Do you wear ear protection?

Mike S. · Post by **Mike S.** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:43 pm

The thread about pregnant women got me thinking about this. I'm pretty good about it but I'm surprised at how often I see others without any. To me, a rifle can be downright painful, other than a shot or two while hunting.

I was talking to a guy that works with me; he just got back from basic training and said a lot of them never used any ear plugs on the fireing line. That really surprised me. (BTW, he qualified as Expert while in basic, shot a perfect score. I was pretty impressed with my young friend)

Mike

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:50 pm

Ehh! What did you say?

Heck yes. Whether it's the range or field. I'm going to try and keep what hearing I have left. They aren't always comfortable, but a little discomfort is better than the altenative. On the upside, I use electronic muffs that amplify the sound. I get back a little of what I've lost when wearing them.

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:52 pm

Always when plinking perhaps with the exception of 22 LR's. I have occasionally worn them while hunting but usually only when hunting migratory birds.

I have little enough hearing left as it is, I'd like to keep it.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:02 pm

I always use ear plugs. What branch of service? It is mandatory to have hearing pro while on a USMC range.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:05 pm

I did not always wear hearing protection growing up, mostly because I usually was firing either .22's or shotguns. I'm paying for it now - especially in crowded rooms (I just can't make out single conversations). My hearing is good, except when it gets overwhelmed like that.

I always ALWAYS wear hearing protection now - and insist anyone shooting with me also does so. Same with eye protection.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:29 pm

Ysabel Kid wrote:...in crowded rooms (I just can't make out single conversations). My hearing is good, except when it gets overwhelmed like that.
I always ALWAYS wear hearing protection now - and insist anyone shooting with me also does so. Same with eye protection.

Ditto, although for me it was an undiagnosed ear infection. Loss is in that one ear only, but I'm going to protect what's left!

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:33 pm

Agree, ears are important. I think a big favor everyone can do for younger ones it to make sure they wear ear protection when shooting, so they will hear better than we do when they get to our age!

danthegunman · Post by **danthegunman** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:38 pm

Now.....I always use eye & ear protection.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:53 pm

I do on the range,not in the field .

SoupOrMan · Post by **SoupOrMan** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:01 pm

Hello, all,

I always wear some kind of hearing protection depending on the guns and my location. At an indoor range, I double up with foam earplugs and headphone ear protectors regardless of what I'm shooting. At an outdoor range, I'll double up for anything but .22s, I'll just wear foamies for those. Doubling up right from the get-go is an old habit from when I was a flight line avionics tech in the Air Force. It helped me keep my hearing in good shape until I ruined it later with loud music.

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:29 pm

Most certainly. I've done more than enough damage to my hearing already.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:30 pm

I always wear hearing/eye protection at the range, not so much in the field but I am almost never there.

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:30 am

Always - hunting ,plinking, Anytime any shooting is going on.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:36 am

At the range, plugs and muffs always,
In the field, nothing but have considered wearing the electronic muffs.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:50 am

Griff wrote:
Ysabel Kid wrote:...in crowded rooms (I just can't make out single conversations). My hearing is good, except when it gets overwhelmed like that.
I always ALWAYS wear hearing protection now - and insist anyone shooting with me also does so. Same with eye protection.
Ditto, although for me it was an undiagnosed ear infection. Loss is in that one ear only, but I'm going to protect what's left!

Griff, in all fairness, unprotected exposure to gun fire wasn't the only cause for me either. It was certainly not loud music - I've never been a fan, never played my music that loud, and have been to fewer concerts in my life than fingers on one hand. However, I do get frequent sinus infections. Got one a few years back while traveling out west on business - hit me about 2am the morning i was to fly back. I took all the medicine I had with me at the time, but it didn't help. Manage to burst both of my eardrums on the flight back. Needless to say, that didn't help...

Protect what you have fellas!

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:17 am

At the range, always.

In the woods, not so much...

mad mucus · Post by **mad mucus** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:28 am

ALWAYS... as does anyone accompanying me.

Mucus

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:06 am

JReed wrote:I always use ear plugs. What branch of service? It is mandatory to have hearing pro while on a USMC range.

Mandatory on Army ranges as well. Indeed, one can/will be disciplined if as range officer or safety officer you permit anything else.

