Ear protection when hunting with Weatherby magnum?

Fremmer · January 13, 2006, 04:19 PM

Fellow hunters:

A new guy in our hunting group has purchased a .470 Weatherby magnum rifle for hunting. This rifle has what appears to be porting at the end of the barrel.

I've never fired a .470 Weatherby magnum (or been standing nearby when one was fired), but I'll guess that a .470 produces a mighty roar when fired, expecially with that porting. Should my friend be concerned about firing this rifle without hearing protection? What about me if I'm standing nearby?

Your opinions are appreciated.

mete · January 13, 2006, 04:46 PM

For that cartridge hearing protection is very strongly suggested for hunting !! If you are standing off to the side you will get a big blast !! Usually those who buy those cartridges hate the high recoil and shoot poorly with them.

Art Eatman · January 13, 2006, 05:19 PM

I hope he's a really big, big fella. Most folks, by the time they get one of those monsters sighted in, look to trade for a pipsqueak like a .30-'06.

Yeah, hear-guards. OVER ear plugs.

, Art

dave0520 · January 13, 2006, 05:46 PM

Fremmer, I would definitely suggest hearing protection for the .470. What is he going to be shooting in Nebraska that he needs a monster like that for anyways, or will he be taking it out of state?

Hey Art, what's wrong with the good old .30-06?

FirstFreedom · January 13, 2006, 06:12 PM

-What's he hunting?

-Are you sure that it's .470, not .460?

-In any event, he'd be crazy and/or stupid to not wear hearing protection with either.

Fremmer · January 13, 2006, 06:33 PM

Thanks for the replies. I don't wear ear protection while hunting; the retort of a single (or maybe a couple) of .308 rounds from a 24" barrel doesn't seem to cause any ringing or other discomfort. I just hope I'm not standing nearby when he takes a shot.

I suppose he'll need to buy those electronic ear muffs so that he can still hear while he is hunting.

I'll let you all know whether a .470 (or was it a .460?) Weatherby magnum has enough power to kill a doe!

Art Eatman · January 13, 2006, 08:49 PM

Just joking, Dave. The '06 has around 3,000 ft/lb at the muzzle; the .460 Wby has around 8,000. Lotsa "ouchie" at both ends of that critter.

One of those deals where I'd love to be a spectator, not a doer.

, Art

Twycross · January 14, 2006, 01:57 AM

What exactly is this guy hunting? King Kong's cousins? Yeah, he should wear as much hearing protection as he can get.

shureshot0471 · January 14, 2006, 11:10 AM

For out just shooting around yes for hunting no way when you hunt you need to hear and hearing protection limits your hearing

BIGR · January 14, 2006, 07:46 PM

They claim the walkers game ear is supposed to block out the sound of the blast. I have never tried any hearing protection when I am hunting. I don't hear the 300 mag or 06 go off at all when I pull the trigger on a deer. Must be some kind of mental block. I do always try to wear hearing protection when target shooting though.

Jack O'Conner · January 20, 2006, 10:45 AM

460 Weatherby MAG is quite the cartridge. Plenty of braggin' rights for the new owner. I've heard braggin' about how much the ammo costs, power at 1 mile, etc.

I know combat veterans of Korea and Nam who had temporary hearing loss from gunfire. Back in the 70's I couldn't hear properly for 3 days after attending an REO Speedwagon concert! But my hearing returned to normal.

You should try stay well behind him when he shoots that cannon.
Jack

rapier144 · January 20, 2006, 04:44 PM

What? Huh? What Did You Say? I Don't Need No Stinking Ear Plugs!

Aus · January 20, 2006, 10:43 PM

I took hearing protection for a hunt in MT 15 years ago.....
and lost it somtime before I took my first Buck on that hunt. nbd:No big deal. As I hunted for my next animals (2 does and antelope) I expended almost 20 rounds. I was severely sick that night almost to the point of throwing up as a physical reaction to the noise of my '06. I have sufffered some ringing in the ears since as a result.
The rest of the story: my favorite sporting goods store in Seattle told me the Mcmillan stock for my '06 was a "drop in" stock. I zeroed the rifle before going afield and it was perfect. However, after 1 shot, that poi changed (unknown to me) and when we saw a wolf (in Sako, MT 1991) we shot to kill... with more than a couple shots. We scored a wound but kept on hunting. I zeroed out on the rest of the hunt.
I sold that Wini and bought a Sako and the next year they called me "Rambo" because I killed eveything with one shot.
THE POINT IS: wear hearing protection. It is BS to think that you're hearing will be "protected" by the events of the moment.

