Indoor shooting effects on hearing

[rkammer]

I have been of the impression that shooting indoors in a self defense scenario might be injurious to ones ears/hearing if the faster supersonic ammunition is used (like 357 mag or faster 9mm). Has there been any testing on this? I'm trying to decide whether to load my 9mm house gun with sub or supersonic ammunition.

 

[gwnorth]

It really won't matter. Even with a subsonic round the overall blast noise is still going to be great enough (over 140dB, and for a 9mm likely well over 150dB) to have the potential to cause permanent hearing damage.

Most would say (and I'd agree with them) that the point is somewhat moot anyway. You cannot sacrifice your life to save your hearing, so you do what needs to be done and live with the consequences (but the point being, you live).

Hearing damage is also a tough thing to predict. It is not just about the noise energy, but how the shooter actually interacts with it. Different rooms and objects will absorb or reflect noise to different degrees. The reality is though, that any centerfire handgun caliber is sufficiently loud enough that it has the potential to cause permanent hearing damage or even hearing loss from a single exposure. Even that slow poke .45acp round creates a sound blast over 150dB.

Personally, I do keep a set of Peltor 7's hanging in my bedroom. They are there in case the opportunity/time allows them to be donned, and since they can be used to amplify ambient noise, I can actually hear some things with them on that I can't without them. Would I use them, or even have the chance to use them if I had to use a gun for HD? I don't know, but since I own them anyway for range use, I figured I'd just hang them somewhere handy inside the house too.

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

 

[David E]

I agree with gwnorth.

Don't choose a lesser round for defense. I suppose one could argue that it might require MORE shots than if you used a better round.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I have been of the impression that shooting indoors in a self defense scenario might be injurious to ones ears/hearing if the faster supersonic ammunition is used (like 357 mag or faster 9mm)

Yes, but not shooting when you have to, or shooting sub-standard ammo could be even more injurious.

 

[oneounceload]

Why many folks choose a shotgun - with its typically very low pressure, the damaging blast noise isn't as great as from a high pressure pistol round

 

[chicharrones]

I tell ya when you'll be sure to mess up your ears, shoot without hearing protection when you have a head cold. Your ears scream in pain and shut off. I had 3 months of ear ringing from a .357 magnum due to a head cold long ago.

I do know that I'm not gonna be putting on hearing protection to protect my family and home though. I need my hearing right up to the point I might need to shoot a gun.

 

[Dave P]

That's why I go for the 45 ACP. No supersonic crack to worry about.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I use both plugs and earmuffs at indoor ranges.
Oops, misinterpreted the question.
I really don't think this should be a consideration for defensive use. Unless you are Jack Bauer, I seriously doubt that you are going to go deaf from shooting at badguys and evildoers.

 

[orvpark]

My ears are just going to have to ring. Muffs/plugs even with sound amplifier are going to do a poor job of giving you the awareness you need. You may be able to hear something, but what direction it is coming from will be distorted at best. I have never used high end amplified muffs/plugs, but I know the ones I have used don't give you any idea which direction the sound is coming from.

 

[LightningMan]

I thought that most people in a self defence shooting don't even remember the loud blast of firing a gun. Seems it has something to do with the fight or flight instinct and adrealin. Just thought I remember reading somewhere. LM

 

[Sunray]

Makes no difference. A .22 LR fired inside will damage your hearing.

 

[gwnorth]

I thought that most people in a self defence shooting don't even remember the loud blast of firing a gun. Seems it has something to do with the fight or flight instinct and adrealin. Just thought I remember reading somewhere. LM

I don't doubt that their perception and memory of the blast does not reflect reality. But simply not remembering it doesn't make it a non-event. Their ears were still exposed to some degree of over pressure. The hair cells and nerve endings of your ears have very little ability to shield themselves from the effects of very high energy sound waves (your mind and memory, and how they react is another matter entirely).

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If there is someone inside your house that needs shooting, temporary hearing impairment should be the least of your worries. In any event, there is very little difference in the report between sub- and supersonic 9mm. Pick the most effective load.

