sethjewell
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I don't wear them with my .22's including pistols, .410, and my 25-20 lever action. Will i lose my hearing like this
I don't wear earplugs with this am i alright
- Thread starter sethjewell
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MarshallDodge
Member
Probably.
sethjewell
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is it alright with a .22 though
_N4Z_
Member
.22's not too bad, but better to err on the side of caution.
your hearing does not grow back if you break it.
your hearing does not grow back if you break it.
Pretty good read here:
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=2052
"Recall that sounds over 85-90 dB can lead to permanent hearing damage without hearing protection. As can be seen from Table 2, even firing a .22LR (134 dB) has the potential of causing permanent, irreversible, inner ear damage."
I always wear hearing protection even when shooting my .22 revolvers. Recently, I was shooting outdoors and shot a round or 2 without hearing protection. I was amazed that even the lowly little .22LR was a lot louder than I expected it to be.
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=2052
"Recall that sounds over 85-90 dB can lead to permanent hearing damage without hearing protection. As can be seen from Table 2, even firing a .22LR (134 dB) has the potential of causing permanent, irreversible, inner ear damage."
I always wear hearing protection even when shooting my .22 revolvers. Recently, I was shooting outdoors and shot a round or 2 without hearing protection. I was amazed that even the lowly little .22LR was a lot louder than I expected it to be.
sethjewell
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yea i'm only 13 so i was worried kinda
sethjewell
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yea it is out of my mrk2
Bwana John
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what?
jcwit
member
YES WEAR EAR PLUGS!!!!! I never thought it mattered with .22's and I've shot since I was 8, I'm now 64 and now wear hearing aids. The new electronic ear muffs are not to expensive and you can still hear whats going on.
The following is for your perusal. You can try to ignore the facts and wind up like a lot of us old timers, viz, we have this constant ringing in our ears 24/7 that will never go away.
Facts on noise levels:
Decibels measure sound pressure and are logarithmic. That means that only a 3db increase almost doubles sound pressure, a 6db increase quadruples sound pressure, etc.
Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.
At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.
There is also the more extreme ‘acoustic trauma’, which is an immediate loss of hearing after a sudden, exceptionally loud noise such as an explosion.
From: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...aring-loss.cfm
“When someone goes to a concert, cuts grass or runs a power saw, they can suffer from NIHL,” said Dr. George Hashisaki, assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Virginia Health System. “Afterwards, if their hearing is muffled or their ears are ringing, they have suffered NIHL. Even if their hearing comes back to what they perceive as normal, a small part of that hearing loss is permanent."
"People who are most in jeopardy of losing their hearing are those who use firearms regularly without ear protection or who are in the military and unable to wear hearing protection, such as those on the frontlines, Hashisaki said. The noise level of gunshots can reach 170 dB and is capable of immediate damage. Hashisaki recommends wearing both earplugs and earmuffs to protect hearing while target shooting."
Comparative noise levels and corresponding damage
12 gauge shotgun 165 dB Instant damage
Jet engine taking off 140 dB Instant damage
Thunder/Ambulance siren 119 dB 3 minutes
Hammer drill 113 dB 15 minutes
Chain saw/Earphones/Concert 110 dB 30 minutes
Bull Dozer 105 dB 1 hour
Tractor/Power tools 96 dB 4 hour
Hairdryer/lawnmower 90 dB 8 hours
Here are noise levels of firearms:
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.
.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.
.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.
20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.
12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.
.25 ACP 155.0 dB.
.32 LONG 152.4 dB.
.32 ACP 153.5 dB.
.380 157.7 dB.
9mm 159.8 dB.
.38 S&W 153.5 dB.
.38 Spl 156.3 dB.
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.
.41 Magnum 163.2 dB.
.44 Spl 155.9 dB.
.45 ACP 157.0 dB.
.45 COLT 154.7 dB.
Factoid
Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.
