looking for good hearing protection

[bonesaw]

Who makes good ears? Looking for manufacturer names.

I want non-active, comfortable hearing protection for indoor and outdoor pistol shooting. As light as possible, and please, they gotta fold up all cute-like.

[RNB65]

Peltor

[DJW]

I have had good luck with the cheap ($20) electronic set from Harbor Freight. With them I can hear range commands and have protection for my hearing w/out spending $150 for a brand name. Yes, I know they are made in China..........they do work and if you are real sensitive about your hearing you can always use a set of foam plugs inside the muffs.
DJW

[Bobo]

I have a pair of these and they work just fine:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=142725

[cuervo]

Walker Range Ears are good. They are slim and have enough space for plugs underneath them.
http://www.walkersgameear.com/rangeears.asp

[ddj8052]

Peltor

+1

[Starter52]

Peltor Presidental. I've used the same pair for 15+ years.

[MCgunner]

Foam ear plugs are about as good as ear protection gets, what we used out in the plant I used to work for. I prefer a pair of muffs, though. Can take 'em off to talk easier. The foam plugs have to swell into your ear canal. I've seen tests of different types of hearing protection and foam plugs are always the best. Of course, if you're really paranoid, you could wear both I guess, but my WalMart muffs keep the noise to a good level.

[Soybomb]

I've got a link to some howard leight nrr 33 plugs that might be good to look at
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2443842

Folding muffs I can't help with.

[RustyShackelford]

I bought a set of custom made hear protection plugs from a couple who were audiologists at a Virginia area gun show in the early 1990s. The plugs fit my ears and had a db reduction of about 39. :D

I still see custom hearing protection plugs sold at gun shows. The plugs come in several colors and are easy to wear/carry.

Mine cost about $25-30.00.

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Facts on noise levels:

Decibels measure sound pressure and are logarithmic, a 3db increase almost doubles sound pressure, a 6db increase quadruples sound pressure.

Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.

Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.

Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.

Here are noise levels of firearms:

.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB

.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB

.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.

7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.

.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.

.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.

.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.

.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.

20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.

12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.

.25 ACP 155.0 dB.

.32 LONG 152.4 dB.

.32 ACP 153.5 dB.

.380 157.7 dB.

9mm 159.8 dB.

.38 S&W 153.5 dB.

.38 Spl 156.3 dB.

.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.

.41 Magnum 163.2 dB.

.44 Spl 155.9 dB.

.45 ACP 157.0 dB.

.45 COLT 154.7 dB.

Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.

All of us should be trying to get the greatest Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) that can be put together. NRR 30 plugs with NRR 20 muffs will give you an effective NRR 45 (add plugs and muffs, then subtract 5). If noise levels are 160 dB this gives you an exposure with plugs and muffs of 115 dB. The acceptable exposure time for this is 15 minutes total for the day. If the noise levels are 150 dB the resultant acceptable exposure time with the given plugs and muffs is 1 hour and 4 hours if the noise level is 140 dB. You're not going to find unsuppressed noise levels below 140dB with gunfire.

If you are shooting by yourself, roughly 100 rounds of 140 dB instantaneous noise in a day should not produce hearing damage. Put your plugs and muffs on and you get to shoot up to a thousand rounds without damage (louder ammo/gun and the allowable drops by a factor of 5). Shoot with other people and you have to add all the rounds shot cumulatively (10 people shoot 100 rounds and everybody's done for the day; toss a handcannon or 30 cal rifle in and you're back down to 200 rounds cumulative). If you shoot on an indoor range then all the rounds fired while you are on the range go into your total. So you can see that it doesn't take very long on a range to have a thousand rounds popped off around you.

[MCgunner]

Those noise levels AT the muzzle? Noise reduces with distance, ya know.

I've been shooting my whole life, 54 years old, and I've not experienced any hearing loss wearing muffs or ear plugs, but hardly ever both. I've never ever hunted with hearing protection and I sometimes bust up a couple boxes of 12 gauge on doves. So, you're saying I should be deaf???? About to leave for a weekend of busting doves, btw, so I might not see the reply. :p :D Gonna have fun this weekend! Woohoo!

BTW, it also seems to affect the noise that reaches your ears as to where you are shooting. Under a covered shooting area, in an indoor range, much louder. Most of the pressure from the discharge goes forward of the gun. If you have a recoil reduction compensator, more of that blast is forced toward the shooter. I have seen this first had with a contender and a compensated Hakim rifle....LOUD! When I hunt with that contender, I wear my muffs up over my head and pull them down before the shot. OUCH if I don't! 12s out in the open, Winchester superspeed dove loads, don't seem to bother me at all, but I ain't standing in front of the weapon when it fires.

It's just good common sense to wear your hearing protection at the range. I've seen too many old shooters that can't hear it thunder. I may get some game ears for that contender some day. I wouldn't wear 'em shotgunning birds, though, especially in the salt marsh where they probably wouldn't last long.

[Soybomb]

All of us should be trying to get the greatest Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) that can be put together. NRR 30 plugs with NRR 20 muffs will give you an effective NRR 45 (add plugs and muffs, then subtract 5).
Just fwiw, this is not the OSHA way to calculate NRR. Per their guidelines you take the highest rated piece and add 5. Then you subtract 5 for wearing protectice glasses. :evil:

[tegemu]

My ear doctor advised me very strongly to wear both foam ear plugs and muffs. He advised against custom fitted plugs, saying that the physiognomy of the ear changes with time, enough to ruin the effectiveness of the plugs. The foams however, expand to fit the ear canal precisely.

