Well, here's another piece of creative fiction!

[Peter Laidler]

Nobody was wearing ear defenders up until the very late 60's so far as we were concerned. I remember the first ones we were ever issued with in Oz. We all went down to the canteen sort of area where someone from the RAP looked at our ears and decided what size we needed. Then someone else dished out a suitable size. I think that there were 3 sizes, the usual small, medium and large. Naturally (so said), those that were most well endowed in the wedding tackle department got the large ear plugs - and so on, downwards!!!!!!!! They were little pink things with a little tag that the (usually) the Armourers shop would pull out with a pair of snipe nosed pliers when they got jammed in! The training areas are probably still littered with zillions of the things as nobody really bothered using then during rifle, MG or mortar fire. But by heavens....., we noticed the effect when it came to the rocket launchers and recoilless A/tk guns at Ashan ranges. They went off with a huge instant BANG............. that shook your brains out.

Our regular/approved Armourers testing ranges usually had baffled ranges with sound absorbing firing stations. But out on the usual 25m camp ranges it was a hearing free for all. I did fire a 40mm tear gas grenade into the sand butts once and for days afterwards tear gas was leeching out from the sand. Someone came in a few days later and told us that the band practice room had been unusable for a few days because it seemed to be contaminated by a choking gas residue! Don't ask me how we ever got away with these stunts but we were young lads, far from home, the nasho's were counting the days and...........

[browningautorifle]

I recall my training NCOs were new to ear plugs too when I joined. They all joined from '60 to about '67. All suffering from hearing loss too. Ours were an off the shelf civilian pattern that was suitable. It wasn't until many years later they came out with a "Special" type that probable cost zillions to the govt and was absolutely useless. Those went into the garbage...none were intended for combat.

[Flying10uk]

In the Cadets, back in the early 80s, I could never understand why it was insisted that ear defenders were worn at all times on the range but while training with blank ammunition ear defenders were never provided. Can anyone provide an explanation for this, please? It didn't matter if the range was indoors or outdoors, ear defenders were always provided. Perhaps the "bang" from blank ammo isn't as potentially harmful to hearing???

[browningautorifle]

Anyone that's experience the muzzle blast from a live round and from blank ammo will know that there's no comparison.

[Sentryduty]

And no crack of a projectile breaking the sound barrier. I typically shoot my .455 Mark 6 Webley without hearing protection if alone on the range. Really it isn't all that noisy, just a low velocity slug of lead trundling downrange. A .45 ACP on contrast is bothersome to the hearing.

[Flying10uk]

I have noticed that service personnel sometimes seem to use ear protection now while using blank ammunition but I haven't specifically noted what type of rifles/weapon etc were being used. Is there some sort of formula/rule for certain types of blank ammo requiring ear protection?

[Sentryduty]

In the CDN service I am sure it was recommended or written somewhere, but if so it was never enforced.

Even on live fire, if you forgot your plugs and none were available, it was down to sharing or stuffing cigarette filters in the ears. The show must go on and don't be stupid next time was the way of the way of the world at the time.

[mrclark303]

It's just common sense to preserve your hearing as much as possible really. I would agree that the muzzle blast from a rifle fired next to you at the range (with a break deflector of any sort fitted) in such calibres like 7.62, or worse still .338 is very unpleasant, even with ear defenders, you "feel" the shock wave pass through you .. probably a good cure for constipation though!

If you forget to put your ear defenders on. And your .338 toting neighbour suddenly ... "BOOMS" ... Well, you don't forget again that's for sure!

My father was a National Service REME Armourer, no ear defenders in 1956 that's for sure, it's significantly damaged his hearing without doubt.

[Flying10uk]

I have noticed various pictures in Navy News of Ceremonial parades etc, over the last few years, where the participants have sometimes appeared to have ear plugs/defenders. I guess nowadays it's partly because of health and safety.

[Woodsy]

I recall my training NCOs were new to ear plugs too when I joined. They all joined from '60 to about '67. All suffering from hearing loss too. Ours were an off the shelf civilian pattern that was suitable. It wasn't until many years later they came out with a "Special" type that probable cost zillions to the govt and was absolutely useless. Those went into the garbage...none were intended for combat.

Could you repeat that please!

Regarding the NZ SAS use of 'shorty' L1A1 SLR's, it did occur but on a very limited basis. I have made a few for people, both with the full-length gas system and the short gas system. The gas bleed hole needs to be opened up a wee bit but they are reliable and very accurate (much more than the standard L1A1) because of the stiffer barrel.