As an audiologist I suppose this is my opportunity to do my duty:
ALWAYS WEAR EAR PROTECTION whenever firing
ANY CALIBER firearm. I know that .22s "seem quiet"- they are not. Exposure to firearms is deceptively dangerous because due to their very brief duration, they do not seem "loud." However, they are in fact high-intensity noises, and WILL cause hearing loss.
Do you feel like ear plugs are dumb or wimpy? How about being disconnected from your kids, grandkids, or friends because you cannot understand what they are saying? Does that seem dump or wimpy?
Do you think that just firing a few rounds without hearing protection is no big deal? Wrong again!
ANY unprotected exposure to firearms will contribute to hearing loss. The impairment generated by guns will not heal and will add up over time to become a big deal. Some people have adverse effects from
ONE UNPROTECTED EXPOSURE.
At this point, some readers will doubt me and say "Well I have done this without ear plugs in the past and don't have any problems." Wrong again. It is possible, although unlikely, that you do not notice significant effects of the damage done to your inner ear. However, the damage still exists, and will never become un-damaged. Many people ignorantly think that hearing loss won't affect them because it comes on slowly and people can become accustomed to the slow change over time, but rest assured that with continued exposure (or a myriad of other insults) the hearing loss will reach a point where it cannot be ignored and has a
SIGNIFICANT impact on your life-- at which point it is too late to reverse the damage done.
OK, that is all I have to say for today. I try to limit by use of bold and caps lock but it is important that people take this seriously, and I have met many people who don't use hearing protection, or as the OP mentions, do not use it correctly. Both are extremely important, as the research shows that improper use dramatically decreases the protection provided.
Lastly, not all people who don't wear ear plugs are the macho Rambo types. Many people just don't know the severity of what they are doing, some don't have comfortable hearing protection, some are embarrassed because the cannot place them properly, etc. Do not be proud- be willing to ask for help in this area because hearing loss makes people very lonely as they begin to feel disconnected from the world.
Feel free to post any questions or concerns you have regarding this topic. You may also PM me if you prefer for this to remain a private/confidential conversation.
Regards,
Josh