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Posted: 11/23/2009 6:19:17 AM EDT
| I don't want to stomp on the XM-177 moderator thread thus this new topic. Did you guys that were there ie in combat or otherwise involved in live fire wear any hearing protection? I've always been curious about this. When I was in the USAF in the 80's during the joke small arms training in basic and later at the base range/exercises we always had hearing protection. I recognize this may not be practical under combat conditions but we have all pulled the trigger without protection for the hell of it and know how it impairs the hearing. How does/did this work in practice? Very curious. |
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This was in 1976, and ZZ Top was the loudest band performing at the time. I was working front stage security with the friend, who was a Jackson MS. Cop. We were 8 or so guys in between the stage and the audience in a no-mans land made by laying scaffolding down and creating a 12 or so foot barricade area between them and the stage. Those .38's did a fair job.
Got to see lots 'o boobies, hauled out a guy we thought was passed out (dead from moonshine) and ended up with a burning joint in my hair. I was sportin' a big Roger Daltry 'doo at the time. But I got paid to see ZZ Top. Best 20 bucks I ever made. |
| I don't think there was a lot of time to worry about ear pro when contact was made. i think return fire and maneuver was a priority. Most guys I know who have been in combat all have experienced hearing loss. They all said they just had to suck it up and press on. Usually within a few days their hearing returned to somewhat normal. |
| I always wondered about that. If you wear hearing protection, you might miss the sound of someone sneaking up on you? I never wore hearing protection when on AD, but then I never popped caps on anyone either. I shot a mag of .223 without hearing protection last week by accident and it gave me a headache... |
| Never in injun country sneakin and snakin,ya needed every sense about ya..weapons check before mission yes,the cig stubs worked a little bit,mostly fingers in safe zones checking weapons if you remembered to.My hearing is pretty bad from weapons over the years,especially the left ear from booms and bangs.68-72' |
| I can help with the left ear being damaged worse then the right. A right handed shooter's right ear is canted to the ground when firing but the left ear is up, therefore the left ear takes a beating. The newer style "combat" ear plugs allow you to hear normal conversation but they screen out the gunfire to some extent. They work better then no hearing protection at all. I've got wicked tinnitus in both ears but my left really rings. The only time I used hearing protection in Iraq was when flying in Blackhawks. |
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My Drills, back in 1980 were all Viet Nam veterans. They said no one had issued ear protection and they used 5.56mm cases and cigarette butts when the noise got too much for them. When I went to Iraq in 1990-91 we didn't wear ear protection either. That's why my ears ring constantly, every second of my life right now...
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I can help with the left ear being damaged worse then the right. A right handed shooter's right ear is canted to the ground when firing but the left ear is up, therefore the left ear takes a beating. I thought it was that right-handed shooters have their left ear turned toward the muzzle and the right ear turned away from the muzzle... |
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I've seen recent video of the gunny (Ermey) putting shell casings in his ears. Not sure if that was standard procedure back in the day or Ermey acting like a BAMF.] Years ago I volunteered as a scorer at the Bianchi Cup. We had a NRA ref who was deaf as a post. He told us that when he used to be in the military (running a firing range, I believe) they used to use spend shell casings for ear plugs. His implication was that it didn't work very well. |
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I've seen recent video of the gunny (Ermey) putting shell casings in his ears. Not sure if that was standard procedure back in the day or Ermey acting like a BAMF.] Years ago I volunteered as a scorer at the Bianchi Cup. We had a NRA ref who was deaf as a post. He told us that when he used to be in the military (running a firing range, I believe) they used to use spend shell casings for ear plugs. His implication was that it didn't work very well. Yeah I would think that metal casings might focus noise down your eardrum even worse. In fact, I think I recall reading in one of Ted Nugent's books that he used to use empty casings to protect his ears from his Fender amps. Not so sure how effective they were, cause he sure does most of the talkin'! 
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Here is R. Lee Ermey shooting with casings in his ears. Cue it up to 34 seconds into the video and don't mind the Japanese jibber-jabber surrounding it.
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/WBOQuVSFiBY |
While I was stationed at Ft. Knox (mid summer '82 to April '84) we were issued these earplug cases and fitted earplugs. As a medics we had to do all the fitting. They were considered part of our uniform and we were expected to wear the case on the pocket button of our BDU's.
I always thought it looked tacky with just the chain looped over the button so I made a flap out of medical tape and cut a slot to go over the button and painted the tape and the earplug case black. 
And this is how I wore mine on my uniform. 
Doc |
Yellow wirenuts work pretty well but fall out.  I use them when hammerdrilling through concrete. What I'd like to know is what our current troops are using in combat, if anything. ANyone know?
ETA: Doc - you beat me to post by seconds. That's good info, and a good way to carry earplugs, especially the way you did it. I'm assuming that hearing protection has come a long way since the mid-eighties - I'm sure I can find decent earplugs, but would like to know what the troops wear. One thing about yellow wire nuts - they attenuate the sharp, loud sounds that cause hearing damage, but you can still hear someone talking with them in. Besides, I always have some in my pouch even though I prefer tan Ideals - I throw old ones in there when I replace them with tans. |
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Yellow wirenuts work pretty well but fall out. I use them when hammerdrilling through concrete. What I'd like to know is what our current troops are using in combat, if anything. ANyone know?
ETA: Doc - you beat me to post by seconds. That's good info, and a good way to carry earplugs, especially the way you did it. I'm assuming that hearing protection has come a long way since the mid-eighties - I'm sure I can find decent earplugs, but would like to know what the troops wear. One thing about yellow wire nuts - they attenuate the sharp, loud sounds that cause hearing damage, but you can still hear someone talking with them in. Besides, I always have some in my pouch even though I prefer tan Ideals - I throw old ones in there when I replace them with tans. I went over in 05. We trained and operated with earplugs. I used regular foamies, some guys used the type that allow you to hear normal conversation through them. Most operations were in HMMWV and the hearing protection is for IEDs which will blow your drums if hit. They also make it easier to hear in the vehicle by cutting out the rattle and hum from the vehicle. Different operation than Vietnam jungle. |
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Part 5 of this lock and load episode, Ermey is introducing the M16 (looks like a 602) and is wearing his casing earplugs. I think I have invested too much in posting in this thread. Someone come over and shut my laptop.
http://www.history.com/video.do?name=LockNLoad |
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