Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
Hearing protection is for pansies (on an outdoor range). It's a pistol not a .50 caliber.



I disagree. It isn't a big deal with a few shots esp. in self defense, but if you fire any number of rounds with calibers/loads above a .22LR then I'd say use the hearing protection.
The most important initial training is getting used to the gun and firing lots of rounds down range until you really know the weapon.
If you go for scenario combat then training a few times without hearing protection is okay but still, you WILL loose hearing eventually and you may not have to fire your gun in self defense. So make your best judement.

I will tell you that a standard 9mm parabellum is loud if you have decent ears but you can take a bit of ot. 30 odd six 7.62mm is a powerfull cartridge and is well below the size of a .50 cal.
.223 is common and it is also very loud and will damage hearing.
.38 special is very loud and will also.

It is all about the exposure time and frequency of firing.
IF this guy does buy a gun he should be shooting it a lot so he gets good.

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