Shooting without hearing protection?

The first time I went pistol shooting with an old school rugby coach he wanted me to hear what the blast was like without ear plugs. Not something youd want to expose yourself to over and over again if you didnt have to. It was only a glock 17 .40 but it was loud enough.
I wear protection, I like to hear things and Im planning on keeping it that way.
 
I made the mistake of not putting on my 'muffs, and pulled the trigger on my .45. It took 1-2 days just for the ringing to stop in my left ear.

These days I "double-up" (plugs & 'muffs) for pistol, and just plugs for rifle - as the 'muffs screw w/ my cheek weld.
 
i use hearing protection all the time,being 100% deaf on the right and 40% deaf on the left i don't take any chances with what i have left.usually at the range the right side doesn't always get covered(there's no need to) but i have to lower the left side over my ear before firing commences,well 1 day talking to somebody on the firing line i forgot to cover the left before pulling the trigger on my AR15 :( ,holy f:eek: ck was it loud,my frikin ear rang for 3 days
 
Due to issues other than shooting, I am now 50% or better deaf in both ears. This consists of almost 100% of my high frequency hearing, which is what you need to pick sounds out of the back ground. Unless you like the thought of always having to ask people to repeat themselves once or twice (or three times) and have them look at you like your stupid or something, do yourself a favor, buy the best dam muffs you can find and wear plugs under them. The cheap yellow foam plugs are generally rated for 27-29 dbl's and are good for most smaller stuff, but muffs are the way to go.

Anyone who shoots trap or skeet all day without muffs is a COMPLETE and UTTER moron.

:( You don't realize how much you hear every day till you can't. or how precioius it is. I can't talk to my brothers children because they can't enounciate clear enough for me to understand and they get tired of uncle Darren asking them to repeat themselves again and again. :(

Moral of the story, its real easy to protect your hearing, DO SO !!
 
Darren, I hear you (no pun intended)

I was in a garage band for years and practiced loader than stage.
I have suffered inrepairable hearing loss and as such I use a combination of reusable inserts and large alien like "ear domes"

I hope to retain as much as I can as I am so tired of saying "huh" when spoken to.
 
I was a bit slow getting my muffs back on at an IPSC match once. Nothing like that ringing head to remind you to put 'em back on early from then on! :)
 
Hearing damage is cumulative. Small amounts erode over time & never return.

Children are especially vulnerable to this damage!!!

.22s cause this damage. Encourage children to wear hearing protection whenever they shoot!

I know a few people who refuse to wear hearing protection when at the range because "my hearing is already damaged". It's been impossible to explain to them that they are rapidly losing what they have left due to their own stupidity.

The fellow who is worst for this; his parents owned a hearing loss & hearing aid clinic!

D
 
I used to have my reloading press set up at my Father's house where he has his own indoor range. A couple of times over those two years, I walked into the range with a loaded mag to test and fired the First and only the first shot before realizing that I had forgot them. OUCH! :eek:

I agree with Darren above, it ain't tough to purposely shoot without hearing protection, it's just dumb.
 
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I only shot a 9mm without hearing protection twice on an outdoor range with back 'wall' and cover (half indoors :p) ...the second time I forgot how bad the first time was :eek: than I learned my lesson... But I have to say when shooting 9mm completely outdoors (no roof or walls) it's not that bad.

but many times someone shot a .308 (or other rifle calibers) before I had a chance put on hearing protection... that sucks!
 
While on basic training, we went out for a night shoot as part of our training. As my section made its way to the firing line I started checking my pockets, and "oh crap" no earplugs. I briefly thought of calling my sergeant, but decided I would look like an idiot and didn't want that so I took up position and fired along with the rest of them.

We had ten rounds to fire. For the last three, I wasn't even aiming anymore, just cringing and pulling the trigger. It has definitely impacted my hearing; although I hasven't had it tested, I have much more trouble than most making out conversations and am often asking people to repeat themselves. Don't be a fool, ask your sergeant for plugs. The 25 pushups will be well worth it.
 
Only twice did I ever fire rifles on the range without hearing protection. Once on purpose, once by accident. Both times only one round. Even if you plug your ears with paper napkins because you forgot your plugs/muffs, anything is better than nothing.

Wear the protection. Hearing damage is cummulative.
 
I was at a PPC Match and was shooting a duty stage and I forgot to bring them down.. Was deaf for about 2 hours.. 8 folks with 40's firing 12 rounds in 20 seconds...

These days I find that even shooting 22 without protection hurts... I'm getting so old...
 
When I starting shooting I didn't know about earplug or muffs. Mostly I shot .22 rifle and 12 gauge. Most people I knew said it wasn't necessary for .22 and 12ga.

I use both plugs and muffs now. Well sometimes I just use muffs with a .22.
 
windsor said:
This means my Comtac (rated at 19dB NRR) won't do the trick? :confused:
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no way, don't shoot anything centerfire without at least 27dbl rating or better. They might just barely be ok for .22 rimfire but I would'nt. be carefull, glasses aren't bad, but even good hearing aids suck, ask me I know.;) and don't even get me started about the joys of tinenitus! (permanet ringing in the ears) (ps, please don't mind the spelling, I am aware that it is wrong)
 
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dan belisle said:
What? I can't hear you. - dan
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Having my left ear ring (for a &(&*%^^%#%$#@ week when I was 19) from sighting in my hunting rifle in a "punch bowl" was priceless...:redface:

Doing the same thing at work (when I was 25ish) with a hammer, wasn't that bright either.:mad:

Waking up one morning with both ears ringing for no apparent reason? Downright frightening....:(

D
 
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