I’m curious if there was ever a time when you shot without hearing protection?
Such things weren’t much of a concern when I was young, and I hunted a fair amount with both 12 gauge and .22 without hearing protection. That, plus loud music later has left me with significant tinnitus, although thankfully I still hear OK. I do need to get to an audiologist for some formal testing one of these days. I still hunt and shoot, but always with hearing protection.
I’m in a similar situation as yourself with a young son - I’m in my 50s...
“I’m curious if there was ever a time when you shot without hearing protection?”
I had a .25 pistol in my early 20s and very occasionally went without protection for a round or two. I also went to a very few rock concerts in my 20s where I left with ringing in my ears. I always told my friends that I didn’t understand the enjoyment of EXTREMELY loud, painful rock-concert music... can’t hear the notes... just loud noise. So I mostly avoided those concerts.
I never listened... are you ready for this... to my Sony Walkman turned up high like my step-brother did. Never understood that either. I probably did spend too many hours in a blues club of one sort or another with the loud music, but not as loud as those ridiculous concerts.
Later, when I bought some guns again, I always used protection. I knew that ringing in the ears meant damage. I didn’t always double up, but I knew the plugs had to be compressed, ear pulled back, plug deep in the ear and wait for decompression in the ear.
When I was a kid I used to play around with fire crackers, and a few times the fuse was so quick I could barely throw the cracker away without burning my hand, nevermind plugging the ears.
But none of the mortar fire or warfare or years of heavy machinery operation that other people are talking about. Bottom line: it looks like I’m susceptible to hearing loss. I’m not going to stop with the firearms just yet. I’m doing a lot of research now on custom fitted plugs made by an audiologist combined with the really good muffs and then going back in a year to see if any more deterioration occurred.
Worst case scenario: I go predator or varmint hunting with a .22 WMR rifle and learn to use a bow for harvesting deer. Might be more sporting way in any case. I’ve also been meaning to do more fishing anyway. Thanks.