Unknown suppressors OG testing

[Q_Sertorius]

That’s not what people are confused by or questioning. Everyone I know and have met will shoot suppressed while hunting without ear protection- that’s the whole point. It’s the “I want to see if it will damage my ears on a range” that is causing the questions. You don’t have calibrated ears to see what the dB is, and whether it sounds loud or not is dependent on a whole bunch of variables so you’re not even accomplishing what you think you are- shoot it in a different day, in different conditions, and off a range and it can seem loud or quiet.

It’s akin to getting a bike helmet that is rated for impacts, and then saying “well it’s supposed to protect my skull during wrecks- but I want to test it. So I’m going to ride straight into a tree and see if my skull gets crushed or my neck breaks”.

The OG is way below OSHA standard of 140dB at the ear- Full stop. No one is lying about that- they’re shooting TBAC UL7 Gen2 right beside it every single time they are measured to have ensure a baseline. So unless you believe that US is lying about the db rating; well even if you do- you people have no way to measure it. So purposely shooting without ear protection on a range to “see if it’s loud”…. It isn’t real bright to put it nicely.

Wanting to see how you may react to it while shooting it in the field seems like something worth checking once before you go hunting. Otherwise, I agree with you.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

If I was never going to fire a shot without hearing protection I don’t think I’d have any suppressors. I also appreciate the recoil reduction and sometimes animals aren’t as spooked. Sometimes they are. The biggest reason I shoot suppressed is I shoot varmints and other random stuff around the farm. Shots that I’m not expecting. I love how my ears don’t ring when I shoot a coyote skunk armadillo stray tom cat etc etc.

I admit being from a small country town and probably wasn’t taught everything exactly right but I’m just as amazed by how some people are blown away that others take a few suppressed shots with no ear pro. Way better than no ear pro and it doesn’t bother my ears at all.

Sounds like you are taking quite a bit more than a “few” suppressed shots without ear pro around the farm though.

I get that. I did it nearly daily for years. And I regret it quite a bit now that I’m 40.

We learned to just work around the ranch with ear pro either on or at the ready. If you miss a varmint or predator because you didn’t take 3 seconds to put ears in, it’s worth the missed opportunity in my opinion.

 

[Formidilosus]

Wanting to see how you may react to it while shooting it in the field seems like something worth checking once before you go hunting. Otherwise, I agree with you.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

How you may react to it? What does that mean?

If a can company lied about the suppression and its really 145dB say- you just permanently damaged you hearing. For no reason whatsoever. Read the bike helmet analogy again.

At least if it was while shooting at an animal, you kill an animal.

 

[Kaleb]

That’s not what people are confused by or questioning. Everyone I know and have met will shoot suppressed while hunting without ear protection- that’s the whole point. It’s the “I want to see if it will damage my ears on a range” that is causing the questions. You don’t have calibrated ears to see what the dB is, and whether it sounds loud or not is dependent on a whole bunch of variables so you’re not even accomplishing what you think you are- shoot it in a different day, in different conditions, and off a range and it can seem loud or quiet.

It’s akin to getting a bike helmet that is rated for impacts, and then saying “well it’s supposed to protect my skull during wrecks- but I want to test it. So I’m going to ride straight into a tree and see if my skull gets crushed or my neck breaks”.

The OG is way below OSHA standard of 140dB at the ear- Full stop. No one is lying about that- they’re shooting TBAC UL7 Gen2 right beside it every single time they are measured to have ensure a baseline. So unless you believe that US is lying about the db rating; well even if you do- you have no way to measure it. So purposely shooting without ear protection on a range to “see if it’s loud”…. It isn’t real bright to put it nicely.

I guess I just see it differently. If I didn’t shoot it without ear protection on the range I’d have no way to know what to expect. No my ears are not calibrated I just have to go on did that feel bad or not. You can put it however you wish I don’t have tender feelings. We all have different ways of doing things. I may feel different about it if I’m wearing hearing aids one day.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

How you may react to it? What does that mean?

If a can company lied about the suppression and its really 145dB say- you just permanently damaged you hearing. For no reason whatsoever. Read the bike helmet analogy again.

At least if it was while shooting at an animal, you kill an animal.

I’m not assuming US lied. I am assuming that US is telling the truth. And that one shot from it in an open field therefore won’t hurt me.

But there are effects short of hearing damage that are very much relevant to the entire experience that are worth checking once. I want to know what I can expect to experience under field conditions. Do my ears ring? If my ears ring from shooting one shot in the prone in an open field, I can expect them to ring under less ideal conditions. How loud does it sound? Do I feel a lot of blast? Is the combination of noise and blast so bad that I have trouble concentrating for a follow up shot?

For me, it’s carrying a full load in a new pack on a hike before going hunting. You would not expect someone to hike five miles into the backcountry without trying out a new pack first, would you? Familiarity with how you may react to a situation is part of building confidence in your gear and yourself.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[2buffalo]

How you may react to it? What does that mean?

If a can company lied about the suppression and its really 145dB say- you just permanently damaged you hearing. For no reason whatsoever. Read the bike helmet analogy again.

