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Finding out you forgot your ear protection, the hard way

sroc112

sroc112

Private
Minuteman
Feb 17, 2024
51
16
USA
While at my outdoor range, if the line is not crowded and no one is shooting rapid fire, I have the tendency to flip my ear protection up so it's resting above my ears to give myself a little break from the muffled hearing. I'll do this when letting the gun cool, messing around in my bag or trunk, or just stepping away to drink some water or glance at my phone. 2 weeks ago, and again today, I made the same dumb mistake. After taking a break, I sit back down, load a round, scope in, take my time, breath, fire, and BAM! Holy shit.. when you're cheek is to the gun and you pull that trigger not realizing you left your ear protection on the top of your head - it wakes you the fuck up!. 2 weeks ago I was with a friend, he was standing next to me and as soon as I fired that shot I instantly put the gun on the table and stood right up. For 5 seconds I was deaf and the ringing was so loud. Happened again today on the 200yd. It pierced right through from right ear to left, then loud ringing. As soon as it goes off you think, why did it sound that way, then the ringing and then you realize just how loud it was.

Not a very high powered gun, 6.5 CM bolt with a brake. But man, catching that unexpectedly with your face that close to the action is a terrible feeling.

Anyone else ever make this stupid mistake? Twice in the span of 2 weeks. Won't be surprised if I just fucked my ears up from that.
 
Only once when I was about 75 ft behind the line of ARs being fired- they were loud as hell and I quickly put on my muffs.

In my younger years when I was very fit and handsome- I banged quite a few women without a condom, and regretted it. Luckily I didn't impregnate any of them and didn't catch any diseases.

Both the above involved guns going off without the use of personal protective gear.
 
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Two incidents stand out in my mind dealing with this. One was when I fired a couple of bursts from a 10.5 inch barreled M-16 in a pretty confined space. It rang my bell good. The other was while I was deer hunting out of a shooting house. I thought my muzzle was out of the window opening when I shot a deer with my .280, but the muzzle was still inside by a little bit. My ears still ring from that one.
 
I made that mistake one in a MOUT training house in the Army. It was our turn to do the live fire, and I realized as we were stacking on the door that I forgot my ear pro back at camp. Wasn't going to say anything because I didn't want to get smoked, so i went with it. I was #1, and the SAW gunner was #2, and he let loose a burst of about 8 rounds.....in maybe a 10x10 closed room. FML.

Branden
 
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My Peltor muffs end up acting as ersatz hearing aids at my age, so I tend to not take them off anyway.
 
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I did it once.
At the end of a long day hunting.
Popped the ear pro out for the walk out while chatting with my buddy. sure wasn't expecting to see a bear cross our path.
Laid down and took the shot.
Within seconds I had tears in my eyes from the excruciating pain in my left ear.
The pain lasted about 5 days.
Sure learned my lesson as it Hasn't happened since. And the ear plugs stay in until I'm out of the bush, back in the truck and driving on the highway now.
Rifle was a braked 300prc
Bear skull measured just over 21.5".
 
Short-bus said:
I made that mistake one in a MOUT training house in the Army. It was our turn to do the live fire, and I realized as we were stacking on the door that I forgot my ear pro back at camp. Wasn't going to say anything because I didn't want to get smoked, so i went with it. I was #1, and the SAW gunner was #2, and he let loose a burst of about 8 rounds.....in maybe a 10x10 closed room. FML.

Branden
Click to expand...
Yep- I can feel that story and have been there myself a time or two. That 5.56 is something else in an enclosed room. I reckon that it's hard for folks to understand why unless they experienced it for themselves but when sound equals tremendous pain- well that's another animal that you never knew existed beforehand.

-LD
 
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Shortly after I began using hearing aids, I forgot to switch to eat pro. Standing under a shelter did not help. Fortunately, it was only 9MM. Haven't forgotten since.
 
Just recently got a new custom 7 PRC from a member here. Mounted scope, was eager to shoot it and totally forgot muffs. Holy shit a braked 7 PRC will definitely ring your bell. Won’t do that again.
 
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Franko said:
I already have that wonderful "eeeeeee" in my right ear to keep my company at all times. I do everything in my power to make it not get worse.
Click to expand...

So do I, Mine is not so much gunz, but race cars and little airplanes.

What helps me, at least some time is hearing aids. It will quiet down the "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" for me, sometimes it will go away all together.

My ears are totally fucking shot.
 
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fpgt72 said:
So do I, Mine is not so much gunz, but race cars and little airplanes.

What helps me, at least some time is hearing aids. It will quiet down the "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" for me, sometimes it will go away all together.