Using muffs and plugs together: Take the higher of the two and add 5 dB. 30 plug with 20 muff gives an effective NRR of 35.
If you are shooting by yourself, roughly 100 rounds of 140 dB instantaneous noise in a day should not produce hearing damage. Put your plugs and muffs on and you get to shoot up to a thousand rounds without damage (louder ammo/gun and the allowable drops by a factor of 5). Shoot with other people and you have to add all the rounds shot cumulatively (10 people shoot 100 rounds and everybody's done for the day; toss a handcannon or 30 cal rifle in and you're back down to 200 rounds cumulative). If you shoot on an indoor range then all the rounds fired while you are on the range go into your total. So you can see that it doesn't take very long on a range to have a thousand rounds popped off around you.
If you want to know what the noise level you are exposed to is you can rent noise dosimeters that you can wear. They will record the total noise exposure and present the information to you as dB. You can then subtract the adjusted combined NRR of your hearing protection to determine if you're getting too much exposure.
LINKS
http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk/N...+loss+1640.twl
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...aring-loss.cfm
http://www.audiologyawareness.com/library.asp
Facts on noise levels:
Decibels measure sound pressure and are logarithmic. That means that only a 3db increase almost doubles sound pressure, a 6db increase quadruples sound pressure, etc.
Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.
At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.
There is also the more extreme ‘acoustic trauma’, which is an immediate loss of hearing after a sudden, exceptionally loud noise such as an explosion.
From: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...aring-loss.cfm
“When someone goes to a concert, cuts grass or runs a power saw, they can suffer from NIHL,” said Dr. George Hashisaki, assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Virginia Health System. “Afterwards, if their hearing is muffled or their ears are ringing, they have suffered NIHL. Even if their hearing comes back to what they perceive as normal, a small part of that hearing loss is permanent."
"People who are most in jeopardy of losing their hearing are those who use firearms regularly without ear protection or who are in the military and unable to wear hearing protection, such as those on the frontlines, Hashisaki said. The noise level of gunshots can reach 170 dB and is capable of immediate damage. Hashisaki recommends wearing both earplugs and earmuffs to protect hearing while target shooting."
Comparative noise levels and corresponding damage
12 gauge shotgun 165 dB Instant damage
Jet engine taking off 140 dB Instant damage
Thunder/Ambulance siren 119 dB 3 minutes
Hammer drill 113 dB 15 minutes
Chain saw/Earphones/Concert 110 dB 30 minutes
Bull Dozer 105 dB 1 hour
Tractor/Power tools 96 dB 4 hour
Hairdryer/lawnmower 90 dB 8 hours
Here are noise levels of firearms:
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.
.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.
.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.
20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.
12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.
.25 ACP 155.0 dB.
.32 LONG 152.4 dB.
.32 ACP 153.5 dB.
.380 157.7 dB.
9mm 159.8 dB.
.38 S&W 153.5 dB.
.38 Spl 156.3 dB.
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.
.41 Magnum 163.2 dB.
.44 Spl 155.9 dB.
.45 ACP 157.0 dB.
.45 COLT 154.7 dB.
Factoid
Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.
Using muffs and plugs together: Take the higher of the two and add 5 dB. 30 plug with 20 muff gives an effective NRR of 35.
If you are shooting by yourself, roughly 100 rounds of 140 dB instantaneous noise in a day should not produce hearing damage. Put your plugs and muffs on and you get to shoot up to a thousand rounds without damage (louder ammo/gun and the allowable drops by a factor of 5). Shoot with other people and you have to add all the rounds shot cumulatively (10 people shoot 100 rounds and everybody's done for the day; toss a handcannon or 30 cal rifle in and you're back down to 200 rounds cumulative). If you shoot on an indoor range then all the rounds fired while you are on the range go into your total. So you can see that it doesn't take very long on a range to have a thousand rounds popped off around you.