22-rimfire · January 21, 2006, 12:04 AM

460 Weatherby Magnum, your friend is more of a man than I am. I believe it has something like 102 ft-lbs of recoil. Think of a 100 lb sack of grain hitting one little area of your shoulder.... pain! I certainly would not brace myself against a tree to shoot that beast. He planning on an African Safari? Yes, wear hearing protection if at all possible. Even the ear plugs are a lot better than nothing.

NDTerminator · January 21, 2006, 06:49 PM

I have a Remington 700 in 300 RUM with a muzzle brake on it. I fired exactly one round without hearing protection, just to see what would be like. I'll never shoot it, either off the bench or hunting, without hearing protection again.

The only experience I've ever had that compares was having a 175db Def Tec 25 Flash Bang (I'm a SWAT Operator and lead a team) detonate at my feet.

I can only imagine the big Weatherby would be worse...

xjmox14x · January 21, 2006, 08:40 PM

Oh man, that's gotta hurt. I've heard that the Weatherby Magnum is damn near the loudest thing you could possibly fire through a gun. Ear protection is a MUSt, without it you probably could be temperarily deaf.

I'm looking into a Savage .308. What do you thing about ear protection for that?

Death from Afar · January 22, 2006, 02:59 PM

I always have ear muffs wiuth me when hunting, particularly with my LTR as it is LOUD! ( so loud, in fact, it is getting a supressor put on it as we speak). To be honest, not taking care of your hearingf is masculine, admirable and just plain STUPID. I dont know if you can get them in the states, but I use Peltor Tactical slim ear muffs. Back in my army days they worked just fine when telling a platoon of grunts how to do an assault.

Kyote · January 26, 2006, 08:41 AM

+1 with D.F.A. I used the Peltor's this year for all my hunting and they were extremely comfortable. (wore them all day) The only draw back with them was I was pulling a sneek around some salt cedars and steped into a covey of bob whites! CRAP!!!!!! Just about soiled myself!

I will be using them from now on. If your a hat wearer, get the behind the head models.

AussieHunter · January 26, 2006, 09:22 AM

I ALWAYS wear hearing protction, wether I am running a new barrel on a Browning 9mm or sighting optics on a Barrett .50.

It dont matter once its gone its gone so look after it, and yes I wear protection when I hunt too.

Wild Bill Bucks · January 26, 2006, 11:13 AM

I took most of the elephants out in Nebraska when I was a kid.
I left a few for the zoos up there, but outside of those, there's just not much left up there that your freind needs that kind of weapon for. I can't think of anything I left standing in Nebraska that I can't take with a good ole .308.

My son last year shot his 300 Win Mag with a muzzle break next to a freinds SUV and the blast from the side took out his passenger window.
I would not suggest being ANYWHERE around that weapon when it goes off without hearing protection and a crash helmet.

fisherman66 · January 26, 2006, 11:24 AM

I hope he has a cornea reattachment tool nearby.

I'd love to watch him hunt (through a spotting scope.)

Yes, I'd double bag those ears...(those attenuating muffs with low sound enhancement are nice. They might interfere with spot weld, but I wouldn't go without them.

Jeeze, does this guy know what he's getting into? I hope this wasn't a sale motivated by the guy behind the gun counter.

armedtotheteeth · January 28, 2006, 08:51 PM

Wear the ear plugs. I cant Imagine how loud that thing s is. I have an Armalite AR-30 300 win mag (with a muzzle break) and that thing is loud . The 460 will be a good bit louder than that. ANd that is just obscene.A good bit of the expanding gases (and noise) will be redirected directly to your ears.

Kyote · February 2, 2006, 07:31 AM

I WAS shooting a 300 mag Encore with a brake. When you touch it off, it's like in football when you get a good hit, kinda make your nose tingle! The barrel is now on it's way to Kentucky!

armedtotheteeth · February 2, 2006, 08:48 PM

Yeah, its hard to beat a good 300 mag with a good break. SHoots like a 223 , hits like a 50. Well maybe not as hard as a 50, but you usually kill it just as dead.

January 13, 2006, 04:19 PM	#1
Fremmer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,482	Ear protection when hunting with Weatherby magnum? Fellow hunters: A new guy in our hunting group has purchased a .470 Weatherby magnum rifle for hunting. This rifle has what appears to be porting at the end of the barrel. I've never fired a .470 Weatherby magnum (or been standing nearby when one was fired), but I'll guess that a .470 produces a mighty roar when fired, expecially with that porting. Should my friend be concerned about firing this rifle without hearing protection? What about me if I'm standing nearby? Your opinions are appreciated.