My ears are totally fucking shot.
Click to expand...

It goes away? Not sure if I could sleep without the symphony in my head.
 
I made the mistake of shooting my AR without ear pro from the bed of my truck once. One shot, immediate 'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE', won't do that again..
 
Protect it before it's gone my friends. I got a set of Walker electronic muffs and they are awesome! They even block out the wind noise most other muffs pickup. They have 4 different modes for different work/hunt environments.
 
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unknowingly knocked my earpro loose during a 2 gun match. after a shot or two from my AR, i definitely figured that out.
 
EddieNFL said:
It goes away? Not sure if I could sleep without the symphony in my head.
Click to expand...
Sometimes it is totally gone, right now it is at a much lower volume. It is so odd to me that it can be so loud, almost to the point of a headache.

The ear Dr. told me sometimes the aids help sometimes they don't. It is your brain filling in thinking that something should be there....I am ok whatever, I know the sound is not a real sound, so sounds good to me.

One of those thing I wish I took better care of in my youte.
 
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sjoliat said:
I made the mistake of shooting my AR without ear pro from the bed of my truck once. One shot, immediate 'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE', won't do that again..
Click to expand...

It never heals or comes back.
 
I manage to shoot a braked AR about once to twice per year without ear pro in. Usually it is on purpose. Last year it was once at a hog that I ran home to kill (cell camera went off while I was at church), and 1 deer.

However, it was the 'manly' thing to do when we sat on top of our vehicles with nothing more than a comm helmet on while we ran guys through the gunnery tables (M2 .50 cal, and Mk 19). Basically we were about 5' to the muzzles. The tens of thousands of rounds I subjected myself to gave me a permanent *ring* of tinnitus. That is my own fault, so I didn't try to claim it with the VA.
 
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I did it at a match my first year shooting PRS before I ran a can.

It was after lunch, and I was up first, and I forgot to put my hearing protection in. The first shot had my ears ringing and actual pain, and just like someone trained to be an idiot I kept shooting, and flinching, and missing. Should have quit on that first shot. After that I put plugs and muffs on for the rest of the day. Didn't seem like any permanent damage, but I did learn my lesson, and I am a great deal more conscious of it.

When I'm hunting I don't even hear the shots. I can't explain it other than focus.
 
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I was shooting steel at 800 with a 300 wm holland brake. I would pull my ear plug after the shot to hear the still ring. I forgot ONCE to put the plug back in.
 
diggler1833 said:
I manage to shoot a braked AR about once to twice per year without ear pro in. Usually it is on purpose. Last year it was once at a hog that I ran home to kill (cell camera went off while I was at church), and 1 deer.

However, it was the 'manly' thing to do when we sat on top of our vehicles with nothing more than a comm helmet on while we ran guys through the gunnery tables (M2 .50 cal, and Mk 19). Basically we were about 5' to the muzzles. The tens of thousands of rounds I subjected myself to gave me a permanent *ring* of tinnitus. That is my own fault, so I didn't try to claim it with the VA.
Click to expand...
It's the only claim that is automatically accepted and not investigated ever. My buddy used to be an investigator for the VA.
 
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It’s strange, I’ve fired hundreds of rounds at game animals and only remember hearing one. It was a braked 308 Win XP100R pistol.
I don’t remove foam plugs while range shooting but take muffs off between strings.
 
Fig said:
It's the only claim that is automatically accepted and not investigated ever. My buddy used to be an investigator for the VA.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there were a lot of dudes who always were counting on that 10%.

I already knew that I was going to be 100% (back, shoulders, knees, wrist, ankle), so why add shit that I was responsible for myself. The VA doc told me on my physical that I should have been medically retired at least 7 years prior.

I also claimed no PTSD, but that was because I knew at some point they'll come after the gun rights of those who did.

*****

There's only one hunting rifle (non-thermal) that I take a set of ear pro to the field with, and that is my braked 7 mag...no way am I touching off a round without protection on.

I've shot quite a few deer/game with a 24-26" .308, or equivalent non-magnum cartridge. It actually isn't that bad to the shooter (once or twice). Definitely less ringing than when dad would take me dove hunting as a kid and I'd uncork 30 rounds of 20ga without anything on.

With the exception of deer hunting though - where I know 1-2 shots is max, I damn sure wear ear pro. If I'm shooting a rearward deflecting brake, or anything from my shop I wear double ear pro.
 
