Why ear protection w/ 22?

[CCreyeder]

A question for all of you girly types that insist on wearing ear protection when you are shooting...

why would you wear protection when shooting a 22? I mean, come on.. its a 22! I guess it must be habit or you are old and feeble or something, so I cant blame you. But, why on earth would you make your poor kids or grandkids wear ear protection when shooting a 22? That is just SO stupid, I mean come on.. it a measly little 22 for crying out loud! EVERYBODY knows that is just ridiculous. After all, they listen to loud music in their iPod earbuds, play loud video games. They are used to noise! I just dont get ear protection when shooting a 22, it is so stupid. Is their ANY valid reason for doing so?




I thought about not saying that obviously I am being sarcastic, but being a noobie around here, I didnt know if ya'll or the mods would know that. After I get some good responses, I will tell you, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story" lol

[The Mad Moderate]

Because the .22 round makes 126db of sound and anything over 120db can damage hearing. Also you seem to be sarcastic quite a bit and to be honest it comes across as a tad rude and condescending. If you want to risk damaging you or peoples around you hearing be my guest but I think it is important to take ALL necessary safety steps.

[atxtj]

I spent 6 years on an M1A1 Abrams (whadya say?? ), so after that I wear hearing protection anytime I think I may be sustaining hearing damage. Senses are precious, why take the risk of loosing them?

[txjim42]

On the verge of needing hearing aids myself... Life would probably be better with 'em. Used to shoot bricks and bricks of .22 as a youth which a couple of docs indicated would be the mostly cause of my high-frequency hearing loss... Don't want my kids in the same boat if I can help it.

[C-dub]

A question for all of you girly types that insist on wearing ear protection when you are shooting...

why would you wear protection when shooting a 22? I mean, come on.. its a 22! I guess it must be habit or you are old and feeble or something, so I cant blame you. But, why on earth would you make your poor kids or grandkids wear ear protection when shooting a 22? That is just SO stupid, I mean come on.. it a measly little 22 for crying out loud! EVERYBODY knows that is just ridiculous. After all, they listen to loud music in their iPod earbuds, play loud video games. They are used to noise! I just dont get ear protection when shooting a 22, it is so stupid. Is their ANY valid reason for doing so?




I thought about not saying that obviously I am being sarcastic, but being a noobie around here, I didnt know if ya'll or the mods would know that. After I get some good responses, I will tell you, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story" lol

No one gets used to noise. Their hearing is damaged so the noise doesn't bother them as much because they can't hear it as well.

"I don't care what you play, just play it loud!" Anyone?

[steve817]

Not everyone at the range I go to shoots .22 for one thing.

[michael e]

Even a 22 is load in the woods. I know when I shoot outside at my grandfathers place its alot louder when im next to the trees as compared to the open field. I wear the ear plugs that go in ear and ones over that. If you dont want to wear any thats fine i could care less if you can hear in 10 years.

[ddurkof]

Because when you get to my age you will have tinnitus 24/7 and low and high frequency hearing loss. When I wasn't a "girly type" I use to think it was cool to have my ears ring for hours after shooting. Now days, it is not so much fun when people talk and you can't understand what they are saying. But feel free to do what you want. Buy stock in hearing aid companies, I think that it is going to be a growth industry.

[CCreyeder]

Thanks for all the reponses yall! I guess I should have said "facetious" instead of "sarcastic" but I wasnt (and am still not) sure how to spell it lol

I wanted to make sure that I wasnt crazy. The reason I posted, is because those are the kind of comments I get when people see my sons (or me for that matter) shooting our 22s and it just tees me off. I've tried being educational and tell them all the reasons you all have mentioned. I've mentioned decible levels and that, although it was "just a 22" just what kind of cummulative damage to the ear, ESPECIALLY developing ones, that that can do. I've tried saying that whether you are shooting at the range, or in your own backyard, you should always follow the 4 basic rules of safety AS WELL as always having your "eyes and ears" on... it just ingrains good habits and protocol. I've tried being overbearing and saying that those were my rules and that is the way I raise my kids and if and when they have some of their own, they were perfectly fine to do what ever they thought was best, but then feel guilty because I didnt use it as a "teachable moment" Lately... I've just gone to ignoring them, but again feel bad for doing so.

Mostly, the comments come from the young and ignorant and I guess it shouldnt bother me, but I feel like I should educate them but it is wearing me down lol..

To LoadedLiberal.... are you sure you dont have me confused with someone else? I am pretty sure I have NEVER been rude or condecending in any of my posts. If I have, I honestly would like for you to let me know which one. Thanks for your reply, btw.. the decible answer is one that I will use in the future.

[Skiprr]

A question for all of you girly types that insist on wearing ear protection when you are shooting...

I realize that the over-the-top, facetious lead-in is meant to stage—I hope—an upcoming post about the seriousness of hearing protection while shooting.

