Suppressors and Hearing Safety

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  • Hawg
    Administrator
    • Mar 2026
    • 165

    #1

    Suppressors and Hearing Safety

    Suppressors and Hearing Safety:
    If you’ve ever shot a centerfire firearm unsuppressed or had a similarly loud explosion or noise occur near you, you’ll know that it is often accompanied by a distinct ringing, and sometimes one that won’t ever go away (tinnitus). Suppressors are an easy way, even with regular ammo, to help reduce the risk of hearing damage with unprotected ears.
    Suppressors and Hearing Safety: What Decibels Actually Tell Us


    "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields
  • T-Man 1066
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2026
    • 201

    #2
    I am exhibit A right here. I have had tinnitus for over 20 years. Between shooting, racing stock cars, machine shop life, and heavy metal, yea.

    BTW, politicians need to go live in the Mariana trench.. just sayin!
    Politicians can kiss my ass!!!

    Comment

    • Hawg
      Administrator
      • Mar 2026
      • 165

      #3
      Originally posted by T-Man 1066
      I am exhibit A right here. I have had tinnitus for over 20 years. Between shooting, racing stock cars, machine shop life, and heavy metal, yea.

      BTW, politicians need to go live in the Mariana trench.. just sayin!
      Yup me too the ringing never stops. Rock and roll in the 70's, Shooting clays and such every weekend as a kid with no hearing protection (nobody wore it back then.) Along with 40 years in the Powerhouse with boilers and chillers along with machine rooms full of air handlers.

      edited: Oh, and over 90k miles on the last Harley

      What did you say?
      Last edited by Hawg; 03-16-2026, 01:16 PM.
      "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields

      Comment

      • SparkyPrep
        Super Moderator
        • Mar 2026
        • 82

        #4
        Between the guns, the jackhammers, the impact guns, and the loud music, I should have gotten hearing aids years ago. I refuse.

        Comment

        • NRATC53
          Senior Member
          • Mar 2026
          • 97

          #5
          Originally posted by SparkyPrep
          Between the guns, the jackhammers, the impact guns, and the loud music, I should have gotten hearing aids years ago. I refuse.
          Same boat- Detroit Diesels, race cars, boats, bikes, air tools, high pressure glasses, gunfire and explosions, and lots of trauma. Finally went to an audiologist, then an ENT, then a Neurologist who specializes in brain trauma who tied a lot of it into multiple instances of head trauma many of the standard concussion variety, and some of the scope that is now known as TBI- and I thought it was just because I'm an old guy. That'll teach me to go to the damn doctor

          Comment

          • NRATC53
            Senior Member
            • Mar 2026
            • 97

            #6
            Bought a Ruger Carbine Takedown in 9mm, looking to get a can for it. I'm open to ideas

            Comment

            • T-Man 1066
              Senior Member
              • Mar 2026
              • 201

              #7
              Originally posted by SparkyPrep
              Between the guns, the jackhammers, the impact guns, and the loud music, I should have gotten hearing aids years ago. I refuse.
              Yea, I got fitted for hearing aids about 6 years ago, I almost never wear them. The silicone piece that goes in the ear canal aches after about an hour, gives me headaches. I went back to the ear chick a few times over it, finally gave up.

              Not my fault people talk really quietly nowadays...
              Politicians can kiss my ass!!!

              Comment

              • Dwight
                Pastor
                • Mar 2026
                • 53

                #8
                Originally posted by NRATC53
                Bought a Ruger Carbine Takedown in 9mm, looking to get a can for it. I'm open to ideas
                I don't know if this is what you want . . . but saw the ad the other day . . .

                May God bless,
                Dwight

                Click image for larger version

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                Comment


                • shootbrownelk
                  shootbrownelk commented
                  Editing a comment
                  Don't buy an el-cheapo suppressor with the aluminum body and baffles. Stainless steel construction preferably, Titanium if you feel the extra weight savings is worth the added cost. I personally feel that cans are extremely overpriced. When I buy one, it'll be when the prices come down to reasonable. I want something I can clean in my ultrasonic cleaner. What is happening with the "Hearing Protection Act" in congress? If the $200 tax stamp price is eliminated, why are they still regulated by the BAFTE and part of the NFA?
              • Dwight
                Pastor
                • Mar 2026
                • 53

                #9
                Originally posted by Dwight
                shootbrownelk said: .......................... What is happening with the "Hearing Protection Act" in congress? If the $200 tax stamp price is eliminated, why are they still regulated by the BAFTE and part of the NFA?
                My opinion of the whole situation goes back to people like Maxine Waters and Pocohontas Warren . . . pencil neck Schiff . . . and probably another 50 of those in congress or the senate.

                Their understanding of the M16 is it can shoot 60 rounds per second and the bullets will go thru one inch or more of hardened steel.

