BANG! Practice Without Hearing Protection

[EdC]

I was at my local membership outdoor range this week putting some rounds through my .45 Dan Wesson Bobtail, checking it out after I got it back from the factory for some warranty work.

Now, because I have always, always used hearing protection since the first time I shot a firearm, it dawned on me that I never have been close to a gun when fired, without hearing protection. I wondered, if the time comes when I have to use a firearm in self defense, it might be good to have experienced shooting, at least one round, without hearing protection, so I would know what it was like.

As I was the only person on the range, I thought, ok, I'll try it once.

HOLY COW, IS THAT THING LOUD!!!!! No wonder it's said that people who are in a gunfight get disoriented some times and don't remember it clearly. I've also heard that in such a fight or flight stress situation, hearing shuts down to some degree, so it might not be so disorienting.

No real point to my post, just an observation (and I won't be doing it again). Anyone else?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[EW3]

I hope your "experiment" was worth getting some hearing damage!

[C9H13NO3]

When you're in a firefight, you don't really hear your weapon. After everything cools down, your ears will be ringing, but adrenaline and whatever else your body is pumping through your blood when TSHTF really dulls it out when it's happening.

Now you've got a good idea of why hearing protection is important. Even with good earplugs, lots of guns are still loud as hell.

[PastorPack]

Yup. Guns=loud. Be thankful it was an outdoor range.

[RoadRunner71]

Yes, I have tried this as well. Just for the experience. Also, not something I want to repeat.

[CenCal]

My brother in law and I went to our usual indoor range and he tried out new hearing protection. He didn't realize how insufficient it was at the time.

His ears were ringing for a couple days.

[TucAzRider]

Well years ago when I was young and stupid, we used to shoot for hours (skeet, shotguns, rifles, handguns) without hearing protection,. I can still hear,.. Ya, your ear's would ring for a while, but one or two shot's isn't going to kill ya,. Think about it, you go hunting and don't wear protection? You can shoot off a box of 12ga shooting birds and no-one walks around with protection on?? (and that is louder then a handgun IMO)

So with all that being said, I think it is a good idea to shoot off a few rounds now and then without protection so you know what it will be like if you have to use your personal defense tool on the spur of the momment.. (Hey BG, wait,.. I need to put on my ear protection so I can shoot you)

[archer51]

Actually it doesn't bother me that much, of course that may be due to 20+ years in close proximity of jet engines. I do wear hearing protection when I shoot, just as I did when working on aircraft, but after prolonged exposure you will suffer some hearing loss. Just think what kids todays hearing will be like when they get older, after listening to music booming inside a closed up car.

[Sheldon J]

Made that mistake once, and it gave me a flinch that took several hundred rounds to loose. In a crisis situation I have been told you will not notice the sound.....

[gwhall57]

As someone with a service-connected disability for tinitus in both ears, I advise you to make that one experiment the only time you ever shoot without hearing protection. It does not take much noise to damage your hearing permanently.

[wmhawth]

As someone with a service-connected disability for tinitus in both ears, I advise you to make that one experiment the only time you ever shoot without hearing protection. It does not take much noise to damage your hearing permanently.

Amen to that. I am a former artilleryman with personal experience.

[retsupt99]

EdC...pretty cool experience, I'm sure...not my 'cup of tea'.

Have you ever thought about jumping from a moving vehicle, free-falling off of a cliff, dodging cars on the expressway (really gets the adrenaline going), or swimming in shark infested waters?

I have experienced gunfire up close without ear protection...we can all make mistakes, but not something I would do intentionally.

Stay armed...no experiments...stay safe!

[oldogy]

Protect your hearing. I am an older guy who did not use hearing protection of any kind until a few years back. Hunting, shooting as a kid, no protection, military, no protection, much time around rotary wing aircraft, no protection. Now I have tinnitus and moderate to severe hearing loss both ears. It is a real PIA not being able to hear and understand your grandchildren even with hearing aids.
oldogy

[bmcgilvray]

Well years ago when I was young and stupid, we used to shoot for hours (skeet, shotguns, rifles, handguns) without hearing protection,...

Hear here! Never really occurred to us. Hearing protection was not stressed or perhaps even considered when I was young.

Of course that was so long ago we'd have had to use rocks for ear plugs.

These days I can't hear so well.

[Wolf357]

Amen to that. I am a former artilleryman with personal experience.

I was a US Army13B10 during the '70s. I suffer from tinnitus in my left ear. As long as there is some kind of background noise around me, I hardly notice the constant buzzing sound. But sitting here at the computer in a quiet room, it can become quite annoying.

Occasionally, while shooting at the informal range I belong to, I'll forget to don hearing protection, which I always use, but I'm rudely reminded to do so by the first round I discharge.