Posted: 5/21/2014 7:18:21 AM EDT
| So, looking for new ear pro am wondering and looking at specs, how is a suppressor that is rated at 30db reduction still not open ear safe, but a lot of the ear pro is only rated at around -21-25db? I understand that both is best. I do shoot .223 suppressed without ear pro sometimes and it is still a touch loud. I just don't understand the difference in the sound reduction. |
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Quoted:
I would still use light ear pro when shooting suppressed 5.56. Something like the Howard Leight electronic muffs would work well for under $50. Rimfire or subsonic 300 blk I would be comfortable shooting suppressed without ear pro. I do when target shooting, just not usually hunting. It is just weird to me that ear pro rating is often lower than a suppressor and is considered safe. |
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Quoted:
I do when target shooting, just not usually hunting. It is just weird to me that ear pro rating is often lower than a suppressor and is considered safe. Quoted:
Quoted:
I would still use light ear pro when shooting suppressed 5.56. Something like the Howard Leight electronic muffs would work well for under $50. Rimfire or subsonic 300 blk I would be comfortable shooting suppressed without ear pro. I do when target shooting, just not usually hunting. It is just weird to me that ear pro rating is often lower than a suppressor and is considered safe. I double up if I'm shooting by myself. Ear plugs and then the muffs. |
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Having shot an unsuppressed AR indoors with hearing protection and a suppressed AR outdoors without hearing protection, I will say that I will wear hearing protection when shooting a suppressed AR in the future.
I don't think it was very loud when I was observing, but when I was shooting it made my ears ring. |
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Quoted:
You're talking about suppressing the sound at two very different points. Your rifle is much noisier at the muzzle, so dropping the sound 25db there vs. at your ear results in different net levels. Good answer, thank you very much. The OP's question really piqued my interest, and your answer makes great sense. |
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Quoted:
Good answer, thank you very much. The OP's question really piqued my interest, and your answer makes great sense. Quoted:
Quoted:
You're talking about suppressing the sound at two very different points. Your rifle is much noisier at the muzzle, so dropping the sound 25db there vs. at your ear results in different net levels. Good answer, thank you very much. The OP's question really piqued my interest, and your answer makes great sense. Agreed, that's a good point. |
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Most hearing protection makes gunfire not cause immediate damage, but there still is a recommended limit to noise exposure. Most guns are 140+ db and the threshold of pain is usually recognized as 125 db, so a 150 db gun blocked down to 120 is not going to immediately damage you. A 150 db gun suppressed down to 120 and then blocked with muffs down to 90db is just plain fun. |
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Unsuppressed 5.56 with only foam plugs or muffs still isn't hearing safe.
I always double up -- plugs under Howard Leight earmuffs. If I'm the only one at the range I may take all ear-pro off for a few suppressed .22 or 9mm shots, but strictly for the lulz. Suppressed .223 is not hearing-safe. |
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Quoted: Unsuppressed 5.56 with only foam plugs or muffs still isn't hearing safe. I always double up -- plugs under Howard Leight earmuffs. If I'm the only one at the range I may take all ear-pro off for a few suppressed .22 or 9mm shots, but strictly for the lulz. Suppressed .223 is not hearing-safe. |