That said I "lost" my plugs once on the ITT range in BCT and was nearly deaf for several hours. Learning point.

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:08 am

Always on the range.....not in the woods. Make sure my grand children wear both ear & eye when they want to shoot or the guns don't come out.

mac45 · Post by **mac45** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:05 am

Always at the range or plinking.
Not when hunting.

Eric M. · Post by **Eric M.** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:11 am

I have always worn ear protection while on the range.
However, I never wear plugs while duck hunting, and with all of my duck and goose shooting over the years, and with the years as a driller on drilling rigs, my hearing is terrible.
I have to wear a hearing aid at all times.
I find that the Walker's Game Ear is as good as any hearing aid that costs thousands of dollars, so that is what I use.

Eric

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:16 am

Always on the range or when doing any deliberate shooting. When hiking and exploring where some shooting might be done I take plugs with me.
When hunting I take plugs too.
I have a significant high frequency hearing loss and my ability to distinguish between f's and s's and other sounds is compromised. When I was 35 I was told by a hearing specialist that I had great hearing for a 70 year old.

The cause ... unprotected ears during shooting.

I now suffer from continual tinnitus in both ears. For those lucky enough to not know what that is like, think about standing under a tree full of singing cicadas 24-7-365 and you'll have an idea.

Even with these hearing problems I'm not a range nazi. I believe in freedom of choice. I let others make up their own minds about hearing protection. I might mention it, especially with children around, but it's not my decision. I made sure my step children wore their ear protection as was my responsibility. But I'm not responsible for every body else.

Joe

Eric M. · Post by **Eric M.** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:25 am

I can't believe that you are such an easy going guy at the range Joe.
It must be that the smell of gun powder mellows you out like it does me.

Eric

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:33 am

At the Range: Yes

Hunting: No... but then the .357 doesn't make much noise compared to say a .308, .45-70 or even a 12ga.

It's actually shocking how quiet it is considering its utility.

But then, I was in Field Artillery for 8 years...

41 Redhawk · Post by **41 Redhawk** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:45 am

I wear muffs and sometimes plugs with them when on the range. While hunting I wear plugs.

Rebel1972 · Post by **Rebel1972** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:03 am

How do you guys hear a deer coming ?Where I hunt it's so thick you have to listen for deer and by the time you see them sometimes it s hard just to get the gun up without spooking them.

.J Miller ,my dad has the same problem with his hearing .He was shooting a .22 and the case ruptured ,all the sound came back on him.He has a constant ringing in his ears.

kubmiester · Post by **kubmiester** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:41 pm

Hearing protection is a must! Hearing loss from noise is easily preventable. I get a chuckle from the guys who think they â€œcan handle it.â€

cubrock · Post by **cubrock** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:43 pm

YES! Only time I don't is when hunting.

I often wear plugs under muffs.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:42 pm

Eric M. wrote:I can't believe that you are such an easy going guy at the range Joe.
It must be that the smell of gun powder mellows you out like it does me.

Eric

Eric, I sure am though. I'm there to shoot and enjoy myself, not police everybody else. Like I said, I'll make sure my own is wearing them, but not everybody else.

And you are right, I do love the smell of powder smoke. Especially on a cool morning.

Joe

mack69 · Post by **mack69** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:15 pm

Me too...usually foamies or soft plugs under a pair of stereo electronic muffs, especially when shooting magnums or heavy stuff....I lost a bit of hearing working in the steel mills as a young buck...need to protect what I have left...

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:37 pm

I always wear ears on the range. I have never worn them hunting. I am interested in some of the Walker Game Ear type things but have yet to try them.
As an unsuporvised adolescent I damaged my hearing by shooting without protection.

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:39 pm

Only at the Range, not while hunting.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:01 pm

Always at the range. It was not always this way though. That is why the hearing in my left ear is not as acute as it once was. I always wear "eyes" too. 1886.

Slick · Post by **Slick** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:18 pm

I've always worn both eye & ear protection.. For ears (when shooting big guns or one with a compensator) I wear foam plugs under muffs as I shoot better groups with less noise. If I'm out out on the trail and have to shoot a snake or something - it somehow doesn't seem loud like if I'm just target practicing - so maybe adrenalin has an effect on what we hear?

