I would say no. Your ear drums are like speakers, they vibrate with soundwaves. The louder the soundwaves the more vibration = blow ear drums? I don't know. I haven't taken anatomy in years.

No. As long as sound is brought down to safe levels(through earplugs/muffs) it will not harm your hearing. It's the same as working in industries where one is typically around very loud machines.

Originally Posted by Mdnitedrftr

Even when using ear plugs/muffs, is shooting still bad for your ears?

I'm sure (not positive) with good ear protection you should not damage your hearing. What I do know (am positive) that if, say you shoot a S&W 500 mag just once, you will damage your hearing permently. You may not notice it right away but if you shot it once every week without ear protection, after about ten week you will have permitted hearing damage. I have friends fighting over in the sandbox and I ask what they do for ear protection and two of them said they use one earplug in the ear closes to the weapon. My other friend kept said What What What.

What?

Be advised ear plugs alone are not enough. Ear muffs, which protect the mastoid bone behind the ear, offer the best protection.

I spent much of my younger days exposed to gunfire without ear protection. In fact, the drill sergeants disdained any attempt at ear protection. Fortunately, I learned of its importance before too much damage was done. I hear normal tones well enough, but high pitched beeps such as battery checkers, go unheard.

Bob Wright

I certainly hope not. What else can a human do but cover his ears with muffs. Personally, I use both plugs and muffs.

In fact, the drill sergeants disdained any attempt at ear protection.

Same here. It's amazing. I shot M1's, .45Autos, BAR's, 30 & 50 Machine gun, & Win. Model 97 Shotgun with no hearing protection in the Army. Now I will give them credit. When I as assigned to an 8" howitzer they gave me ear protection. Hard to believe I can still hear. Now I wear ear protection to shot .22 shorts. Did I mention also 3.5 Rocket launcher & .45Auto Grease Gun. Many, like the Grease gun were for thousands of rounds.

BTW, IMO, that video on the lead post gets old fast. Should have a good looking girl. Then the repeat might be easier to take!

I bought myself some of those Leightning muffs and they work very well. Very comfortable too. With those and some cheapo earplugs even the loudest bangs are brought down to very low, non damaging levels. I kinda like my hearing so this is what I will be sticking with. I also shoot at an indoor range so I believe its probably more important to have quality hearing protection.

Have to agree with all. Earmuffs and earplugs.
I remember my younger days at concerts being exposed to sound levels that left my ears ringing/head buzzing for hours afterward.
DOUBLE hearing protection is the way to go IMHO.

What I've noticed is that some of those ear muffs that have the external microphones and speakers in the earmuffs don't have a very good dB attenuation. Many run around 20 dB. Some are more. The cheap yellow ones that one sees at gun stores and on eBay have the best Noise reduction rating I have found, 27 dB. The electronics are ok. The standard military issue sound attenuators run about the same NRR. Even with that amount of reduction, us Naval Aviation types were told that it was recommended for double hearing protection while working around aircraft. 20 years of aviation work and I had better hearing than when I went in!!!

What are the highest rated and best overall Ear Muffs for Hearing Protection?

What say it again please

i used only cheapo plugs for a while but i was sick of them not always fitting right or getting one that doesn't "seal" as well as they normally do. i finally purchased some muffs, but haven't been to the range yet to test them out. i will admit however, they work wonders while writing your senior thesis while 5 toddlers race around them apartment upstairs from you ALL DAY and you can hear every single step. (not to mention the really bad R&B music at 3am)