given me a wonderful set of artillery ears at the age of 34. They're so bad, if I forget and pound more than 5 or 6 nails, I can feel my inner ear cringe at each SMACK of the hammer. Indoor ball games (think basketball, especially) or concerts are a waste of my time... In fact, I keep a set of foam plugs in my car ash tray (in their plastic case...and no cigarette ashes, either) so that when I get to the range, if someone is shooting, I can put 'em in my ears even before exiting the car.
As an aside, EMERGENCY ear plugs can be fashioned by chewing up a piece of paper (like notebook paper or copier paper) into a pliable, gummy mass (don't swallow the saliva...like the dentist says, "spit!"). Gently wad it into your outer ear - NOT INTO THE CANAL - and let it set up a bit. It looks funny, but it works in a pinch. I read that WWII vets whose job was to train soldiers on the range would sometimes do that; when I forgot my plugs one afternoon, I decided if it was good enough 50 years earlier, it was good enough for me. It works, is biodegradable, and is also recycling..."green" earplugs!!!
Q
- $20 down the drain...I even wear the foam plugs when cutting the grass, woodwork (electric tools), using a hammer for more than 3 or 4 swings, or any other sharp, repetetive sound.
My ears are so bad it's not funny. In a quiet room, I can hear a pin drop and tell you if its point up or down. If there is the slightest bit of noise in the room (i.e. TV, radio) and my kids or wife try to talk to me and I'm not REALLY focused, I lose it in the background.
Too many hours shooting, working with power & air/pneumatic tools, and hammers have given me a wonderful set of artillery ears at the age of 34. They're so bad, if I forget and pound more than 5 or 6 nails, I can feel my inner ear cringe at each SMACK of the hammer. Indoor ball games (think basketball, especially) or concerts are a waste of my time... In fact, I keep a set of foam plugs in my car ash tray (in their plastic case...and no cigarette ashes, either) so that when I get to the range, if someone is shooting, I can put 'em in my ears even before exiting the car.
As an aside, EMERGENCY ear plugs can be fashioned by chewing up a piece of paper (like notebook paper or copier paper) into a pliable, gummy mass (don't swallow the saliva...like the dentist says, "spit!"). Gently wad it into your outer ear - NOT INTO THE CANAL - and let it set up a bit. It looks funny, but it works in a pinch. I read that WWII vets whose job was to train soldiers on the range would sometimes do that; when I forgot my plugs one afternoon, I decided if it was good enough 50 years earlier, it was good enough for me. It works, is biodegradable, and is also recycling..."green" earplugs!!!
Q
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