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:24 pm

I always wear them (except when hunting) and I was required to when I was in the USAF. I pretty much ruined my left ear hearing shooting a deer from a treestand in PA about 10 years ago.

otteray · Post by **otteray** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:52 pm

J Miller said" I now suffer from continual tinnitus in both ears. For those lucky enough to not know what that is like, think about standing under a tree full of singing cicadas 24-7-365 and you'll have an idea..."

Yeah, I know whatcha mean.
But now I don't need to look for a pitch pipe or tuning fork for my guitar

.

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:07 pm

I always use ear protection when I am shooting, except when hunting in the field. Art

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:06 pm

I have 67% hearing (tone) loss in my left ear and 33% loss in my right ear. Darn toot'n I wear hearing protection! Gotta save whats left, use those fancy electronic earmuffs that amplify sound too, actually helps me hear game in the woods.

Back in the 70's I raced stock cars(short track) professionally five nights a week, didn't wear hear plugs...should've. Also became an O.O. in the late seventies, drove a million or so miles with the window down. Doc says that helped give me constant ringing in my ears. By the time I had a fleet of equipment on the road my hearing was worse than it is now, so I went back to school (my own company supported me, so I did not leach on anyone) and received a M.E.E. (Masters in Electronic Engineering) to go along with my B.A. so I could change professions and get my hearing back.

The Lewis · Post by **The Lewis** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:32 pm

Always while target shooting, never while hunting. I like the sound of those electronic muffs if they really amplify the sounds around you.

Bramble · Post by **Bramble** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:04 pm

On the range yes, but not whilst hunting.

Will occasionaly run a couple of strings on an indoor range without just to keep aclimitised. When you may have to do it for real is not the time to discover it is horendiously loud and shocking.

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:03 pm

With extra loud guns, yes.

With small amount of shooting, no.

With 22 LR or mag, no.

With shooting of several rounds, yes--sometimes.

Yes, I have damaged my hearing, esp. left ear, a lot. 44 mag pistols get most of the blame.

What's really sad and shows how stupid you can be--I love music.

Kinda goes along with my saying at the bottom of my posts. I "earned" my hearing loss.

Don McCullough

old06 · Post by **old06** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:23 pm

always use muff's and ear plugs

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:52 pm

WHAT!!!! I am amazed to hear that a Soldier (?) did not use hearing protection on the range. Between zeroing and qualifying (in the Army) He fired a MINIMUM of 52 rounds in Basic it would have been more. It is amazing that he did not wear protection. I have 20 years in now and have used hearing protection on the range since basic. I almost always wear hearing protection when shooting (always on the range but not when hunting).

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:05 pm

Yes, always. Some of the Aquila stuff is so mild in my 22's the sound is almost a joke though. Murphy's law of the range also dictates that if a man with a 378 Weatherby Mag. ported has not yet shown up, he will shortly and sit next to you. His gun going off will also be in remarkable timing to your own efforts, shot for shot, and will also occur as soon as your muffs are removed for the 5 seconds between the back of your truck and the drivers seat. Yep, I'm always muffed here. Hunting I will sometimes tuck some toilet paper in to take a large part of the blast away, yet I still seem able to hear enough.

waz · Post by **waz** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:17 pm

Everyone I shoot with uses -
Ear muffs always for targets;
Ear muffs always for hunting;

and I also use -
Ear plugs under my motorbike helmet when on the highway.

I'm a muso so hearing protection is never questioned.

W

jkbrea · Post by **jkbrea** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:00 am

I use them on the range but never when hunting, but I noticed that when shooting at game,I could barely hear the round. I guess it's the adrenalin or something to do with the excitement. Yesterday a partner of mine shot at a charging dog with a .45. I was about 8 feet away. It sounded like a small pop and I didn't realize it was a shot at first.

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:55 pm

How can you hunt with muffs on? I depend on my ears more while hunting than I do on my eyes.

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:19 pm

Some of us sat between the doors many years ago and listened all day to a straight stacked truck engine running all day long, no insulation, no AC so the windows were down, and now we can hardly hear the gun go off! Because we were careless when young, we may not be much smarter now, but hopefully take note of this post.

Do you wear ear protection?

Do you wear ear protection?

Re: Do you wear ear protection?

ear protection