But some of the actual “girly types” on this board who I know personally shoot 9mm and .45 ACP in handgun competition, plus 12-guage shotties and .223 and .308 rifles in three-gun. There are actual “girly types” on this board who should compete on the show “Top Shot.” Some can out-shoot both you and me. I can just about guarantee that.

The total number of female CHL holders hovers around 18%. At least that’s a bit up from the pre-2009 numbers. But that’s a far cry from where it should be. A far cry.

Guns are typically viewed as a guy thing. And that’s a stereotype we must change if we’re to secure 2A rights for our grandchildren, and their grandchildren.

[KaiserB]

Thanks for all the reponses yall! I guess I should have said "facetious" instead of "sarcastic" but I wasnt (and am still not) sure how to spell it lol

I wanted to make sure that I wasnt crazy. The reason I posted, is because those are the kind of comments I get when people see my sons (or me for that matter) shooting our 22s and it just tees me off. I've tried being educational and tell them all the reasons you all have mentioned. I've mentioned decible levels and that, although it was "just a 22" just what kind of cummulative damage to the ear, ESPECIALLY developing ones, that that can do. I've tried saying that whether you are shooting at the range, or in your own backyard, you should always follow the 4 basic rules of safety AS WELL as always having your "eyes and ears" on... it just ingrains good habits and protocol. I've tried being overbearing and saying that those were my rules and that is the way I raise my kids and if and when they have some of their own, they were perfectly fine to do what ever they thought was best, but then feel guilty because I didnt use it as a "teachable moment" Lately... I've just gone to ignoring them, but again feel bad for doing so.

Mostly, the comments come from the young and ignorant and I guess it shouldnt bother me, but I feel like I should educate them but it is wearing me down lol..

To LoadedLiberal.... are you sure you dont have me confused with someone else? I am pretty sure I have NEVER been rude or condecending in any of my posts. If I have, I honestly would like for you to let me know which one. Thanks for your reply, btw.. the decible answer is one that I will use in the future.

Well just dont go to any 4H Shooting sports events at particular clubs in North Texas. It peeved me to find the instructor / coach not wearing hearing protection and not really worrying about any of the youngsters wearing it either. The reasoning was "Because they are just shooting 22s and they are not that loud" As for me and my kids we wear hearing protection.

[bigmoney]

Just like trigger finger control, and the use of manual saftey's, it's just good practice to teach learners of any age. Anyone giving haste about it is either in denial, or probably irresponsable. Then again, try shooting a .22 revolver outside a truck window while you're in the truck, without ear muffs, and tell me that isn't a painful experience. Note that my knowledge of that experience was under legal circumstances at the deer lease taking target shots.

[Skiprr]

KaiserB, this has been troubling me for some time.

So I gotta ask...

Why is your avatar a ’70s FBI sketch of D.B. Cooper?

If you have a million or so available (compound interest is a wonderful thing), I would suggest you give it to
G.C. Montgomery and me so we can build a new range in Sugar Land.

I'm just sayin'.

Just sayin'.

[CCreyeder]

A question for all of you girly types that insist on wearing ear protection when you are shooting...

I realize that the over-the-top, facetious lead-in is meant to stage—I hope—an upcoming post about the seriousness of hearing protection while shooting.

But some of the actual “girly types” on this board who I know personally shoot 9mm and .45 ACP in handgun competition, plus 12-guage shotties and .223 and .308 rifles in three-gun. There are actual “girly types” on this board who should compete on the show “Top Shot.” Some can out-shoot both you and me. I can just about guarantee that.

The total number of female CHL holders hovers around 18%. At least that’s a bit up from the pre-2009 numbers. But that’s a far cry from where it should be. A far cry.

Guns are typically viewed as a guy thing. And that’s a stereotype we must change if we’re to secure 2A rights for our grandchildren, and their grandchildren.

skiprr... thanks and yes, that was my exact intention. I'd gotten that kind of question just one too many times and I was trying to get some good "fired up" responses that I could use. I was hoping that people could tell that I was role playing. I wasnt intending to insult anyone and hope those that responded came back and heard the rest of the story. I agree about female shooters. My wife consistantly outshoots everyone in my family from BB gun to 45

[Middle Age Russ]

Everyone I shoot with wears hearing protection and I don't hear any derogatory comments about it. Like any other safety-focused practice it is a risk versus reward thing. We also always wear eye protection when shooting and helmets when riding bicycles. It simply comes down to protecting the faculties you've been blessed with.

I will say that I got my hands on some Aguila Super Colibri .22LR, and out of a carbine or rifle it is as quiet as the bolt cycling (and may not cycle some auto-loaders). Hearing protection is not really needed for this particular use, but then again it is target pellet rifle ballistics (around 500 fps) with a lightweight projectile propelled with only the priming compound.