When it goes BOOM, need for Ear Pro?

[mbrun]

In watching the Best Defense shows (and all the SHTF shows), I wonder about the concerns about hearing protection. I know they address it in practice. Sure we wear them when we are at the range, but what about when things go wrong?

I think it would be interesting to see it addressed in a show.

Does anyone (else) sometimes carry hearing protection with them just in case?

There are plugs out there that don't block much sound when they are in, but block the blast. My normal range plugs are the Peltor Earplugs that are double ended :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W2CPCC?ie=UTF8&tag=bradfordcountype&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000W2CPCC

As for the "carry plugs" I have these which work well at the range too (but the rangemasters can't see them)... BlastBuster
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/blshearpl.html

Would be interesting to see this topic, if I missed it.





I also have Radians Cease Fire, but prefer the Peltor Plugs due to the duel use.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F7T4NW?ie=UTF8&tag=bradfordcountype&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000F7T4NW

[tombogan03884]

That's why Suppressors need to be deregulated.
They are a safety device.

[mbrun]

That is a great solution for home use and for the future when they are dereg'ed (or moved to a $5 stamp), but what about now?

How practical are suppressors on your carry weapon?

We might not hear it at the time, due to the adrenal dump into our system, but the damage would still be done. Plus if you pop in a pair of amplified shooters plugs/muffs, you would be able to hear better than any home invader. I sure wouldn't want that to be the first time walking around the house with them on. It's amazing all the creaks a house has that you'll hear.

[tombogan03884]

Actually, some of the ones that are built into the barrel, ( integral ? ) just look like a Bull barrel. I was looking at a GemTech for a Ruger .22 this morning.
I've got foam ear plugs in all my jackets, I seem to accumulate extra's at work, but if I need to defend myself I just figure some more hearing loss is a cheap price to pay for survival.
If you are a Cop on the other hand, where it is an occupational hazard, (many are on disability because of firing something like an AR, or shotgun in confined area's) it is a much greater concern.
There are forum members who re much better informed on this subject who will probably post over the week end.

[PegLeg45]

I don't carry hearing protection on me when CCW-ing....but I do keep a set of amplified ear muffs on my bed-side table next to my gun for home use, should the need arise.
They way I look at it, in my household situation, I'm not going to venture out in search of intruders. I'm going to stay put, dial 911, and make them come to me............ so if I have time, I will put them on so that I might be able to hear better, and if the room gets invaded, then I have hearing protection if I am forced to shoot.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Great idea Peg, if that plan works for you. If one has kids in bedrooms, on the other side of the house, especially younger ones, many folks are not going to stay put. It forces a different dynamic, hearing protection may not work, even the quickie plugs.

But still a good idea. Hell cigarette butts used to be enough. My open floorplan, tile floored house will be an incredible amplifier. Even with a smaller caliber.

Would love to here from the Mod's if they have suggestions.

and yes I would love a suppressor. For preserving hearing and all...

[tankerdad]

I hate to play devil's advocate here, but I hope the bad guy trying to hurt me or my family stops to take the time to put hearing protection in/on.  

In your home, ok, maybe you have a plan for that.  However, in a real situation when someone is threatening your life, you are not going to go for hearing protection.  Let's be realistic.  If you take the time to put in ear pro in that situation, you exponentially increase your chances of losing (ie. becoming dead).  Secondly, there is no way I am taking the time to put hearing protection in my ear if I'm venturing through my home to get to my kids (electronic hearing protection aside, never used them).  I want every last bit of my awareness if someone is in the house that shouldn't be there.  We wore hearing protection in our military vehicles, but that was mostly for the IED blasts (now that's deafening).  However, when you get to the target location, they come right out.  When you're life depends on it, you can't miss one creak of a board, scrape against the wall, or rustling of clothes.

As always, just my two cents...

Tankerdad

[PegLeg45]

I hate to play devil's advocate here, but I hope the bad guy trying to hurt me or my family stops to take the time to put hearing protection in/on.  

In your home, ok, maybe you have a plan for that.  However, in a real situation when someone is threatening your life, you are not going to go for hearing protection.  Let's be realistic.  If you take the time to put in ear pro in that situation, you exponentially increase your chances of losing (ie. becoming dead).  Secondly, there is no way I am taking the time to put hearing protection in my ear if I'm venturing through my home to get to my kids (electronic hearing protection aside, never used them).  I want every last bit of my awareness if someone is in the house that shouldn't be there.  We wore hearing protection in our military vehicles, but that was mostly for the IED blasts (now that's deafening).  However, when you get to the target location, they come right out.  When you're life depends on it, you can't miss one creak of a board, scrape against the wall, or rustling of clothes.

As always, just my two cents...

Tankerdad

I don't see you as beaing 'Devil's Advocate', Tanker......heck, you make good sense.... I wouldn't advocate stopping to put on hearing protection in a critical incident outside the home either. There are also incidents inside the home where it would be neither prudent nor practical, such as a sudden home invasion. If you're sitting there watching TV and the door gets kicked in, it is time to 'sh!t-n-git' right then.

Everyone's situation is different.

My particular situation may be greatly different from most on here. Our home has three occupants at the time. My wife, myself, and our 20 year old son. We have gone over and trained that we are all to stay put if something goes bump in the night until we make contact via radios kept in each room. Our bedrooms are on opposite ends of the house with no chance, due to the arrangement of the doors and other objects, to get in each others line of fire, if we stay put.

Another hurdle is my use of a prosthetic leg (has to be removed to sleep).....that is something that doesn't allow one to just jump up out of bed and go bumbling around in the dark. It is easier for me to wake the wife, hand her the phone (to dial 911) and I can grab the gun and light from the bedside table.
As to the hearing protection, I use Howard Leight amplifying muffs. They amplify ambient noise. With them on, in my bedroom, with the volume on high, I can hear the aquarium pump in the living room. I can sit in my bedroom and hear my son moving about in the house (we did a test).
In an incident, I may forget to put them on....If the door gets kicked in, I won't need or have time to put them on........but, if I have time, and I think they might be an asset that allows me to hear what may be going on in another room, then I'll grab them and throw them on.

[Paraguy]

How might hearing protection impact your situation after the event? In a CC or home defense situation could it be argued that you did not hear the aggressor giving up or could it prevent you from hearing a LEO's instructions?  My specific concern is that a home invader gets shot and testifies that they said "I was giving up and wanted to leave and he shot me anyway; must have been the ear plugs."

[Hazcat]

How might hearing protection impact your situation after the event? In a CC or home defense situation could it be argued that you did not hear the aggressor giving up or could it prevent you from hearing a LEO's instructions?  My specific concern is that a home invader gets shot and testifies that they said "I was giving up and wanted to leave and he shot me anyway; must have been the ear plugs."

Or the ringing in his ears.