[Jkwas]

" What? What did you say? " Kidding. I use the Silencio rubber earplugs on the orange string. They work pretty good for me. I like them better than the muffs. Less restricting.

[SDM]

I've got a link to some howard leight nrr 33 plugs that might be good to look at
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2443842

Folding muffs I can't help with.


Howard Leight makes a set of folding muffs. I have the L3's that don't fold and they seem to do better than any I've used.

[ALHunter]

What recommendations are there for quail/pheasant/dove hunting? Typically I am walking a field for half to a whole day. The shooting of birds is punctuated by anywhere from 10-30 minutes of walking & running the dogs until they get on point. Similarly, for dove, shots can be 10-60 minutes apart depending on how they are flying and feeding.

I want to be able to converse at a normal tone with my fellow hunters during the lulls in shooting. What do you usde in such situations? Plug up once the dog gets on point or you see the doves on the horizon?

I shamefully admit when bird hunting I am presently not using any protection. But, I do want to change that for this coming season. Just looking for:
1. something comfortable for extended wear in the field;
2. doesn't interfere with mounting of shotgun;
3. provides very good noise reduction; and
4. still allows me to hear to converse with fellow hunters

[1 old 0311]

Foam plugs PLUS Peltors. SAVE YOUR EARS. They WON'T heal up.

[Furncliff]

Peltor H-10 extreme. These are not expensive and work really well.

............Rated dbnr 29. You will find a big diference between 26 -27 and 29. They are worth searching for.https://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/images.php?imgtype=L&id=1606


Here's a link to Amazon, $18.68 and they are saying 30db.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-4533141-2391357?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=peltor+ear+muffs&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go


You can't get your hearing back. Don't ask me how I know.

[pete f]

The peltor president is the best pair I know of that fold up IF that is critical.

The same cups/head band is used in the Tac 7's electronic ones,


The lowest DB and lightest weight method are the roll up jelly foam types.

I am in the habit of carrying a pack or two in pockets all the time. I also have a pair in one of those little "nitroglycerin" screw tops on my keys. I have had a few times going out at night or walking in to a suppliers shop where having a pair of plugs handy has made a big difference in comfort.

[emjimb]

Here is a link -just got mine went out w/Alaskan 44 -----I could talk and hear clearly -but they shut off loud noises !!!! The best http://store.prostores.com/servlet/sensgard/Detail?no=2

[mooweejbo]

Scilencio muffs & Foamplugs.... Inexpensive and works well !!

[Prince Yamato]

As a classical musician, I naturally depend on my ears. The gentlemen who reccommend foam earplugs ($1.99 at Walmart) are correct. Best ear protection. When outdoors, I use only those. Indoors, I use earplugs and headphones. I also find that keeping my mouth closed with lips together reduces residual resonance inside my head (I swear this is true, but I've never heard it mentioned). If your mouth is open, it acts as a resonance cavity (think F-holes on string insturments). What I'd really like is national decriminalization of silencers (ie, no NFA tax, buy them at Walmart or favorite gun shop). But that would require common sense, which most elected politicians seem to lack. Ah Mr. Maxim and Dr. Shussssh where are you when we need you?

As a side note, I skip the indoor range when the fuddites bring out their hunting rifles. I'm not that keen on going deaf.

[Manedwolf]

The slim-fit Silencio muffs over foam plugs. Can still hear people talking muffledly, but even someone blasting with a full-auto indoors isn't wince-worthy.

And as to silencers:

What I'd really like is national decriminalization of silencers (ie, no NFA tax, buy them at Walmart or favorite gun shop). But that would require common sense, which most elected politicians seem to lack.

Time was, they were sold in magazines as a solution for civilized gentlemens' rifles. They were considered harmless, and a wonderful invention.

How times have changed. :P

If they weren't so horribly expensive, I'd consider one for a 9mm, though. Stopping an intruder without destroying my own hearing strikes me as a good idea. They're legal here, at least.

[Guns R Tools]

emjimb
I could talk and hear clearly -but they shut off loud noises !!!! The best

How would you compare the noise suppression with foam plugs. Does it provide equal or less amount of protection than foam?

Does it fit well?

I usually use ear muffs but it can get hot in summer times. Foams are nice but putting it in before shooting and pulling it out during conversation sucks.

Maybe SensGard is good compromise.

[10-Ring]

I tried on a bunch of diff't ones in stores until I found a couple that fit me well. Then I bought the one w/ the highest sound reduction rating. In my case I went w/ Peltor YMMV ;)

[Average Joe]

Peltor Ultimate 10 + ear plugs.

[JohnBT]

Ultimate 10's with green Remington plugs (they work and they're comfortable.) I suppose I didn't need to say Remington plugs are green, did I?

John

[Plinkster]

Pro-Ears is now making a NRR 33 set of electronic muffs. Pro-Ears Pro Mag Plus, model DPM-1P.

http://www.pro-ears.com/shootingsportshearingprotection.htm#dimensionseries

They are rather large and I'm not sure how they would work for long guns, but they are the highest NRR that I've found in electronic muffs. Pricey though...

Jeff