Hearing protection and home defence

[Will3212]

I wanted to get your opinion about ear protection in a home defence situation. Do you keep ear muffs next to your bedside gun? What if you need to call 911 and cant hear.
I know a silencer on your gun is probably the best option but all the forms and waiting are a hassle.

[Pizza Bob]

Google auditory exclusion

[pens87pgh]

Google auditory exclusion

^^ This. It's a wild phenomenon, but it happens.

[Spaceballs]

Google auditory exclusion

This just keeps you from hearing (or from your brain processing) the sound of the gunfire

There is still a loud sound wave that enters your ear canal that could break things in your ear drum, even if you don't 'hear' it at the time

As for hearing protection it matters a lot what you would be shooting and where you would be standing. If you are going to be shooting a sub sonic .380 from the middle of a large room....maybe you don't need hearing protection for a couple shots. (Maybe)

If you are going to be shooting a 12 gauge from a small confined hallway where the sound is going to bounce right into your ears, you need it.

But you don't want standard no frills range muffs that will block all sound. There is a bad guy in your house in the dark. You need to hear where he is from your defensive position.

If your going to use hearing protection, use electronic ear muffs that will still let you hear footsteps....or your wife/children sneaking up behind you to see what the fuss is. Use good ones, not Chinese specials on Amazon you got for $12. They need to be reliable.

[Will3212]

Using a short barrel AR 5.56 in the house in a home defence scenario, it'll definitely blow your ear drum with no muffs.

[Spaceballs]

Using a short barrel AR 5.56 in the house in a home defence scenario, it'll definitely blow your ear drum with no muffs.

This. With or without a suppressor.

[wanneroo]

I keep electronic ears handy

[V300]

Tinnitus builds character.

[V300]

Google auditory exclusion

Yes.

Using a short barrel AR 5.56 in the house in a home defence scenario, it'll definitely blow your ear drum with no muffs.

I have fired entire belts of 7.62mm from an M60 in small rooms with no earpro. I have also gunned a heavy mortar with no ear pro on many occasions.
In WWII US troops used emplaced M-2 .50 cal BMGs on tripods from inside buildings. And AT guns. And later on, things like M-72 LAW rockets (do watch that back blast though).

I can still hear. They could still hear. You'll be fine.

[ar15jules]

Don't forget to don your shooting glasses, a brimmed hat, closed toe shoes and a long sleeve shirt.