Thread: Hunting without a suppressor.......... ear plugs or cop the lot?

Wearing hearing protection is no doubt the smart thing to do but its not a sliver bullet, your hearing will fade with simple old age. The occasional shot hunting will in most cases make only a small difference in the long run if any. Higher volume, muzzel breaks, range work etc obviously a big step up. The references to old shooters being deaf should also note that most if not all would have had other industrial damage from chainsaws, machinery etc all adding to the cumulative affect. As an anecdotal example my Dad shot with a clean .303, thousands or rounds. His hearing loss at 70 was about the same as Mums and neither needed aids. I have shot a lot less but have some loss in my left ear, mostly from heavy machinery. Ill bush hunt with out protection but thats maybe 3-4 shots per year from a standard lenght .222 or .243. anything thing else Ill cover up well.