If you want to know what the noise level you are exposed to is you can rent noise dosimeters that you can wear. They will record the total noise exposure and present the information to you as dB. You can then subtract the adjusted combined NRR of your hearing protection to determine if you're getting too much exposure.
LINKS
http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk/N...+loss+1640.twl
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...aring-loss.cfm
http://www.audiologyawareness.com/library.asp
CZ 75 BD
Member
Two kinds of shooters...
that don't use hearing protection.
those that are deaf and
those that are going deaf
that don't use hearing protection.
those that are deaf and
those that are going deaf
jerkface11
Member
Plugs are the best way to go. They deaden more sound than anything else. They're also cheaper.
silverlance
Member
um... why would you not want to? bothersome? it's nice to hear the phone ring in the next room.
expense? sure, but only if you're buying those crappy disposables every time. spring five bucks and get a pair of muffs. if you were near me id give you one of my old ones.
expense? sure, but only if you're buying those crappy disposables every time. spring five bucks and get a pair of muffs. if you were near me id give you one of my old ones.
Waywatcher
Member
Yes.
Cougfan2
Member
I just picked up a pair of the Earplugs that they make by molding them to fit your ear exactly. I used to think they were a gimmick, but they work great!
Yes you will.
No it isn't.
A .22lr rifle can be as loud as 134dB, a handgun will be even louder. Exposure to noise over 85dB can cause hearing damage. Wear plugs deep in your ears and a good set of muffs on top of them if you like your hearing. Wear safety glasses too.
Some of the disposable ones are good quality and still quite affordable. I bought 100 pair of disposable 33dB nrr howard leight plugs for $24. Thats less than a quarter for each trip to the range.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Well, sure it causes hearing loss.
But at least you don't look like a Nancy.
But at least you don't look like a Nancy.
You will lose your hearing, even with a .22, even outdoors. Hearing damage is cumulative. Will a shot or two, every now and then (as in hunting), hurt you? Probably not. Will repeated constant shooting (as in range sessions) hurt you? Absolutely yes.
You may not notice it now. You will when you're 70.
Mike
You may not notice it now. You will when you're 70.
Mike
Aaryq
Member
For the love of Pete wear hearing protection. I'm only 22 and still know that I'm young, invincible, and know everything. I'm already losing my hearing and I have ringing in my ears on occasion (especially when it's really quiet).
This isn't all from shooting, a lot of it's from aircraft (Marine Corps/Navy Aviation) but the point is that you must protect your hearing. It's just as important as stepping into your car and buckling up. Trust me, man. I'm a young guy and I have the hearing of an old man.
This isn't all from shooting, a lot of it's from aircraft (Marine Corps/Navy Aviation) but the point is that you must protect your hearing. It's just as important as stepping into your car and buckling up. Trust me, man. I'm a young guy and I have the hearing of an old man.
W.E.G.
Member
Skip the plugs.
By the time you lose most of your hearing, you'll be old enough that you won't care that you're unable to hear what people are saying about you anyway.
By the time you lose most of your hearing, you'll be old enough that you won't care that you're unable to hear what people are saying about you anyway.
Outlaws
Member
I have a somewhat irritating case of tinnitus, and it sucks. I have to sleep with a fan on high or I will not get to sleep on any but the most exhausting of days.
Those numbers for gun dB's are interesting. I am curious if the numbers are from the business end or from where the shoot is, as that would make a huge difference on rifles and shotguns vs pistols, revolvers, and those with a muzzle break.
But either way, hearing loss sucks. They say anytime your ears have a ring after something loud, you just lost 1/2 of 1% of your hearing.
Those numbers for gun dB's are interesting. I am curious if the numbers are from the business end or from where the shoot is, as that would make a huge difference on rifles and shotguns vs pistols, revolvers, and those with a muzzle break.
But either way, hearing loss sucks. They say anytime your ears have a ring after something loud, you just lost 1/2 of 1% of your hearing.
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