Hello:
Common story among shooters and hunters- despite being cautious at concerts, running power tools, and recreational shooting, a lifetime of upland bird hunting caught up with me a few years ago. My vizsla and I got into grouse and woodcock in incredible numbers one evening and my ears have not quit ringing since.
My wife and I are pretty hard core music fans, and spend many evenings listening to records while having a drink, that kind of thing. Not exactly a hobby that is compatible with the above.
I'm ready to quit recreational shooting. This is painful for me to admit, as going to range brings me a great deal of joy, especially shooting revolvers and sporting clays.
My club has added overhead reverberant structures over all of the ranges to help mitigate complaints from the new housing that has sadly gone in north of the range. This has made it seemingly impossible to protect my hearing when shooting revolvers and my short barreled bolt action 5.56 mm rifle (a Ruger GSR with the flash hider removed).
To be blunt the ear ringing at times causes me to get out of bed and walk around until I calm myself down. I have to live with my stupidity, but I also need to find out if it is possible to continue recreational shooting without fear of additional tinnitus. Is there a plug/muff combo that has worked for you? Did you walk away from the sport to save what you have left? Please share.
I'd love to hear stories from any of you that have confronted this. My heart goes out to veterans who had no choice. I expect no sympathy from them.
Thanks-
Hearing protection/tinnitus/misery...need advice
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Last edited by Uplander on Fri Jun 22, 2018 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
And all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be- Roger Waters