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From all research I've done, it just takes one shot to damage your ears.

At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.

.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB

.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB

.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.

7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.

.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.

.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.

.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.

.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.

20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.

12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.

.25 ACP 155.0 dB.

.32 LONG 152.4 dB.

.32 ACP 153.5 dB.

.380 157.7 dB.

I can't afford to lose any more hearing, if it can be helped.

If I sense a threat to my domicile, the first thing I reach for are the electronic muffs by my bed. When turned on full, I actually hear more acutely, and my hearing is protected if I have to fire off a few rounds. The first round will likely give a moments disorientation to any intruder, if they aren't hit. I want to be able to hear every peep that occurs after I start shooting, if for no other reason than to discover if there is more than one for me to account for. Before Christmas, Midway had good ear muffs with the batteries on sale for less than fifteen bucks. I bought three pair and should have bought six ... already giving them away to family members in other cities.

On a side not, I sometimes put the muffs on when I go to bed, to just lay there and listen to what I wasn't hearing ebfore retiring for the night. That's how I discovered that my neighbor takes his cell phone to his back deck when he wants to talk out of earshot to his family. His deck is about fifty or so feet from by bedroom window. The muffs are also good at the range since you hear everything except the booms. ... Electrons travel quite a bit faster than sound waves, even close by sound waves.