Wearing ear protection isn't a problem when shooting off the range, but basically when hunting, you need your full sense of hearing. I just wonder if someone has ever experienced using a .44 mag Colt Anaconda 8" (it comes with port) without ear protection and if the blast isn't too loud? I am already half deaf from only 3 muzzle-braked 300 wby shots...
Posts: 552 | Location: France | Registered: 21 February 2002
Speaking of ear protection.... Last year the PH told a story of a Bowhunter stalking a Cape Buff. It seams they were also video taping and when they got close to taking the shot, He drew the bow and EVERYONE stuck their fingers in their ears! From what the PH said the hunter started snickering so much that he couln't take the shot and the Buff spooked. Fortunatly it didn't charge. He later took it, but boy, that would have been a sight to see, Bowhunter at Full draw on a Cape Buff and everyone else with their fingers in their ears
Greg
Posts: 1525 | Location: Hilliard Oh USA | Registered: 17 May 2002
I was wondering the same thing. I can tell you your pistol will damage your hearing severly with just one shot. I have a new Thompson Center Encore in the .480 Ruger I will be hunting with this year and I am looking for hearing protectors with sound amplifying. I am not sure they work very well. I hope our friends on this site will enlighten us. I never hear 80% of my game anyway, so I may just wear ear plugs while I hunt.
The question to our friends on the site is: Are the sound amplifying hearing protectors worth the money for hunting application?
What do you do to protect your hearing while hunting with pistols?
Posts: 130 | Location: Central U.S.A | Registered: 21 December 2001
The problem is not earing or not the game : deers and pigs are far more capable than humans of not making any noise and most of the time you won't ear them (I have experienced recently that even a 230 kg kudu can move in absolute silence through very thick bush at less than 30 meters from you!). The problem at hunting is that you need to ear yourself, it helps moving quietly! And, this gun isn't mine yet, but if I get into the handgun hobby, it will be the one I buy, I find it simply beautiful!
Posts: 552 | Location: France | Registered: 21 February 2002
Every one of my Contender barrels is ported, my custom SBH is ported and my carry gun (Taurus 425 Tracker) is ported. I always wear hearing protection when hunting or range shooting. I usually have a pair of electronic muffs on (rainy/damp weather)or two Walker Game Ear plugs(bluebird weather)in. That being said I also do ONE ONLY shooting house drill with any gun I'll carry with out protection. You need to know what it will sound like if you ever have to shoot inside.
Posts: 218 | Location: Sand Hills of NC | Registered: 21 May 2002
A couple of years ago I shot two wild boar with my .44 Super Red Hawk, without hearing protection. I was new to handgun hunting and each took a couple of shots. A day after I could still not hear my footsteps on dry leaves. I now have constant ringing in my ears which is aggravating when in a very quiet (hunting) situation. I have a pair of Peltor Tactical 6 amplified headphones. These things are great, on max volume you can rub your fingers together and hear it, yet it makes shooting a 12" .45-70(braked) no problem. I used them goose hunting this past year and the sound amplification was unbeliveable.
My 44 mag Redhawk will make your ears ring if you're not wearing hearing protection, and it is not ported. Come to think of it, all of my revolvers will do that....
I use a pair of "pro-ears" that I've had for several years when I'm target shooting. They work very well, and kids get a big kick out of using them.
I generally don't wear hearing protection while hunting, but that will change this fall if I hunt with an Encore pistol (even un-braked they are too loud for me). Either the pro-ears, or Walker's game ear(s), if I get one or two by then.
Good shootin',
Bill
Posts: 1169 | Location: USA | Registered: 23 January 2002
I have been wearing electronic hearing protectors when I have been hunting with my mag pistols and rifles. Also in the duck blind with my freinds shooting the 10 and 3.5 in 12gas they go a long ways to saving your ears and letting you hear at the same time. I have had them for some time there are better ones out there that just muffel the loud nosie instead of shuting off like mine. When I decide the ones I have or end up buying some more for the kids they well be the newer style.
Posts: 19735 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
Last year I took one shot at a blacktail deer with a ported 14inch 375jdj then 1 shot with a ported 2.5inch 41. I will never do it again. Get protection.
Posts: 132 | Location: Anacortes WA | Registered: 04 May 2002
quote:Originally posted by tundrarules: If anyone has a suggestion of what type of sound amplifying/hearing protectors to buy, let us know.
