gun blast in small room question
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I don't think anybody is arguing with that. But some of that hearing loss is permanent, whether you notice it at the time or not.
A little thought ahead of time on weapon selection and ammo selection can help reduce the damage if the time ever comes to use it. (4 or 5" .38 Special vs. 1 7/8" .357 Magnum, etc)
Don't laugh at the folks suggesting a suppressor. That's a great option if allowed in your state (and you pay the $200 tax to the feds to make it legal)
First off, IMHO, GUNS don't make noise, ammunition does. So ... you're looking for a quiet round, not a quiet gun. If a silencer is out of the question (they ARE legal, tho there are hoops and expenses involved), my experience says that smaller rounds, less powder, less noise ... I can shoot .22s without ear protection, but I'd never try it with a .38, 9mm, etc. I'm not sure what research has been done on this issue ...
I have also shot .22 both with and without ear protection. I believe I have some cumulative hearing impairment from many tens of thousands of .22 rounds. I also see medical reports of long term hearing loss in environments we might describe as only moderately noisy.
So the issue isn't a choice between some hearing loss and none, but between greater and more immediate loss as compared to less loss. I can certainly understand not wanting to impair a baby's hearing with a more noisy option.
No need for forgiveness. I was soliciting thoughts on this.
My in depth research of youtube video suggests that a 50 round magazine empties pretty quickly on fully automatic.
I've heard that Marlin camp carbines in 9mm and 45acp are quieter than their pistol counterparts, but I wouldn't guess they would be as quiet as a .22 rifle.
While firing a .22 rifle isn't itself good for your hearing, I've not had the ringing in the ears I associate with firing a centerfire gun unprotected.
Lots of home defense is undertaken by people less proficient than your wife. I know I could not responsibly hand my wife a .357 or .45acp handgun for her own protection, and I contemplate an alternative for those less familiar with the noise and recoil of a centerfire handgun.
Btw, you aren't the first to tell me what a poor choice this idea represents, but the better choices always seem to involve characteristics that would put some people off.
auto .22
Leaving aside that automatic weapons aren't legal...
Yes, I have contemplated this same thought too. Something like a Calico firing full auto .22 would make for a pretty decent CQB or home defense option I think.
Big mag capacity, compact but controllable, limits overpenetration, Stinger rounds still arrive with some pretty decent authority, and a dozen rounds into the target is going to ruin anyones day.
Leaving aside that automatic weapons aren't legal...
Yes, I have contemplated this same thought too. Something like a Calico firing full auto .22 would make for a pretty decent CQB or home defense option I think.
Big mag capacity, compact but controllable, limits overpenetration, Stinger rounds still arrive with some pretty decent authority, and a dozen rounds into the target is going to ruin anyones day.
Shadi Khalil
New member
A very important point that is almost always over looked in these discussions.
Powderman, I am very glad to hear your son came home
Powderman,
I am very glad to hear that your son and his friend made it home OK, and as a father I hope I never have to hear my son tell me stuff like that.
What he tells you is exactly what it feels and sounds like.
It also follows what Craig experienced in tunnels long before that, and what I experienced several times sometime ( just about half-way) between those two conflicts.
All of us will also tell you that after the shooting we could still hear what was said around us so there is no catastrophic hearing loss ( not even after lobbing a grenade into a room (when you re in a house) then moving in and emptying up half a mag x 2 (you and your buddy are shooting, and sometimes others too) of 0.223.
Surely any civilian is not going to have this as part of their HD plan, but this only means that one needs not worry too much bout hearing loss when it comes to defend your home.
One reason that was not mentioned is that worrying about the hearing loss will add one very unnecessary thing to worry about at a time when you need to have a clear mind, and you already have more than enough to worry about.
As for resorting to full auto weapons that can empty a 50 rounds mag in seconds, if this is your choice (asuming it is legal) then I suppose it is fine.
Brgds,
Danny
Powderman,
I am very glad to hear that your son and his friend made it home OK, and as a father I hope I never have to hear my son tell me stuff like that.
What he tells you is exactly what it feels and sounds like.
It also follows what Craig experienced in tunnels long before that, and what I experienced several times sometime ( just about half-way) between those two conflicts.
All of us will also tell you that after the shooting we could still hear what was said around us so there is no catastrophic hearing loss ( not even after lobbing a grenade into a room (when you re in a house) then moving in and emptying up half a mag x 2 (you and your buddy are shooting, and sometimes others too) of 0.223.
Surely any civilian is not going to have this as part of their HD plan, but this only means that one needs not worry too much bout hearing loss when it comes to defend your home.
One reason that was not mentioned is that worrying about the hearing loss will add one very unnecessary thing to worry about at a time when you need to have a clear mind, and you already have more than enough to worry about.
As for resorting to full auto weapons that can empty a 50 rounds mag in seconds, if this is your choice (asuming it is legal) then I suppose it is fine.
Brgds,
Danny
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Yes, firing inside a room will cause damage to your hearing. To what extent will be different for everyone, even firing outside without muffs can and will cause damage.
