Suppressed AR

[huntinggamo]

I was amazed how loud it is when you move the meter to the right of the ear instead of left on an AR.

Here I was metering some cans the other day.

i recognize that bench, hey i recognize that range...lol.
so i would like to see some of your results???

[bellavite1]

Hearing loss?
As a married man it sounds quite appealing!

[hatidua]

2. Is it quiet enough to shoot w/o ear protection?

For my ears? -no. But there are manly types out there that can shoot a .50bmg without ear protection so it's a bit of a judgement call. My hearing is something I take care of.

[MattR]

I think its funny people arguing with the suppressor manufacturer, because they know more than Zak, lol. I have a couple cans and the 308 subsonic out of a bolt gun is almost movie quiet (Zak's can) but what really surprised me is that it doesn't matter if the bullet is 1fps supersonic or 2000fps over its too loud without plugs. The AR you can shoot a couple without plugs but the ears start ringing pretty quick. The 22 is really the only one that doesn't seem to ever make my ears ring.

[hatidua]

I think its funny people arguing with the suppressor manufacturer, because they know more than Zak, lol.

I think in many instances it's a case of people having spent the considerable time & money necessary in acquiring a centerfire rifle suppressor and thereafter being unwilling to admit, even to themselves, that in spite of the expense it's still a fairly loud device they are shooting.

Were I to have the ability to turn back the clock, I'd have stopped my NFA stamp collecting after my first two rimfire cans.

[tmckay2]

I think in many instances it's a case of people having spent the considerable time & money necessary in acquiring a centerfire rifle suppressor and thereafter being unwilling to admit, even to themselves, that in spite of the expense it's still a fairly loud device they are shooting.

Were I to have the ability to turn back the clock, I'd have stopped my NFA stamp collecting after my first two rimfire cans.

actually i think its more personal opinion. you can cite actual noise levels, and people won't try to tell you its a lie. but we are talking about an opinion. does it seem loud to you? what seems loud to you might not sound loud to me, or to your neighbor, or to your friend, etc. its all relative. just because someone is a manufacturer doesn't mean their opinion on what is loud and what is not is more justified. what is SAFE and what is not is a different issue. fact is, many people in the military go through years of battle with no hearing protection and are fine years later. im not saying its recommended, but it happens. shooting now and again with a suppressor and no hearing protection isn't going to blow your ear drums out. i wouldn't do it daily, or even weekly, for 50 years, but short term it isn't going to hurt you. and frankly i can't see how people shoot with them without protection and find it painful or uncomfortable. maybe i listened to music louder as a child i don't know, but i don't think its bad at all. the only time ive ever had it actually hurt was when i was spotting for a friend and my ear was right by the muzzle. last time ill do that.

i don't really know why people get their panties in such a bunch over issues like this.

[Zak Smith]

Fact: it doesn't have to "hurt" or "feel loud" to do hearing damage.

It probably doesn't seem loud to you because you already have a moderate level of hearing damage.

And actually, we were talking about safety, not "just, like, your opinion, man" - because I said

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zak Smith
I was referring to full power ammunition. 137 dB is not really hearing safe.

and you said

pretty much everyone that uses suppressors consistently shoots them without hearing protection. thats kind of the point. its not that loud.

You don't have to believe me because I'm a silencer manufacturer. You should believe me because I'm right and even the most cursory research into sound levels and hearing damage done on the internet in 5 minutes or less (more if you read slow) will prove it. Everyone in this thread disagrees with you because you're totally off base. If you were giving your advice in a professional capacity, you could be successfully sued later for contributing to others' hearing loss.

[DeusExMachina]

Zak is my new favorite person.

[kilovictor]

can't wait for my YHM QD titanium Phantom to clear the all-powerful higher! WHOOHOOO!

Zak are you guys ever going to do quick detach suppressors? I checked out your offerings a while back and couldn't find that option?

[tmckay2]

lol, quite the professional i see.

YOU may be talking about safe, i was talking about being able to shoot without hearing protection without pain. it is not loud enough to cause pain. as i said, yes over time it can cause hearing damage. so can loud trucks at lumber yards, construction jobs, and nagging wives. most people will shoot their rifles with suppressors without hearing protection from time to time. i never said they go out daily and purposefully try to blow their ear drums out. but i can't think of one person with a suppressor that i know that hasn't shot it without hearing protection once in a while.

now kindly take your panties, unwad them, and recognize that your precious pride has no reason to be hurt in this discussion. i wasn't even fully disagreeing with you. i just have a different opinion from what i have observed on what level of damage they cause and the level of "pain". i never challenged your assertion that they CAN cause damage.

Fact: it doesn't have to "hurt" or "feel loud" to do hearing damage.

It probably doesn't seem loud to you because you already have a moderate level of hearing damage.

And actually, we were talking about safety, not "just, like, your opinion, man" - because I said

and you said

You don't have to believe me because I'm a silencer manufacturer. You should believe me because I'm right and even the most cursory research into sound levels and hearing damage done on the internet in 5 minutes or less (more if you read slow) will prove it. Everyone in this thread disagrees with you because you're totally off base. If you were giving your advice in a professional capacity, you could be successfully sued later for contributing to others' hearing loss.