Help a first timer with noise anxiety?

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tristar76

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I know it sounds strange. I have a startling noise phobia, but want to have a gun for self-defense. With that comes trips to the range. The last time I set foot in a range was as a teen. Stepping in the lobby, it was even too much from behind the glass. I think part of it was not knowing what to expect. I don't know what rounds they were shooting. Could have been AR for all I know.

Being older, I'm much more able to rationalize it now. I've shot 10/22 LR and .25 ACP rounds without hearing protection, too. That was before I knew any better.

At any rate, some friends want to go to the range next week. I figure it's a good opportunity. The calibers allowed are attached to this post (handguns only).

I have plugs and muffs. Any other tips to get over the anxiety other than just doing it?
 

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Just make sure you wear your plugs and muffs. You should be fine. Remember your ears are essentially the same as everyone else's, and they manage. You can too!
 
Personally, I'd want to go to an outdoor range if I were you. Noise is much less an issue, in my experience, at an outdoor range.
 
The plan was to go to an indoor range. Living in Indiana, outdoor probably isn't feasible until the spring. I figure if I am going to own a gun, I'll probably have to do an indoor range at some point.
 
definitely plugs in the ear and then cans/muffs over them.

You'll keep at it and get use to it. Soon you'll be shooting a .45 1911 with both eyes open and no flinch.:D:p

be safe
 
Any other tips to get over the anxiety other than just doing it?
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Not really. You just have to condition yourself, and it may take quite a bit of conscious effort initially.

Even some of us seasoned shooters can be startled by it-particularly at an indoor range, when the usual pop-pop-pop of service pistol rounds is interrupted by the "boom!" and concussion of a big magnum or centerfire rifle. I remember quite a few people stopping their own shooting to see what the racket was when I had my Desert Eagle .50, and many said it made them jump.
 
tristar76 said:
Any other tips to get over the anxiety other than just doing it?
Click to expand...
I agree with MachIVshooter.

It's (repetition) how you train dogs and horses not to cower or shy; and your intellect eclipses theirs exponentially, so you should get over it much quicker than they.
 
The problem with muffs and plugs is that you can't wear both when you first walk in to a range because if muffles the sound too much to have a conversation, fill out a form, whatever.
But a good set of electronic muffs (I found that Peltor's are excellent - but I wear their brand when I fly; they are pricey but it is your ears and your psyche) put on before you even enter the building will help. They make all of the shot sounds virtually nonexistent. And don't worry about looking like a dork. You'll actually be saving your ears as well, even before you enter the actual range.
I am assuming you are put off by the sounds even before you enter the hot shooting area. If it's just on the range itself, just go with plugs (there is a thread on how to put them on somewhere on THR that I contributed to some time ago) and e-muffs and put them on properly before you shoot and you'll be gtg.
I think you will find as you shoot more, and as you are around shooting that the sounds will affect you less and less. There is a short period of time to get over the unanticipated and loud sounds but if you 'zen it out' and focus on what you are doing and seeing rather than waiting for the next pop, you'll be good.
GL,
B
 
I wouldn't worry about it.

My 20 year old stepson is a high functioning autistic. He's always been sensitive to loud noises. When he was little my wife had to carry muffs with her everywhere she went because any sudden loud noises (like gym buzzers) would freak him out.

A couple of weeks ago I took him to a basic shooters class at the local range. It was in the evening, after the range had closed for the day. I was a bit worried when we went out for the shooting portions of the class that the noise bother him. We were only using .22's and wearing muffs, but even .22's can be loud on a dead quiet range.

After the third or fourth shot he looked at me and said; "You know, you get used to them after the first few." The noise didn't bother him at all the reset of the class and he did pretty good for a first timer.
 
Outlaw75, I'm exactly as you've described. I'm not autistic (as far as I know), but I've always had an issue with sudden startling noises. I've never likes scoreboard buzzers or fire alarms.

But I'm determined to do this. I do feel that owning and training with a firearm will allow me to better defend my home. I just need to get past the noise part.
 
MachIVshooter said:
Not really. You just have to condition yourself, and it may take quite a bit of conscious effort initially.

Even some of us seasoned shooters can be startled by it-particularly at an indoor range, when the usual pop-pop-pop of service pistol rounds is interrupted by the "boom!" and concussion of a big magnum or centerfire rifle. I remember quite a few people stopping their own shooting to see what the racket was when I had my Desert Eagle .50, and many said it made them jump.
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^^THIS^^

I never grew up around guns and I started later in life for self-defense reasons. Most of what I know was self-learned through forums like this, books, and range experience.

