Ear protection is vital!!

[Naybor]

We went shooting last Saturday with our daughter and took the family dog with us. The biggest handgun shot was a .38 Special +P. After we got back home, we found the 7 year dog was completely deaf. Couldn't hear a thing. It's now Wednesday and he seems to have gotten at least most of his hearing back.

Just goes to show what can happen to each of us. Some of us feel no protection is needed with lower calibers (.22, etc.) which is not true. Each report adds up to harm our ears. At least, use ear plugs or ear muffs.

Use them even if you are deaf or nearly deaf as your ears can still be damaged further. My ears still have "crickets" since shooting a .41 Magnum without protection 30 years ago. I was negligent back then and have paid for it up to and including today. Some hearing loss cannot be gotten back.

I recommend amplified ear muffs where you can hear range orders but muffle the shots.

Be safe but be responsible to others and yourself.

 

[Rimfaxe]

These guys work pretty good outdoors. If I'm at an indoor range, I double up with ear plugs and turn the volume up.

Howard Leight R-01526 Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff
http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight...eight+R-01526+Impact+Sport+Electronic+Earmuff

There are more expensive ones out there, but for money, they work very well.

Now I'm not sure if they would fit your dog....maybe? If you try it out, please post a picture.

 

[breakingcontact]

Ear and eye protection should be discussed more and more highly valued.

 

[cpy911]

Too bad our gooberment decided to regulate suppressors.
They would make nice over the counter medicine to protect our
hearing. Guess we have to pay NFA taxes to muffle our guns.
Too bad for the animals and their hearing.

 

[rondog]

I've always wondered how anybody could fire a gun while riding a horse, and not have the horse completely freak out. If I tried that I'd get thrown off and stomped. And I'd never take my beagles to the range with me.

 

[threefortyduster]

I rock my Walkers Alpha Muffs. Love them. Only thing that is different with using the Alphas to regular muffs for me is that you hear more of the "after shot" if you will, since it blocks out above a certain decibel rating and not a blanket suppression.

Eyes and ears are 2 things you really can't replace, so you have to take care of them when you have the chance.

 

[hso]

Muffs over plugs are the best insurance for protecting your hearing.

 

[breakingcontact]

I wear cheap foam plugs under some decent electronic ear muffs. I notice that the guys who shoot a lot have nice muffs and glasses. Think that's a very good move.

 

[Feanaro]

This is a good topic I don't think people pay much attention to. Which is unfortunate, because many people throw on a set of cheap muffs and assume they are protected. If they even go that far. (Lotsa macho guys don't want to be caught using muffs for X wimpy caliber)

As I understand it, centerfire pistols and rifles average 155~ decibels. A set of electronic muffs with 22-28 NRR still expose you to dangerous levels of sound. Assuming they are giving the maximum protection, which isn't always the case. Even with 33 NRR, the best available, your muffs might not be perfectly sealed or your plugs not perfectly seated.

For this reason, I wear plugs and muffs at all times, especially since my glasses tend to screw up the seal of muffs. Keep in mind, "doubling up" will only give you about 6 more decibels of protection over the highest rated item. You can't protect your ears enough.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Shot for many years without protection, including a Mosin M44 with very little damage. Even then, I'm not sure how much is from shooting and how much from heavy metal concerts.

I just started using foam plugs and muffs. The first time I did it and shot my PTR91, I thought I shot a dud! Then I shot another, same thing. THAT is tip-top protection. LOL... I'll be doing that from now on.

 

[btg3]

Hearing loss is:

PROGRESSIVE
PAINLESS
PERMANENT
PREVENTABLE

Guns are not the only source of noise to be concerned about.

Tinnitus is also an effect from hearing loss.

Hearing protection that does not fit, seal, or stay put does not provide adequate protection.

http://www-esh.fnal.gov/CourseHandout_Mat/Hear_Conserv_LP.pdf

 

[breakingcontact]

This is a good topic I don't think people pay much attention to. Which is unfortunate, because many people throw on a set of cheap muffs and assume they are protected. If they even go that far. (Lotsa macho guys don't want to be caught using muffs for X wimpy caliber)

As I understand it, centerfire pistols and rifles average 155~ decibels. A set of electronic muffs with 22-28 NRR still expose you to dangerous levels of sound. Assuming they are giving the maximum protection, which isn't always the case. Even with 33 NRR, the best available, your muffs might not be perfectly sealed or your plugs not perfectly seated.

For this reason, I wear plugs and muffs at all times, especially since my glasses tend to screw up the seal of muffs. Keep in mind, "doubling up" will only give you about 6 more decibels of protection over the highest rated item. You can't protect your ears enough.

This is interesting. What decibel level is needed for no hearing damage?

 

[rondog]

Shot for many years without protection, including a Mosin M44 with very little damage.

That you know of! Ever had your hearing tested? I've been shooting for 50 years, not to mention rock music, and my hearing is wasted. It sucks.

 

[btg3]

This is interesting. What decibel level is needed for no hearing damage?

See slide #7 and #18 in the link from post 11 above.

 

[Rimfaxe]

Good Stuff! Thanks!

 

[Loc n Load]

Hearing loss

I have been shooting since the 60's, instructed professionally for 40 years and have supervised firing lines with M-16's, 308's, 50 BMG's, shotguns, handguns, smg's & explosive munitions. During the last 15 years that I worked I used the Peltor electronic muff doubled with "ear valve" plugs......the wonderful thing about the Peltor's is that you never have to "crack" a muff to hear what a shooter is trying to say. Wish I had that setup during the first half of my career, I have a constant ringing in both ears 24/7 and have lost most of my high freq hearing.....eye protection is a must also.....have seen several instances where shooters eyes were saved with inexpensive shooting glasses....also you should always wear shooting glasses when cleaning firearms. Had student's field stripping pistols once and had a recoil spring/rod assembly get away from a shooter, fly across the bench and hit another shooter forcibly in the corner of an eye.....after that everybody I supervised wore safety glasses when cleaning guns.

 

[jstein650]

OMG! My goodhearted uncle took me out when I was probably 13? once with his .45 Colt and .22 - Blackhawk and Single Six. No muffs... I fell immediately in love with shooting, but RING....... I was stuffing shells into my ears to his amusement.
We did a little walk around/shooting a couple of years ago, and I'm like, "well, here's some muffs.." "Naw, I went deaf years ago... " (Yeah, no ****!)
And, yes, any HP rifle under a range roof, I use plugs AND my elect. muffs!