Anybody Ever Fire a .357 in Self Defense?

[Harrydale]

I'm sure we've all at least know some one who has fairly severe hearing loss. I never dreamed how much it would affect your life until my Dad got older and lost a large portion of his hearing. I swear it can be as debilitating as losing one's sight. The whole point that I say this is that it made me stop taking my ears for granted. I now take steps to protect my hearing as opposed to being young and dumb like I used to be. Now I am just dumb.

speaking of hearing protection, is there an advantage to wearing ear plugs along with over the ear muffs while shooting?

 

[InigoMontoya]

speaking of hearing protection, is there an advantage to wearing ear plugs along with over the ear muffs while shooting?

Yes, according to OSHA, wearing ear muffs over ear plugs adds about 5 dB of noise reduction to the device with the higher noise reduction rating. While 5 dB may not seem like much, the dB scale is logarithmic, so a just a 3 dB increase means a doubling of the sound pressure.

I wear both plugs and muffs when shooting indoors, and the additional noise reduction is very noticeable. The important thing is to properly compress and insert the ear plugs into your ear. Many people don't insert plugs correctly, which results in decreased sound protection.

By doubling up, you also protect your hearing if you accidentally move or dislodge your ear muffs (something that has happened to me).

This video helped me learn how to properly use foam ear plugs.

Fitting Foam Earplugs: http://youtu.be/SPNPZJingZA


Sent from my Galaxy Note II

 

[vipermd]

I simply wish that I would have known then what I know now. Thousands of 12 ga, 1-2 K 30-06/308, and thousands of 357/38, 44 mag. I have lost ~ 35% of the upper frequencies bilaterally. The tinnitus is deafening, every hour of every day, I have difficulty on the phone, at the table with multiple people, children under 12 sound like they are speaking a foreign language. Now I wear plug and muffs for doing anything with noise, lawn mower, chainsaw, 22's. I have started using suppressors in the last few years, which has been helpful. About 1987 I started teaching nephews/nieces to shoot and have been diligent about eye/ear protection for all. I have taught a few people how to shoot, and REQUIRE eyes and ears, My Place, My Rules. I had a slight decrease at 38, and have had a significant persistent drop off over the last 8 yrs. There is no way to repair damage done, I always have a 10 pack of plugs and ears in the truck, just in case I go somewhere that is loud. If I only knew!! Be Safe,

 

[model70hunter]

I guess we all need to be profiled and wear a sign.

1. Impaired hearing, why? Did not use hearing protection.
2. Impaired hearing, do not talk low with your back to me.
3. Significant others, OK I will continue to say huh when claim to
have spoken when in another room or mumbled as you walked away.
4. Impaired hearing, needs to be a class every day in school. This protection can be handed out anywhere.

 

[Murdock]

In some places in Europe sound suppressors are mandatory safety equipment. In America they require fingerprints and a $200 Federal tax and up to a year wait.

The reason silencers/suppressors on firearms came under the NFA in 1934 was to keep them out of the hands of poachers. It was the Depression and poor county folks were hungry. The public today understands that silencers are only used by spies and assassins. Thank you, Hollywood.

 

[Kid44]

I wear hearing aids now thanks in large part to shooting a lot in my younger days without ever
wearing protection. Shotguns, rifles, handguns, & an occasional dynamite. Yes I am old....but,
I am much smarter now.

Smarter now doesn't fix stupidity back then.

 

[Camster]

Smarter now doesn't fix stupidity back then.

I remember when I first started to visit the local town range several decades ago.
If memory serves,few guys wore protection.I didn't either.Firstly,it seemed like an expense,and secondly,it seemed like a wuss thing to do.
Got a little smarter after that.Reckon that my less than ideal hearing in my left ear now,may be because of such stupidity.(and not wearing protection with some power tools as well)

 

[TenTea]

As Grandpa used to say:

Never had it and don't want it again!

I once bought a .44 Magnum Ruger from a fellow that included one box of ammo with...49 rounds in it.
Want to guess why?

 

[7shooter]

I was on a team where I was the only male with a number women who were in charge. Many of the military veterans we were serving had a hard time hearing the women so they asked me to be the spokesman for the team.
One of the women was a doc and she told me the problem was that men who were around noise like gun fire, artillery or heavy equipment would lose their hearing in the typical ranges of women's voices. I think she had it figured right.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

20 years ago or so I was walking back from my deer hunting, bored to tears and irked because there were no deer. It was very quiet in the woods.....

I came to a clearing and decided to take a little handgun practice so I put down my rifle and gear and drew out my little H&R M999 .22 caliber revolver. Selecting miscellaneous, stationary targets, I unleashed all 9 rounds of .22LR.