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Short-bus said:
I made that mistake one in a MOUT training house in the Army. It was our turn to do the live fire, and I realized as we were stacking on the door that I forgot my ear pro back at camp. Wasn't going to say anything because I didn't want to get smoked, so i went with it. I was #1, and the SAW gunner was #2, and he let loose a burst of about 8 rounds.....in maybe a 10x10 closed room. FML.

Branden
Click to expand...
What?
 
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You use a brake on a Creedmoor?

How manbun is that?

Let your hair down. It'll help with the noise.

Sorry, couldn't help it. Don't fuck with your hearing, keep your ear pro on.
 
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TheHorta said:
Haiku? Or Yoda? So confused I get.
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1714575552468.png
 
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What the fuck is this thread? I put 9mm casings in my ears. Better than my ComTac V's.

Sometimes you don't have time to put in ear pro when you're just walking on the FOB from point A -> B to get some T Rats for lunch and a mortar from a bad guy lands like 15 feet away LOL... or you're new to said FOB, not paying attention, and a M109 Paladin's 155mm let's it rip like 50 feet away 🙃


EeeeEeeeEeeeEeEEEEeeeEeEEerrRRRrEEEERrEEEE
 
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LuckyDuck said:
Yep- I can feel that story and have been there myself a time or two. That 5.56 is something else in an enclosed room. I reckon that it's hard for folks to understand why unless they experienced it for themselves but when sound equals tremendous pain- well that's another animal that you never knew existed beforehand.

-LD
Click to expand...

That might be something for consideration when folks are arguing about the best Home Defense weapon.
If you don't have a suppressor, a pistol may leave you able to hear...
Sure you could have ear pro on the table beside the bed and hope in a sudden rush of waking up with a start you remember to put them on...
 
W54/XM-388 said:
That might be something for consideration when folks are arguing about the best Home Defense weapon.
If you don't have a suppressor, a pistol may leave you able to hear...
Sure you could have ear pro on the table beside the bed and hope in a sudden rush of waking up with a start you remember to put them on...
Click to expand...
Don't disagree with anything you said- I suppose in a home defense situation- priority #1 is addressing whatever threat needs attention but yep- better believe that popping off an AR inside is going to seriously ring your bell and hurt something fierce.

-LD
 
sroc112 said:
While at my outdoor range, if the line is not crowded and no one is shooting rapid fire, I have the tendency to flip my ear protection up so it's resting above my ears to give myself a little break from the muffled hearing. I'll do this when letting the gun cool, messing around in my bag or trunk, or just stepping away to drink some water or glance at my phone. 2 weeks ago, and again today, I made the same dumb mistake. After taking a break, I sit back down, load a round, scope in, take my time, breath, fire, and BAM! Holy shit.. when you're cheek is to the gun and you pull that trigger not realizing you left your ear protection on the top of your head - it wakes you the fuck up!. 2 weeks ago I was with a friend, he was standing next to me and as soon as I fired that shot I instantly put the gun on the table and stood right up. For 5 seconds I was deaf and the ringing was so loud. Happened again today on the 200yd. It pierced right through from right ear to left, then loud ringing. As soon as it goes off you think, why did it sound that way, then the ringing and then you realize just how loud it was.

Not a very high powered gun, 6.5 CM bolt with a brake. But man, catching that unexpectedly with your face that close to the action is a terrible feeling.

Anyone else ever make this stupid mistake? Twice in the span of 2 weeks. Won't be surprised if I just fucked my ears up from that.
Click to expand...
Keep it up and you’ll be as deaf or more than me.

Hearing loss can be gradually cumulative OR you can suffer severe hearing loss from just a single loud event. It’s a roll of the dice.

With all kindness, I suggest taking your hearing more seriously and screw it if your ears get hot or you’re tire of muffled sound.

Seriously, you don’t want to end up like me after years of jet noise, Harleys, and shooting.

“Eh, whadya’ say?” lol
 
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When I was a teenager in the 70's we never wore ear pro. Ear muffs? Pfffft, that's for sissies.

We didn't have any braked rifles back then but we were fond of Ruger revolvers, 357 mag, 44 mag.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
 
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I have also shot a couple hundred round of ammo (center fire rifle and shotgun) while hunting with no hearing protection and no damage. I shot a 40-round qualification in the National Guard without hearing protection. My hearing ability even survived one round of 120mm main gun ammo being shot about 30 yards from me without hearing protection. I do have tinnitus from that though.
 
