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My two cents worth!
At the range you are firing a number of shots hence the ear ringing. When you fire one shot while hunting it has little immediate affect. When your buddy is shooting you are standing (hopefully)to the side or behind him. As a result you get more of the blast than the shooter does.

OK Alf you�re a collegue? What specialty?

I haven�t seen any hard ev�dence that adrenaline doesn�t effect the attenuation reflex it does however moderate all other reflexes so it would be logical that it also effects the ear. Same goes for anticipation -our psyche moderates a lot of our functions, also parasympatic ones etc.

But we are cleaving hairs and the discussion is academic: the reflex will not save you from damage when shooting or going to concerts.

On that point wre agree -I think?