I always think my ears are going to ring like they would at the range. But I swear every deer I have shot I only hear the shot echoing through the woods. I don't evan feel the recoil. That could be from all the layers I'm wearing. But my ears always seem fine. But adrenaline does some amazing things. And I do wear ear protection at the range, I take it off just to hear what my gun is going to sound like.