Forgot Hearing Protection

tyro · March 5, 2001, 03:04 PM

This morning, a four legged preditor appeared in front of my house-in-the-woods, threatening my pets. I put it to sleep with my 870. Problem is, I forgot to put on hearing protection. Will the ringing in the ears eventually stop? or will I just have to get used to it? Is there some kind of product to put in the ears daily, so that one does not have to be concerned about an unanticipated firing event damaging to the ears?

Al Thompson · March 5, 2001, 03:30 PM

Yes the ringing will stop. Eventually. My muffs are on my gun rack for a reason.

Giz

Dave McC · March 5, 2001, 08:30 PM

It'll stop, Tyro. Due to way too many rounds fired w/o protection, the odd explosion and rock music, I've tintinis bad enough that there's constant white noise sounds, kinda like spring peepers or crickets. Add in an intermittent high whistle now and then, it's a pain.

Use hearing protection religiously....

tyro · March 5, 2001, 10:23 PM

Thanks, Giz & Dave. I had my hearing protectors hanging right beside the shotgun. From now on, they will hang ON the gun

.

Bowser · March 6, 2001, 05:45 AM

Tyro,

thanks for taking the time to post your experience.
I have a question. What was the barrel length of the 870 you used? Was the area you fired it in, in any way enclosed (e.g. porch, alleyway)?
The reason I ask is that I whenever I hunt pheasant for example, I may shoot 15 rounds in the field. I have never experienced ringing in my ears, from the shots I fire. I use a 28 inch barrel. I also shoot a lot of skeet with a 26 inch tube, but I wear plugs for this.
I have never fired my HD (18 inch) shotgun without ear protection, and was wondering if barrel length might affect perceived volume at the shooters ears. Indoors however, I doubt it would!

I also got to thinking that those electronic ear muffs MIGHT be a good idea for HD situations. They amplify sounds that an intruder might make, as well as attenuating gunshot noise. I realise that one would be foolish not to test them out for ambient noise in your house first, so you are not startled by ordinary noises that you wouldn't ordinarily hear.

Thanks,

Bowser.

Dave McC · March 6, 2001, 07:59 AM

Short bbls produce more blast noise than long ones, when all else is equal. One trap/skeet/sporting range I use bans bbls less than 23", based on the idea of less blast. Since they do not ban ported bbls, infamous for their noise and blast, IMO, they haven't thought things through very well.

The electronic muffs are a good idea, sole caveat I have is keeping the batteries charged and fresh.

tyro · March 6, 2001, 09:10 AM

Bowser: 20" barrel fired from front porch.

March 6, 2001, 09:46 PM

Hmm, had to be because of the porch roof reflecting the noise back. When I go dove hunting many rounds are fired (fast little bugars) and I experience no ringing. I'm 21 so my ears haven't gone away yet either. I do notice that rifles are much louder at a covered firing range than an uncovered one.

pepemarine · March 8, 2001, 10:25 PM

BETTER USE HEARING PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING SKEET I ALWAYS USE IT BUT WHEN IN THE FIELD SELDOM. ONLY WHEN DUCK HUNTING BECAUSE I CAN SEE THEM BEFORE. THOUGH ONLY ON MY LEFT EAR WHICH IS THE ONE THAT FACES THE MUZZLE( I´M RIGHT HANDED).

GRAND FATHER LOST HEARING BECAUSE OF HUNTING AND HIS FATHER ALSO, AND BELIEVE ME IT MORE PAINFULL TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEM (DEAF)THAN YOU BELIVE. I DON´T WANT TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS TO MY FAMILY.

KEEP BLASTING!

Bam Bam · March 8, 2001, 11:19 PM

when I first went trap shooting with my new 870 20 ga i did not have hearing protection on the very first shot. Quickly I learned that hearing protection is necessary for every shot. damn my ears rang after only one shot, like damn Black Flag concert. Every shot you should have hearing protection, or you will be like the 50 yr old guys I met, deaf. Deaf at age 50 yrs, that sucks, hard.

fudiem · March 9, 2001, 02:04 PM

Due to heavy metal music and thinking that I didn't need protection when went hunting and to the range, I have Dave's problems and I'm only 26!

I thought I knew everything and that I was bullet-proof back then. Now I'm paying for it.

PRIDEFANS · March 11, 2001, 11:10 AM

Although I was a "grunt", I can't believe there aren't any current or retired "steel rain" guys out there to pass along this useful tid-bit. When you see those guys fire they stick their fingers in their ears and actually yell as loud as they can. Reason being, it equalizes the pressure in your ears.
Protection first; but if you're ever in a situation where that's not possible hum. The louder you hum, or yell, the more you'll hear afterwards. You can use the maniac method and go "AHHHHHH" when you pull the trigger or you can do nice steady "hummmm" and still maintain accuracy. Try it.

