Are you going to wear ear protection when the SHTF?

[Mulliga]

In the great spirit of BOB posts, would you carry ear protection when faced with riots/zombies/aliens/civil war/etc.? How often would you use it? Is not being able to hear with the muffs/plugs on enough of a tactical disadvantage to avoid their use?

Personally, I hate firing guns without ear protection, but I can see when sometimes you just won't have it on you.

 

[tc300mag1]

No, it's just not practical to do it in a real survival situation. Got to be able to hear the zombies/aliens etc etc coming

 

[winstonsmith]

Life is primary. If I can hear them, I can neutralize them better. I can't stress it any more, life comes first. The primary objective is to live, not to preserve my hearing.

I would carry it with me however, because it's a good tool to have, and the weight is negligible.

 

[Boats]

Whaa??? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!

 

[larry_minn]

Heck I normally carry two pair on me even when I don't have a gun. Too dang useful. The idea of needing to hear. IMO you are short sighted/hearing. IF you don't protect your ears NOW and fire a few (hundred) rds inside a room I doubt you will be able to hear the wounded zombie get up behind you and slice you open. Where if you had used hearing protection when they came thru door/wondow in waves you would hear it get up and pick up axe.

 

[VNgo]

I wouldn't; none of the world's militaries do, and I assume they know what they're doing.

 

[R127]

I made the mistake of not using them when shooting outdoors. I'm not saying my hearing is gone, but it ain't what it used to be. It is very accute, I could hear a proverbial pin drop, but clearly hearing a voice in a noisy area is hard. Actually, it's mostly just voices that are effected, other noises seem to come through ok. Anyway, my eyes are good, sense of smell has been all but burned out, so I think I'll do all I can to protect my ears. Besides, a set of USGI ear plugs do not cut your hearing all that much as far as normal sounds go. Electronic muffs actually increase your hearing while protecting your ears.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Okay, this past New Year's Day, I was shooting with some friends and during what I thought was a cease-fire, I took off one earplug when suddenly BAM! My buddy shoot his 8mm not 3 yards away from me . My ear still hurts right now, as I am typing. It's not cool, as I guess there is some permanate damage . That said, when the zombies/looters/aliens/lizard-people/whatever come, I'm not wearing any earmuffs or earplugs. You gotta have all your senses available when soemone's trying to do you harm.

 

[artherd]

Electronic earmuffs actually *enhance* your low-level hearing, I think they'll become a BOB essential in short order.

Especially if I get a .338 Lapua with a muzzle brake.

 

[Boats]

Despite my lame joke above, since I always go shooting with a ball cap or boonie hat on, all of those hats have tethered earplugs more or less permanently tied on to them. Always carrying hearing protection where I might consider it handy was a practice I picked up living and working on a destroyer in the US Navy.

The only time I will shoot without hearing protection is in a CCW situation, and in a home defense situation as I don't have my muffs where I can find them in the dark.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I wouldn't; none of the world's militaries do, and I assume they know what they're doing.

You sure about that? What was it that Sergeant Eversmann forgot to do when exiting the blackhawk, as he'd done on every other mission to date, because he was wearing headphones for the first time (according to Bowers?)

I like my Peltors, and have them next to my home defense piece. I can see using them any time I feel the need coming up. Part of that is that they enhance my regular hearing. I've also seen these and wonder if they're not a better solution than going completely without.

I don't kid myself -- shooting multiple rounds of .357 or .223 indoors is gonna absolutely wipe out my hearing for hours if I'm not wearing hearing protection. The key seems to be to use something that blocks the loudest noises, while letting regular sounds through.

You know, like being able to have a whispered conversation at the range and still have hearing protection.

Welcome to the 21st century.

 

[pwrtool45]

Yes. Those plugs Derek pointed out (yellow/OD) also look good; I intend on trying those in the near future. Electronic muffs are obviously the best of both worlds.

After the first round, your hearing is diminished to about the level it would be with plugs, anyway (if not worse depending on previous hearing damage, caliber of weapon, etc). At least mine was when I discharged my .40 Hi Power indoors. I could hear somewhat normally, but most sounds were muted by the gawd-awful ringing; felt a lot like wearing plugs. I can only imagine how much worse it would be using a full-powered rifle.

With plugs you take away a portion of your hearing.

Without plugs you're basically deaf after the first shot.

 

[Mulliga]

I note that in UC Henry Bowman used "ears" even in combat.

