OK, fast-backward 40 years:
"If it hurts much more, I'm gonna find some cotton to stuff in my ears."
Fast-forward 10 years to 30 years ago:
"I'm gonna sell that Colt Python. Every time I take it hunting, my ears ring the rest of the day."
Another 10 years, to 20 years ago:
"I'm going to the range for a few hours. Where are the cotton balls?"
Another 10 years, to 10 years ago:
"I use ear muffs at the range and for shooting prairie dogs, but not while hunting."
Two years ago, I fired 2 shots at a running coyote with my .243, the same gun and load that I had been using for about 3 years. Surroundings were desert, with a few scattered creosote bushes. I felt nothing unusual, no pain, no ringing, no sensation of any kind! I met my grandson back at the truck, and when I spoke it sounded like I was in a barrel. My left ear had been my best, and now I could hear almost nothing out of it.
I put foam plugs in my ears and went hunting. My Pee-Wee call didn't work. I switched to the Sceery open-reed. It didn't work either. I pulled the right-ear plug out and found that the calls were working OK. I took the JS call to the next stand, and turned it just high enough that I could barely hear it. Then I pulled one earplug, and found that the call was almost full volume. This would never do.
I tried the Walker Game Ear, and didn’t like it. Maybe just personal preference. After a week, I returned it.
I ordered a pair of plugs with valves in them. When calling, I could hear about half as well as without them, and the gun did not seem to bother me. Then I read that they only had an attenuation of 7. That scared me. Maybe I was getting more damage without knowing it.
Last winter my hearing had improved little, and while I was getting some tests at Mayo Clinic I got my hearing checked. They said that the damage to my ears is permanent, and if my right ear was as bad as my left, they would recommend hearing aids (about $2000, minimum).
I stopped at Dillon and looked at their electronic muffs. The big ones were made by Peltor, but too big and heavy to wear hunting. Their compact ones looked like the Peltor Tactical 6, but had nothing to indicate who made them. They got some new batteries and put in a set for me to try. I put them on and could hear better than without them. I clapped my hands, and.... nothing happened. They did not shut off. I had no confidence that they would protect me.
I went home ordered a set of Peltor Tactical 6 muffs. They had previously seemed expensive, now they seemed quite cheap. They are comfortable, lightweight, fold up like the Peltor Stowaways, and shut off completely and quickly at the slightest sharp noise. I can hear much better with them on than without them. I slip them on at each stand, twist the knobs from off to full volume, and put my hat with headnet right over them. It is a little extra effort, but I wish I had started doing it 40 years ago.
NOTE: JUST BECAUSE YOU DO NOT FEEL ANYTHING WHEN YOU SHOOT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE NOT DAMAGING YOUR HEARING! AND IT IS PERMANENT!!!
If gunshots bother you that much I wouldn't mess around and be "penny wise and pound foolish" as they say! Good Luck! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
