quote:

Originally posted by bendable:

quote:

have you ever fired a 357 magnum without hearing protection?

No

I've never taken my tv in too the bath tub,
either

Oh come on......who hasn't done that?.......

I helped one of my hunting buddy's sight in his 300 Win Mag a couple years ago. Made some adjustments, settled in behind the spotting scope, forgot to put my ears on, and then BOOM!!!! We were at the 100 yard line, at tables, and it was partially enclosed. My ears rang for two days, and I had a splitting headache for about 24 hours. Won't ever do that again on purpose.

I have been hard of hearing all my life. Mother said I had measles when a tot. Noises too, have hit my ears. Like the time Dad let of a Python about 3 feet from my side, and there was a solid wall close on the other side. Here is a paint sketch of my test graph:

Hearing aids do not do a great job all the time because the best hearing is so close to the worst cycles.

I want to save what hearing I have left.

quote:

My question to you is, have you ever fired a 357 magnum without hearing protection? What was the immediate and long-term effect on your hearing?

You are crazy if you intentionally shoot without hearing protection unless absolutely avoidable.

Comments as "no apparent permanent damage" is useless. You won't notice it until many years later when you develop tinnitus. At that point there is nothing that can be done except get used to it and learn to live with the fact that a entire segment of your hearing range is gone.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
My question to you is, have you ever fired a 357 magnum without hearing protection?

Once. I drove up into the hills (before I joined a club) to go shooting and when I got there realized I'd left my ears at home. Well, shit. So I decide to pop off a few rounds anyway. One was all it took. My ears rang for a week, literally. Since then I use plugs and muffs both, especially indoors or when I'm shooting a centerfire rifle.