Muzzle Blast and Barrel Length

H4831 said:
Mike, I can add a bit on how they neutralize the tinnitus tone.
Every sound we hear is the result of an alternating frequency. Like the lowest frequency that good human ears can hear may be in the order of 400 cycles per second and the highest may be a few thousand cycles per second.
I have tinnitus and the frequency is always the same, somewhat above the frequency of human speech.
To neutralize it they create the same frequency in the ear. Then they reverse the polarity of it. The result is the generated frequency the same as your tinnitus is exactly reversed, meaning when your tinnitus alternating frequency is going positive, the generated frequency is going negative, completely canceling the sound of your tinnitus.
I have tinnitus, but not that severe, so I have just ignored it.
Without doubt, there will be professionals on here who could explain this better than I have, but this is the idea of how it works.
I learned such things from my association in Ham Radio.
Bruce
Click to expand...

I don't know if my tinnitus is severe or not, but if its not severe I don't want it to be. I wear two hearing aids, when I think I might be interested in hearing what others have to say, but the hiss and whine of the tinnitus doesn't go away. Once the hearing aids go in, speech is suddenly understandable (depending on the speaker) but the tinnitus is a constant companion in a quiet environment. Without the hearing aids, a noisy restaurant is a nightmare, and even several people trying to talk over one another is unintelligible to me, as the sound blends into the tinnitus. I've told friends just to walk in, or knock like a SWAT team serving a felony warrant, otherwise I won't hear them at the door. Interesting though how frequency plays a role in the tinnitus effect.
 
Last edited:
bcsteve said:
You know what I mean. Any ear protection that is comfortable, not bulky, doesn't impair normal earring, etc...not muffs preferably.
Click to expand...

IMHO, the only appropriate and convenient way to reduce the sound of the report of a hunting rifle to a safe level is the use of a suppressor. It might not be the answer you want, but its the truth, since much of the sound energy that is harmful to our hearing is transferred to the ear via the jaw bone. Neither muffs, plugs, or a combination of the two completely resolves that issue.
 
You still need ear protection even with a suppressor so that wouldn't totally solve the issue. A suppressor would also add 6-12" to the length of your barrel, not sure if it's the ultimate solution.
 
Boomer, Thank you for your detailed information on Tinnitus. It is odd how some people are more difficult to understand than others. My oldest daughter speaks fast and in a high voice, unless she is looking at me I have a hard time understanding what she says and often ask her to repeat. WK
 
I've used the MSR low profile electronic muffs from SRS Tactical for about five years. They are the best shooting investment I've made. Input jack allows you to listen to music, answer phone without removing muffs. You can adjust mike amplification to enhance your hearing, or to compensate for doubling up with ear plugs. They're not perfect: slimmer would be nice, but way better than the average passive muff. The circuitry is more advanced than the cheapos. Impact noise dampens rather than cutting out, thus allowing normal conversation (most of the time). If you get them, add on the gel contact pads: helps seal over glasses frame.
 
Suppressor?

images_zpsis00lv3q.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

I don't think so and I wouldn't be caught dead in that hat LOL
 
bcsteve said:
You still need ear protection even with a suppressor so that wouldn't totally solve the issue. A suppressor would also add 6-12" to the length of your barrel, not sure if it's the ultimate solution.
Click to expand...

If legal, a suppressor could be made integral to the barrel, resolving the barrel length question, and while hearing protection in addition to the suppressor is advised, its necessity would be dependent upon the cartridge in question|
 
WeakKnee said:
Boomer, Thank you for your detailed information on Tinnitus. It is odd how some people are more difficult to understand than others. My oldest daughter speaks fast and in a high voice, unless she is looking at me I have a hard time understanding what she says and often ask her to repeat. WK
Click to expand...

I know what you mean!
I think the problem with hearing young girls speaking is that their voices are in, or closer to, the frequency of our tinnitus.
 
Nothing wrong with a 22 inch barrel on a woods rifle. Still handy to carry, a little steadier offhand and higher muzzle velocity than an 18 1/2 or 20 inch barrel. I was at the range recently and a guy was shooting on of the AR family in .223 with a 16 inch barrel. Man, that thing was LOUD.
 
YOU WILL DAMAGE YOUR EARS PERMANENTLY. I was "fortunate" enough to come from an area of proud knuckledraggers. Hearing protection was for pussies (as was told to me!!) I then undertook a "career" as a drummer in several bands. (NEVER ONCE WORE HEARING PROTECTION). Also hunted and shot lots before I turned 19. I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED when I went to my military interviews and physical that I wasn't able to undertake the trade I signed up for due to "unexplainable" hearing loss. This was before I turned 20. I just couldn't believe it. Then after I took "choice B" which wasn't dependant on hearing, I started wondering about how could a TEENAGER have permanent hearing loss??? Fast forward to my 5 years at sea and LOTS OF target shooting with hearing protection about 50% of the time. (50 BMG of course)
Now , in my forties, a 30" barrelled .22lr gives me unbelievable ringing in my ears. A single unprotected shot now, and I have to pack up and go home.
I have been FORCED to wear earplugs while hunting now. I use those earfoam type on the "headphone band" that stay around my neck until it's time to shoot. Then I just pop them up in a split second, and shoot away. I have had several 20" .308 rifles, and ALL were obnoxious. I try to stay at 22" or longer for all my non-magnum guns. (other than my .375 Ruger Alaskan, which came with a 20" tube, but I will just pass on an animal if I can't get my earplugs in first, the fireball that gun spews is AWESOME!!!!)
I have always thought it "funny" that people always swear by short tubes for close-in hunting. If a lack of 2" were THAT IMPORTANT, my wife would have left me LONG AGO!!
 
I've got some electronic muffs I like them at the range. I've dicked around with them a bit in the bush and oh ya you can turn them up and hear a ton of stuff you otherwise wouldn't. But I don't like the tinny sound and its a lot harder to detect exactly where the sound is coming from even though they're stereo and they claim you can detect sound direction. Only somewhat I say. For those reasons I don't use them hunting.
 
I got a little Lee Enfield No.5, wow! Compared to a regular LE the crack is much louder. My 444 has a 22" barrel and does bark, the shorter Marlins are too loud.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom