Posted on 01/03/2014 9:33:37 AM PST by LouAvul
I often see experienced shooters wearing only ear plugs for hearing protection. I usually double up with plugs and muffs, but when I'm shooting in extreme cold, sometimes it's uncomfortable (not being able to wear the type of head covering I might normally wear).
I'm headed to the range next week to break-in a couple of rifles, a CMP Garand w/CMP ammo and an unfired M1A w/factory ammo. The charts usually circulated say 140 dB at an unprotected ear causes instant damage. The M1A is a 308 at 156.2 dB and the Garand is 30-06 at 158.5 dB.
My plugs are rated at 31 dB. My understanding is that because these figures are logarithmic, I subtract 5 from the 31. The plugs actually only reduce the sound by 26 dB. That reduces the Garand, for example, to 132.5 dB.
Assuming one has the plugs inserted correctly, etc, and assuming one is shooting by himself, exposure to instantaneous sounds at 132.5 dB is safe.
After all, even with the addition of muffs, you only add 5 dB to the total hearing protection anyway.
Any Freeper's input on this subject?
Or he could get a “Elmer Fudd” hat. Wear the plugs, put the flaps over the ears then put the muffs on. Problem solved.
My hearing has degraded since I started shooting skeet, 5 stand, and sporting clays. My left ear is worse than my right, which is consistent with shooting, for some reason. Foam plugs have got to be seated well in the ear canal. But nothing will stop the shockwaves conducted through your skull.
Correct. I used to have a 30-06 field gun with a muzzle brake. Unbelievable how loud it was. I'd have guys from other shooting lanes come over just to make sure I wasn't shooting a 50 BMG, or some such.
From wearing both ear plugs and muffs, the next step up is something like a flight line helmet. They have to be able to block both very high dB continual and peak sounds.
In shooting single-shot pistols and magnum handguns, many with muzzle brakes, I wear both.
Hearing loss is cumulative.
Last winter, I shot some handguns with my brother in-law, who also let me fire his new 50-caliber "Desert Eagle" handgun. He lives on a farm, and we set up our range about 15 yards from an all-metal barn. I neglected to bring my hearing protection, and I could definitely tell that my left ear--the one closest to the barn--was significantly hurt by the reflected sound.
Have to laugh at guys with .223/5.56mm agonizing over what bake to use.....
Probably change my mind with a .338 Lapua though.......
I do not even take my AR 15 pistols out of the vehicle to shoot at the range if I cannot find a dock at least four docks away from any other shooters. The sound level is actually painful to anyone not behind the weapon wearing good hearing protection.
Check out these electronic muffs:
I use the Howard Leight Impact. The thing I don’t like about muffs, other than what I’ve already mentioned, shooting in cold weather and all, is that some of my rifles have iron sights which puts the sight plane lower. With my cheek weld, the muffs really bang on the gun stock. It’s not so bad with a scope mounted rifle.
After years of research, OSHA has determined that you cannot get anything more than 85 dcb protection. That is the max of plugs and muffs.
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