 

[JamisJockey]

yes. I'm going to stick my fingers in my ears, curl up into the fetal position, and repeat

this isn't happening

this isn't happing

this isn't happening

this isn't happing

 

[BerettaNut92]

Very important to hear.

In a SHTF situation, you must hear zombies gurgle regularly to get the drop on them. You can hear them through walls and doors, so before you make entry, you have an idea of where they are.

 

[fix]

There are electronic plugs now as well as muffs. No reason not to use them.

 

[Tim Burke]

My Wolf Ears sit between my house SG & my house Carbine.

 

[Smoke]

I think it is assinine to even consider putting on hearing protection whether the threat is a lone gunman in your house or riots in the street.

Unless you have a crew served .750magnumcrazybuttstomper.

But thats just me.

Smoke

 

[ReadyontheRight]

In a true SHTF situation -- I'd want a face shield -- and preferably a bio suit. And a towel.



But seriously, I can't see using ear protection in a combat situation. I would assume it's less about shooting and more about situational awareness -- sounds being a big part of the situation.

 

[ThreadKiller]

Zombies make the most god awful shriek when ventilated. If you didn't already have your muffs on, you'll wish you had.

I've lived with tinnitus for years. Just a part of my life. I don't like it so I'm going to do what I can to not make it worse.

Electronic ear muffs are workable if you have the time and they do enhance your hearing, especially if it's already half shot.

 

[Tim Burke]

I hear much better when I'm wearing the Wolf Ears. I don't see a downside.

 

[tcdrennen]

I'd definitely grab the Pro Ears if time permitted, along with the Surefire and Pro Carry. I can actually hear BETTER if I crank up the volume a bit - the goblins may think they're hidden but I'll be able to hear them breathing

 

[iamhistory]

I agree with Powertool45...........once you start shooting you will no doubt end up with diminished hearing capability probably somewhat comparable to wearing hearing protection anyway, so why don't you "play it by ear" (he he he...no pun intended) and use the hearing protection in practical situations.

A practical situation may be one where there is some open space between you and the threat in which your sight is number one. Another may be one in which there is such a high rate of noise anyway that your hearing is diminished due to things other than your hearing protection, i.e.........factories, alarms of some sort, explosions or surrounding gunfire, etc. So why not simply use your hearing protection and save your hearing as much as possible?

Now I also thought of something that I haven't seen anyone else mention and that's what I call the buck fever effect. You hunters know what I mean. When your adrenaline kicks in and you don't even realize you have heard a particular very loud noise and your hearing is not affected. Your brain isn't concentrating on it and therefore ignores the effects somewhat. For example, you have a shot at a trophy animal, raise your rifle, take aim, press the trigger and the animal is down. You are so excited that you don't even realize the shot was that loud and your hearing is certainly not affected in the sense that you have any diminished hearing. Maybe on a medical scale you might, but not for practical purposes. You carry on with the day with no after effects at all.

Could this idea also take place when you are firing or under fire? Or would you become somewhat desensitized to the buck fever effect and end up having your hearing affected? Just some things to think about. I for one will be taking earplugs with me and I use them in all PRACTICAL situations on a case by case basis but as much as possible. There is nothing I hate more than having to suffer the after effects of a gunshot or two without earplugs. I don't want to imagine having to live for extended periods of time that way. And if you ended up that way, does it not reduce your overall tactical effectiveness? I think so.

 

[DrDremel]

I voted no but if I had electronic muffs with me I might use them in some instances. Not practical for all day wear but if I knew I was going to be shooting I might. Such as if I were to see a large group of rioters approaching and I was at home or could not retreat due to my children or similar.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

We keep hearing protection with our stored defensive guns at home, eye protection too. If there is time, we grab them. If not, then we don't. It is better to have a conveniently available option and utilize it if possible then to not have the option at all.

The logic sort of falls under the same guise and keeping guns for self defense. Just because I have them does not mean I will necessarily use them, but the option is there.

If you get a chance to see some of the pan footage from the North Hollywood Bank robbery, you will see that there are some cops with hearing protection and shooting glasses, some with one or the other, and some with none. Guess who are the ones with the ear and eye protection. They were not the first responders who spent time running for their lives for cover from AP ammo, but those that showed up a little later, maybe had time to get gear from their trunks or bring it from the range. As they had a little more time, the put on the safety gear.