Hi,
I’ve got an middy AR and a G19 and I often wonder if someone were kicking in the front door, which would I grab. I would want to think the AR, but I wonder about the hearing damage from shooting it indoors vs shooting subsonic 147gr out of the G19. What do you guys think? Does hearing damage enter your decision making on this? I’ve shot a 9mm indoors once before and it was an ear ringing unpleasant situation, that is for sure.
Thanks,
Alan
Not a chance. For two reasons. The first being that if someone is coming and i’m in a position to take someone’s life hearing is the LSAT thing on my mind. Two is a phenomenon called audible occlusion. Meaning that because of your action your brain has an ability to disregard the action your about to take. Denouncing the noise. Weather by adrenalin or whatever its often reported sometimes that people don’t really hear much of their own gunshots but will hear a buddies much more pronounced.
long life with great hearing>long life without great hearing>artificially shortened life.
I worked backwards when getting my protection in order. Meaning I first bought the tools to live then bought the tools to protect my hearing. I think that surviving is most important, but I have 3 children and I would hate knowing that my 1 year old has hearing problems because daddy didnt screw on the muffler.
That would be “auditory exclusion” and there’s been a lot of debate on it here on M4C. I have no personal experience with that so I can’t say either way, but I can see that occurring as the body does a lot of things under stress.
To the original question: put simply, no. I may or may not lose my hearing but I want the most effective tool at hand to stop an intruder. That would be the AR, not the subsonic 147gr from my M&P. Worry about your ears after the fact.
Correct on the term. Cooking dinner and smart phones don’t play well with this. Exclusion
why would it?
if I could safely use an AT-4 or an M79 indoors against an assailant I gladly would
If someone is coming through the door, my hearing is the last thing I’m worried about. If you’re concerned about hearing damage BEFORE the fight is when you should plan for it. I don’t want to discount auditory exclusion but I wouldn’t count on it happening either. If you can afford it, figure a can into you equipment list.
Hi,
I agree - that is why I’m thinking about it. What about a shotgun (not that I have one)? Is the sound on it going to be less damaging. I don’t have a can and don’t know much about them.
Thanks,
Alan
Unless things have changed, auditory exclusion is the phenomenon by which your brain does not process the sound input coming from your ears. Basically, the interrupt is between the ear and the brain, not the outside world and your ear. You’re still hearing the gunshot (and its still affecting your ear), but your brain is too busy keeping your ass alive to pass the signal along.
Long story short, auditory exclusion does nothing to actually protect your hearing. If your brain were to somehow effectively and consistently close the ear canal in anticipation of a loud noise, you likely wouldn’t see earpro becoming pretty much standard equipment for military and police tactical teams.
Is it something to be cognizant of? Sure. but like others have said, what’s more important? If you have time, sure, put on some Peltors, but just fill your hands.
The answer to your specific question? Get a suppressor for the AR. If that’s not an option, still stick with the best, most lethal solution, regardless of the noise concern…so the AR.
Now, for the auditory exclusion discussion…
Just because your brain is not registering the noise because of auditory exclusion does not mean that you are not receiving permanent damage.
In 2007, I was about 5 meters away from an IED detonation while dismounted (single 82MM mortar buried too deep…they screwed up so nobody got hurt). Anyway, I was focused on copying down garbled radio traffic at the time, so I never acknowledged the sound of the explosion. Never heard it. But a few days later, my right ear was ringing (my left ear was plugged with an ear piece). I now have substantial, permanent hearing loss in my right ear, even though I never acknowledged the sound of the IED.
So, in my experience the phenomenon of audible exclusion does not prevent damage, it just means for whatever reason your mind does not process the sound.
Still, though, your life or your hearing? Again, get a suppressor for the AR. If you can’t, use it anyway.
I know its low on my list.
More important things to be concerned about is one thing. The fact that your probably not going to be that bad off anyway is another, like how often do you run into the guy who did something once (shot indoors, ran a jack hammer for 10 seconds, used a leaf blower for 5 min, etc) having hearing damage to an amount to risk life over? not normal, it is usually frequently going into hearing damage range that will do it, not the once or twice. Then you have the body responses that may save you completely anyway.
Hearing damage is cumulative. The amount of gunfire that is likely to take place in your lifetime due to shooting intruders in your home is a negligible portion of the whole. This is a way overblown thing to worry about. Focus instead on the radon coming from your sheetrock or your basement floor.
I keep Sordin Supreme Pros next to my BCM carbine. If I have time to put them on I will, if not so be it.
Nope… Go for the best tool for the job… I do keep plugs and muffs around, but getting to them might be difficult.
In fact you may mot hear the rounds going off, but your ears will be just as damaged. The damage shows up later in life… Ron
Having fired many things indoors, including the often recommended pump shotgun, YES. As I happen to own suppressors, my home defense weapons have them.
I only keep ear plugs in my range bag and in my “pouch of many things” on my vest.
If I had enough time to rummage through either of those to locate some plugs, I would use that time to get my gf on the phone with 911 instead.
Does hearing damage enter your home defense plan?
No. Not dying does!
I made the mistake of using those foam inserts at an indoor range, with no real sound damping. The sharp ringing noise, after the first shot, made me put my muffs back on. If you want to avoid that sharp ringing noise, don’t get accosted in a parking garage. It is an unbelievable pitch.
I only have 1 ear working, lost my left ear as a kid from infection.
My main HD rifle and handgun both have suppressors…
I’ve got ringing in my ears from all the shooting as a kid (not understanding the concept of ear protection)…If someone busts through my door, my only thought is which gun can I get to the quickest if it’s not on or around me…
I see people talking up Aimpoint RDS’s because they can be left on all time, one less thing to diddle with during the frequent scenarios where we all have to grab our assault rifles to defend our homes. Eotechs are problematic because you have to turn them on. But now, I see some are advocating taking the time to stuff plugs in their ears, or putting a pair of electronic ear muffs on (and presumably turning them on). Apparently we have more time than I thought.