March 5, 2001, 03:30 PM	#2
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,611	Yes the ringing will stop. Eventually. My muffs are on my gun rack for a reason. Giz __________________ http://www.scfirearms.org/

March 5, 2001, 03:04 PM	#1
tyro Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2000 Posts: 404	This morning, a four legged preditor appeared in front of my house-in-the-woods, threatening my pets. I put it to sleep with my 870. Problem is, I forgot to put on hearing protection. Will the ringing in the ears eventually stop? or will I just have to get used to it? Is there some kind of product to put in the ears daily, so that one does not have to be concerned about an unanticipated firing event damaging to the ears?

March 5, 2001, 08:30 PM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	It'll stop, Tyro. Due to way too many rounds fired w/o protection, the odd explosion and rock music, I've tintinis bad enough that there's constant white noise sounds, kinda like spring peepers or crickets. Add in an intermittent high whistle now and then, it's a pain. Use hearing protection religiously....

March 5, 2001, 10:23 PM	#4
tyro Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2000 Posts: 404	Thanks, Giz & Dave. I had my hearing protectors hanging right beside the shotgun. From now on, they will hang ON the gun .

March 6, 2001, 05:45 AM	#5
Bowser Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Posts: 257	Tyro, thanks for taking the time to post your experience. I have a question. What was the barrel length of the 870 you used? Was the area you fired it in, in any way enclosed (e.g. porch, alleyway)? The reason I ask is that I whenever I hunt pheasant for example, I may shoot 15 rounds in the field. I have never experienced ringing in my ears, from the shots I fire. I use a 28 inch barrel. I also shoot a lot of skeet with a 26 inch tube, but I wear plugs for this. I have never fired my HD (18 inch) shotgun without ear protection, and was wondering if barrel length might affect perceived volume at the shooters ears. Indoors however, I doubt it would! I also got to thinking that those electronic ear muffs MIGHT be a good idea for HD situations. They amplify sounds that an intruder might make, as well as attenuating gunshot noise. I realise that one would be foolish not to test them out for ambient noise in your house first, so you are not startled by ordinary noises that you wouldn't ordinarily hear. Thanks, Bowser.

March 6, 2001, 07:59 AM	#6
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Short bbls produce more blast noise than long ones, when all else is equal. One trap/skeet/sporting range I use bans bbls less than 23", based on the idea of less blast. Since they do not ban ported bbls, infamous for their noise and blast, IMO, they haven't thought things through very well. The electronic muffs are a good idea, sole caveat I have is keeping the batteries charged and fresh.

March 6, 2001, 09:10 AM	#7
tyro Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2000 Posts: 404	Bowser: 20" barrel fired from front porch.

March 6, 2001, 09:46 PM	#8
KilgorII Guest Posts: n/a	Hmm, had to be because of the porch roof reflecting the noise back. When I go dove hunting many rounds are fired (fast little bugars) and I experience no ringing. I'm 21 so my ears haven't gone away yet either. I do notice that rifles are much louder at a covered firing range than an uncovered one.

March 8, 2001, 10:25 PM	#9
pepemarine Member Join Date: February 18, 2001 Location: old mexico Posts: 94	BETTER USE HEARING PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING SKEET I ALWAYS USE IT BUT WHEN IN THE FIELD SELDOM. ONLY WHEN DUCK HUNTING BECAUSE I CAN SEE THEM BEFORE. THOUGH ONLY ON MY LEFT EAR WHICH IS THE ONE THAT FACES THE MUZZLE( I´M RIGHT HANDED). GRAND FATHER LOST HEARING BECAUSE OF HUNTING AND HIS FATHER ALSO, AND BELIEVE ME IT MORE PAINFULL TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEM (DEAF)THAN YOU BELIVE. I DON´T WANT TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS TO MY FAMILY. KEEP BLASTING!

March 8, 2001, 11:19 PM	#10
Bam Bam Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 842	when I first went trap shooting with my new 870 20 ga i did not have hearing protection on the very first shot. Quickly I learned that hearing protection is necessary for every shot. damn my ears rang after only one shot, like damn Black Flag concert. Every shot you should have hearing protection, or you will be like the 50 yr old guys I met, deaf. Deaf at age 50 yrs, that sucks, hard.

March 9, 2001, 02:04 PM	#11
fudiem Junior Member Join Date: December 27, 2000 Posts: 5	Due to heavy metal music and thinking that I didn't need protection when went hunting and to the range, I have Dave's problems and I'm only 26! I thought I knew everything and that I was bullet-proof back then. Now I'm paying for it.

March 11, 2001, 11:10 AM	#12
PRIDEFANS Member Join Date: December 17, 2000 Location: South Carolina Posts: 95	Although I was a "grunt", I can't believe there aren't any current or retired "steel rain" guys out there to pass along this useful tid-bit. When you see those guys fire they stick their fingers in their ears and actually yell as loud as they can. Reason being, it equalizes the pressure in your ears. Protection first; but if you're ever in a situation where that's not possible hum. The louder you hum, or yell, the more you'll hear afterwards. You can use the maniac method and go "AHHHHHH" when you pull the trigger or you can do nice steady "hummmm" and still maintain accuracy. Try it.