H & R Handi Rifle?

Specter · 08-13-2007, 02:49 PM

I was looking around for a .223 caliber single shot, but in my search came across H&R's Handi-Rifle chambered in .500 S&W. I know it would be an expensive single shot just to shoot but the idea is still appealing.

My question is, will touching off a single shot with that shoulder cannon permanently damage hearing if the need to do so without ear muffs should ever present itself? I'm just curious.

lefty o · 08-13-2007, 03:08 PM

even shooting a 22LR will cause permanent hearing loss.

Specter · 08-13-2007, 03:21 PM

I mean with the one shot. Like with a .454 I've been told that one shot without ear muffs will permanently damage hearing at that instant.

.22guy · 08-13-2007, 03:22 PM

I would say that a .500 S&W shot would impact your hearing with one shot. So I suppose the question is, damage your hearing or get mauled by a bear? Is that what you are getting at?

lefty o · 08-13-2007, 03:29 PM

believe it or not, 1 shot with a 22lr will cause hearing damage. you may not notice it, but hearing damage is cumulative. its not a joking matter, im 36 and 50% deaf in 1 ear, and 20% in the other. it can all be associated with guns, loud cars, and machinery. i even carry ear plugs when deer hunting.

Johnny_Revolver · 08-14-2007, 01:42 AM

Plus a big one to what lefty says.

jerry · 08-14-2007, 07:17 AM

Huh?

ArkansasHunter · 08-14-2007, 09:28 AM

I've shot my 06 to many times with out hearing protection and I use to play the bass guitar when I was a teenager.
The most spoken word(s) out of my mouth today are is. Huh ?, what you'ed say, run that by me again, I'm sorry I didn't hear what you said and do what !
And as an added bonus for not wearing hearing protection I get to listen to the loudest ringging in my ears.
By the way doe's anyone know if there's something (drug) you can take to help or stop the ringging in your ears ?

lefty o · 08-14-2007, 11:13 AM

i have tinnitus also, it aint fun!

toolman · 08-14-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

By the way doe's anyone know if there's something (drug) you can take to help or stop the ringging in your ears ?

I hear that tequila works well, but you have to drink enough to pass out.

I second the ear-protection recommendations, I'm pretty much in the same boat as lefty and now carry ear protection any time I'm hunting. The way it was explained to me, the muzzle blast displaces airwaves and creates a pressure pulse on the eardrum, which can actually over-stress it to the point that it loses elasticity.

ArkansasHunter · 08-14-2007, 11:55 AM

toolman your right, the ear drum gets hard, thus the term hard of hearing lol.
I even use ear plugs when I mow, weed eat and use the chain saw.

I've read and heard awhile back that St. Johns Wart would stop or reduce tinnitus,
But I've never tried it.

lefty o · 08-14-2007, 12:08 PM

5 or 6 beers seem to help the ringing some. at least that way i can fall asleep before i have to listen to the ringing for hours before falling asleep.

Burke · 08-14-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

By the way doe's anyone know if there's something (drug) you can take to help or stop the ringging in your ears ?

Your hearing does not come back and tinnitus is forever and can worsen.

William Shatner has it and contemplated suicide because of it..

Lng Rng · 08-14-2007, 01:50 PM

The new electronic ear muffs are really nice. Pick yourself up a quality pair of them, and it is an easy ticket to promise good hearing.

jerry · 08-14-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burke

Your hearing does not come back and tinnitus is forever and can worsen.
William Shatner has it and contemplated suicide because of it..

I have tinnitus from working around jet engines for 20+ years. Funny thing, I passed hearing test when I got off the flight line & took a First Sergeant job. (that means no dissability for hearing loss) but the word tinnitus has never come up. Iv'e asked the Mil. Doc about it, they act like thay don't know what it is, scribble a few things in the records and send me on my way. I guess that's the way life is.

Bravo · 08-14-2007, 09:20 PM

I'm only 21 and I get the occasional (2-3 times a month) ringing in my right ear...

I grew up shooting with my grandfather, which was awesome, except he never said anything about hearing protection...

I was stupid, and thousands of 30-06, .22, .270, 30-30, .44mag, etc, rounds later, I've probably damaged my hearing. I think my hearing is okay for the time being, and I never shoot anymore without hearing protection, except when I hunt.

I'm sure this will catch up to me when I'm 30...I just wish that I had always worn ear plugs.

Oz n Bolivia · 08-14-2007, 10:01 PM

Bravo, sometimes ringing in the ears can be caused by other things like a cold, allergies, even elevated blood pressure, a build up of wax. But with shooters it is that loud bang and it is worse from handguns. If your firearm has a recoil suppressor or it is ported the noise is felt worse. The most pain I ever felt was with a 38 super auto that had the barrel equipped with a recoil suppressor and my ear muff were around my neck. Never again. My hearing is good but it should be a good bit better. Only recently have I been using real ear protection. Years past when shooting in the Navy we would stuff 45 cal. brass in the ear and that maybe saved my hearing. It still works, but not as good as a good set of ear muffs. Hearing and sight are precious.

