Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Holy Crap this thing is loud.

Aint that the truth on auditory exclusion. I have had more than a few rounds go off without ear protection in the field and I know I lost hearing from that but a single accident with a flashbang was an instant 30% loss in one ear and it has never stopped ringing.

Well the good news it my ears have stopped ringing (and bleeding). The Linear Comp is back on the hunting rifle, I have a couple of the ear plugs recommended on the way, and when I hunt I will use them. Next 3 gun I do I will remount the comp, as it does work well for fast shooting.

Auditory Exclusion is waaaayyyy overrated. Damaging sound is damaging whether you pay attention to it or not.

+1000

Barring a defensive (hell, maybe offensive at the rate we're going) situation, I don't pull the trigger without earpro anymore.

So what do you use for hunting?

I've been using A2s on both ARs. I think one is getting a Levang, and the other the Surefire brake.

I meant earpro.

You don't use earpro when hunting...

Too bad suppressors are completely illegal in MN. If anything, their use should be encouraged, especially when hunting.

I wore earpro for the last two shots I took at hogs. It was a hassle, but there ain't no way I was pulling the trigger without it.

That makes more sense; I'm also exclusively a deer hunter, so I was thinking more about that.

I received the Surefire Sonic defenders in the mail and tried them today. They are comfortable and easy to seat, never feels like they are falling out. I shot a bunch of rimfire and never felt like I could hear the shots. Not a torture test but a test. So a success. Thanks for the heads up.

When shooting rodents at long range you need to see where the bullets strike and a break can help that. Furthermore there is no reason not to wear hearing protection.

Have used EP3s and EP4s extensively and highly recommend them.

Like hell. Excluding an unplanned fight, I don't pull the trigger without earpro. Ever.

When hunting i wear these: http://www.amazon.com/3M-Tactical-Hearing-Protector-Compatible/dp/B000Q04MRG

They actually IMPROVE my hearing so it's a win/win.

Brilliant

I don't recall too many bolt action 223s having breaks on them? Don't people use them for shooting little targets with fur on them too?

I guess you never have to actually be able to hear when you're deer hunting. I use my hearing as much as my eyes and no hearing protection out there allows you to hear the sounds of the woods like your own ears can. More often than not, I hear the deer before they are spotted, so I see no need to have a break on any HUNTING GUN no matter what size or action type.

One shot in the woods without a brake won't hurt me, but one shot with a brake and no hearing protection certainly will.

Remington sold some .223 bolt guns a while back with the triangular barrels, and yes they came with brakes on some models. Making it easier to see hits was the answer I got about it.

Magnum revolvers are another one you don't want to EVER shoot without ear protection.

According to my ear doc, even one shot with a 22 degrades your hearing.

And yes brakes are sort of popular on bolt guns with poodle shooters cause half the fun is seeing how high they can fly. I went this year with a guy who had a heavy barreled Cooper 204 and a heavy barreled 223, he could see his hits with the 204 but not his 223. Next year he will either have a brake on the 223 or it will be rebarrelled to another 204.

I hate brakes and won't own one but there are others who put them to good use.

Most people view their ARs as multipurpose guns. Besides that, a muzzle device protects your crown.

You are incorrect on both points. There is ear pro that is good enough that you truly forget you are wearing it. Also any shot, no matter the gun, even one shot damages your hearing.