J-P
01-13-2015, 09:12 AM
I'm sure most everyone on here has cracked off a round or two without their hearing protection and suffered the muffled, ringing ears thing?
I have done it enough to know better. I wear my muffs when shooting and/or using any powertool. My ears are sensitive. I stay as far from the stage as possible at live music events. But, life has a way of throwing curveballs at you every now and again.
I have fired my .44 mag w/o protection when hunting with it. I hate the report off that gun more than any I own. Usually, I'm shooting 240gr bullets over 11 grains of unique. That's not all too hard to handle. For Christmas this year, my brother-in-law bought me a box of 180gr Rems. that are pretty hot and wild. Lots of muzzle flash. Looks and sounds much like firing lightning out of your fingers. While that is awesome in most instances, Monday morning turned out to be an exception.
I woke to the sound of stray dogs fighting in my front lawn. Figured a shot across their bow would dispatch them quite nicely, so I grabbed the old .44 and stepped around the front of the house. Of course, she was loaded with them hot rounds... One glorious Flash and all was quiet and peaceful again. I went back to bed with ringing in my ears. Like usual after that kind of exposure. Didn't think much of it.
Later that morning i got out of bed and noticed a big difference in my world. The ringing was still there a bit, as expected, but instead of muffled hearing it had become sharp, painful and sensitive. Like I was wearing 5" PA speakers on my head with the treble maxed out on the sound board. My kids voices caused actual pain and the clanking of breakfast utensils was unbearable. I had to put plugs in to tolerate the normal sound level in my house. This is for real FOlks.
I did some Googling and found the very unsettling possibility that I had just acquired something called Hyperacusis (Look this Up). A permanent, crippling condition. There are stories of people struggling to live this for years and eventually killing themselves to stop the pain. Immediatly, I felt some worry and regrets about how I lived my life up to this point. I am one of the more careful people I know. I shouldn't have allowed this to happen. Right?
Well, this morning the news may be a little better. The ringing and sesitivity has come down a notch or two. Still, I had to put my earplugs back in in my work truck because the crinkling coming from a paper bag of Donut holes actually was uncomfortable to listen to. The fact that it had such a huge improvement from yesterday, I think I may come back from this one... this time. But the info on the webs says these things are accumulative and that my ears are trying to warn me that they're on the edge. Next time, may be the last time.
Do some reading. Protect your dang ears. This stuff ain't funny.
I have done it enough to know better. I wear my muffs when shooting and/or using any powertool. My ears are sensitive. I stay as far from the stage as possible at live music events. But, life has a way of throwing curveballs at you every now and again.
I have fired my .44 mag w/o protection when hunting with it. I hate the report off that gun more than any I own. Usually, I'm shooting 240gr bullets over 11 grains of unique. That's not all too hard to handle. For Christmas this year, my brother-in-law bought me a box of 180gr Rems. that are pretty hot and wild. Lots of muzzle flash. Looks and sounds much like firing lightning out of your fingers. While that is awesome in most instances, Monday morning turned out to be an exception.
I woke to the sound of stray dogs fighting in my front lawn. Figured a shot across their bow would dispatch them quite nicely, so I grabbed the old .44 and stepped around the front of the house. Of course, she was loaded with them hot rounds... One glorious Flash and all was quiet and peaceful again. I went back to bed with ringing in my ears. Like usual after that kind of exposure. Didn't think much of it.
Later that morning i got out of bed and noticed a big difference in my world. The ringing was still there a bit, as expected, but instead of muffled hearing it had become sharp, painful and sensitive. Like I was wearing 5" PA speakers on my head with the treble maxed out on the sound board. My kids voices caused actual pain and the clanking of breakfast utensils was unbearable. I had to put plugs in to tolerate the normal sound level in my house. This is for real FOlks.
I did some Googling and found the very unsettling possibility that I had just acquired something called Hyperacusis (Look this Up). A permanent, crippling condition. There are stories of people struggling to live this for years and eventually killing themselves to stop the pain. Immediatly, I felt some worry and regrets about how I lived my life up to this point. I am one of the more careful people I know. I shouldn't have allowed this to happen. Right?
Well, this morning the news may be a little better. The ringing and sesitivity has come down a notch or two. Still, I had to put my earplugs back in in my work truck because the crinkling coming from a paper bag of Donut holes actually was uncomfortable to listen to. The fact that it had such a huge improvement from yesterday, I think I may come back from this one... this time. But the info on the webs says these things are accumulative and that my ears are trying to warn me that they're on the edge. Next time, may be the last time.
Do some reading. Protect your dang ears. This stuff ain't funny.