Hearing protection info for hunters and shooters

[Paladin]

http://www2a.cdc.gov/hp-devices/huntershooters.html

In most cases, the sound level from firing a weapon is sufficient to require the use of hearing protection, even if the weapon is fired only one time. Recent NIOSH studies of sound levels from weapons fires have shown that they may range from a low of 144 dB SPL for small caliber weapons such as a 0.22 caliber rifle to as high as a 172 dB SPL for a 0.357 caliber revolver.

Consequently, NIOSH recommends that hunters and shooters use double hearing protection each and every time a weapon is fired. Double protection involves wearing both earplugs and earmuffs. The best combination is a deeply inserted foam earplug and a well-seated earmuff.

NIOSH examined the performance of several types of hearing protectors with a variety of weapons. Earplugs were able to reduce the peak sound pressure level by 10 to 30 decibels and earmuffs yielded 20 to 38 decibels of peak reduction. Active level-dependent earmuffs were found to react sufficiently fast to provide the same protection level as when they were turned off [Murphy and Little (2002) J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 111:2336; Franks and Murphy, (2002). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112:2294]. The effect of volume gain setting was minimal for active level-dependent devices (see Figure 1). Each protector was tested with the volume set for unity gain, maximum gain or turned off. At unity gain the sound under the protector is as loud as when no protector is worn. The peak reduction was mostly unaffected by the change in the volume setting.

The formula for determining the maximum number of shots is:

10(140-pldB)/10

where pldB is the peak level of the sound in the ear canal under the earmuff and earplug. NIOSH recommends that peak exposures be limited to one event not exceeding a peak level of 140 dB SPL. That is, exposure to one event of 140 dB SPL would constitute 100% of a persons’s noise burden.

As shown in Figure 2, the amount of reduction for 12-gauge shotgun using the David Clark Model 27 earmuff is 31 dB, reducing the peak level from 161(red line) to 130 dB SPL( blue line). So, with the earmuff alone, the number of shots recommended by NIOSH would be five per 24-hour period. The addition of a deeply inserted foam earplug reduces another 21 dB, increasing the allowed number of shots to more than 1200 per 24-hour period. A smaller caliber weapon with a lower peak level, such as 0.22 caliber rifles with peak levels of 144 dB SPL, could be fired as many as 63000 rounds per 24-hour period if the shooter were to wear an active level-dependent earmuff along with a deeply inserted foam earplug. The combination of an earmuff and a deeply-inserted foam earplug can provide as much as 50 dB of peak reduction, which is adequate in most cases.

Double hearing protection can severely compromise the ability to communicate when both devices are passive, linear protectors. The use of an active level-dependent earmuff with a deeply-inserted foam earplug can compensate for the loss of communication ability when double protected. In some cases, the earmuff may provide sufficient gain to counter the attenuation of the earplug.

For shooters, a key indication that whatever protection is being used is inadequate is ringing of the ears or a feeling of fullness in the ears after an episode of shooting.

There are also active level-dependent hearing protectors that are built into pre-molded earplugs and custom earplugs as well on the market. There are no data on their effectiveness. At present, there are no data on the use of an active level-dependent earplug in combination with a passive earmuff. Given the attenuation chain, it is doubtful that the pairing would be as effective as the active level-dependent earmuff with foam earplug.

[John]

I noticed that they used the Remington 11-87 12 Gauge in their testing. The 11-87 is gas operated (I think) and I've hunted most of my life with gas operated shotguns. I've always considered them to be quieter than pumps or recoil operated guns. My perception too has always been that the side away from the ejection port is quieter, but that could just be a perception thing.

Anyone know for sure about the noise levels of gas operated shotguns vs. pumps?

I've always used plugs with a shotgun at the range and muffs with pistols. For me, muffs get in the way when shooting a shotgun. Until recently, I never used ear plugs when hunting, but now that my son is starting to hunt with me, I am using plugs.

Anyway, thanks for posting this. It'll remind me to pick up some plugs for hunting this season.


Edited for spelling.

