Today it was simply too loud at the indoor range

[paplinker]

If someone cuts their range time in half and leaves because they think it's too noisy, that's more than "just making an observation." That's taking action. If someone has to step back from the firing line and cover their ear protection with their hands, that isn't simply "making an observation."



Then perhaps he should have complained to the range officer. Doesn't do one bit of good to complain about it here.
But I'd advise against complaining to another shooter about their gun being "too noisy".

He's making an observation to US on the forum.

As far as the range,
Leaving early or holding your ears isn't rude.
If my hearing protection wasn't adequate i would likely roll early too. Haven't we all cut a trip short for some reason or another.

Did what he had to do without causing any trouble..

Didn't find what he said complaining at all on here. I see that you do which is fine. But i think i might give him the benefit of the doubt.

Gotta ask why would he complain to the range??

 

[paplinker]

That's pretty much true. I have occasional access to an outdoor range at a private club, but 95% of my practice is at indoor ranges.

You shoot at an indoor range, you "pays your money and you takes your chances."

If someone can't deal with large caliber noise, they have basically two choices. Increase hearing protection or find somewhere else to shoot. Maybe find an indoor range that has caliber restrictions. It really doesn't get much simpler than that, unless you just stop shooting altogether.

Totally agree with that statement. The OP defiantly has to work around his issues to keep on shooting indoors.

 

[TTSH]

If someone can't deal with large caliber noise, they have basically two choices. Increase hearing protection or find somewhere else to shoot.

Can I ask about that "increase hearing protection" thing? How does that work. I already use custom plugs under the best rated muffs I could find anywhere at any price. What's the next step if there is one? Serious question. Those 12-gauge shotguns and magnum handguns right next door are brutal on my old, damaged ears.

Related question: Are those plugs I use under my muffs helping or hurting in the indoor scenario described?

 

[BC38]

Can I ask about that "increase hearing protection" thing? How does that work. I already use custom plugs under the best rated muffs I could find anywhere at any price. What's the next step if there is one? Serious question. Those 12-gauge shotguns and magnum handguns right next door are brutal on my old, damaged ears.

Related question: Are those plugs I use under my muffs helping or hurting in the indoor scenario described?

I guess I just don't understand. How can custom fitted ear plugs AND high quality ear muffs allow enough of the noise to get through to be a problem? Do you have some kind of hearing damage that makes your ears MORE sensitive to sound? Is that a symptom of tinnitus? Do noises make the ringing worse? I always thought of hearing damage as being defined as your ears being LESS sensitive to sound.

The last time I had my ears tested (many years ago) they said I had something like 20% hearing loss - but it was pretty much all in the upper frequency ranges. My hearing in the lower frequencies (like blasts from small arms fire) was just fine. Personally I use a fairly inexpensive set of electronic active ear muffs I bought at Harbor Freight, and the sound of magnum rounds at the indoor range aren't a problem at all - they aren't even unpleasantly loud. But then I don't have tinnitus either.

Your hearing loss/damage issues must be a lot different than mine.

 

[TTSH]

Personally I use a fairly inexpensive set of electronic active ear muffs I bought at Harbor Freight, and the sound of magnum rounds at the indoor range aren't a problem at all - they aren't even unpleasantly loud. But then I don't have tinnitus either. Your hearing loss/damage issues must be a lot different than mine.

Yes, the tinnitus changes everything... and yes, my hearing loss issues are apparently much more critical than yours. I literally have to "run for the door" with 12-gauge shotguns going off inches from my ears and the same with most magnum pistol loads as well. If I don't, my tinnitus spikes crazy high for weeks afterwards and my ability to hear goes to near zero (worst in my left ear but also unacceptably bad in my right ear as well). It is not pleasant at all.

But I am not complaining. I did this hearing damage to myself. It is my fault. I just want to know if there is something I'm missing... i.e., something more that I can do in the way of increasing my indoor range hearing protection even more per the suggestion made above?

And again, are those plugs under the muffs helping or hurting me in those extreme indoor range conditions? I'd like to hear some opinions on that because I'm not sure they aren't making matters worse.

++++++++++

ETA: Good article here which insists that "dual protection" (plugs under muffs) does help, albeit not that much.

 

[snowman]

Do you have some kind of hearing damage that makes your ears MORE sensitive to sound? Is that a symptom of tinnitus? Do noises make the ringing worse? I always thought of hearing damage as being defined as your ears being LESS sensitive to sound.

Sir,

The answer to all three of your questions is 'yes', at least for me and many others(and probably TTSH). I don't know if it is just tinnitus which does it, but it is definitely true. I've heard others here on the forum testify to it, and people here where I live as well. Our hearing loss of course makes it more difficult to hear common sounds such as speech. But when the noise gets above a certain level, it hurts. For some time now I've had to use ear protection when the vacuum cleaner is in use, when mowing, when using or close to any running power or air tool, and so on. If I fail to do so I pay. Fortunately I never have to use an indoor range.

Your hearing loss/damage issues must be a lot different than mine.

Apparently so.

Regards,
Andy

 

[tx40d]

Sorry to hear about your experience. Mine has been a bit different, every time I shoot my .44 snubby at an indoor range I have people stopping by wanting to see what it is and some are even willing to give it a go (you should see the smiles after they touch off a couple of rounds), so far it's the been the best conversation piece I own and I've met a lot of interesting/knowledgeable fellow shooters while at the range with it.