Oz

jimiw · 08-24-2007, 10:56 PM

Im 56 and have to wear hearing aids in both ears due to over 45 years of shooting with no hearing protection. Please do yourself a favor and use hearing protection. Jimi

08-13-2007, 02:49 PM	#1
Specter Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 90	H & R Handi Rifle? I was looking around for a .223 caliber single shot, but in my search came across H&R's Handi-Rifle chambered in .500 S&W. I know it would be an expensive single shot just to shoot but the idea is still appealing. My question is, will touching off a single shot with that shoulder cannon permanently damage hearing if the need to do so without ear muffs should ever present itself? I'm just curious. Last edited by Specter; 08-13-2007 at 02:55 PM.

08-13-2007, 03:22 PM	#4
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,254	I would say that a .500 S&W shot would impact your hearing with one shot. So I suppose the question is, damage your hearing or get mauled by a bear? Is that what you are getting at? __________________ My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban as soon as I take office.

08-14-2007, 01:42 AM	#6
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,222 Blog Entries: 6	Plus a big one to what lefty says. __________________ It`s a good life, provided you don`t weaken.

08-14-2007, 07:17 AM	#7
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,195 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	Huh? __________________ Joe the plumber is screwed

08-14-2007, 11:55 AM	#11
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,984	toolman your right, the ear drum gets hard, thus the term hard of hearing lol. I even use ear plugs when I mow, weed eat and use the chain saw. I've read and heard awhile back that St. Johns Wart would stop or reduce tinnitus, But I've never tried it. Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 08-14-2007 at 11:58 AM.

08-13-2007, 03:08 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,103	even shooting a 22LR will cause permanent hearing loss.

08-13-2007, 03:21 PM	#3
Specter Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 90	I mean with the one shot. Like with a .454 I've been told that one shot without ear muffs will permanently damage hearing at that instant.

08-13-2007, 03:29 PM	#5
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,103	believe it or not, 1 shot with a 22lr will cause hearing damage. you may not notice it, but hearing damage is cumulative. its not a joking matter, im 36 and 50% deaf in 1 ear, and 20% in the other. it can all be associated with guns, loud cars, and machinery. i even carry ear plugs when deer hunting.

08-14-2007, 09:28 AM	#8
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,984	I've shot my 06 to many times with out hearing protection and I use to play the bass guitar when I was a teenager. The most spoken word(s) out of my mouth today are is. Huh ?, what you'ed say, run that by me again, I'm sorry I didn't hear what you said and do what ! And as an added bonus for not wearing hearing protection I get to listen to the loudest ringging in my ears. By the way doe's anyone know if there's something (drug) you can take to help or stop the ringging in your ears ?

08-14-2007, 11:13 AM	#9
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,103	i have tinnitus also, it aint fun!

08-14-2007, 12:08 PM	#12
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,103	5 or 6 beers seem to help the ringing some. at least that way i can fall asleep before i have to listen to the ringing for hours before falling asleep.

08-14-2007, 01:50 PM	#14
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 961	The new electronic ear muffs are really nice. Pick yourself up a quality pair of them, and it is an easy ticket to promise good hearing.

08-14-2007, 09:20 PM	#16
Bravo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 2,014	I'm only 21 and I get the occasional (2-3 times a month) ringing in my right ear... I grew up shooting with my grandfather, which was awesome, except he never said anything about hearing protection... I was stupid, and thousands of 30-06, .22, .270, 30-30, .44mag, etc, rounds later, I've probably damaged my hearing. I think my hearing is okay for the time being, and I never shoot anymore without hearing protection, except when I hunt. I'm sure this will catch up to me when I'm 30...I just wish that I had always worn ear plugs.

08-14-2007, 10:01 PM	#17
Oz n Bolivia Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: La Paz, Bolivia Posts: 115	Bravo, sometimes ringing in the ears can be caused by other things like a cold, allergies, even elevated blood pressure, a build up of wax. But with shooters it is that loud bang and it is worse from handguns. If your firearm has a recoil suppressor or it is ported the noise is felt worse. The most pain I ever felt was with a 38 super auto that had the barrel equipped with a recoil suppressor and my ear muff were around my neck. Never again. My hearing is good but it should be a good bit better. Only recently have I been using real ear protection. Years past when shooting in the Navy we would stuff 45 cal. brass in the ear and that maybe saved my hearing. It still works, but not as good as a good set of ear muffs. Hearing and sight are precious. Oz __________________ Education gives us a data base of knowledge, what and how we use that data base is wisdom.

08-24-2007, 10:56 PM	#18
jimiw Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 36	Im 56 and have to wear hearing aids in both ears due to over 45 years of shooting with no hearing protection. Please do yourself a favor and use hearing protection. Jimi