Legionaire
Member
Hi lads being new to all this, do you need a moderator or not, and will most stalking estates request mods, cheers tim.
Moderator or not,
- Thread starter Legionaire
- Start date
I hate them but it seems de rigour to have them now whether you need them or not, i would have thought on the hill miles from anywhere you would not need one.
Ian.
Ian.
8x57
Distinguished Member
I know what you mean but one of the main justifications for moderators was to give some protection to the shooters ears not just to reduce noise disturbance. If you recall many police forces were initially very reluctant to grant variations for moderators and people were quoting health & safety issues as justification, something police forces couldn't really argue with. I believe that F.C. rangers are also required to wear hearing protection in addition to using moderators but I may be mistaken there.
It is possible to fit an end can to a stutzen type rifle but it requires some relieving of the woodwork, the rifles don't really lend themselves to being fitted with moderators.
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jamross65
Well-Known Member
I was told the following by a doctor I was shooting with one day...
The damage is done on the first initial exposure to the shot (or loud bang), although obviously continually subjecting your ears to loud bangs and noises will continue to worsen your hearing. So, anyone who has fired a rifle pre moderator days without hearing protection will already be experiencing a decrease in your hearing ability. He also said that even ear muffs do not prevent damage completely being caused as the bones around the ear are still capable of picking up sounds. As an example her said that a motorbike helmet offers the best protection to hearing as the ear and surrounding bones are protected, not that this is a suggestion for a new stalking fashion.
The damage is done on the first initial exposure to the shot (or loud bang), although obviously continually subjecting your ears to loud bangs and noises will continue to worsen your hearing. So, anyone who has fired a rifle pre moderator days without hearing protection will already be experiencing a decrease in your hearing ability. He also said that even ear muffs do not prevent damage completely being caused as the bones around the ear are still capable of picking up sounds. As an example her said that a motorbike helmet offers the best protection to hearing as the ear and surrounding bones are protected, not that this is a suggestion for a new stalking fashion.
8x57
Distinguished Member
Ranger and Jamross what you say about loosing your hearing being no fun is spot on, I've noticed that mine has deteriorated over a number of years despite always wearing ear defenders on the range though I have to admit that it is only in recent years I have used a moderator on some of my rifles in the field but never use any other hearing protection. I shoot a lot on an indoor tunnel range and the noise especially from short barrelled un-moderated rifles can be very high, so I often wear ear plugs and ear defenders. I have to admit that I am not fond of the muzzle brakes that some club members choose to use or of the current trend for .300wm rifles. I can honestly see that at some time in the future we will have to consider making it compulsory in the club to use moderators in the tunnel when shooting.
I think back to the days when I shot .303 with the cadets and all we were given was a bit of rolled up 4x2 to put in your ears and we often shot on covered firing points. I also think about shooting in the RAF when we were issued with ear plugs but they never fitted because stores simply issued the one size that was available.
I think back to the days when I shot .303 with the cadets and all we were given was a bit of rolled up 4x2 to put in your ears and we often shot on covered firing points. I also think about shooting in the RAF when we were issued with ear plugs but they never fitted because stores simply issued the one size that was available.
lowfarm
Active Member
wish i knew then what i know now ribs hurt from constant nudging by my girlfriend usually followed by the words are you listening to me you deaf ""*&^£%$
have a look at the online test http://www.hearinglosscheck.org/hearingcheck/check/
Just finished that test and my results "I do not have hearing loss" thanks for posting this link very interesting, I do suffer from tinnitus though which can be a real b***h !! does anyone know while we are on this very important subject of any advice/help living with it ? I do not think there is a cure for the condition and I have suffered it for some years Guess I will just have to put up with it though I am sure unprotected hearing and gunfire caused it so in answer to the OP get a mod it will help you in the long run.
j0e_bl0ggs
Well-Known Member
Interesting, just done the test and it also said that no hearing loss, this was with a film on the other PC at normal volume too. I also suffer enough tinnitus that I need to 'mask' it to get to sleep...
lowfarm
Active Member
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tinnitus/Pages/Introduction.aspx
this is the nhs site good info her but i use this one http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/ the web site of the BTA
this is the nhs site good info her but i use this one http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/ the web site of the BTA
Sinistral
Well-Known Member
This mirrors my experience only too well. I've just done the test too, and failed it much as expected.
I was diagnosed with 'high frequency' hearing loss at Addenbrookes in 2000. What was pretty staggering was that the ENT clinic could tell from the test results that I was lefthanded, and that my hobby was high-power rifle shooting. The doctor explained that my left ear was less affected than the right because it was always partly shielded by the butt, and the pattern of hearing loss they found is so distinctive that it's a virtually unique signature of rifle fire.
However, it's not really a problem and doesn't affect conversation. What's important to me is that it hasn't got any worse over the years of shooting which have elapsed. I've concluded that the damage is done anyway, so am not convinced that switching to moderated rifles would make a scrap of difference. I also shoot on close-covered ranges so plugs & muffs are a must, with the plugs as the secondary line of defence for occasions when someone fires just as you lift an earcup for a natter with your neighbour.
I dislike muzzle brakes intensely, paricularly when they're favoured by those who can't manage the recoil of what they're using. It's more likely that these would be banned as anti-social devices on our ranges than the club ever adopt a 'moderator-only' rule.
badbob
Well-Known Member
There is no doubt that moderators spoil the balance of a rifle,
although the lighter ones are much better
until recently I never had one.
However having recently acquired one by necessity I do see great benefits :-
much less hearing damage (too late for me
)
you get to easily see and hear the bullet impact,
other game does not know where the shot was fired from
less danger of flinching or pulling shots.
You are more socially accepted at clubs, ranges and on estates,
its mandatory with the Forestry Commission.
so I say yes, get your rifle with a moderator
always apply for both on your certificate.
although the lighter ones are much better
until recently I never had one.
However having recently acquired one by necessity I do see great benefits :-
much less hearing damage (too late for me
)you get to easily see and hear the bullet impact,
other game does not know where the shot was fired from
less danger of flinching or pulling shots.
You are more socially accepted at clubs, ranges and on estates,
its mandatory with the Forestry Commission.
so I say yes, get your rifle with a moderator
always apply for both on your certificate.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Well , having suffered from bad tinnitus for years, I started using a mod around 16 yrs ago, and now, I would never shoot without one.
They definitely improve my shooting as well as being far more social to shoot in certain areas.
They definitely improve my shooting as well as being far more social to shoot in certain areas.
Legionaire
Member
Thanks lads very helpful, much appreciated, here's tim.
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