Hearing Damage Using an AR Inside

[WyoGunner]

Have a question for the forum/producers:

First, I am a believer in the AR in .223/5.56 being a great self defense tool in the house.  There has been a lot of good info from Downrange TV and elsewhere about this concerning over penetration (or the lack thereof in the case of .223/5.56) and I generally agree with all of this.

The thing I haven't seen discussed is hearing damage/"temporary stunning" and these type of effects from firing an AR inside a small enclosure like a room in a house.  We all know we're not going to grab the 'eyes n ears' in a self defense situation and certainly not going to take the time to have our kids/spouse do the same.  So, have any studies been done on this?  What are the opinions out there?  Shouldn't this be a big 'negative' for using an AR inside the home?  I've only see a brief mention of this in a segment talking about suppressors but no details and no mention of the possible real negatives of the AR in this aspect.

I think the best solution is an SBR with a suppressor and subsonic ammo but we all know the pain there is in getting the stamp for a suppressor and the general gun-using public is not well versed in suppressor technology, laws, etc.

Do we need to start talking about this a little more?  This actually probably applies to using a 12 ga. inside as well.

I know, in a self defense situation you may not notice and being deaf is FAR better than being dead, but some people may really be temporarily 'stunned' into inaction if they don't know what to expect when they light off a rifle inside a closed area.

[BBJohnnyT]

I keep a set of ZEM SensGard hearing protection devices hanging on my bedroom shotgun.  These have a decent 31dB reduction, and require no power, batteries or on-off switch to fumble with.  Unlike earplugs, they are quicker to put on and still let normal level voices to come through pretty well. 

[Solus]

I'm not so sure of the ZEM explanation.

If I understand it, it works because it allows the sound to be diverted into a air chamber larger than that of your ear  while blocking passage to your ear.

Seems to me that the room you are in is an even larger chamber compared to your ear, so you just need the block?

[McNamara]

Well if it came down to it, I reckon I could deal with a few hours of tinitis to be on the winning end of that situation.  I think any firearm discharged in the home is going to be deafining.

[JoeG]

 Problem is it can be permanent damage. Either ringing or partial deafness. Obviously better than dead, but it is an issue worth preparing for.

[Sponsor]

[BBJohnnyT]

I'm not so sure of the ZEM explanation.

If I understand it, it works because it allows the sound to be diverted into a air chamber larger than that of your ear  while blocking passage to your ear.

Seems to me that the room you are in is an even larger chamber compared to your ear, so you just need the block?

I don't know how my ZEMs work in theory, but they do.  It's really quite strange, because you look at them and think these could never work.  At the indoor range with a .357, I tested these for comparison and these work about the same as my Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs, but not quite as good as my larger Thunder model (my normal wear for indoor ranges).  With the ZEMs, the blast from my .357 indoors is still loud, almost uncomfortably loud, but not to the point where my ears hurt or ring afterwards.  I think they're adequate for preventing permanent damage for a few shots.  But unlike blocking plugs, I can hear conversations much better, almost like they were my electronic muffs.  It's really bizarre.  I consider that important so I can still communicate with my wife and have more awareness.  

One gripe I do have with them is they are a bit too lightweight.  They may break if handled too roughly in a panic situation.  If they made a more ruggedized version, it'd be perfect IMO.

[Solus]

I've not tried them, but have noticed them and wondered.

Perhaps the construction doesn't simple offer an expansion chamber, it might actually direct any sound wave entering it into that chamber....sort of like some kind of wave guide.

I'll try to find something other than my guess.

Found a couple of YouTube reviews.  The comments for the first one generally agree they work outdoors, but a few thought they were useless at an indoor range.

Have read a bit on acoustic wave guides and still am not sure I understand the "science"...but have to figure it is working for folks to report they do.

[PegLeg45]

I have posted before, but it bears on this thread.... I keep my set of Howard-Leight amplified muffs right next to my bedside gun (my wife has a set too).
With just my wife and myself in the home, there is no need to go prowling if I suspect an intruder. I would have her dial 911, while I get armed and ready. The muffs block gunfire really well (even my .308 with muzzle brake) while the amplified mic picks up movement inside the house better than open ears.

[MikeBjerum]

Any firearm can be harmful to your hearing.  It doesn't matter if it is a .22lr, or a 12 ga.  There is something in our body that happens that lessens the damage in a fight or flight mode, but there will still be some effect.  All of that said, I would not waste time putting on hearing protection in a true emergency situation.  If it is going out to check out the bump in the night stopping for hearing protection wouldn't be bad, but in the name of family safety I would make sure it is an electronic version.