Shooting a gun without ear protection

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I have never shot a gun without ear protection. Has anyone here had to do that in an emergency situation? Is it so loud that it can damage your ears the first time? Is it pretty scary? Does adrenaline help you overcome the shock of the sound?
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Huh? Oh, yes, I have. Repeatedly. Many times. I fired handguns, rifles, shotguns, you name it. The damage is cumulative, i.e. you might not notice at first, but you are damaging your ears. Next time, you damage them a bit more. And so on.

Scary? I'm sorry, I am beyond being scared by loud noises.

Adrenaline has little to do with overcoming the effects of loud noises.
 
I've managed to fail to get the protection back on/in a couple of times.

In a Combat focus shooting class I manages to not get the right plug in all the way when we started a new string of fire. (Naturally I was on the left end of the line) I quickly fixed that problem, but man it hurt.

The only time I generally fail to use at least plugs is hunting, but then again I'm a crappy hunter so I almost never get a chance to shoot while hunting. :o
 
After having a few family members complain about tinnitus, I am always diligent about throwing on plugs and/or muffs. It's sad when the ringing gets so painful and there's nothing that can be done about it. I like my hearing and I hope to keep it that way.
 
When I'm at the range to shoot, and not be social, I usually double up. I have fitted ear plugs, and just put standard muffs over the top. If I'm at a match, or practicing practical shooting with a group, I'll use my Electronic muffs. Not as much protection but I'm usually further away from the line (except when I'm shooting, but the muffs are enough protection) and want to be able to chat.

I have mild tinnitus, and would prefer for it not to get worse...

It's also why I'm considering a suppressor for my HD handgun. In the off chance I have to fire it inside...I'd like to keep my hearing.
 
Muzzle blast is forever, without protection. Period. At 75 my left ear is almost useless and I've had tinnitus in both ears for thirty years. We didn't know jack about what we were doing back in the day.
 
HUH?

I've had mild tinnitus for around 13 years or a bit more and I have trouble hearing conversation with any background noise; the result of shooting a .357 while standing between two metal buildings with no protection, along with countless other stupid range sessions with none. Don't do it, not even once. At 27, and my hearing already as bad as it is, I'm sure at 60 I'll be wearing hearing aides. It's not worth it.
 
Mike Irwin said:
You know, you REALLY have to wonder how anyone who served in the US military up through the 1970s ever came out of basic training without severe hearing damage
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Our ear plugs would fall out. Its such a ridiculously macho culture or it was anyways that no one was going to set their rifle or machine gun down and put their plugs back in, you just tough it out. But that's how you get "artillery ears" too. Just being too macho.

I consider myself fortunate.
 
shortwave said:
Yea, we're invincible at that age. :rolleyes:
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Invincible?

Hell, I thought we were all immortal. Or at least I thought I was.

Now, like a lot of others, I wear double hearing protection on the range, and whenever I'm on the public range everyone who knows me knows to touch my shoulder if you want my attention. Saying something to me with ear plugs and muffs is like talking to a stone, because that's about what my hearing is like.

Mostly it's damage from machinery noise, not gunfire. But noise is noise. And the damage street is one way.
 
Indoors

One more thing.

Always double up with ear plugs and muffs when shooting indoors. At the peak of my shooting, I practiced 3 to 4 times a week indoors. This was in '11. I only wore ear plugs and the noise didn't bother me whatsoever, but I'm pretty sure it contributed significantly to my tinnitus which started the following year. Like some of the others said, the problem is that sound travels through your bones/skull and still can damage your hearing. Plugs alone while shooting indoors doesn't cut it. Gotta double up.
 
I also double up outdoors, with long guns, because rifle and shotgun stocks have a nasty ability to move my right ear cup out of position.
 
I make it a point double, if possible, on any range in which a M-2 is being fired.

Often times though, a helmet is mandated which negates the use of ear muffs and forces you to rely on ear plugs.
 
I noticed last week that my tinnitus gets worse when I shoot, even when I double up. I'm bummed, because I want to start taking lessons from a woman who only teaches other women how to shoot. I was surprised that my tinnitus could be affected even with doubling up. So I'm not sure what to do.

Though I still think that field stripping my .45 is the most dangerous thing I do. That's twice that the bolt nearly took out a window! Dang, those springs are tough.
 
Affected by my age, level of fatigue, medications, especially aspirin, and blood pressure, my tinnitus varies. Especially fatigue. Also, if I listen to music on a long road trip or even at home, even at a normal to low volume level, or when I direct my school music groups for an hour or so, it increases. At other times (opposites of the the situations listed ) it is not so noticeable. I shoot quite often and double up but with devices both rated NRR33 to get the most protection I possibly can out of them. When those cilia get tired of flexing, so to speak, with the fluid moving around inside the cochlea, they send off more false signals causing the tinnitus. When they rest and are rejuvenated, it lessens. Still, because of all of the broken-off cilia, i have 24/7 white noise. Sorry you have it, too. As I get older, it's more annoying.
 
@possum - are you using foam ear plugs, and correctly? If you roll them between your fingers and compact them, they swell back up to fit your ear canal. Doubled up with muffs you should hardly hear it. If that's not working for you, try the electronic muffs. I think their NRC rating is usually higher than the others.
 
There is no reason to target shoot without hearing protection.

As far as a self defense situation, as a hunter, you will never hear the gun go off so the sound alone won't impede your actions.
 
I also have hearing loss and tinnitus from the military. I wear ear muffs with ear plugs to protect what hearing I have left, but I would not hesitate to use my weapon in an emergency. I am 72 and they did not issue hearing protection to the troops then.
 
Kreyzhorse said:
As far as a self defense situation, as a hunter, you will never hear the gun go off so the sound alone won't impede your actions.
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That may be so. But it does not take away from the permanent damaged caused by the noise exposure.

For self defense, I'd take my chances. Hunting? No way.
 
I also have tinnitus from doing silly things, I am 40 now, I imagine it will get worse as I get older. I use to shoot without hearing protection on a regular basis when outdoors. I have been riding a motorcycle since I was 16 and never really considered the loud exhaust or wind noise could be doing damage (I don't wear full face helmets). Running loud chainsaws or other equipment has done it's damage as well.

I can't speak to how one may react without hearing protection in a self defense situation, but I can say shooting without ear protection while hunting, even when in a partially enclosed blind, has not impacted my ability to hit what I am aiming at. Though, it has contributed to the constant ringing in my ears.

These days I carry ear plugs in my truck, I wear ear plugs when I ride my motorcycle, or shoot or run a chainsaw or even mow the lawn. The ringing is not horrible, it does not keep me awake at night, but I certainly don't want to make it any worse.
 
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