Hearing Loss

[fightingquaker13]

I'd bet many people will suprise themselves with the improvement in their groups at the range by wearing double protection! 

Especially when that one guy is there popping off rounds from what sounds like a cannon...  You know him!
[/quote]  

Sorry, but I REALLY like my 3" Bond Arms .357 derringer. "Are you talking to me, are you talking to me?! Seriously, I really don't know, I didn't hear you the first time."  
fightingquaker13

[Badgersmilk]

  We've all been "that guy" at one time or another...  People usually leave about 3 benches on either side of you shooting a M44...  What can you do?  Tape a pop bottle on the end of the barrel?

[Timothy]

S&W 500 in the next lane will get your attention real fast!

[MikeBjerum]

S&W 500 in the next lane will get your attention real fast!

That would be me ... if only the range would let me 

[Timothy]

That would be me ... if only the range would let me 

It was indoors at the S&W range.  Guy squeeze one off with one hand and nearly broke his own nose...I think I pooped a little...

[Sponsor]

[1776 Rebel]

Um i dont know about you but when someone or something is in my house, i want all of my sense active to seek out the intruder and eliminate said threat.  so earmuffs? that's a negative,

I said electronic earmuffs. They have the capacity to actually bump the amplitude of sound so they are in fact a plus. They clip when the level exceeds damage thresholds. They are indeed recommended for SD by quite a number of trainers. Also it has been mentioned that exposure to gunshots results in cumulative damage. Yes it is cumulative in the sense that the more you are exposed the more damage. But a SINGLE incident of a gunshot in confined areas can do absolute and permanent damage. To the extent of extreme tinnitus and loss. ONCE is all it takes. As to alive and deaf vs dead, sure alive is good. But there are quite a number of suicides over tinnitus. So to keep a pair of ELECTONIC muffs by your SD gun is a wise choice.

[1911 Junkie]

Yes, electronic muffs can make you hear better, once again, It doesn't help much if you can't tell what
direction the sound is coming from.  If walking down a hallway and you come to the end, do you turn left or
right? I can hear really friggin well but I can't tell where the sound is coming from. I guess I'll at least have
a 50% chance of getting it right.  I think I'll error on the side of life. Keep my muffs for the range and mowing
grass.

[Timothy]

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart

Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing.

Environmental Noise
 
Weakest sound heard 0dB
Whisper Quiet Library 30dB
Normal conversation (3-5') 60-70dB
Telephone dial tone 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) 85dB
Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic 90dB
Subway train at 200' 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB
Power mower at 3' 107dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100dB
Power saw at 3' 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert 115dB
Pain begins 125dB
Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB
Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection 140dB
Jet engine at 100', Gun Blast 140dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB  

[tombogan03884]

Yes, electronic muffs can make you hear better, once again, It doesn't help much if you can't tell what
direction the sound is coming from.  If walking down a hallway and you come to the end, do you turn left or
right? I can hear really friggin well but I can't tell where the sound is coming from. I guess I'll at least have
a 50% chance of getting it right.  I think I'll error on the side of life. Keep my muffs for the range and mowing
grass.

Yes you can tell direction, you are still hearing through BOTH ears so your directional sense is not impaired.

[1911 Junkie]

Yes, you are hearing with both sides, through a speaker, with a mic on the outside of the muffs.  The
mic only picks up the sound and has no way of relaying direction(or distance) into the speakers.  You
might be able to tell left vs right by which is louder but I think it would be difficult since they are so
sensitive to sound. It boiles down to doing whatever you feel comfortable with. If you can gauge direction
and distance with electronic muffs, good for you, I can't.

I presently use Pro Ears. Kinda pricey. Anybody have experience with more economical electronic muffs?