The Peltor Tac 6 "ears" mentioned above are fine for noise reduction, hearing well, and allowing one to shoulder a longarm. However, they aren't always fun in sweating weather, unless your hands are free to take them off and wipe your brow and ears every once in a while, or every three minutes, or whatever.
Put that info together with whatever the rest of the folks tell you.
Posts: 2272 | Location: PDR of Massachusetts | Registered: 23 January 2001
Try out the following site. I had looked into this awhile back and decided on the Stalker model. I finally ordered it just earlier this week so I've yet to try them. I intend to wear them during hunting as much as possible. I also intend to wear ear plugs along with these while at the range.
In terms of comparison to the Pelter 6, these have a faster "attack time" and higher dB reduction ratings. The attack time is listed at 2 milliseconds while the noise reduction is listed at 21dB for the Dimension 1 (slim model) and a bit higher for the mag models. They recommend that indoor pistol shooters either wear a second pair of foam ear plugs or else use the thicker magnum model. I believe the noise reduction of the mag models runs 26-27dB.
Increased performance costs money. While the Pelter 6 tends to run ~$135, these tend to run ~$230 (shipping, taxes, etc., variable). My thought was that my hearing has only one direction in which to go...down, and the extra $100 is well spent compared to the countless thousands of dollars spent elsewhere. Buy the best once, cry once.
I have a pair of Peltor Tac-7 that I really like.Very comfortable. Even at the range they are nice because you can talk to other peaple with them on. I bought them to use in case I can learn to shoot my 454 well enough to hunt with it. I would never ever consider shooting it without hearing protection.
Posts: 388 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 05 May 2002
The Walker Game Ear is Great. It weighs nothing, sits securely on your ear, offers clear sound amplification, and utilizes foam plugs for a noise reduction of 29dB. It allows you to wear glasses yet have a good seal over the ear. It also doesn't get in the way by bumping into the stock as is common with muffs. I really like mine alot. It's so inconspicuous, you can even wear it to the office and find out what your boss really thinks of you.
Posts: 487 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 07 December 2001
All this talk about hearing protection maade me look at what I had and what I really needed. As I posted above I have had the WGE for a while, wear two of them. I also had a paie of Peltor Tac 6s. So what did I do yesterday? I ordered a set of Walker Quads from Cabela's should be here in a few days. Let you know how they rate.
Posts: 218 | Location: Sand Hills of NC | Registered: 21 May 2002
I ordered the Peltor Tac-7 headsets from www.midwayusa.com. They had a good sale on them. Sound good in the house, can't wait to try them in the field.
Thanks for all the advice.
Posts: 130 | Location: Central U.S.A | Registered: 21 December 2001
I don't know how many rounds I have shot from my Contender chambered in 45/70 with a ported 16 inch barrel. I had the gun before I got smart and started to wear hearing protection when at the range. I never experienced the deafness you guys discribe. Ringing in the ears yes but not as bad as the couple days after a concert. Now being a construction worker that is subject to loud noise all day could be a reason for my tolerance. I will admit I don't hear as well now at age 39 as I did even 10 years ago but I am far from deaf. I have a brake on my .300 mag. also and don't use ear protection when hunting with it. I always use protection at the range no mater what I am shooting. No I am not saying those of you protecting your hearing are not smart. I should but I figure I do so much damage at work a few shots in the woods won't make much difference.
quote:Originally posted by King Baboon: Wearing ear protection isn't a problem when shooting off the range, but basically when hunting, you need your full sense of hearing. I just wonder if someone has ever experienced using a .44 mag Colt Anaconda 8" (it comes with port) without ear protection and if the blast isn't too loud? I am already half deaf from only 3 muzzle-braked 300 wby shots...
With the NEw HEARING PROTECTION THAT ACUALLY Helps your hearing and the fact that Shooting without ear protection WILL ruin your ears..it is Very hard for me to understand why their is even a Question about hearing protection. You wear it Like it or not??? I ruined my hearing Guess till you lose it most will just be stubburn about it. Shooting without hearing protection is a Bad influince on Kids and Other prospective shooters. fireball
I've never shot a ported bbl w/o protection, but one shot with my 4" 357 revolver did me in. No question it caused permanant damage. I did find some low-tek earplugs with a little valve that closed when you fired. They work pretty good for the 5 bucks or so I paid.
I always wondered about our poor guys at war with the M-16, do they make a rifle with a sharper ear-piercing blast? Geez.... and wonder why our male elders are hard of hearing.
