Home Defense meets reality...

[Youngster]

It's not even so much the hearing damage but that you spare yourself the worst of the immediate effects of firing in an enclosed space, something that makes me groggy even with hearing protection, and also you're able to hear so much better than you normally would when using electronic earmuffs.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

If you can do it, by all means do it. I just could not see myself doing it in the middle of the night. It'd be louder than hell but I doubt a normal barrelled shotgun would deafen someone. The "raod blocker" nonsense possibly or a ported barrel. If I had the time to throw on earpro and it even occurred to me in a situation like that I'd do it. But that p[oint and click would probably be all I could process at such a time.

 

[halfacop]

Halfacop, you might not care if you can still hear when you are 60. I do. I may or not have the chance to don hearing protection when it actually happens. But if I can. it won't be a bad idea. I've already lost enough hearing from shooting tanks, .50 cals, and rock concerts. I can absolutely guarantee that you will have a degree of permanent hearing damage. I won't die to protect my hearing, but that doesn't mean it's stupid to do what you can.

I never said I didn't care nor that it was stupid....

We are talking about defensive shooting inside a home during a break in or somewhat similier situation. I am simply saying that on average the one or two shots that are fired during such a situation are not going to affect your hearing enough to matter!

Unless you plan on engaging in multipule home invasions in the near future.....

I am simply saying that for the "once in a lifetime" situation (for most of us) this is something that I just wouldn't really worry about......

I hear SWAT guys do, at least when venturing indoors.

Yes - they generally use ear pro during their entering a building. Of course its smart practice in this case. They also have had time to prepare, set up and get ready for their "fight". It makes complete sense to do this.

Cops (road patrol) as a whole do not do this on common "door open" calls or breaking and enterings.

As I said above - we are talking about a surpise visitor in the middle of the night. The last thing I am going to be worried about is trying to slap on some ear pro........

 

[Youngster]

As I said above - we are talking about a surpise visitor in the middle of the night. The last thing I am going to be worried about is trying to slap on some ear pro........

Why should the "visitor" be a complete surprise? My place isn't exactly Cheyenne Mountain but I know by the time someone was able to get through my hardened doors or shatterproof windows I'd be well aware of their presense and would have the time needed to react. If your place is such where a swift kick, a bump key or smashing some glass is enough to gain entry then you may well not have time to access a gun let alone do anything else.

 

[zhyla]

Why should the "visitor" be a complete surprise? ... If your place is such where a swift kick, a bump key or smashing some glass is enough to gain entry then you may well not have time to access a gun let alone do anything else.

All the hardening in the world doesn't help when you don't use it. I've woken up to find an unlocked front door a couple times in my adult life. Most cases not directly my fault, but it doesn't matter, humans forget things.