357 mag Ear Killer

I can't believe the people that recommend hearing protection in SD situations.

If someone is in my home, with my wife and my lives at risk, the last thing I'm worried about is ringing in the ears and slight hearing loss from a shot or two.

As far as cumulative damage, if the opportunity to protect yourself with a firearm comes up in your home more than once in your life, you need to move to a better neighborhood.

How stupid would it be to lose your life when you go to investigate a sound in the night and don't hear the scumbag that shoots you from behind?

Get real, people! Just arming yourself in a defensive situation preempts all other concerns.
 
I recommend it if it's a REASONABLE option. I have some electronic ear pro available and if there's obviously time to put it on, I would. The advantage of being able to hear better than normal by turning it up, and the advantage of being able to hear after the first shots are significant. And, of course, the ability to avoid further hearing damage is pretty significant as well.

Would I recommend using it in a situation where time was critical or when there wasn't OBVIOUSLY time to put it on? Of course not.
How stupid would it be to lose your life when you go to investigate a sound in the night and don't hear the scumbag that shoots you from behind?
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That would be pretty stupid. I assume you're talking about using passive ear pro that limits your ability to hear. Good quality electronic hearing protection actually enhances your hearing. So you might be able to hear the bad guy before he hears you. How smart would that be? ;)

All that said, if someone kicks the door in, I seriously doubt I'll even remember that the ear pro is there.
 
I can't believe the people that recommend hearing protection in SD situations.

If someone is in my home, with my wife and my lives at risk, the last thing I'm worried about is ringing in the ears and slight hearing loss from a shot or two.

As far as cumulative damage, if the opportunity to protect yourself with a firearm comes up in your home more than once in your life, you need to move to a better neighborhood.
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I always recommend hearing protection when shooting any firearm, even a 22 rifle with shorts or CBs. You only have two ears and protecting them is important no matter what the circumstance. If you work around heavy equipment, I think this is probably a bigger contributor for most to long term hearing loss as we tend to dismiss the noise as not being important, but it adds up. You have to be reasonable in your choices and decisions as life and limb (SD) comes first. But you can incorporate both into your "plan".

I said what you said on protection with handgun hunting (deer).... discovered that in most cases, it's pretty easy to use hearing protection as most shots are not snap shots.

Moving to a better neighborhood is not always a option for people. But yeah, if it is possible, living in a safer neighborhood is always a better choice as it goes beyond SD. There are violence, and theft issues outside your home (car and so forth) that are important too. But you can only do so much.
 
I've fired .40 and .45 indoors with ear protection and you can tell it's LOUD. Yesterday I was outside chronographing some .357 handloads from my stainless Blackhawk and especially with H110 and 300MP they were L.O.U.D (and boomy/flashy). I couldn't even imagine touching something like that off indoors without ear protection.
 
I'm asking about when there is "NO EAR PROTECTION", like at night in your home and you awaken and have to sho0t in your home
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I'd rather be deaf than dead. At the point you make does it really matter? How about the AR or 12 gauge in the home??
 
Guys,

I wish that most of you would read the original post. before weighing in. I asked about firing 38 sp+P's out of my 357 for SD in the home. Not firing 357 loads >>> I am not an idiot nor unfamiliar shooting 357's outdoors and indoors.
THIS DRIVES ME NUTS. ONE GUY MISREADS THE PO'S QUESTION AND THEN EVERYONE GOES OFF ON A WILD TANGENT AND IT BECOMES A CRAZY SNIPE HUNT.

I hope we are crystal clear on this. Here again are my questions.
and I'm not worried about going deaf over being dead.

"Question is if you shoot a 38 special +P load out of a 357 mag. Revolver will the decibel level and light flash be more manageable???? Please feel free to weigh in on this.
Doc"

then I asked,
"I was asking, Do EarPro
Plugs protect your hearing when firing
as good as the standard
Ear Muffs that I use at
the Range does"?

Doc
 
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My thought is there will not be that much difference from 38+P and 357. Only way to tell is try both at night if you can do so. Proof in the pudding. If the NRR is the same then yes to the plug/muff question
 
Doc see post #32 ... loud is loud ... what do you mean by 'more manageable'? A .38 Special will harm your hearing, so will a .38+P. Is 6 months more pregnant than 2 months?

As far as hearing protect the Noise Reduction is the factor to look at. A higher NR will do more to protect ones hearing. If the EarPro has a higher NR than the muffs, then they will offer better hearing protection. Seems pretty simple to me, choose the highest NR you can grab.
 