                But they are protected by the vinyl siding and drywall in their houses . . . plus they have centrally monitored security contracts . . . so they are safe.

                But all of us out here with our extended magazines and tactical slings . . . don't need a "silencing device" or at least it needs to be completely and closely monitored.

                Those silencers allow the bullets from an M1 Garand, an M14 or an AK47 . . . so that they can be "silenced" to the point that someone could shoot you from 10 feet away and you would never hear the report.

                Plus they want to be sure no one gets on the subway in New York city carrying a Ma Deuce or an M-60.

                (pardon the rant)

                May God bless,
                Dwight

                Comment


                • SparkyPrep
                  SparkyPrep commented
                  Editing a comment
                  Fair rant.
              • Piratesailor
                Senior Member
                • Mar 2026
                • 14

                #10
                Going to the NRA show in houston next month. Going to scout out suppressors. Buying a couple is my #1 firearm goal this year. Ok. And Maybe a pistol or two…. And maybe a lever action in 3030….

                Comment


                • shootbrownelk
                  shootbrownelk commented
                  Editing a comment
                  I want one for my 9mm and one for my rimfires,
              • Piratesailor
                Senior Member
                • Mar 2026
                • 14

                #11
                Same here. One for the 9mm and one for the 10/22 takedown. And maybe one for the 308…. And……

                Comment

                • red442joe
                  Senior Member
                  • Mar 2026
                  • 37

                  #12
                  Tagged

                  Joe

                  Comment

                  • Slippy
                    Senior Member
                    • Mar 2026
                    • 53

                    #13

                    Comment

                    • Mad Trapper
                      Senior Member
                      • Mar 2026
                      • 98

                      #14
                      Never shot a gun with a suppressor. Except for hunting, I've always used some sort of hearing protection even if was just kleenx stuffed into my ears. Kleenx can work pretty good if you wet it with some spit and cram your ears full. Exception being 22 rimfires

                      I worked a while in a lumber mill. A metal through moved the lumber waste to the chipper by shaking and bouncing the edgings and scraps and they pounded on the metal, like someone hitting the through with a hundred hammers. The chipper was also a beast, 6ft flywheel and ran on 200HP 440V electric. That is besides the noises from the edger and the big circle saw.

                      I wore two sets of protection, the foam earplugs and over the head earmuffs. There was a coworker who had worked there years before I got there and never protected his hearing. You'd speak to him and he couldn't hear you much at all. He got the nickname Zombie, because you'd talk to him and got blank stares.

                      I have earmuffs for when I use my chainsaws, tractors and other equipment. I'm pretty diligent about that. Chainsaws I have a nice Pelotor combination helmet/earmuff and face shield. Sometimes I double up with the foam earplugs or kleenx

                      Comment

                      • T-Man 1066
                        Senior Member
                        • Mar 2026
                        • 201

                        #15
                        Originally posted by Mad Trapper
                        Never shot a gun with a suppressor. Except for hunting, I've always used some sort of hearing protection even if was just kleenx stuffed into my ears. Kleenx can work pretty good if you wet it with some spit and cram your ears full. Exception being 22 rimfires

                        I worked a while in a lumber mill. A metal through moved the lumber waste to the chipper by shaking and bouncing the edgings and scraps and they pounded on the metal, like someone hitting the through with a hundred hammers. The chipper was also a beast, 6ft flywheel and ran on 200HP 440V electric. That is besides the noises from the edger and the big circle saw.

                        I wore two sets of protection, the foam earplugs and over the head earmuffs. There was a coworker who had worked there years before I got there and never protected his hearing. You'd speak to him and he couldn't hear you much at all. He got the nickname Zombie, because you'd talk to him and got blank stares.

                        I have earmuffs for when I use my chainsaws, tractors and other equipment. I'm pretty diligent about that. Chainsaws I have a nice Pelotor combination helmet/earmuff and face shield. Sometimes I double up with the foam earplugs or kleenx
                        Good advise right here. Wish I was better about hearing protection in my early years.

                        Back then, wearing earplugs in the machine ship you were called sissy, sally, etc.

                        Racing circle track, we ran straight pipe. I had a mini-stock Mustang, 2.3 4 cyl, running about 7800 rpm at the end of the straight. Track rules we had to be below 100 decibels, measured during single car qualifying from the 6th row of the main bleachers. If we were over, had to run a muffler. First night out I was at 104. They let me race that night, but had to come back quieter. I bent my straight pipe to exit the drivers side instead of the passenger side. Heading down the front straight the noise went away from the meter, and the back straight was far enough away to pass the decibel meter.

                        And rock-n-roll. If it's too loud, you're too old!
                        Politicians can kiss my ass!!!

                        Comment

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