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Posted: 1/28/2002 2:53:03 AM EDT
[#1]
I use muffs, I'm too old to take any chances....
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Posted: 1/28/2002 3:05:49 AM EDT
[#2]
That happened to me during hunting season. I fired a few rounds from my shotgun while inside a blind. The sound bounced off of the roof of the blind and got my left ear. My ear felt like you described for about three days before it went away. I was worried also but everything worked out ok. Good luck.
Brian |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 3:33:28 AM EDT
[#3]
I doubt that you blew an eardrum, although you certainly did do damage to your hearing. As long as your ear isn't bleeding or discharging fluid, there's nothing a hearing specialist can do for you except tell you to wear headphones or earplugs [u]and[/u] headphones. Within the next few days that ringing will eventually stop, and your hearing will return to "normal". (Although hearing damage is cummulative, and to some extent irreparable.)
You'll be fine, but your ears are sending you a very clear signal that they didn't care for the exposure to muzzle blast. Be especially careful in the future. There isn't a seasoned shooter out there who will criticize you for wearing earplugs & headphones at the same time. The Almighty only gave you one set of ears, so take care of 'em! -kid |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 3:41:40 AM EDT
[#4]
Thanks for the responses, I certainly feel a bit better. I orginally ordered the best possible plugs (most decibel reduction) I could find for use with my motorcycle riding, as using a full race only exhaust for 8 hours of riding was definately causing problems. I used these for shooting as well to get more comfortable wearing plugs and really liked the results. Anyway, yes muffs from now on, I think I will make a trip today and find a good pair. Anyway nothing wrong with muff [}:D] I mean ear muffs lol....
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Posted: 1/28/2002 7:45:30 AM EDT
[#5]
I use to just wear plugs, but no more.
even with a .22, I wear 31 DB plugs, and 31 db muffs. I wear glasses, those can ruin the effectivenes of muffs. c-rock |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 7:48:09 AM EDT
[#6]
Eh, what? Could you speak a little louder?
Damn tinnitus. Always wear muffs. |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 7:50:57 AM EDT
[#7]
Plugs and muffs were a requirement for all USMC marksmanship inst. Hate it. I did decide this weekend that I would start doing it again though, about 70 rounds of .45 with no protection had my left ear hurting. I know better than that.
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:05:47 AM EDT
[#8]
Quoted: Plugs and muffs were a requirement for all USMC marksmanship inst. Hate it. I did decide this weekend that I would start doing it again though, about 70 rounds of .45 with no protection had my left ear hurting. I know better than that. |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:15:12 AM EDT
[#9]
My buddy shot my 16"AR w/brake this past 4th of July w/o protection. He only got off 2rds before realizing his mistake. After a week of ringing, he saw a Dr. and was told that the ringing was permenant! He told me what the conditiion was called but I forgot. I'll give him a ring (HA!) and find out.
Nuckles. [smash] |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:26:26 AM EDT
[#10]
My brother-in-law was on an Air Force pistol-rifle team at Eglin AFB around 67-68. When they switched from M1 carbines to M16s he spent 8 hours firing his new rifle at the range without any hearing protection. He still gets hearing aids from the VA every year.
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:32:39 AM EDT
[#11]
[i]...continued[/i]
O.K. Here is what he has... (and he said they ring 24/7 (take note users of the brake)) Tinnitus \ tin-night’-is or tin’-it-is (either pronunciation is correct)\ n. [L., tinnire to ring]: the perception of ringing, hissing, or other sound in the ears or head when no external sound is present. For some people, tinnitus is just a nuisance. For others, it is a life-altering condition. In the United States, an estimated 12 million people have tinnitus to a distressing degree. The American Tinnitus Association is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing tinnitus research and educating patients and professionals through conferences, books, brochures, videos, and the quarterly journal Tinnitus Today [url]www.ata.org[/url] Nuckles. [smash] |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:43:05 AM EDT
[#12]
Should one wear ear plugs/muffs while hunting (with any rifle/handgun)? Will they block out the quiet noises that tell you the deer is nearby?
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Posted: 1/28/2002 9:16:54 AM EDT
[#13]
I was in a car stereo accident when I was younger, and lost some hearing in my left ear. Now I wear both plugs and muffs. If you blew out your drum, you would know it (it hurts like heck). If your hearing does not return in a week, you may want to see a doctor.
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Posted: 1/28/2002 10:12:36 AM EDT
[#14]
Loonybin,
that is up to you. For me, whitetail, and other big game, I do not, 1 shot is all it takes and I am willing to take the hearing damage risk at this time, for bunny's and pheasant, I wear plugs, more shots, shotgun blast, not loosing much by muffling hearing, lots more visual clues. You have the option of springing for the auto-silencing plugs or the amplified/auto muffs. Like I started your call, get informed and be aware of the risks. my thoughts. TRW |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 10:32:58 AM EDT
[#15]
For Hunting you should use electronic muffs. They are not as good as plugs and muffs, but much better than nothing. Plus you can hear the grass crack under your shoes.