A 38 spec. has a lower decibel rating than a 357 mag. It's like rating an Earthquake not pregnancy. The difference between a 7 magnitude quake and a 6 magnitude quake it exponentially huge. a .38 Special is lower than that of a 357 Magnum (156.3dB vs. 164.3dB) and it too is exponentially huge.
Therefore, my question is valid. Yes both are above the threshold for ear damage.
So I guess I answered my own question. On last comment. The use of being pregnant is totally incorrect in trying to answer my questions.

Damaging noise is is not like pregnancy . There are different levels of noise. and there is only one level of Pregnancy. Either you are or you're not.

This is starting to get very Trollish.

Doc.
 
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Really, the only accurate determination can be done using the particular loading.
There are full power fire breathing magnum loads and there are moderate loads that are not much more than a 38 +P in a 357 case.
I suspect that most of the db readings and comparisons are done using the classic hot loaded 125gn load.
 
You do have your opinion Doc and your question may be seen as valid. I have my opinion and considering:

"Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.

Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.

At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.
"
from previously referenced post.

Using your reference to 156.3 dB from a .38 Special is not something I find more adventagious than 164.3 dB (.357 magnum). Obviously you do. I won't quibble. You use the hearing protection you wish to, I will use the hearing protection I choose to. I would just like others reading this to be aware that a .38 Special fired witout hearing protection ought not be considered a good thing concerning ones future hearing ability. There are different levels of hearing loss and one can go on and on about that also. Be forewarned and accept responsibility for you actions, reactions and inactions.
 
I've met a lot of people who thought they could hear just fine when they clearly couldn't.

If you have a before and after hearing test showing no hearing damage I will listen. If you just say you have no damage I'm not impressed.

There is a member here who claims he has significant damage from firing a stout defensive load out of a 357 indoors. Damage immediate and permanent. I'm going to take his word for it.

4 decibels may not seem like much, but measured in pressure the 160 db sound wave is multiple times the pressure of the 156.

I try to wear plugs and phones at the range. I avoid shooting indoors as I find the noise unpleasant(and the dirt, and the smell, and sometimes the people).
 
Both of your posts on hearing and protection are well written and very valid. I have suffered hearing loss and wear one aid in one of my ears.
I was just asking if EarPro plugs are any good. I use a very well made set of hearing protectors always when I shoot now. But was
thinking about if I should have a set of plugs on my night stand next to my weapon and if so are the plugs any good or not.

The Range where I shoot has a very good Range Master and he wears a set of muffs that tunes out shots but allow normal talking.
he wears it at the Range all day long.I'm seriously thinking about getting that.
Thanks,
Doc
 
The Range where I shoot has a very good Range Master and he wears a set of muffs that tunes out shots but allow normal talking.
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A nice set of electronic muffs is an EXCELLENT addition to the home defense plan. I am particular to the Peltor brand but other are cheaper.

Slip em on,, turn em on, and better then normal hearing results. Any shots fired and the mikes cut out, resulting in standard muff hearing protection. Immediately back to better then normal hearing

I use surpressed guns for HD but have a set of Peltor comtacs hanging on the headboard post.
 
Look into the Peltor 6s as well. Smaller profile, a little less expensive.

The comtacs have boom mike jacks and a cpl other features most guys wont need.

You wont regret using any of the Peltor products.
 
There is a member here who claims he has significant damage from firing a stout defensive load out of a 357 indoors. Damage immediate and permanent. I'm going to take his word for it.
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I haven't had it tested professionally, but my left ear has been significantly impaired since shooting one shot from a .357Mag indoors without ear pro.

Try this test. Hum a continuous note, and while you're humming, plug one ear. You'll notice that the sound gets louder. Try it with the other ear and you should notice exactly the same thing.

When I do that test with my right ear, the sound gets noticeably louder. When I do it with my left ear there is no change at all. In other words, I now go through life as if my left ear is permanently plugged.
...a .38 Special is lower than that of a 357 Magnum (156.3dB vs. 164.3dB) and it too is exponentially huge.
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The difference between 156.3dB and 164.3dB is an increase by a factor of 6.3 in the sound power level.
 
Doc I am totally deaf in one ear (service connected). I use an EarPro in my remaining ear PLUS wear Peltor Tactical, or Radians BTE muffs. I do not use the EarPro by themself at the range. In the field I use a Walker HD Game Ear in my good ear. I have lost some hearing in my functional ear of the past 25 years due to my involvement in the shooting sports. I think it is unavoidable even when taking precautions ... stuff happens.

Note: with the EarPro plugging the opening and it becomes an ear plug. With the opening open there is some noise reduction, but not a lot. However when open there is some noise reduction, while still allowing to hear the background sounds. One can get muff with a NR of 34, but give up hearing background sounds. As my father tells me all the time, 'Life is tough, and then you die'.
 
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