It is still loud ain't it even outside.
2007-06-15 17:19:15 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
When I began shooting about 20 years ago if I was not at a range that required it, I usually would not. After about 3 or 4 years the ignorance of youth began to decrease, along with my hearing. Now I wear hearing protection all the time, and so should you. Even with a 22. When hunting and only one shot will be fired I will not use it though.
2007-06-16 04:15:32 · answer #1 · answered by Sparky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hell yes I wear hearing protection!
I don't hunt. Have gone, but just not my thing.
I was recently asked the same question by someone. I usually shoot .45ACP and .40S&W in both indoor and outdoor environments and hearing protection is a "must have". Especially indoors!
Of course, rifles are a lot louder, but rifles don't usually get as many rounds fired through them as a pistol or handgun.
When I did go hunting, I/we did not wear hearing protection simply because we needed to hear what was going on around us, and if we did shoot, it would most likely be a few rounds at most, vice a whole string of fire.
If you would like to be deaf for a few hours to a day after shooting, by all means go without them. After prolonged exposure, you may become permanently deaf or suffer some loss of hearing.
Even with hearing protection some really big guns will still cause damage, like an M198 Howitzer-NOW THAT"S LOUD!
2007-06-16 03:11:56 · answer #2 · answered by konstipashen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't wear hearing protection you are an idiot. If that comment just shocked you then GOOD! WAKE UP!
I worked in an environment with loud noise of 95-110 dB for over 20 years. We were offered hearing protection but most of us thought "that's for wimps". A few of us, myself included, now have screaming, constant tinnitus [that's ringing in the ears] that makes watching TV all but impossible because even though I have very little hearing loss, the ringing is so loud I find it hard to make words out and I am forced to use subtitles.
There's no such thing as "tough ears" and when you keep blowing those microscopic hairs around with loud noise you damage them like walking to the mailbox 100 times a day to check for mail as you wear a path in the grass and kill it.
Anyone foolish enough to not wear earplugs should not be trusted to make a decision with a deadly weapon. It's that simple.
MikeW
2007-06-16 19:34:33 · answer #3 · answered by MikeW 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely you should. Maybe not if you're hunting, you aren't going to be firing that many shots and you might not have a ton of time to prepare and nobody is going to wear plugs in all day.
But for days at the range, you absolutely must wear ear protection. If you don't, you're just destroying your hearing, simple as that. Any kind of rifle is very loud. When I was in the military, we were doing 5 round groupings with the rifle, and for one round I forgot to stick my plugs back in and oh man it hurts. That's with 5.56mm which isn't that big even at all.
It's up to you really, but unless you want to go deaf way before it's time, then use quality ear protection if you're planning to fire more than a few rounds. It isn't a matter of opinion, it's a fact that firing a gun without hearing protection is very damaging to your hearing.
2007-06-16 11:02:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once I get to an area where I'd likely come across my game, I usually wear these ear phones that have a microphone built in so that I have a full range of hearing (actually it's enhanced due to the mic) and when a shot is fired, they detect the high dB and turn off giving me good protection. They were designed for shooting ranges so that you have ear protection, as well as being able to hear range commands, but I found them useful for hunting. All my relatives have been hunting all their lives and have horrible hearing, I'd like to keep mine as long as I can.
2007-06-15 18:22:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was a light weapons infantry instructor in the army and in 1960 they apparently didn't know what hearing protection was. Now they are paying me for my hearing disability.
Ask any old gun nut about hearing protection, and he will say "Huh?" That is if he isn't wearing his hearing aid. WWD is wrong about the one shot theory. Every shot damages the hearing. One shot per day for 5 days of .44 Magnum will do the same damage as five shots in a row.
To answer your question, yes, I always wear hearing protection when shooting.
2007-06-17 04:21:55 · answer #6 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wear earplugs and then earmuffs to reduce flinching. Even outside. YES wear ear protection when shooting outside. You will be fine hunting without hearing protection.... probably
2007-06-15 18:38:48 · answer #7 · answered by uncle frosty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my Dad hunts all the time and he doesnt wear ear protection because you need to use your ears its hear if an animal is coming...it is loud....but at the most your gunna shoot your gun off maybe twice...so It wont hurt your ears but its an uncomfortable sound
2007-06-15 17:27:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy Peltor type hearing protection, they amplify low decibel sounds while cancelling out louder noises such as the report of a rifle or shotgun
2007-06-17 17:58:06 · answer #9 · answered by beavizard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i am at the gun range or practicing i use ear protection. while hunting i never used anything.i found a new device that worked great while hunting.it is called sonic defenders and the model is ep3.the brand name is ear pro by surefire
2007-06-16 19:19:16 · answer #10 · answered by charlsyeh 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