sroc112 said:
While at my outdoor range, if the line is not crowded and no one is shooting rapid fire, I have the tendency to flip my ear protection up so it's resting above my ears to give myself a little break from the muffled hearing. I'll do this when letting the gun cool, messing around in my bag or trunk, or just stepping away to drink some water or glance at my phone. 2 weeks ago, and again today, I made the same dumb mistake. After taking a break, I sit back down, load a round, scope in, take my time, breath, fire, and BAM! Holy shit.. when you're cheek is to the gun and you pull that trigger not realizing you left your ear protection on the top of your head - it wakes you the fuck up!. 2 weeks ago I was with a friend, he was standing next to me and as soon as I fired that shot I instantly put the gun on the table and stood right up. For 5 seconds I was deaf and the ringing was so loud. Happened again today on the 200yd. It pierced right through from right ear to left, then loud ringing. As soon as it goes off you think, why did it sound that way, then the ringing and then you realize just how loud it was.

Not a very high powered gun, 6.5 CM bolt with a brake. But man, catching that unexpectedly with your face that close to the action is a terrible feeling.

Anyone else ever make this stupid mistake? Twice in the span of 2 weeks. Won't be surprised if I just fucked my ears up from that.
Click to expand...

Buy some good quality electronic muffs. No need to take them off because you can hear just fine with them on.

Otherwise, if you take yours off, hang them over your cheek rest. You won't forget to put them on.
 
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clcustom1911 said:
What the fuck is this thread? I put 9mm casings in my ears. Better than my ComTac V's.

Sometimes you don't have time to put in ear pro when you're just walking on the FOB from point A -> B to get some T Rats for lunch and a mortar from a bad guy lands like 15 feet away LOL... or you're new to said FOB, not paying attention, and a M109 Paladin's 155mm let's it rip like 50 feet away 🙃


EeeeEeeeEeeeEeEEEEeeeEeEEerrRRRrEEEERrEEEE
Click to expand...


Back when I was a smoker, it was common for myself and quite a few other dudes to smoke a pair of ear pro (stick the used butts in our ears to the uninitiated reading this) when we forgot to bring any to the range.

Later on, it somewhat became more of a "thing" for higher to ensure that we had ear protection for all of our training evolutions.
 
LuckyDuck said:
Don't disagree with anything you said- I suppose in a home defense situation- priority #1 is addressing whatever threat needs attention but yep- better believe that popping off an AR inside is going to seriously ring your bell and hurt something fierce.

-LD
Click to expand...
My dedicated home defense gun, is a suppressed 300blk with a reflex style thermal on it. No light no big boom, my ears are very sensitive and a close gun shot without earpro kinda stuns me and gives me a bad headache immediately.
 
Keeper22 said:
My dedicated home defense gun, is a suppressed 300blk with a reflex style thermal on it. No light no big boom, my ears are very sensitive and a close gun shot without earpro kinda stuns me and gives me a bad headache immediately.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a nice setup.

-LD
 
I’ve done I with a .50BMG bolt gun lol
 
W54/XM-388 said:
That might be something for consideration when folks are arguing about the best Home Defense weapon.
If you don't have a suppressor, a pistol may leave you able to hear...
Sure you could have ear pro on the table beside the bed and hope in a sudden rush of waking up with a start you remember to put them on...
Click to expand...
The Wife and I keep a properly adjusted set of Walker razors clamped to the stock of our rifles. We do "wake and bake*" drills a couple times a month, and it takes less than 1 second to get the ear pro on before shouldering the rifle.

*Whoever wakes up first, will rouse the other and shout "drill" (while timing the response).
 
Keeper22 said:
My dedicated home defense gun, is a suppressed 300blk with a reflex style thermal on it. No light no big boom, my ears are very sensitive and a close gun shot without earpro kinda stuns me and gives me a bad headache immediately.
Click to expand...
What happens if you aren't the one who fires the first shot?
 
Sean the Nailer said:
Having electronic ear-pro beside the bed, just beside the fire extinguisher.

It's only logical.
Click to expand...
This. They have become so inexpensive, I'm honestly amazed people use anything else these days. You also get the advantage of "super hearing" if you turn up the gain. Great for a HD scenario. I keep a set next to/in all my gun hides in the house/car.
 
ITS, placed high enough in class I was selected to shoot one of two live Dragon anti tank missiles.

A shoulder fired tow missile.

I forgot to put in earpro.

I think I blacked out.

If the missile arms at 65 meters, I buried it at 65.1 meters.

Ears killed for days.
 
37L1 said:
You use a brake on a Creedmoor?

How manbun is that?

Let your hair down. It'll help with the noise.

Sorry, couldn't help it. Don't fuck with your hearing, keep your ear pro on.
Click to expand...
It's a mini brake, I like it.

I'm bald, no manbun 🤗
 
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