Protect your hearing!
Protect your hearing! Against noise injuries and inconveniences.
Actions related to shooting and hunting are often loud with exploding ammunition and pressures, which is why it is absolutely important to protect your hearing from noise damage. Harms caused by noise can include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hyperacusis (oversensitivity of hearing)... In the worst case, hearing can be damaged by a single or continuous loud noise, so get your hearing protection in order.
Hobbies are often much more pleasant and long-lasting when you first put the necessary protections in order.
Everyone is responsible for their own hearing, and you shouldn't listen to other people's stories and explanations for shooting without hearing protection. You have to understand that, especially in Finland, the older generation is used to shooting / operating in many situations without protection, which is why the hearing is already significantly damaged. Due to 'peer pressure', many situations lead to the avoidance of protection. Think for yourself, protect yourself properly.
Hearing protection should be used in every shooting situation, even if you are on the range, in the forest alone or together, or indoors.
Hearing protectors
Active hearing protection
- Active hearing protection refers to hearing protectors that dampen loud sounds and enhance normal sounds. It is often possible to adjust the guards to the desired level.
When hunting in a pack, it is important to hear where other people may be located. With this, active hearing protection is an absolute must for those situations. Some feel that active protectors, especially in the dome model, are abrasive. That's why there are also passive hearing protectors that dampen the worst noise nuisances, or individual earplugs that can be shaped or molded to the ear.
Ear plugs
- Earplugs are the simplest hearing protection, where soft noise barriers are placed in the ear canal to prevent harmful noises. These should be carried everywhere so that they are easily available when needed.
Dome hearing protectors
- Earmuffs are caps that go over the ears and also prevent pressure waves and are often the best option for protecting the ears.
GEL cushioning
- GEL pads are often improved versions of the pads found in earmuffs. They are generally more comfortable to wear and offer better tightness and therefore better protection. Especially with a beanie/cap/goggles, foam pads easily leave gaps, which GEL pads fill much better. For example, it is often possible to change the old 'foam' pads for Sordin and Peltor protectors to GEL pads. It's worth it!
Double hearing protection
- Double hearing protection simply means double hearing protection, so that earplugs are put in the ear and earmuffs are also placed over the ear.
We strongly recommend double hearing protection, especially at indoor shooting ranges, when shooting with a muzzle brake and in group shooting events.
See hearing and eyesight protection here!
We especially recommend the following well-proven brands for hearing protection: Sordin, Peltor, Surefire.
Silencers
In many shooting situations, a silencer brings significant advantages. In both hunting and shooting, the shots can be regular or individual.
The silencer reduces the most significant muzzle pressure and the loudest sound from the end of the gun's barrel, which makes shooting significantly more pleasant in many ways. In addition to hearing protection, a significant advantage is the reduction of noise nuisance to the environment.
Please note that some suppressors are designed to reduce noise by a certain amount or only reduce muzzle pressure. Most suppressors are not intended to be fired without hearing protection.
There are silencers mainly for rifles, miniature rifles and miniature pistols. Silencers for pistols and shotguns are less available, which is why hearing protection becomes even more important when shooting with them.
We recommend absolute hearing protection even when shooting with a silencer!
We recommend mufflers from the following proven brands: Silent Steel, Ase Utra, Jaki, Freyr & Devik.
However, if things have already gone bad, help is available. Take into account that doctors and general health care are not very advanced in this matter yet. Many will probably say that nothing can be done. It's not that bad and simple though. Recovery requires a lot of work and lifestyle changes, but it is still possible.
Excellent help, where you should go looking for help:
1. Tinnitus clinic (FIN)
2. Treble health + YouTube channel. (U.S)
Remember to protect your vision too!!!