1. I always use 33dB foams at the range. If someone next to me is shooting something louder than 22lr, I'll use ear muffs as well.
Skribs, it doesn't hurt my ears, it's just louder than I'd like. As jmr40 was saying, it is cumulative,...and I know that, even with hearing protection, the louder weapons can still add to the cumulative. So I'm just trying to be proactive.
Also, I was in a situation where I was near a 9mm inside, without hearing protection.....so I figure I need to do what I can for the future. It was very loud...and took awhile before I was able to hear "normally" again. And I do hear pretty well, now, but do have a bit of tinnitus.
I always use ear plugs and ear muffs. No reason not to. Fwiw 22 pistols are very loud. Always double up. 22lr rifles not so much. Quietest handgun I have shot is a cap and ball revolver.Thanks for all the replies. A few bits of info from it all.
1. I always use 33dB foams at the range. If someone next to me is shooting something louder than 22lr, I'll use ear muffs as well.
2. I CAN shoot other things, and am somewhat okay. When I shoot 9mm, I use 147gr rather than 115. I can tell the difference. My AR has a very good forward blow comp, so I can shoot that some.
3. I always shoot at an outdoor range...but it has walls and baffles that can bounce sound back at me. I am very limited where I can shoot.
4. As for the Ruger LCP II, I've been considering selling it,...because yeah,...not a good caliber choice.
5. From hso's chart, it looks like 45ACP is about the "quietest" of the larger calibers. And I'm rather surprised at the 44Special dB.
Dirtybob, I had the grave misfortune of being in the next booth to someone with an AR pistol. The loudest thing I've ever been next to. I had to leave the range early.
It mostly just......goes "BANG!" It doesn't cause any ringing at that time.
What I've heard over and over again from folks who have done live fire without hearing protection (i.e. military, law enforcement, self-defense) is that you don't notice the sound during the self-defense situation. So I would worry mainly about what you can do in the range.
Skribs, I'm not sure if you saw my post above where I stated being in a room with unprotected ears and a 9mm fired. That's why I was being cautious.
I disagree.Then it sounds like there's no damage being done that would accumulate.