Well, it turned out it wasn't a terribly bright idea. As noted, it was a clearing - I was surrounded by trees so all sound I created basically stayed around me or bounced back - the report of the 22 was AWFUL - and my ears rang the rest of the day. I resolved to never do that again!

Don't worry about getting tinnitus - if you're a shooter, and you shoot enough - you're going to lose hearing up to a point and tinnitus is EXTREMELY likely. Get ready.

***GRJ***

 

[ISCS Yoda]

To counter one remark above, for the record, suppressors are now legal to use in hunting in several states, Texas being one of them.

However, firing a rifle in the deer woods is not the same thing as being at a range. I can sit in the deer woods all day and if I get a shot at a deer it will be one shot, two tops. Using a .308, .35 Whelen, .223, .243, .30-06, .280, .270, or similar hunting calibers will cause you virtually no negative auditory reaction - the sound emanating from the muzzle of your rifle is unlikely to be very intense.

The sound emanating from a handgun, especially a revolver, is 2 feet closer to your ears than a rifle muzzle and explosively all around you. Far more intense.

The sound emanating from folks' guns around you at a range is guaranteed to be very intense, even outdoors. And multiplied many times over. That's where shooters' ears have the most risk.

I have fired a full magazine of .223 from an AR at a running hog and scarcely noticed the sound. I would NEVER do that at a range.

***GRJ***

 

[ISCS Yoda]

FYI, nobody really knows why silencers came under the NFA of 1934. Some suggest poaching. There are other theories. Mostly they came under the NFA because the then administration in power "could" do it - and that's what happens when governments overstep their bounds. I read that silencers are constitutionally guaranteed in Finland, like the RKBA here. How interesting is THAT??!!

 

[gaf]

I fired 3 rounds of 12 ga. OO Buck. Never heard the report and everything was in slow motion and engraved in my memory for life.

Several years ago both my wife and I went to the audiologist together to be tested. The doctor was a hunter and had numerous hunting publications in the waiting room so I knew he was OK.

After the tests he spoke to my wife and I together to discuss the results. He advised me that I had lost about 35% of my hearing in the upper range. He said that range included ladies voices. He told my wife that I really wasn't ignoring her, I just didn't hear her. I could have kissed him because he had just issued me a license to steal.

He attributed the loss to early shooting with poor or no protection. He also said that some of the loss was due to the mounting of sirens on the roof of police vehicles that was done in the 70-80's. Driving with the siren activated meant that your adrenalin was peaked and senses more active and more damage resulted. All siren speakers are no longer in the light bar or overhead, but mounted under the hood.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I could have kissed him because he had just issued me a license to steal.

Excellent! I used to use that excuse on my last wife (I've had several) and I use it all the time on my family, friends, lady friends, whomever.

If I'm gonna get older, I might as well be craftier, too!

***GRJ***

 

[poordevil]

357

WAAAAAY back in high school and friend bought his brother in laws Colt Python w 4" BBL. We shot it with no hearing protection w 158 gr ammo. After shooting it I remember reaching up to my ears and checking for blood!

I wear hearing protection always now, even while hunting.

 

[Louchia]

If you don't have any hearing protection, it's a good idea to keep you mouth open . Pressure is equalized and it may help minimize damage.

 

[BigChief52]

From what I've read on the subject, most any caliber hand gun will be solidly in ear damage territory. Considering the circumstances that would require a civilian to discharge his weapon in self defense, if ever, I would choose caliber effectiveness over Db levels. Although, one may want to consider if a muzzle brake is worth the extra Dbs. Personally, I can shoot well enough without one.

 

[islamoradamark]

thanks 4 the video very informative

 

[Old cop]

I was in a gun battle in an open parking lot many years ago and never heard a thing. Another time I fired three shots from my service .38 in the lobby of a motel and again never heard a thing. Fortunately no hearing damage today. I guess I was lucky on several levels both times.

 

[one eye joe]

I HAVE FIRED COUNTLESS ROUNDS OF .308, .223, AND .45ACP OUTSIDE W/O EAR PROTECTION IN THE MILITARY. BESIDES 12 AND 20 GA SHOTGUN, .50 BLACKPOWDER RIFLE. AND .22LR, I HAVE ALSO SHOT 4 ROUNDS OF .357 WHILE HUNTING AND ONE ROUND EACH OF .44 SPL, 45 ACP, AND .22 MAG IN HOUSES W/O MUFFS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS ADRENALINE, BUT AT THE TIME, I DID NOT NOTICE THE NOISE OR RECOIL. ALL OF THIS WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO. I AM 73 YEARS OLD NOW, AND I AM JUST STARTING TO EXPERIENCE TINNITUS. WHETHER OR NOT IT IS DUE TO MY EXPOSURE TO GUNFIRE OR INCOMING ROCKET AND MORTAR FIRE IN VIETNAM, OR JUST PLAIN OLD AGE IS QUESTIONABLE………..