Self-defense, hearing loss, and your liability

[pex]

Originally Posted by MrUgly

Actually, I was told this past weekend that having a suppressor on your home defense pistol is a darned good idea. In the event you need to fire your weapon inside, you don't want to ruin your ears. Not sure about carrying one, I can imagine the local constabulary would get agitated.

I think Dickson City might have been worse had PaPatriot had a suppressor (even with paperwork) fitted on his OC gun.

If I didn't have to get fingerprinted, I'd get a suppressor and OC it. Until I know they have my prints, I shant give them away for free.

If anyone would like to employ me in their corp, owning a suppressor, I will OC it. Otherwise I will consider making my own corp and appointing someone who can give fingerprints to obtain the suppressor. (All this pending I remember the legality correctly)

[unloved]

Originally Posted by tobor

Here's another interesting article. REad towards the bottom about using earplug AND over the head, together.

I wonder if anyone here does that?

I do. Can you post a link? Does the article say that using both is harmful? Due to a birth defect I'm deaf on my left side. Due to a love of loud punk rock I've had tinnitus on my right for years. I'm trying to protect myself from further damage.

[tobor]

Originally Posted by MrUgly

Actually, I was told this past weekend that having a suppressor on your home defense pistol is a darned good idea. In the event you need to fire your weapon inside, you don't want to ruin your ears. Not sure about carrying one, I can imagine the local constabulary would get agitated.

I think Dickson City might have been worse had PaPatriot had a suppressor (even with paperwork) fitted on his OC gun.

Yes, I heard that too, at the Utah class. From what I read, it might be a good idea, when on the range, to use both ear plugs AND muffs. The best muffs only lower the decibels by 30. With some loads, like a 357, that brings the noise down to only 130, still a dangerous level.

[Huntingdonhavoc]

Originally Posted by tobor

Here's another interesting article. REad towards the bottom about using earplug AND over the head, together.

I wonder if anyone here does that?

When the girl and I go shooting she doubles up on the hearing protection. It has helped her focus on everything. Also it has helped improve her shooting and fun at the range a great deal. I invested in the best electronic ears I could afford so when I'm teaching someone new to firearms both of us can hear everything going on without problem. When using plugs under the muffs you can crank the volume and still hear crystal clear everything going on around you. Although beware they will drink up those duracell's.

[tobor]

Originally Posted by Huntingdonhavoc

When the girl and I go shooting she doubles up on the hearing protection. It has helped her focus on everything. Also it has helped improve her shooting and fun at the range a great deal. I invested in the best electronic ears I could afford so when I'm teaching someone new to firearms both of us can hear everything going on without problem. When using plugs under the muffs you can crank the volume and still hear crystal clear everything going on around you. Although beware they will drink up those duracell's.

Do those electronic noise canceling muffs have as good a reduction rating as the best regular muffs?

[LastManOut]

Originally Posted by tobor

Do those electronic noise canceling muffs have as good a reduction rating as the best regular muffs?

They are similar to regular earmuffs in that they have different ratings, depending on construction. The electronic part merely cuts out the "amplified" sounds when it detects sound above a certain level. IIRC

[Statkowski]

You're not going to suffer a permanent hearing loss from a one-time self-defense shooting, even if it involves multiple shots fired. Actually, the bulk of the noise from your firearm will go off to the right of you. Now, if you're in a confined space, such as a home, you will hear everything your firearm has to say on the subject, and although it might temporarily leave a ringing in your ears, it's highly unlikely that any damage will be permanent.

Now, being at a rifle range day after day with high-powered rifles firing just to the left of you, as in 7.62x54mm (NATO Standard?), will definitely result in high-frequency hearing loss in one's left ear. Been there, done that.

[LastManOut]

Originally Posted by Statkowski

Now, being at a rifle range day after day with high-powered rifles firing just to the left of you, as in 7.62x54mm (NATO Standard?), will definitely result in high-frequency hearing loss in one's left ear. Been there, done that.

So will having your head 3 foot from the muzzle of a 152mm gun when it fires, twice. It's enough to make blood run out of your ears.

Now if I could only find the volume control to turn off them damn crickets.

[knight0334]

It depends on the individual. Some people have never lost any hearing from exposure, others have on a single blast. You cant apply the rules of physiology to everyone equally, natural and conscious tolerances vary among humans.

I suffer from hearing damage: loss of sensitivity, ringing 100% of the time that varies in volume(crickets like LastManOut mentioned), and tone deafness. Most of which above came from just one 20ga shotgun blast about 1ft my left ear in a 5ft wide path through brush in FL. Then urban training in the USMC didn't help one bit on top of that. Fire off a live 9mm, 45acp, 12ga, 5.56 or 7.62 in confined quarters without protection and you'll feel like you just got hit in the ear by a pissed off George Foreman.

As for the liability thing that the OP mentioned, its possible. You can be sued for just about anything these days even if you are divorced of the events.

[Huntingdonhavoc]

Originally Posted by tobor

Do those electronic noise canceling muffs have as good a reduction rating as the best regular muffs?

We use the peltor tac pro's which have a NRR of 26dB.

Pro-ear's sell a non-electric pair with a rating 33dB for only $32 dollars on midway which seems like a great deal if you didn't want to go the other route.