Cranfield Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Every shooter I know wears ear protection when they go clay shooting. Perhaps they have a 50 bird sporting round. But, the same shooter goes pigeon shooting, fires at least 50 cartridges and doesn,t wear ear protection. I know the shots will be more spaced out, than when clay shooting, but I don,t think that makes any difference, to the damage to our ears. Now, I am as guilty of this, as anyone else. Any comments, or thoughts ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean johnston Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Hi cranfield.As a rule i dont wear ear protection but from now on i will.I was out last week and by the end of the day my ears were ringing and they didn,t stop ringing for two days,this frightened me and i will be wearing them on future outings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzer Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Iknow that I probably should but i never wear ear protection when im clay shooting or pigeon shooting, im always told that i should when im at my local clay shoot, I find that wearing ear protection affects my shooting, im told that its all in the mind and could shoot with protection but until i get any problems with my ears i'll carry on as normal..... with out. Buzzer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everygoodnamewastaken Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 I know we all should wear them but i always forget to lift them and i hate wearing them, I'll make an effort from now on :( :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Like Cranfield when I am clay shooting I wear a pair of electronic defenders but when pigeon shooting, the day has to get hectic before I put them on. By then of course my ears are ringing and the damage is done. My earing has deteriorated through age but also from shooting without protection to the extent that if there is a lot of background sound, I have difficulty holding a conversation with the person next to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Coats with hoods tend to concentrate the noise like the old ear trumpets, in my opinion. The first question the specialist asks, when they find out you have almost lost your hearing in your left ear is. "Are you right-handed?" If the answer is "yes" then the second question is. "Do any shooting?" You don't notice it creeping up on you. Looking back, I think the first indication is when you no longer hear the birds singing in the country (I know there aren't as many as there used to be). There is a constant high pitched noise that drowns them out. I know one person who has to wear earphones connected the to radio all night in order to get to sleep without keeping the missus awake. Another sleeps with the radio under his pillow to achieve the same. Next there comes the problem of hearing what one person is saying when there are several conversations going on close by. After a bit, things become muffled and you have a job understanding what is being said in a room that echoes a bit. It came home to me one day when in a college lecture room and suddenly everybody else got up and walked out. I was sitting in front of an open window with a fire alarm bell ringing about 20 feet away and never heard it. I am thinking of getting some electronic ear defenders but, as you may have gathered, it might be too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzer Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 OK may be i should think about buying some, what are those little ones like that go in your ear? :X Buzzer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NGhost Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 I had my hearing damaged by a virus as a child. As I cannot aford to loos any more I aways use eletronic ear defenders, even in the hide or hedge walking. I know too many not so old folk who are as deaf as post from shooting, and never noticed it creeping up on them. After a while you dont notice the ear defenders apart from having warm ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Sean Don't wish to worry you.....BUT ringing in the ears for two days IS causing permanent damage.Any ringing in the ears after TWO hours is doing you a mischief. all the best yis yp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 I always wear somthing,generally my browning electronic ones,failing that my ear plugs with the little valve things in,failing that foam ear plugs.I'm never caught out without anyting especially as i seem to be doing more and more clays at the moment,if i do forget my browning ones the ear plugs are in a little box on my keyring and all of my coats/bags etc that i use for shooting are usually well stocked with the disposable foam ones (usually get loads free through work ).Cranfield the problem i find on say a 50 bird sporting isnt my 50 shots as much as the 50 shots that the other members of the squad fire when i am close by,i find it not only bad for the hearing but also quite tiring which in turn doesnt do myshoting any favours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 or my spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Clay shooters wear ear protection because they have to - the rules now require it at all registered shoots. I am amazed at how many rough shooters don't bother with ear protection, as by the time you have that constant ringing in your ears, it's too late as you probably have developed Tinnitus, which apparently is incurable and only gets worse with age. I know several people who have developed serious problems early in life, in their 30's - my shooting mate cannot hear a mobile phone ring or hear a whistle blown, and all because he didn't used to wear ear protection ...!!! I suppose they are a bit like your eyes, i.e. you only get one set, but unfortunately I have yet to hear of laser treatment to cure deafness...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 My advice would be to get a few pairs of the reusable type ear plugs on a cord. Buy the flanged type. Don't use the foam type (sponge picks up all sort of dirt over time and can lead to infection). The type I use is commonly available from industrial tool and safety stores and costs about £1.20 a pair. I don't reckon it's worth spending loads for earplugs as these give as good a protection as the expensive ones. They can last for months, provided you keep them clean. Remember to wash earplugs after use or being in dirty pockets to prevent ear infection. Get a few pairs, leave one in the pocket of each shooting jacket, another in your car, and one in your guncase. That way, you will never forget them. The link below shows you the type which I prefer. These are the highest rated reusable earplugs available: http://www.howardleight.com/cgi-bin....airsoft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzer Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 I think that ive got some somewere, didnt some come with the Sporting Gun a couple of issues ago? I might give them ago this weekend and see how i get on, suppose its better than nothing at all. Buzzer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Have a look round your local industrial tool shops (see the Yellow Pages). The ones I have linked to are so comfortable, you can almost forget that you have them in. I am not a fan of earmuffs, and would choose plugs every time. With earplugs, it is much easier to concentrate on your shooting and ingore what is going on around you, especially in clay competitions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Yes they did give some away,give them a go and see how you get on,try some of theear plugs with a valve in (sonic 2??)i think, i use them on and off they do let in a bit more low level noise which means you dont feel quite so isolated with them on.One things for sure buzzer you should use somthing or you will have to change your name to high pitched whistler :( eh,did someone say somthing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Just as I thought, I,m not the only idiot on here. I use the Sonic 2 Hearing Protectors when clay shooting, as I can,t get on with the ear muff type protectors. The Sonic,s work very well. I have made a positive decision to wear them in future when live quarry shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 I have seen electronic ear plugs that let you hear normally until a gun goes off. Not sure how much they cost. They were being worn by a very rich person!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NGhost Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 I think the electronic plugs are around £4-500. I wil stick with by browning cans and spend the extra on a new gun 8-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 You can be measured for an in-ear protector. They put a foam type stuff in the ear and make the protector from the mould. The electronic ones (hear speech,but not shots), can cost up to £750. You can buy a lot of cotton wool ,for £750. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE PREDATOR Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 what he say ,ten past two ,what dont were none but dont affect me five past three, what you say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 I went clay shooting this morning and took notice of what hearing protection the shooters were wearing. Quite a lot had the "earmuffs" type, the casual shooters had the foam freebies and the true "pros" had the "made to measure, in your ear" models. I don,t like the big "earmuffs", or the foam freebies and so I asked a few questions about the other type. They all seem to allow you to hear conversation, but block out the noise of a shot. The price variation was incredible, some over £500 and the ones advertised in Sporting Gun, "noisebreakers" for about £60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 I use a pair of slim electronic ear muffs which cost £65,they have individual volume controls and normal coversation is easy but the "pain" of a shot is muted to an acceptable level. Another bonus is I get a warning if my mobile is receiving a call or a text as they instantly pick up the signal bafore the phone rings. :C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 It sounds as though they must be really interesting, when you stand near pylons, or electric transformers. :X :X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergame Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 I got some ear plugs from a sports shop. They were originally for swimmers, but they do a grand job when I'm clayshooting. I've only just started wearing them for pigeon shooting. I will continue to wear them because they have helped prevent that shell shocked feeling at the end of a busy day in the pigeon hide. Feeling better at the end of the day probably means you have shot better throughout the day which is worth bearing in mind me thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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