At least if it was while shooting at an animal, you kill an animal.

How did you verify the tone you were looking for shooting it with ear plugs in?

 

[IrkedCitizen]

This shit is wild

 

[Formidilosus]

How did you verify the tone you were looking for shooting it with ear plugs in?

I have a crap ton of experience with suppressed shooting without ear pro and know what a reflexes can does to the tone/frequency. Then you have someone walk out in the middle of an open field 20-30 yards in front of you and shoot. Beyond that, it’s pretty easy to hear most things through most ear pro.

 

[omicron1792]

Taking a couple of shot with a new suppressor without ear protection seems pretty reasonable to me. Extended use no. But a few? My guess is most will do that

 

[HuntHarder]

It's odd to think no one ever shoots their can without ear protection when they first get it. I have shot all my cans without ear protection atleast once or twice.

 

[Kaleb]

Sounds like you are taking quite a bit more than a “few” suppressed shots without ear pro around the farm though.

I get that. I did it nearly daily for years. And I regret it quite a bit now that I’m 40.

We learned to just work around the ranch with ear pro either on or at the ready. If you miss a varmint or predator because you didn’t take 3 seconds to put ears in, it’s worth the missed opportunity in my opinion.

I may be misleading. It’s not that I have the opportunity every day or week for that matter. I’m really not trying to sound reckless or if I don’t care about taking care of myself. I work full time at the fire department and raise/train horses on the side. How I deal with starting colts at almost 42 is different than when I was 20. I’m not trying to recommend anyone else to shoot without protection. I shouldn’t have ever mentioned it.

 

[Ryan Avery]

That’s not what people are confused by or questioning. Everyone I know and have met will shoot suppressed while hunting without ear protection- that’s the whole point. It’s the “I want to see if it will damage my ears on a range” that is causing the questions. You don’t have calibrated ears to see what the dB is, and whether it sounds loud or not is dependent on a whole bunch of variables so you’re not even accomplishing what you think you are- shoot it in a different day, in different conditions, and off a range and it can seem loud or quiet.

It’s akin to getting a bike helmet that is rated for impacts, and then saying “well it’s supposed to protect my skull during wrecks- but I want to test it. So I’m going to ride straight into a tree and see if my skull gets crushed or my neck breaks”.

The OG is way below OSHA standard of 140dB at the ear- Full stop. No one is lying about that- they’re shooting TBAC UL7 Gen2 right beside it every single time they are measured to have ensure a baseline. So unless you believe that US is lying about the db rating; well even if you do- you have no way to measure it. So purposely shooting without ear protection on a range to “see if it’s loud”…. It isn’t real bright to put it nicely.

No, we need more people to say "What?" and "Huh?" when they are older. Keep shooting those suppressed rifles without hearing protection, kids..

 

[Kaleb]

Taking a couple of shot with a new suppressor without ear protection seems pretty reasonable to me. Extended use no. But a few? My guess is most will do that

Everyone I know has. I see a lot of old people with hearing aids in my area so maybe we’re not that smart around here?….grin.

 

[Castle Rock]

Most old people end up pretty deaf, even those who don’t shoot

 

[Axlrod]

I haven't shot a gun (including rimfire) at a target or animal of any kind without ear pro in several decades. It's not because I'm smarter than everyone. It's because I was dumb, lazy, didn't have time, etc , etc. Lots of years of race cars, machine/fab shop and shooting without ear pro have left me with damaged hearing.

If I could give any advice to anyone whose ears don't currently ring all the time, it would be wear ear pro every time you are around loud noises. Or get used to the ringing, reading lips, and going to your kids program at an auditorium and not being able to understand a single word. This is forever. And it doesn't have to be, but you don't get a second chance.

 

[jonpall]

At some point in this thread it took a turn and people were saying that they wear ear protection when hunting even with a suppressor and would rather miss out on an animal if it meant they couldn't get their ear pro on in time. This confused me and I wondered if I was the only one that thought a big reason to have a suppressor was to not wear ear pro for the shot or two hunting. At the range, yes. Hunting, no.

 

[Nine Banger]

At some point in this thread it took a turn and people were saying that they wear ear protection when hunting even with a suppressor and would rather miss out on an animal if it meant they couldn't get their ear pro on in time. This confused me and I wondered if I was the only one that thought a big reason to have a suppressor was to not wear ear pro for the shot or two hunting. At the range, yes. Hunting, no.

What if we have to shoot at our animal 6-10 times?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

What if we have to shoot at our animal 6-10 times?

Then you shoot it 6-10 times? You are still better off than you would be without a suppressor.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Tommyhaak]

This went stupid in a hurry. Hunt with a can and no ear pro if you want. That’s part of the benefit of using a can. I do. Shooting suppressed with no ear pro during practice is dumb. You just expose yourself to hearing loss. I don’t.

 

[Harvey_NW]

shoot it in a different day, in different conditions, and off a range and it can seem loud or quiet.

I learned this the hard way. Went to pressure test my load with my new can by firing one into the dirt pile, well my dirt pile is only about 30 yards off the South wall of my house. Rung my shit, lol.