[BobCat]

As someone who is deaf as a cedar fence post on one side, and almost that bad on the other - from disease, not loud noises - all I can say is wear the plugs and muffs now, if you don't want to be miserable later in life. Wear them any time you shoot or are around loud sounds. Hearing aids are not cheap, and they absolutely will not give you back the richness of sound you have with normal hearing. Think about listening to a cheap transistor radio, that someone put an icepick through the speaker of, day in and day out.

My wife and I laugh about my "Mr. Magoo" hearing (for those of you who are too young to recall the comic strip, he was a very nearsighted guy who was always getting into jams because he could not see what he was doing). She asks, "Did you forget your hat?" and I answer, "Sure, I fed the cat!" But if you can prevent injury to your hearing, your "older self" will thank you - profoundly - in a few years.

Off my soapbox now. Paladin, Thanks! for the article and the heads up.

Regards,
Andrew
(aka "the guy with the wires in his ears")

[Paladin]

Hearing aids are not cheap, and they absolutely will not give you back the richness of sound you have with normal hearing. Think about listening to a cheap transistor radio, that someone put an icepick through the speaker of, day in and day out.

Thanks for you comments. I know my wife was a little upset at the price I paid for my electronic earmuffs, but I came back with:

"Hearing protection is cheaper than hearing aids!"

She couldn't argue with that. :)

[Kalrog]

I got a pair of custom plugs about a month ago and used them for the first time dove hunting this past weekend. They were GREAT! Certainly more noise reduction than my standard 31Db muffs - can't imagine what IDPA will be like if I wear both at the same time...

Because of my small ear canals, normal plugs don't stay in very well and I can't use muffs when shooting long guns very well - especially not shotguns. Problem now solved.

[BobCat]

Hearing aids are not cheap, and they absolutely will not give you back the richness of sound you have with normal hearing. Think about listening to a cheap transistor radio, that someone put an icepick through the speaker of, day in and day out.

Thanks for you comments. I know my wife was a little upset at the price I paid for my electronic earmuffs, but I came back with:

"Hearing protection is cheaper than hearing aids!"

She couldn't argue with that. :)

Paladin,

No, she couldn't. And you might mention to her that living with a hard-of-hearing person is no picnic. My wife has been very, very understaning (I was going deaf before we were married) but she could tell your wife a thing or two about the "joys" of living with someone who can't hear. That would end, abruptly and permanently, any complaints about the cost of hearing protection.

To keep this "concealed carry" related: I have shot (in earlier times) with just a foam plug in my "working" ear, and no protection in my deaf ear. The deaf ear actually hurt from the sound of a 9mm pistol! I thought I had nothing to loose there, but pain screws up your groups - you flinch (well, I flinch). So now I wear plugs and muffs on both sides.

In a "real" situation on the street, I doubt I would worry about hearing protection - but I think it is stupid to "just try it out" without protection, "to see what it would be like." Similar to having someone shoot at you while you try to draw and fire at the target - more realistic, yes; but not worth the danger.

Regards,
Andrew

[ElGato]

Ya'll listen to Bobcat, everthing he has said is correct, good hearing protection should be high on everyone's list. I have a 60% hearing loss and it's a real pain to everyone around me as well as myself.
Tomcat

[ghentry]

My mother was at the doctor last week and a guy came in and said he was shooting with his son and the fancy earplugs he had just bought separated in his ear and he needed the doctor to remove the half that was stuck. :?

[Paladin]

For me, muffs get in the way when shooting a shotgun.

I used to have that problem with my rifle, but Remington's R2000 earmuffs are thin and work pretty well with a long gun.

I like using NRR~30 foam earplugs with the NRR~20 R2000's... they're almost essential when indoors shooting machineguns.

http://www.gundogsonline.com/hearing-pr ... rotection/

[Jim101]

Good topic, and good information....Now, ear plugs vs. muffs..I have been told that ear plugs are not the way to go.......Muffs protect the back of your ear where the real damage happens..Is that true?

Thanks,

Jim

[Paladin]

Good topic, and good information....Now, ear plugs vs. muffs..I have been told that ear plugs are not the way to go.......Muffs protect the back of your ear where the real damage happens..Is that true?

Thanks,

Jim

Yes. The earmuffs protect more of the ear. They should be first choice. Although plugs are still much better than nothing. I do plugs alone sometimes... when I'm not expecting too much noise.