My first range trip was indoor, on my own with no mentor. The noise was definitely more than expected and I was definitely nervous, shaking on the inside (maybe the outside too), and left the range still overwhelmed and not comfortable, actually questioning if gun ownership was for me.

After a couple more range trips, more confidence in my safety/gun handling skills, and more acclimation to the range noise, I became very comfortable. I don't go to the range as often as I want and should, so every trip takes a few minutes to re-acclimate to the noise and environment. Like Mach said, even seasoned guys get startled from time to time.

I would suggest going to the range a couple times BEFORE you go to shoot and just hang out and watch and listen. The habituation process will make your actual range trip more comfortable and less stressful. I would have done this if I had known.

Don't let it deter you, and if it does, I understand and don't think that's something that you should feel bad about because I can definitely understand how that could happen. If it does, wait till warmer weather and see if an outdoor range is more tolerable. Outdoor ranges are obviously not enclosed, but there's often bigger guns [emoji6]
 
Try to go when the range is not busy. Start out with a .22.

Use foam ear plugs, no other plug even comes close. Put muffs over the plugs. Keep your mouth closed and breath through your nose.

Ask the range master to put you in a quiet lane if possible.

Our indoor range won't allow rifles anymore unless you promise to shoot only a few rounds.

I've been shooting since I was 5. I still don't like indoor ranges or muzzle brakes.
 
About the outdoor range, I wondered the same thing. Sure it's quieter in theory, but there's probably larger caliber guns/rifles. So which is worse?
 
tristar76 said:
About the outdoor range, I wondered the same thing. Sure it's quieter in theory, but there's probably larger caliber guns/rifles. So which is worse?
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At this point it doesn't matter. The perfect answer on the Internet is not going to solve the problem. As mentioned before, go immerse yourself in the environment before you go to shoot. Acclimate yourself, to the environment, rent a few guns and shoot, then decide if your ready to buy one.

If noise is an issue, reading silent Internet postings aren't going to make that go away. Shooting guns make loud noises.
 
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tristar76 said:
About the outdoor range, I wondered the same thing. Sure it's quieter in theory, but there's probably larger caliber guns/rifles. So which is worse?
Click to expand...
Indoor for sure is louder. There's no place for the sound to go. I get a lot of looks at the range when shooting a short 9mm and even more shooting my 44. I can get the flinchies from the noise inside an indoor range but I get used to it. I think you can too.

The foamies and muffs is probably the best way to go, and preferably electronics then you can still hear a little.

Good Luck
 
Outlaw75, I'm exactly as you've described. I'm not autistic (as far as I know), but I've always had an issue with sudden startling noises. I've never likes scoreboard buzzers or fire alarms.

But I'm determined to do this. I do feel that owning and training with a firearm will allow me to better defend my home. I just need to get past the noise part.
Click to expand...

I'd follow the advice your getting here and try to go when the range is less busy. I find that weekdays in the early afternoon are best.

Also, read up on proper grip, stance, sighting in, etc. and resolve to focus on that when you get to the range. My experience over the years has been that that helps you tune out the noise in general.

Also, plugs and muffs are a good idea. Even Jerry Miculek does that!
 
Thanks, all. Much appreciated!

I'm going to do a Handgun 101 course. It's held before the range opens in the morning. Figure it won't be as loud.

Will report back on my progress.
 
Good move to take the handgun course. The more you know, the less anxious you'll be about what to expect.
Once at the range, a training technique for flinching (which can be a reaction to the noise) is to load a revolver with only 3 or 4 shots in random cylinder positions such that you don't know where the live round are. Then aim and squeeze the trigger 6 times -- each time concentrate on on aiming, maintaining the sight picture while squeezing the trigger... if it goes bang, you should hit what you're aiming at. If it goes click, you should find that you kept the sight picture and did not jerk the gun in anticipation of a bang. Re-load and try it again until you find that you gained control. You can also practice dry firing before using any live ammo to help establish good trigger control.

I realize this addresses a symptom rather the actual issue, but offer it for what it's worth.

Best of luck and hope you'll enjoy and be wanting to do more shooting.
 
In addition to using double ear protection and a .22, try shooting over a rest and focus on getting the groups as small as you can. You will find that focusing on minimizing group size will make you pay attention to sight alignment and trigger control...it will distract you from the noise.

Or try shooting bullseye style, one-handed unsupported. The challenge of scoring well will distract you from the noise.

If you just go to shooting rapid fire without forcing yourself to focus on fundamentals, you will be more likely to react to the noise.
 
Yeah, find out why you have the anxiety and fix it. Treat the cause, not the symptoms or you'll freeze without your security blanket.
 
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