January 13, 2006, 05:46 PM	#4
dave0520 Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Location: Philadelphia suburbs Posts: 394	Fremmer, I would definitely suggest hearing protection for the .470. What is he going to be shooting in Nebraska that he needs a monster like that for anyways, or will he be taking it out of state? Hey Art, what's wrong with the good old .30-06? __________________ si vis pacem, parabellum

January 14, 2006, 01:57 AM	#8
Twycross Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 1,187	What exactly is this guy hunting? King Kong's cousins? Yeah, he should wear as much hearing protection as he can get. __________________ The test of character is not 'hanging in' when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty, and persistence of example when you know no light is coming. - Vice Admiral James Stockdale, USN (ret.)

January 14, 2006, 11:10 AM	#9
shureshot0471 Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2005 Location: In the sticks of East Texas Posts: 185	For out just shooting around yes for hunting no way when you hunt you need to hear and hearing protection limits your hearing __________________ "Prefection is not attainable,but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." -Vince Lombardi "Gun control is putting that second bullet through the same hole the first one made." - Ted Nugent

January 20, 2006, 04:44 PM	#12
rapier144 Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2005 Location: tennessee Posts: 686	What? Huh? What Did You Say? I Don't Need No Stinking Ear Plugs! __________________ Scan and Breathe Scan and Breathe Stupidity should hurt

January 13, 2006, 04:46 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	For that cartridge hearing protection is very strongly suggested for hunting !! If you are standing off to the side you will get a big blast !! Usually those who buy those cartridges hate the high recoil and shoot poorly with them.

January 13, 2006, 05:19 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I hope he's a really big, big fella. Most folks, by the time they get one of those monsters sighted in, look to trade for a pipsqueak like a .30-'06. Yeah, hear-guards. OVER ear plugs. , Art

January 13, 2006, 06:12 PM	#5
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	-What's he hunting? -Are you sure that it's .470, not .460? -In any event, he'd be crazy and/or stupid to not wear hearing protection with either.

January 13, 2006, 06:33 PM	#6
Fremmer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,482	Thanks for the replies. I don't wear ear protection while hunting; the retort of a single (or maybe a couple) of .308 rounds from a 24" barrel doesn't seem to cause any ringing or other discomfort. I just hope I'm not standing nearby when he takes a shot. I suppose he'll need to buy those electronic ear muffs so that he can still hear while he is hunting. I'll let you all know whether a .470 (or was it a .460?) Weatherby magnum has enough power to kill a doe!

January 13, 2006, 08:49 PM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Just joking, Dave. The '06 has around 3,000 ft/lb at the muzzle; the .460 Wby has around 8,000. Lotsa "ouchie" at both ends of that critter. One of those deals where I'd love to be a spectator, not a doer. , Art

January 14, 2006, 07:46 PM	#10
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	They claim the walkers game ear is supposed to block out the sound of the blast. I have never tried any hearing protection when I am hunting. I don't hear the 300 mag or 06 go off at all when I pull the trigger on a deer. Must be some kind of mental block. I do always try to wear hearing protection when target shooting though.

January 20, 2006, 10:45 AM	#11
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	460 Weatherby MAG is quite the cartridge. Plenty of braggin' rights for the new owner. I've heard braggin' about how much the ammo costs, power at 1 mile, etc. I know combat veterans of Korea and Nam who had temporary hearing loss from gunfire. Back in the 70's I couldn't hear properly for 3 days after attending an REO Speedwagon concert! But my hearing returned to normal. You should try stay well behind him when he shoots that cannon. Jack

January 20, 2006, 10:43 PM	#13
Aus Junior member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 39	I took hearing protection for a hunt in MT 15 years ago..... and lost it somtime before I took my first Buck on that hunt. nbd:No big deal. As I hunted for my next animals (2 does and antelope) I expended almost 20 rounds. I was severely sick that night almost to the point of throwing up as a physical reaction to the noise of my '06. I have sufffered some ringing in the ears since as a result. The rest of the story: my favorite sporting goods store in Seattle told me the Mcmillan stock for my '06 was a "drop in" stock. I zeroed the rifle before going afield and it was perfect. However, after 1 shot, that poi changed (unknown to me) and when we saw a wolf (in Sako, MT 1991) we shot to kill... with more than a couple shots. We scored a wound but kept on hunting. I zeroed out on the rest of the hunt. I sold that Wini and bought a Sako and the next year they called me "Rambo" because I killed eveything with one shot. THE POINT IS: wear hearing protection. It is BS to think that you're hearing will be "protected" by the events of the moment.