Scott, I agree! Eye protection is much more important. Having had the retnia of my right eye split during a fight in high school I can tell you you don't want to lose an eye or partial sight of one. Made me a Lefty shooter in one split second!! When it's gone it is gone and right now! I wear saftey glass's while on the range all the time. I try to wear them while hunting also but I don't always succeed.
I just bought a pair of Silencio RSX-85 electronic muffs. I just bought them yesterday and only took a few shots with them today so I'm not totally familiar with them yet but they seem to work OK except the wind seems to turn them off. Anyone else experience this with either Siliencio or Peltor? Mike
Posts: 257 | Location: Canada | Registered: 29 March 2001
quote: With the NEw HEARING PROTECTION THAT ACUALLY Helps your hearing and the fact that Shooting without ear protection WILL ruin your ears..it is Very hard for me to understand why their is even a Question about hearing protection. You wear it Like it or not??? I ruined my hearing Guess till you lose it most will just be stubburn about it. Shooting without hearing protection is a Bad influince on Kids and Other prospective shooters. fireball
Fireball, maybe you are pissed because you damaged your hearing, but I see no reason to turn your bitterness on me. I was just asking for data and would like people here to share their experience with me. Your reply is NOT constructive. So please shut your mouth and go hunting. Watch your manners.
Posts: 552 | Location: France | Registered: 21 February 2002
I am very jealous of my hearing and would go so far as to say I would pass on a record buck if I wasn't wearing ear protection. I have a condition known as hyper recruitment which means that my wife clapping her hands in the car is painful for me.
In cold weather or in a high seat I wear a pair of Peltor electronic muffs (sound trap) hearing is better, especialy magnifying the frequencies deer make when moving through leaves etc.
When walking or in warmer weather I have a pair of electronic plugs which cost an absolute fortune (a tikka rifles worth) but are so so good. You stick em in and forget about it. Hearing better than normal the shot completely muffled.
For emergencies (battery failure, breakdown etc) I have a set of plugs with a mechanical 'sound valve'. These are very comfortable but restrict hearing by a degree. They are quite cheap ($100)and fine for open space stalking when you don't really need acute hearing anyhow.
Bottom line - I had my ears tested 2 weeks ago. I have fired 250 shots at deer in the last 4 years and I have perfect hearing, that is worth the cost of a rifle to me.
Posts: 2258 | Location: Bristol, England | Registered: 24 April 2001
What a bunch of pussies. I don't notice any loss of hearing sensitivity when shooting my SRH. I hear just as well after as I do before.
Of course it could be 5 years and several hundred 8 inch howtizer rounds, M1, M14 and 1911A1 qualifications, 30 years with magnum shotguns and centerfire rifles have something to do with that.
Seriously, I have never heard a deer walk in the woods and my hearing is such that a turkey must be within 75 yards for me to hear the gobble.
Do I wear hearing protection now? you betcha.
I can't afford to lose any more. The only time it is an advantage is when momma is yelling at me to do something.
It took just one shot with a ported 12" Contender in .223 to get the message through. Just a .223!! Not only did bark fly from the tree I was leaning it against, but my ears rang for a couple of hours. The first thing I did before cocking the ported 45-70 Contender (as the bear was approaching the bait) was insert ear plugs!! ( Now I know why that .223 barrel was so cheap!)
There is a fairl new type of hearing protection you may want to look into. It is only activated by loud noises (like a gun shot). I have seen them in a few catolgs. You may want to check into them as a good alternative to going deaf. That way you can hunt with good hearing and have your ears protected whan the shot is fired. They look like ear mufs but work prey good from what I have learned about them.
Hi, I'm new here and have waited to post until I could contribute something.
I test hearing and prescribe hearing aids for a living and am glad to see that so many of you are taking the proper precautions. I have many patients who are shooters and did not wear protection early on. I recommend that they wear Peltors standard muffs and foam inserts at the same time. As good as, or better, decibel reduction as the expensive electronic versions.
A gunshot produces something on the order of 182db of sound, enough to cause some minor damage with only a few seconds of cumulative exposure. Ear protection will reduce this, of course, but the decibel level will still be enough even at reduced levels to cause damage over a long period of time.
So, please don't consider yourself completely risk-free. Keep an "ear peeled" to any potential problems.
Posts: 733 | Location: N. Illinois | Registered: 21 July 2002
"One time was hunting, and I didn't have time to put my ear plugs in. So I didn't shoot and the deer got away. My family and I all died of starvation. The end."
Right....
Posts: 723 | Location: Ny | Registered: 17 March 2002
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