Hearing Protection For Shooting Guns
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Hearing Protection
I started looking for
hearing protection
when I began my new hobby of target shooting. The first thing I
do whenever I start any new endeavor is research the subject
over the Internet. I read all the articles I could find on what
gun shooters' wear to protect their ears when they shoot guns.
As with just about everything, there is a large selection of
commercially available products to fit just about anybody's
needs. With regard to hearing protection for gun shooting these
products range from tiny earplugs that you stick into your ears
to block out the noise, to large ear muffs that make you can
look kind of silly. Some of the options available are as
follows.
ELECTRONIC EARMUFFS FOR SHOOTING
Electronics and technology have come a long way in the field of hearing protection. Electronic ear muffs are powered by internal batteries and provide an excellent hearing protection. The technology has come so far that in fact they are designed to block out certain frequencies such as the sound of a gunshot but allow you to a year the voices of people in the surrounding area. With this technology at the gun range you able to communicate with others yet still provide protection for your hearing against the loud bang of gun fire.
NON ELECTRIC EAR MUFFS FOR SHOOTING
Regular, non-electronic ear muffs are commonly used in the sport of target shooting. They come in all shapes and sizes and may provide one of the best forms of hearing protection. But as with everything else they have certain limitations. For one thing they do not discriminate in the type of noise that block or reduce. Electronic muffs are selective in the frequencies of sound that they block while regular earmuffs do not. Though they provide excellent hearing protection for your ears when wearing them it is sometimes difficult to hear and communicate with your shooting partner or others surrounding you.
EARPLUGS FOR SHOOTING
Nothing new about ear plugs. People stick them in their ears to sleep at night or to block out unwanted noise. Gun shooters also use this form of hearing protection.
HEARING PROTECTION CONCLUSION
I tried electronic ear muffs at the range. They were somewhat uncomfortable in that6 they squeezed my head such that at the end of my shooting session I had a headache. Additionally, even though I was able to communicate well with others it did not do an adequate job in blocking out the load sounds of the large caliber weapons fired. It was still very loud that it bothered me and hurt my ears.
I also tried various types of ear plugs. They did not block out the noise enough to suit my needs. The gunshots still sounded extremely loud. I ended up buying a pair of non-electronic ear muffs from Wal-Mart. They had one of the highest noise blocking ratings of any that I found. They are cool looking enough so that I was not embarrassed when I wear them at the range and they provide an excellent sound protection for my ears and hearing. They are of the slim design and fit nicely on my head. I would recommend these Earmuffs to anyone. Plus the bonus factor is that the earmuffs were so cheap. The only cost me $14.00.
Note – the first time I ever went to a gun range I followed my instructor into the room where there were shooting guns. As I was hastily trying to follow him I also at the same time was attempting to put on my ear muffs. I did not have them on in time when I heard my first gunshot inside the enclosed room of the range. It was extremely loud and actually hurt my ears. That was a good first lesson to learn. Always where hearing protection when shooting guns.
EAR MUFF HEADACHES
Ear muffs which fit improperly or squeeze too tightly may give you headaches when worn over a prolonged shooting session. The only remedy for this is to try to adjust your ear muffs, wear a different more comfortable pair of ear muffs or use ear plugs. Getting headaches from improperly fitting ear muffs is not that uncommon. I know several people who have had this problem. Luckily there is an easy solution.