January 21, 2006, 12:04 AM	#14
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	460 Weatherby Magnum, your friend is more of a man than I am. I believe it has something like 102 ft-lbs of recoil. Think of a 100 lb sack of grain hitting one little area of your shoulder.... pain! I certainly would not brace myself against a tree to shoot that beast. He planning on an African Safari? Yes, wear hearing protection if at all possible. Even the ear plugs are a lot better than nothing.

January 21, 2006, 06:49 PM	#15
NDTerminator Member Join Date: January 8, 2006 Posts: 59	I have a Remington 700 in 300 RUM with a muzzle brake on it. I fired exactly one round without hearing protection, just to see what would be like. I'll never shoot it, either off the bench or hunting, without hearing protection again. The only experience I've ever had that compares was having a 175db Def Tec 25 Flash Bang (I'm a SWAT Operator and lead a team) detonate at my feet. I can only imagine the big Weatherby would be worse... __________________ To my great mortification, my father once told me; "you care nothing but for dogs, shooting, and rat catching, you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family" Charles Darwin

January 21, 2006, 08:40 PM	#16
xjmox14x Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: NY Posts: 98	Oh man, that's gotta hurt. I've heard that the Weatherby Magnum is damn near the loudest thing you could possibly fire through a gun. Ear protection is a MUSt, without it you probably could be temperarily deaf. I'm looking into a Savage .308. What do you thing about ear protection for that?

January 22, 2006, 02:59 PM	#17
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	I always have ear muffs wiuth me when hunting, particularly with my LTR as it is LOUD! ( so loud, in fact, it is getting a supressor put on it as we speak). To be honest, not taking care of your hearingf is masculine, admirable and just plain STUPID. I dont know if you can get them in the states, but I use Peltor Tactical slim ear muffs. Back in my army days they worked just fine when telling a platoon of grunts how to do an assault. __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

January 26, 2006, 08:41 AM	#18
Kyote Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 183	+1 with D.F.A. I used the Peltor's this year for all my hunting and they were extremely comfortable. (wore them all day) The only draw back with them was I was pulling a sneek around some salt cedars and steped into a covey of bob whites! CRAP!!!!!! Just about soiled myself! I will be using them from now on. If your a hat wearer, get the behind the head models. __________________ An armed society is a polite society.

January 26, 2006, 09:22 AM	#19
AussieHunter Junior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: Western Australia Posts: 13	I ALWAYS wear hearing protction, wether I am running a new barrel on a Browning 9mm or sighting optics on a Barrett .50. It dont matter once its gone its gone so look after it, and yes I wear protection when I hunt too.

January 26, 2006, 11:13 AM	#20
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	I took most of the elephants out in Nebraska when I was a kid. I left a few for the zoos up there, but outside of those, there's just not much left up there that your freind needs that kind of weapon for. I can't think of anything I left standing in Nebraska that I can't take with a good ole .308. My son last year shot his 300 Win Mag with a muzzle break next to a freinds SUV and the blast from the side took out his passenger window. I would not suggest being ANYWHERE around that weapon when it goes off without hearing protection and a crash helmet.

January 26, 2006, 11:24 AM	#21
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	I hope he has a cornea reattachment tool nearby. I'd love to watch him hunt (through a spotting scope.) Yes, I'd double bag those ears...(those attenuating muffs with low sound enhancement are nice. They might interfere with spot weld, but I wouldn't go without them. Jeeze, does this guy know what he's getting into? I hope this wasn't a sale motivated by the guy behind the gun counter.

January 28, 2006, 08:51 PM	#22
armedtotheteeth Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: podunk, Texas Posts: 1,610	Wear the ear plugs. I cant Imagine how loud that thing s is. I have an Armalite AR-30 300 win mag (with a muzzle break) and that thing is loud . The 460 will be a good bit louder than that. ANd that is just obscene.A good bit of the expanding gases (and noise) will be redirected directly to your ears.

February 2, 2006, 07:31 AM	#23
Kyote Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 183	I WAS shooting a 300 mag Encore with a brake. When you touch it off, it's like in football when you get a good hit, kinda make your nose tingle! The barrel is now on it's way to Kentucky! __________________ An armed society is a polite society.

February 2, 2006, 08:48 PM	#24
armedtotheteeth Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: podunk, Texas Posts: 1,610	Yeah, its hard to beat a good 300 mag with a good break. SHoots like a 223 , hits like a 50. Well maybe not as hard as a 50, but you usually kill it just as dead.