That said, if I'm at the range and whatever I'm shooting causes a problem for a neighbor; just ask and I'll take a break from it until you're done (I'm not in any rush and don't mind taking a break and walking around to see what cool stuff everyone brought to the range )

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have been wearing plugs and muffs since 1971 or so. In my youth I had problems with earaches, my last hearing test the audiologist said my hearing was on the acute side, I was hearing way out of the normal range. I have seen one gun shop/range where their range is divided into 3 section, 22s, centerfire handguns, rifles.
Hearing protection blocks what comes through the ears, you will still pick up noise and vibrations through the rest of you.

 

[TTSH]

Hearing protection blocks what comes through the ears, you will still pick up noise and vibrations through the rest of you.

Yep... true. And therein lies a considerable part of the problem I have with the indoor ranges that allow in the big boomers.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Again, I am not familiar with what sound abatement materials are available
and how to build an indoor range, but the sound reduction at Shore Shot was excellent.

 

[Tom S.]

Us city boys have to shoot indoors. That's the price we pay for living in the city. I always double up on my hearing protection, wearing muffs and inserts. It doesn't double your protection but reduces the noise by another 20% or so.

I grew up in the country where I could shoot in my back yard and hunt all day in the woods and fields. All of that land has been developed in to subdivisions. I didn't leave the country, the country left me.

That even extends to urban areas. I live about 30 miles NW of Detroit, and although I have access to an outdoor range, in cold or wet weather, indoor is the only viable option for me. I'd love to have easy access to a long range facility so I can properly get my 308 sighted in for something in the neighborhood of 600 to 1000 yards, but that's not happening unless I want to drive a few hours (one way) on certain days and of course pay. Oh well, we all have our crosses to bear. Or is that 'bare'? Beer - yes, that must be it!

 

[Dobie406]

That is the sound of freedom.

Funny you should say that, the indoor range I work at is named The Sound of Freedom

 

[Watchdog]

Can I ask about that "increase hearing protection" thing? How does that work. I already use custom plugs under the best rated muffs I could find anywhere at any price. What's the next step if there is one?

I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. You seem to be doing all that's possible to protect what's left of your hearing.

When I mention "increased hearing protection", I'm sure you know as well as I that some people show up at the range (indooor or outdoor) with the cheapest bare minimum level of ear protection. I've seen people at the range with nothing but those little foam things that come in a pack of fifty for three bucks or something. Or those cheap "ear protectors" they got from Home Depot for ten bucks. Why a range would even allow this is beyond me, but it ain't my circus and they ain't my monkeys.

Are those plugs I use under my muffs helping or hurting in the indoor scenario described?

I'm sure you'd be worse off without the dual layer of protection. I use plugs under my muffs as well. And on top of that, I'll often stuff tissue paper or cotton into the muffs. I also have tinnitus, but I've learned to just deal with it. It's here, I have it, it ain't goin' away. Is it painful? No. Is it going to kill me? No. Is it going to stop me from shooting at an indoor range, no matter what someone else may be shooting? Again, no.

Oh, and would an uncomfortable noise level stop me from using my gun to defend myself? What do you think? I'm sure your answer would be the same as mine.

 

[TTSH]

I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. You seem to be doing all that's possible to protect what's left of your hearing.

What I keep wondering is whether there is some kind of full face hearing protection helmet (for lack of a better description)? In other words, something that would not just block the ears, but also take out the physical trauma effect and so-called "bone-conducted noise" as well. As pointed out above, no matter how much my ears are stuffed and blocked, the blast of a 12-gauge going off right next to my ear, literally inches away indoors and transmitted through bone as well as air, is more than my failing hearing can handle. I keep looking through explosives industry journals but no luck so far. I don't care how stupid I look on the line. I just don't want to lose any more of my hearing nor increase my tinnitus level over its current loud scream level.

But again, just to be clear: I am not complaining about the commercial indoor ranges that must admit the shotgunners and the big magnum guys in order to run a viable going business. They are doing what they have to do to survive and I understand that. In fact, I want them to survive and thrive!

I know what I need and it is an outdoor pistol range. Too bad for me that I don't think that's going to happen anywhere even remotely near our soon-to-be retirement place.

 

[BC38]

Well, I have read the term tinnitus on gun forums for many years now, but I learned more about it today than I had in all those previous years.

I didn't know or realize that it made you more sensitive to loud noises.

I didn't know that exposure to noise makes the "ringing" worse.

I didn't know that sound waves conducted through the skull could make it worse.

I've had my current level of hearing impairment for 30-some odd years and have basically just learned to live with it. But I now know that there are a lot worse forms of hearing affliction than the type I have - which is just basically not being able to hear some things some of the time.

I really feel for you guys with the tinnitus issues....

 

[TTSH]

I really feel for you guys with the tinnitus issues....

Indeed, a nasty tinnitus changes everything.

If only I could go back in time...

 

[Watchdog]

What I keep wondering is whether there is some kind of full face hearing protection helmet (for lack of a better description)?

Something like this, perhaps?

 

[TTSH]

Something like this, perhaps?

Hey, I'll try anything!

 

[ContinentalOp]

Something like this, perhaps?

Klaatuu barada nikto.

 

[martybee]

"Klaatuu barada nikto" Translation .... You're wearing your mothers underwear!