Excaliber wrote:
A better way to address your concerns for home defense might be to pick up a couple of sets of quality electronic hearing protectors. They do not change the configuration of your gun, they allow you to hear what's going on around you, and they protect your hearing as well.
Harbor Freight sells their "electronic hearing protector" for $15 in the store and $12 on-line. A guy had a pair at our little range last Sunday and they actually worked wih .45acp reports. It was kinda' spooky.
OF course, at that price, the required two AA batteries are sold separately.
Excaliber wrote:
A better way to address your concerns for home defense might be to pick up a couple of sets of quality electronic hearing protectors. They do not change the configuration of your gun, they allow you to hear what's going on around you, and they protect your hearing as well.
Harbor Freight sells their "electronic hearing protector" for $15 in the store and $12 on-line. A guy had a pair at our little range last Sunday and they actually worked wih .45acp reports. It was kinda' spooky.
OF course, at that price, the required two AA batteries are sold separately.
There are two technologies used in these devices. The link I provided has access to detailed information, but here's the short version:
The less expensive one works by cutting off sound that exceeds a certain threshold, but you also lose any sounds immediately around that event. The other compresses the sound and allows continuous hearing.
There are also differences in the basic sound attenuation provided by the muffs themselves.
There are many offerings from several main manufacturers. As usual, you get what you pay for.
Excaliber
"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
I am not a lawyer. Nothing in any of my posts should be construed as legal or professional advice.
Being a C3 dealer I can tell you that suppressors are absolutely legal in the wonderful state of TX when you follow the NFA guidelines for registration and tax stamp. As for using a suppressed weapon in a home defense situation, I would not recommend it unless you have trained extensively with it. The size alone takes alot of practice in handling. Also you will need raised sights to see over the can. Additionally you need to think about the prosecution should you have to go to trial. They would more than likely beat you up badly.
For reference, here is my G17 with 9mm can and 33rd mag. Its overkill but you get the idea...
duns wrote:Does anyone have any hard data on hearing loss caused by gunfights?
Only anecdotal and not really a gunfight, but when I was a 21-year-old 2nd Lt, a friend and I went down by the river and shot my new Blackhawk next to the riverbank with no hearing protection. I could not hear anything on the way home, and I've had tinnitus ever since (I'm 62 now). The bank was off to my left and my annual hearing test has always shown more hearing loss in my left ear than my right.
Loud percussive noises definitely cause hearing damage, whether you're aware of it at the time or not.
Excaliber wrote:
A better way to address your concerns for home defense might be to pick up a couple of sets of quality electronic hearing protectors. They do not change the configuration of your gun, they allow you to hear what's going on around you, and they protect your hearing as well.
Harbor Freight sells their "electronic hearing protector" for $15 in the store and $12 on-line. A guy had a pair at our little range last Sunday and they actually worked wih .45acp reports. It was kinda' spooky.
OF course, at that price, the required two AA batteries are sold separately.
There are two technologies used in these devices. The link I provided has access to detailed information, but here's the short version:
The less expensive one works by cutting off sound that exceeds a certain threshold, but you also lose any sounds immediately around that event. The other compresses the sound and allows continuous hearing.
There are also differences in the basic sound attenuation provided by the muffs themselves.
There are many offerings from several main manufacturers. As usual, you get what you pay for.
I expect that you are correct as usual.
Perhaps the more costly one is required for professional and/or industrial employment use while the more economical one would suffice for the occasional and/or recreational user?
Excaliber wrote:
A better way to address your concerns for home defense might be to pick up a couple of sets of quality electronic hearing protectors. They do not change the configuration of your gun, they allow you to hear what's going on around you, and they protect your hearing as well.
Harbor Freight sells their "electronic hearing protector" for $15 in the store and $12 on-line. A guy had a pair at our little range last Sunday and they actually worked wih .45acp reports. It was kinda' spooky.
OF course, at that price, the required two AA batteries are sold separately.
There are two technologies used in these devices. The link I provided has access to detailed information, but here's the short version:
The less expensive one works by cutting off sound that exceeds a certain threshold, but you also lose any sounds immediately around that event. The other compresses the sound and allows continuous hearing.
There are also differences in the basic sound attenuation provided by the muffs themselves.
There are many offerings from several main manufacturers. As usual, you get what you pay for.
I expect that you are correct as usual.
Perhaps the more costly one is required for professional and/or industrial employment use while the more economical one would suffice for the occasional and/or recreational user?
For a noncritical application, it might be worth the small investment to try the low cost route and see if it meets the need. If not, one could always move up to the higher priced gear without having taken a big loss.
My big reservation about going this route when playing for keeps would be uncertain reliability in a high consequence situation where equipment failure can be terminal.
Excaliber
"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
I am not a lawyer. Nothing in any of my posts should be construed as legal or professional advice.
I have a more expensive pair and find it well worth money. I use mine routinely at shooting schools and range days and find the supression of the noise while still hearing commands to be a great feature.
For the casual weekend range day the cheapo ones should be find. Just make sure you are getting AT LEAST 25+ db of reduction. If not, supplement with the surefire plugs that still let you hear - worn inside of the active muffs.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison
Embalmo wrote:I've actually considered keeping my gun muffs on my nightstand. It protects the hearing and it lets the bad guy know you are not screwing around.
Not a good idea. You need to be able to hear everything that is happening if you are dealing with someone in your house; that means footsteps, creaks in doors, etc. Having gun muffs would not give you the best hearing coverage. Even the electronic ones can distort natural sounds (unless you have really high-end ones) and you might mistake one sound for another. Best to take you chances on hearing damage if you do have to shoot. Better a chance of some hearing loss than loss of your or someone in your family's life.
Keith
Texas LTC Instructor, Missouri CCW Instructor, NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Instructor and RSO, NRA Life Member
Embalmo wrote:I've actually considered keeping my gun muffs on my nightstand. It protects the hearing and it lets the bad guy know you are not screwing around.
Not a good idea. You need to be able to hear everything that is happening if you are dealing with someone in your house; that means footsteps, creaks in doors, etc. Having gun muffs would not give you the best hearing coverage. Even the electronic ones can distort natural sounds (unless you have really high-end ones) and you might mistake one sound for another. Best to take you chances on hearing damage if you do have to shoot. Better a chance of some hearing loss than loss of your or someone in your family's life.
Keith B wrote: You need to be able to hear everything that is happening if you are dealing with someone in your house; that means footsteps, creaks in doors, etc. Having gun muffs would not give you the best hearing coverage. Even the electronic ones can distort natural sounds (unless you have really high-end ones) and you might mistake one sound for another. Best to take you chances on hearing damage if you do have to shoot. Better a chance of some hearing loss than loss of your or someone in your family's life.
Absolutely!
Additionally, how much time will it take to don and adjust your ear muffs with BOTH hands.
