BANG! Practice Without Hearing Protection

EdC · July 2nd, 2009, 12:44 PM

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?

EW3 · July 2nd, 2009, 12:47 PM

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

C9H13NO3 · July 2nd, 2009, 12:49 PM

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 · July 2nd, 2009, 12:49 PM

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

RoadRunner71 · July 2nd, 2009, 12:51 PM

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

CenCal · July 2nd, 2009, 01:16 PM

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 · July 2nd, 2009, 01:29 PM

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 · July 2nd, 2009, 01:30 PM

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 · July 2nd, 2009, 01:31 PM

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 · July 2nd, 2009, 01:35 PM

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.

July 2nd, 2009, 12:44 PM	#1
EdC Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Speedway, Indiana Posts: 121	BANG! Practice Without Hearing Protection 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?

July 2nd, 2009, 12:47 PM	#2
EW3 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 930	I hope your "experiment" was worth getting some hearing damage! __________________ "Naked and Starving as They are We Cannot Enough Admire the Incomparable Patience and Fidelity of the Soldiery" – George Washington, Valley Forge, 1777.

July 2nd, 2009, 12:49 PM	#3
C9H13NO3 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,154	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. __________________ -Ryan All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

July 2nd, 2009, 12:49 PM	#4
PastorPack Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,028	Yup. Guns=loud. Be thankful it was an outdoor range. __________________ God is love (1 John 4:8)

July 2nd, 2009, 12:51 PM	#5
RoadRunner71 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,092	Yes, I have tried this as well. Just for the experience. Also, not something I want to repeat. __________________ "Mind own business" "Always cut cards"

July 2nd, 2009, 01:16 PM	#6
CenCal Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central California Posts: 185	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.

July 2nd, 2009, 01:29 PM	#7
TucAzRider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 792	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) __________________

July 2nd, 2009, 01:30 PM	#8
archer51 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: VA Posts: 6,205	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.

July 2nd, 2009, 01:31 PM	#9
Sheldon J Distinguished Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Battle Creek, Mi. Posts: 1,924	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..... __________________ "The sword dose not cause the murder, and the maker of the sword dose not bear sin" Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac 11th century

July 2nd, 2009, 01:35 PM	#10
gwhall57 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 449	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. __________________ "Bad spellers of the world - untie!" DAV Life member, NRA Life member Springfield XD 9mm Sub-Compact Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm

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