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Posted: 1/28/2002 10:38:53 AM EDT
[#16]
This is why mufflers should be allowed on Rifles.
No tax, no forms. c-rock |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:14:50 PM EDT
[#17]
I lost so much of my hearing when I was young in the infantry.
Live-fire defensive exercises with the entire platoon sucked when I was the platoon commander. No ear protection on my left ear, because that's the one I used to talk to my squad leaders on the platoon radio, and no ear protection on my right ear, because that's the one I used to talk to the company commander and the artillery support. In other words, no ear protection. Add to that the fact that each squad had only .308 and up (G-3s and MG-3s) in addition to the 84mm anti-tank gun, and the platoon .50 cal M-2 that you want to keep close by. All of that with no protection (!) for about 15 minutes each time, and no wonder my hearing is screwed up. So stop whining about shooting an AR without ear protection! [:D] |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 8:22:48 PM EDT
[#18]
I had a 'hot loaded' .40 cal shot about two feet from my head/left ear about a month ago. Couldn't hear jack squat in it for about four days.
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Posted: 1/28/2002 10:31:31 PM EDT
[#19]
On the ride home, my left ear was not ringing, but low frequencies are distorted. Your lack of ringing (and lack of discomfort while shooting) are puzzling. Are you sure your earplug didn't just push a wad of earwax behind it, covering your ear canal? You might consider trying an earwash kit to see if it clears the problem up. |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 10:55:57 PM EDT
[#20]
On a related note, never re-use those yellow foam earplugs without sterilizing them in some way.
Being a cheap bastard, I thought I would save some money and re-use them, I must have used a pair that I forgot to wash, let me tell you, they are like a petrie dish for cultivating bacteria, I wound up with so serious of an ear infection that I (temporarilly, thank God), lost 80% of my hearing & to get rid of the infection, I was on a 30 day regimen of pills that cost $3 each, certainly not worth the price of re-using .30 cent earplugs. My advice, use the best muffs you can buy. Ed |
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Posted: 1/28/2002 11:22:41 PM EDT
[#21]
Sorry to hear that you got an ear infection from your plugs. This is the first time I have known about such a case. I worked as an arborist climbing trees and running chainsaws and grinders for the past five years, and have never heard of anyone getting an infection from used earplugs. However gross, I have even used others plugs that I found rolling in the bottom of the truck covered in some dirt and bar oil, just for the sake of saving my ears. But I do see how the yellow foam ones can carry more bad things that the compact rubber foam plugs we used. Those yellow ones even irritated my ear cannal. From your testament, I will remember to never reuse the yellow foam plugs. I hate ear infections.
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Posted: 1/28/2002 11:54:28 PM EDT
[#22]
Like many older shooters, I didn’t wear muffs when my hearing was good – now that my hearing is bad, I wear them religiously.
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Posted: 1/29/2002 2:47:16 AM EDT
[#23]
I NEVER WEAR HEARING PROTECTION AND I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY HEAR LOSS. WHAT? WHAT WAS THAT?[BD]
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Posted: 1/29/2002 3:22:41 AM EDT
[#24]
I had the same experience with the M4 16" this last fall. 3 shots in about 10 minutes made my left ear seem like I had a pillow over my head. I confirmed the hearing loss: all the lows are gone. I still have to go see an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) doctor to see if anything can be done. I also had to confess to the wife so that she wouldn't get aggravated with me asking her to repeat herself all the time.
On the other hand, I have heard her say some very interesting things since my hearing loss and tinitis. She read a bulletin outside a church for me, and I heard "Turn to the book for the lesbians of life." We laughed ourselves silly until she corrected that to be "lessons." This has been one of my life's biggest "Dohs!" and a great inconvenience. Keep your ears protected at all times and don't let the knotheads in your hunting camp bother you with comments. |
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Posted: 1/29/2002 3:23:48 AM EDT
[#25]
Good comment about the foam plugs, I do re-use mine all the time [:X*]
I use orange and they are actually 33 decibel reduction but anyway just curious what ear muffs any of you would describe as the best? I have to go buy a pair since I want to go shooting again this week. Also the point raised about wax, could be something even though my ears are so clean I usually run a washcloth through the other side daily lol! But seriously, I have no discomfort (other then the noise distortion) and no pain. Matter of fact I was shocked afterwards when I realized my left ear was screwed up because I never had a loud shot that I heard during the whole time. I just assumed the left plug was loose. Anyway might as well put in a call today and pay the $10 copay up the bureaucracy line and see what is what. By the time I get to a specialist I will probably be cleared up. |
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Posted: 1/29/2002 3:55:08 AM EDT
[#26]
I always wear plugs and muffs when in the pits or one the line. I have a pair of the Silenceo (sp?) hear through plugs and while they work ok I seem to notice that my hearing is distorted when I wear them alone.
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