Hearing Protection: What do you like?

[alpinewhitey]

Evening 'gents,

In the market for some decent hearing protection. I've been using the orange foam inserts over basic ear protectors that I rent at the range, but I just moved to Virginia and now I'll be going out away from ear rentals.

So...

What do you like for decent ear protection? I'd love to hear what gems you've found worked vice those that were overpriced or hype.

Thanks in advance,
alpinewhitey

 

[littlegator]

I just use the orange foamies with my Walmart ear protectors. The foamies reduce 25 db and the muffs another 20 db. They are perfectly fine for me. Then again, I'm only shooting a 9mm and a Winchester 94-32 w.s. So, I don't know about other cals.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I just use disposable buds, and a pair of cheapo wal-mart-special ear muffs that cost about 10-15 bucks. I can barely hear anything with both of them in/on.

 

[I LIKE IT!]

Standard foam earplugs, seriously what more do you need.

I like to hear the shot partially at a comfortable noise level, not dead silence.

 

[SoCalShooter]

I use foam earplugs with a combo of my howard leight L3's. Thats usually for pistol for rifle I just use the earplugs...if I am performing range officer duty I use both.

 

[orionengnr]

The foamies reduce 25 db and the muffs another 20 db.

Actually, it doesn't work that way. Either one used by itself will reduce the db by the stated amount. When used together, the cumulative reduction will be better than either alone, but less than the sum of the two.

Still, doubling up is the way to go.

 

[SoCalShooter]

What foamies are you guys using cause the walmart ones reduce up to 32db and my L3's reduce up to 30db.

 

[glassman]

Making A Change

In the past, I used regular 'ole protectors and they work fine. I recently went to the range with a woman I know from work, and being the genleman I am, offered them to her while I used some foam ear plugs left over from a monster truck rally. I found them to be more comfortable than the standard 'ears' and equally as effective.

 

[littlegator]

What foamies are you guys using cause the walmart ones reduce up to 32db and my L3's reduce up to 30db.

You are right - I guessed and then went and looked.

 

[nicholst55]

Take it from an old deaf soldier - PROTECT YOUR HEARING! Double up with plugs and muffs. The soft foam plugs have been proven to be superior to the three-flange plastic earplugs (when properly installed); wear them under your muffs. Also, realize that many of our daily activities, like cutting our grass, expose us to harmful noise levels. Protect your hearing every day, not just when you're shooting.

I'm passionate about this subject because I visited the Audiologist yesterday and was informed that I need hearing aids, but then I already knew that.

 

[littlegator]

Actually, it doesn't work that way. Either one used by itself will reduce the db by the stated amount. When used together, the cumulative reduction will be better than either alone, but less than the sum of the two.

Good info, thanks...I wonder how/why they aren't cumulative. Now I'm going to go home and research that...

 

[solvability]

I use the Howard Leight electronics and the foam inserts too - the Leights are about 60.00 - got mine at Lapolicegear.com .
jim

 

[glockman19]

I use Plexor muffs when at the range and Foam when hunting

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I also use the Howard Leight electronics, although I got mine at Cabela's, with some 33db foam plugs. Turn up the electronics and you hear everything you need to, but the doubled up protection saves your ears, especially if your wear eye protection which makes your muffs less effective.

 

[Thernlund]

I had some custom plugs made and the range. Love 'em. About $50 if I remember.


-T.

 

[jungleroy]

I just use small soft foam 18 nrr ear plugs along with an ordinary pair of silencio 24 nrr ear muffs. I can take off the ear muffs to have and hear others conversing and put them back on while firing my 454. Besides I allready have Tinnitus, I don't need any more ringing going on in there.

 

[10-Ring]

I've been using the Surefire plugs & my Peltor muffs for most of this year & have really liked their performance -- both individually & together!

 

[Soybomb]

Actually, it doesn't work that way. Either one used by itself will reduce the db by the stated amount. When used together, the cumulative reduction will be better than either alone, but less than the sum of the two.

I believe the OSHA guidelines are something like the highest rated piece of hearing protection gear, +5db for the other. Then if you wear safety glasses under muffs, as we probably all do or at least should, you lose 5db for the seal on the muffs being broken. Alot of people think they're getting more protection than they are. I use leightning 33db foam plugs and 31db muffs.

 

[igor]

I've got Ear-Inc's Insta-Mold custom-made silicone plugs. They suffice by themselves out in the open. If the stage has confined spaces that would reflect much, or when I'm doing long range work from the concrete-floored shooting gallery, or when RO'ing in a rifle match, I'll have El Cheapo brand electronic muffs on top of the Insta-Molds, turned on to full volume.

As to glasses vs. muffs, I always wear goggles (currently ESS Vehicle Ops) and strap them over the muffs, securing them even tighter in place. I have a huge problem with fogging up my glasses, but well-ventilated goggles alleviate that, especially with double-layered lenses. I used Bolle snowboarding goggles for a couple of years - apart from the red tint they were absolutely great.

 

[jrfoxx]

North electronic muffs.Love 'em.Paid like $35 from Cabela's I think it was about 2 years ago.only on the second set of AA's now.I'm definitly a fan of the electronics, as I always HATED not being able to hear what was going on around me,,,

 

[pilatuspilot]

I am almost half way to reaching my goal of not needing hearing protection for any of my pistols or regularly fired rifles through the use of suppressors.

However, when I shoot most of my non-suppressed firearms, I simply use my red walmart specials. When I take the 10.5 inch AR to the range, I use the little orange foamies and the red hearing protectors. That thing is brutal and needs to be tamed by KAC.

Rob