My wife is about to become a shooter. I’ve shot for… 50 years.
So we are going to a gun range and going to rent a gun or two for her to try out.
We will get a single lane as I’m going to keep a very close eye on her. She will get pro training after she picks a handgun.
Anyway, any recomendations on hearing protection so that we can still communicate at the gun range? Maybe they would be linked via BlueTooth?
I’ve seen some online, but am a bit dubious.
I can still hear conversations when I’m wearing my shooter muffs. They just block the explosive crack of gunfire.
I use earplugs and muffs when target shooting alone. Better protection. But then conversation isn’t possible.
Are they the electronic jobs?
Yes, electronic
I bought Walkers Slim line.
https://www.walkersgameear.com/razor-slim-electronic-ear-muff/
Ok, thanks. Just bought two. I have to be able to talk to my Wife when she is learning to shoot. I’ve done a lot of table top, but it’s just not the same of course.
I don’t have that exact product but I use something very similar. Works very well.
Great to know. My wife is a bit bored with table top training. We have to do the real deal.
Once way way before I met my wife. She was on a camping trip. Some asshole had a .44 mag and my wife was going to shoot it. They warned and warned her about the recoil.
My wife was a bit intimidated.
She did pull the trigger. They gave her an empty gun as a joke. Assholes.
That set her on the road to never trust guns, or people asociated with them.
I’ve never owned electronic ear protection. I always wear earplugs and then muffs on top for double protection, which really muffles the sound of a gunshot.
My dad did own a pair, though, and he swore by them. And he could definitely hear me. When I tried them, they didn’t seem to muffle gunshots enough for my taste, but they did work as advertised. Just not my preference. Then again, I don’t normally have conversations when shooting, so I don’t need them either. But yes, it’s remarkable how well a good pair can work.
Yeah. I want to have to have the ability to talk to my wife when she starts shooting.
She may find that it’s not for her. That’s fine.
It could also turn into another activity. That’s fine.
I would like her to become familiar with firearms. But, if, she doesn’t like it. That’s ok.
She brought it up. I’m just trying to lead the way a bit. As I said I’ve been shooting for 50 years.
Does recoil bother your wife?
You may want to research a gun for her.
I’ve shot .30-30 rifles that kicked the crap out of me. A different brand and same caliber is a walk in the park.
It’s the design. I guess.
I had a Ruger semi-automatic .22 target pistol that kept nicking my knuckle. I wouldn’t notice the blood until after leaving the range.
I am careful to avoid getting hit by the slide. But that Ruger always bites me unless I wear a shooting glove.
She hasn’t shot yet.
Yes. I had a 30 -30 . Had a bit of a kick because it was a carbine and sort of light. I still have a Marlin 336er chambered in .356. It’s a carbine. Basically a .308 necked up to .356 caliber. Make sure you have a solid stance when you shoot that.
Similar here, electronic model with very similar specs to the @aceplace57’s option. What’s funny (to me) is the huge price range by color! I mean, honestly, I’ve seen the same issue with conventional headphones, bodywear, and even luggage - you can save 20+ percent (sometimes a LOT more) if you buy colors/patterns that are unpopular. Which is why my older set is a slightly disconcerting off white verging on beige - because it was only 2/3 the cost of a camo or black set.
@aceplace57 - there’s an intensive ongoing discussion on shared best practices on training and firearm selection, after the frustrations with terminology on “safeties” gets worked out:
I have the Ruger Mark IV .22 target pistol. Easy trigger pull. Very little recoil. None if your hand is braced correctly.
I think it would be fine for a novice.
They’ve gone up in price. I paid about $425 10 years ago. I think mine has the aluminum grip. It’s cheaper.
I’m taking my Rugar Mark II target pistol to the range with my Wife on Monday. I think. I don’t want to overwhelm her with a lot of new information. It must simply be safety first. That’s it.
Then we can try out different guns. If she want’s to. If not, that’s ok too. I would like her to know how to shoot though,and not be afraid of firearms. Respect of course. Fear, no.
I’ll Shoot My Rugar GP100.
Kid Cheesesteak has an electronic pair, walker brand, for working at a shotgun range, and they’re great. The knob lets you even turn UP the ambient noise so you can hear the people around you better, while still keeping the gunshots minimized.
Yeah, they should arrive today and we can check them out. Wife want’s to go to the range tomorrow.
I love that you can control the ambiant noise level. I’m hard of hearing. I don’t want to wear my hearing aids if I can avoid it. Well not at the gun range. I also don’t wear them mowing the yard. They can fall out.
Not to the range yet, but these ear muffs are great.
I started thinking “what’s the loudest thing I have, without shooting a gun.”
Well, striking an anvil is very loud. So is my compressor when it fires up.
All good, cut’s the sound down to a pop or what might be a neighbor with a lawn mower.
But my wife and I can still talk at regular levels.
Just remember that she should wear a T-shirt or something.
I’ve seen women with somewhat open shirts have hot shell casings land between the boobs more than once.
Otherwise, I’m not sure it’s super important- the electronic muffs are cool, but I shot for a long time with just 32 db earplugs and hearing/talking wasn’t that tough.
Huh. Yeah. She’s starting with a .38spl revolver. We will see how it goes. More table top training this afternoon.
She’s getting rather tired of it. But, I’m gonna push it. She wants the gun, you ARE going to know how to use it. This is life and death.
You going to apply for conceal carry license?
I don’t carry. But feel better transporting guns in my car trunk to the range.
I would give the Trooper my drivers license and concealed carry at a traffic stop.