 

[josephbw]

I had to shoot a rabid coon last year. I had my XD40SC with me, and after firing only two rounds (outside) I had severe hearing loss in my right ear, and moderate loss in my left ear. It mostly cleared up after about 3 days, but I can still tell that I have permanent hearing loss in my right ear compared to my left. That's the only time I've ever fired a gun without hearing protection, and hopefully it will be the last.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I've put my fair share amount of rounds downrange, in a number of different shooting environments.


Subsonic rounds shot indoors aren't much different than supersonic rounds.


Use what works. This whole, "going deaf" myth and argument over hearing loss is overblown. You could have hearing damage, and it might be even permanent. If you don't want to risk it happening, use a baseball bat.


And ask that any intruders into your home don't bring their guns inside.

 

[mljdeckard]

Whether or not the bullet is supersonic is pretty much inconsequential. The single biggest difference you can make in noise is choosing a revolver vs an auto.

 

[sonier]

i know a Veteran who has sever PTSD who fired his 7.62x25 cz 52 in his room, his hearing is bad but it did not make it any worse, personally i think you will have ringing in the ears for a good few months afterwards but i dont think it will make you go deaf. a 44 mag may be different story

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I thought that most people in a self defence shooting don't even remember the loud blast of firing a gun.

This is called auditory exclusion. It is very real, but doesn't override the laws of physics. There will still be pressure and concussion against your ears whether or not you perceive the sound of the gunshot.

Provided you have time to put them on, here is an ideal use for electronic ear muffs.

 

[hemiram]

When I was threatened by two losers with aluminum baseball bats while driving home one night, after I committed the evil deed of honking after they sat there after the light turned green, I displayed my .357, and they took off. The whole time it was happening, I kept thinking, "Oh man, shooting this inside the car will be brutal!" I did open the window all the way down to help a little, but I had 110gr JHP's loaded in it, and those things were LOUD, and made a huge flash, so I probably would have been deaf and blind both. The best part was when they called the cops, claiming I "threatened" them with my gun for no reason at all. When the cops came to my house. They asked me about what happened, and they said that the guys said I threatened them for no reason. I said, "How come I know there are two baseball bats in the car, one orange and silver, and one blue and silver?" The cops smiled at me, and let the two idiots sign reports that had the untrue version of what happened, then they busted the losers for filing a false report. They couldn't understand why they got cuffed up. The cops just laughed and said, "He's (Me) psychic, and was able to somehow guess that you had two baseball bats in your car, and even guessed the colors of them! Isn't that amazing?" One of the morons still didn't understand why they believed my story instead of theirs.

 

[gunnie]

HUH??

Speak up!!!

gunnie

 

[rkammer]

When I was threatened by two losers with aluminum baseball bats while driving home one night, after I committed the evil deed of honking after they sat there after the light turned green, I displayed my .357, and they took off. The whole time it was happening, I kept thinking, "Oh man, shooting this inside the car will be brutal!" I did open the window all the way down to help a little, but I had 110gr JHP's loaded in it, and those things were LOUD, and made a huge flash, so I probably would have been deaf and blind both. The best part was when they called the cops, claiming I "threatened" them with my gun for no reason at all. When the cops came to my house. They asked me about what happened, and they said that the guys said I threatened them for no reason. I said, "How come I know there are two baseball bats in the car, one orange and silver, and one blue and silver?" The cops smiled at me, and let the two idiots sign reports that had the untrue version of what happened, then they busted the losers for filing a false report. They couldn't understand why they got cuffed up. The cops just laughed and said, "He's (Me) psychic, and was able to somehow guess that you had two baseball bats in your car, and even guessed the colors of them! Isn't that amazing?" One of the morons still didn't understand why they believed my story instead of theirs.

I really enjoyed this story. Your great powers of observation probably saved you from having to call your attorney.

 

[hemiram]

I always wondered if those two pinheads ever got those bats out for no reason again. They pled guilty, and got fined and probation, and I never had to go to court to testify The prosecutor called soon after it happened and told me they pled guilty. I wanted to go to court, It got me out of work and I got paid for it.