Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Protect your hearing and never intentionally shoot without hearing protection unless your life depends on it.
I never thought I would have to be an advocate for something so simple, but since so many folks are discussing this topic, I thought this safety issue was worth its own thread.
Listen up!
- Hearing damage is permanent. You don't get it back, ever. So one 'mistake' could cost you for the rest of your life.
- Don't attend training events where participants are allowed (or worse encouraged) to shoot a few rounds without hearing protection.
- There are many types of inexpensive hearing protection devices available today that even a hunter can protect their hearing; getting the rapport below the 'permanent damage' level of 120 decibels even once. Strongly recommended to wear 'double hearing protection' for multiple exposure above 104db.
Why do I care so much about your hearing?
- I have some hearing damage, confirmed by multiple audiometer (hearing) tests over my career and upon my retirement. You won't even know what you are missing; it diminishes your quality of life and that of your family.
- My father lost most all his hearing in one ear and significantly damaged his hearing in the other when one of his 'stupid friend' fired a gun from inside a vehicle he was driving.
- I've participated in and conducted hundreds of hours of firearms training; hearing protection was always mandatory. When I attended and successfully completed the US Secret Service Firearms Instructor Training Course; they emphasized two things that I previously did not always do.
(1) always wash your hands thoroughly after handling lead ammunition and
(2) always wear DOUBLE hearing protection (that is ear plugs & ear muffs) while training.
- The evidence is overwhelming, I'll post a few links/images for those that may need a little more convincing.
http://www.healthyhearing.com/content/articles/Hearing-loss/Causes/7904-Shooting-sports-and-hearing
http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss_prevention/
http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-HFM-123///MP-HFM-123-19.pdf
I never thought I would have to be an advocate for something so simple, but since so many folks are discussing this topic, I thought this safety issue was worth its own thread.
Listen up!
- Hearing damage is permanent. You don't get it back, ever. So one 'mistake' could cost you for the rest of your life.
- Don't attend training events where participants are allowed (or worse encouraged) to shoot a few rounds without hearing protection.
- There are many types of inexpensive hearing protection devices available today that even a hunter can protect their hearing; getting the rapport below the 'permanent damage' level of 120 decibels even once. Strongly recommended to wear 'double hearing protection' for multiple exposure above 104db.
Why do I care so much about your hearing?
- I have some hearing damage, confirmed by multiple audiometer (hearing) tests over my career and upon my retirement. You won't even know what you are missing; it diminishes your quality of life and that of your family.
- My father lost most all his hearing in one ear and significantly damaged his hearing in the other when one of his 'stupid friend' fired a gun from inside a vehicle he was driving.
- I've participated in and conducted hundreds of hours of firearms training; hearing protection was always mandatory. When I attended and successfully completed the US Secret Service Firearms Instructor Training Course; they emphasized two things that I previously did not always do.
(1) always wash your hands thoroughly after handling lead ammunition and
(2) always wear DOUBLE hearing protection (that is ear plugs & ear muffs) while training.
- The evidence is overwhelming, I'll post a few links/images for those that may need a little more convincing.
http://www.healthyhearing.com/content/articles/Hearing-loss/Causes/7904-Shooting-sports-and-hearing
http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss_prevention/
http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-HFM-123///MP-HFM-123-19.pdf