Electronic earplugs

[White Horseradish]

I saw some electronic earplugs on sale for cheap. One said it cut sound above 85Db and the other one cut at 120Db. They don't specify they are for shooting, but hey don't say they aren't for shooting either.

Are those safe to use on the range?

[BulletFan]

Sound and audio in general happens to be my personal area of expertise. As far as those earplugs you saw, 85-120 db down is a LOT! I have seen muffs that do that, but never earplugs. If you're consiering buying these earplugs to protect your ears as much as possible at the gun range, you will not be dissappointed. In my opinion, cheap ole earplugs that claim to cut down 32db are comfortalbe as far as sound level, you will be MUCH more comfortable at 85 or 120 down. I'll put it to you this way:
The human perception of sound level or volume doubles every 6 db. So If you turn your stereo up exactly 6 db, you think it sounds twice as loud.
If you have ever experienced earplug at the range that cut down 20db, imagine that level of sound cut down 11X. Cut in half 11 times!

85 is plenty it there is a good seal in your inner ear canal. however, it may be cheaper to go with a pair of earplugs, and a pair of muffs ontop of those, that's how I do it. I feel the flash more than I hear the bang.

Matt

[faustulus]

85db isn't the amount of sound it cuts out, it is the point where the electronic protection cuts the sound off or (even better) lowers the sound level to acceptable hearing.
85db would be better, because it cuts the sound down before it gets dangerous (a 120 is a little on the high side) For instance OSHA 90db has an acceptable exposure of 8 hours a day, 115 only has an acceptable for 15 minutes.

[AirForceShooter]

Where did you see them?

AFS