Need a "quiet" semi auto rifle for home defense

[BrainOnSigs]

 

[CraigC]

Would anyone in this thread with hearing damage NOT pay a lot more than $1000 to get it back?.

I'd definitely pay a thousand bucks to get back what I've lost.

I think a lot of this "I won't compromise" rhetoric would change if it was a year after their home defense shooting and they're shopping for hearing aids or can't sleep for the tinnitus.

 

[Driftertank]

I hate to be cynical and condescending, and it's been stated previously, but noise isn't a primary concern with a HD/SD gun. The reason is that you are planning against the eventuality of an intruder in your home who intends harm on you and your loved ones. Your response must be rapid and decisive, as you are going on the assumption that failure to stop this assailant will result in the possible death of yourself or a loved one.

So, say you compromise on firepower for the sake of your hearing. Will reduced loss of hearing function help you if you are killed? Dead ears hear nothing.

You won't be firing a full course of fire in that situation, just enough rounds to disable the threat. The long term damage to your hearing will be negligible anyway. It's an interesting question from the standpoint of a mental exercise, but in reality all you should really be concerned with is the effectiveness at stopping the threat.

Just IMO. I apologise for sounding condescending, but couldn't think of a nicer way to say it.

 

[helotaxi]

Uh, yeah! I don't see using a pistol cartridge carbine over a .223 as "needlessly complicating the situation". However, I'm 37yrs old and should the need arise tomorrow, I'd love to be able to hear for the second half of my life. We had three people break into our house a year ago and guess what, they still live less than a block away. The economy is in rough shape and bad people are getting more desperate.

My comment was in reference to the idea of putting on ear muffs prior to taking care of what needs taking care of, not the choice of firearm. I place many considerations above "how loud is the gun going to be" when deciding what to protect the home and family with. Actually I haven't considered it at all because all my considerations go to effectiveness. I need good hearing to make a living, but I can keep living without it. If I get to the point that I want to go to extra lengths to protect my hearing for the remote chance that I need to protect my home with a firearm, I'll invest in a suppressor or two. If your hearing is THAT important to you, then the money isn't really that much.

As far as the seat-belt analogy, it's a poor one. The GUN is the seat-belt the break-in the crash. You keep the gun handy just like you wear your seat belt. Worrying about putting on ear protection would be like putting a huge pad on the seat belt because your chest might (will) get bruised if you have to use the seat belt.

 

[BruceB]

Most respondents are missing the primary reason that I use the muffs indoors.

It's NOT because I'm worried about preserving my hearing over the long term.

It IS because I want my ears to function as well as possible until the end of the emergency! Firing any "serious" cartridge indoors without ear protection will definitely seriously degrade one's hearing ability for at least a short time, and I do not want that!

The critical thing is to URVIVE the confrontation, and having functional ears just might be a great help.....hence, the muffs.

 

[helotaxi]

And if the amplification on your muffs dies or is dead? How well can you hear with muffs on?

Under stress you don't really hear anything anyway. Proven time and again under myriad situations and numerous studies.