I would advice the use of a suppressor, 380 ACP is more than capable at close range to end the fight.. I know many will disagree, however, I have looked at self defence shootings and there are plenty one shot stops with the calibre.
You can even go further and use suppressor gel to reduce the DB.
For street carry, I would use something bigger.
Best advice, improve your home security to reduce the likelihood of someone breaking in and get a dog.
I know of someone who used a snubbie 2inch 38 Spl (non plus p ammo) and lost his hearing completely in one ear. The attack took place in a subway..
Koolminx, I disagree with this
“But in my experience and training with weapons, there are no pistols or shotguns that will blind or partially blind you when firing them”
Your eyes have cones and rods. Cones are for day vision, Rods are for night vision. The flash can blind you temporarily, from 1 to 2 seconds or more, for your eye to adjust.
What you need to do, is to shoot your carry ammo at night. There are 4 types of flashes in general, RED is ideal, WHITE, ORANGE and YELLOW. Choosing the ammo is the most important part.
Then practice Rod’s regent shooting, to minimise the affect on your rods.
I would advice the use of a suppressor, 380 ACP is more than capable at close range to end the fight.. I know many will disagree, however, I have looked at self defence shootings and there are plenty one shot stops with the calibre.
You can even go further and use suppressor gel to reduce the DB.
For street carry, I would use something bigger.
Best advice, improve your home security to reduce the likelihood of someone breaking in and get a dog.
I know of someone who used a snubbie 2inch 38 Spl (non plus p ammo) and lost his hearing completely in one ear. The attack took place in a subway..
Koolminx, I disagree with this
“But in my experience and training with weapons, there are no pistols or shotguns that will blind or partially blind you when firing them”
Your eyes have cones and rods. Cones are for day vision, Rods are for night vision. The flash can blind you temporarily, from 1 to 2 seconds or more, for your eye to adjust.
What you need to do, is to shoot your carry ammo at night. There are 4 types of flashes in general, RED is ideal, WHITE, ORANGE and YELLOW. Choosing the ammo is the most important part.
Then practice Rod’s regent shooting, to minimise the affect on your rods.
Muzzle flash and boom
I once shot a skunk outside at night with a 4" .357 mag. The muzzle flash blinded me for several seconds. I've never fired a gun in the house, I hope I never have to. It does seem to me that a bigger slower bullet from a full size gun might not be as hard on the ears as a high pressure round at supersonic speed.
I once shot a skunk outside at night with a 4" .357 mag. The muzzle flash blinded me for several seconds. I've never fired a gun in the house, I hope I never have to. It does seem to me that a bigger slower bullet from a full size gun might not be as hard on the ears as a high pressure round at supersonic speed.
As someone who has done it twice...
I had an attempted home invasion back when I was 19. I fired a S&W Model 66-2 with a 4" barrel loaded with 135gr. HydraShoks in a hallway. It was deafening. My hearing still isn't back to the way it was. I was in band throughout high school, and playing in college at the time, but had to quit due to a newly developed tone deafness. I can tell when something is bad either way (flat or sharp), but require an electronic tuner to get spot on. I'm 25, so don't think you're too young for it to affect you.
I couldn't hear a thing for 15 minutes and I was at home by myself. You can't call 911 when you can't hear. After that, I had a bad ringing for the about 4 or 5 hours and everything sounded like I was underwater. It took a day or two for it the ringing to stop. Talk all you want about adrenaline killing the sound. It ain't always the case. Nothing is more real and adrenaline pumping than someone kicking in your front door.
Semi-Autos are much easier on the ears IMHO. I've fired my G27 and 1911 inside a booth at an indoor range without hearing protection (accidental... cell phone when i was the only person in there... forgot to put them back on
). Both were loaded with some very hot DoubleTap Ammo (back when it could be found) and both were nothing compared to the revolver.
I had an attempted home invasion back when I was 19. I fired a S&W Model 66-2 with a 4" barrel loaded with 135gr. HydraShoks in a hallway. It was deafening. My hearing still isn't back to the way it was. I was in band throughout high school, and playing in college at the time, but had to quit due to a newly developed tone deafness. I can tell when something is bad either way (flat or sharp), but require an electronic tuner to get spot on. I'm 25, so don't think you're too young for it to affect you.
I couldn't hear a thing for 15 minutes and I was at home by myself. You can't call 911 when you can't hear. After that, I had a bad ringing for the about 4 or 5 hours and everything sounded like I was underwater. It took a day or two for it the ringing to stop. Talk all you want about adrenaline killing the sound. It ain't always the case. Nothing is more real and adrenaline pumping than someone kicking in your front door.
Semi-Autos are much easier on the ears IMHO. I've fired my G27 and 1911 inside a booth at an indoor range without hearing protection (accidental... cell phone when i was the only person in there... forgot to put them back on
). Both were loaded with some very hot DoubleTap Ammo (back when it could be found) and both were nothing compared to the revolver.