Ear Plugs inside of Ear Muffs - good idea?

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mikemyers

mikemyers

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Several years ago, I posted a thread here asking about the better hearing protection one could buy. As a result of that discussion, I now own a set of Howard Leight L3 ear muffs. For the most part, they work quite well, certainly better than what I used before, which dated back to the 1980's or so, probably first worn by Fred Flintstone.

Today at the range, while I was busy ignoring everyone else and trying to remember everything about how my 1911 Colt works, someone fired off what seemed like a small canon off to my right, and I couldn't help but jump/flinch, as it was more unexpected than all the other noise around me. He shot some more, but from then on it was just a loud bang, which I could somewhat block out.

My question here, is what would the result be if someone were to get a set of good ear plugs, and wear them under a good set of ear muffs? Presumably it would cut out much of everyone else's sound from reaching the shooter, and for me, probably quiet my own shots even more as well. I think it sounds like a win/win situation. Am I missing anything?
 
Yes, it will cut the sound quit well over earmuffs alone.

It will also muffle the sound of the RO or anyone else yelling 'CEASE FIRE! -- CEASE FIRE!!! At the top of their lungs on the other end of the range.

You need to still be able to hear a little bit on a crowded range to be safe.

rc
 
i have read that is the ultimate in ear "protection". shooting large calibers with muzzle breaks comes to mind.

murf
 
Every time I shoot I wear earplugs under my earmuffs. It's called being double-plugged. If you shoot at crowded indoor ranges a lot like I do, you'll learn to appreciate doing this.
 
I do it consistently. I do shoot on my own range, so there's no need to hear the RO (me).
I already have enough tinnitus from shooting on Unk Sam's nickle to last me a lifetime....
 
Yup. I double up, even when it's only me. I want to keep my hearing acuity as long as possible. If I can keep those extra few decibles out, all the better.
 
Shot my first time in years on an indoor range with a RSO on duty. Normally, they never "cold-call" the line, but they evidently do if a shooter has an issue with their firearm they cannot resolve.

During my session, the RSO quietly came up behind me and told me "excuse me, I'm going to have to call range-cold here. Unload your gun, bench it, and step back for me, please."

I did so, and he proceeded to the only other active post, where the female half of a couple apparently had a failure she and her companion could not resolve. We all doffed our "ears" and he helped them fix whatever was going on.

Then, without telling me, he allowed them to resume fire to test the gun. It would have been nice if I, standing behind and to their left (about four spaces away), had known they were going to fire.
 
Thanks for all the great feedback! Are there any brands that are preferable? Anything else to look for? I've never bought any before..... Time to do an internet search, but I learned more last time in this forum than from reading all the reviews...
 
I double up when shooting some things. When I had a 2 1/2" Smith 19 and shot factory magnums in it comes to mind. I ended up trading it off when I realized I'd probably prefer to be shot, stabbed, beat up or whatever than shoot that gun without ear protection.

Some high power rifles with muzzle brakes can he really bad, like a 300 win mag with a Boss muzzle widget.
 
Check out electronic ear muffs.

You can hear normally, or even better if you turn the gain up.

But they block out muzzle blast very well.

I have an old pair of Dillons that work real well.

But I'm sure there are better ones now.

rc
 
thefish said:
I always double up at the range, because you never know what the guy next to you might do.
Click to expand...
I KNOW what the guy next to me is doing. My shooting buddy starts out each shooting session with his 4" muzzle braked S&W 500.

Not only do I double-up on hearing protection, I step back from the line a bit when he lights one up. 3' vs 10' makes a lot of difference.

He does that to keep his muscle memory updated for the day when he has to pull the gun against a bear.

But I also keep them in for any centerfire full-power loads.

I use electronic muffs on top of passive custom-molded plugs (which I got when the maker was offering them half-price as a promotion at our range). Foam plugs offer just about as high a protection as the custom-molded ones, by the way. But you have to insert them properly. Follow the directions assiduously.

Unfortunately, the plugs seem to (for me, at least) block the electronically reproduced sound provided by the (relatively expensive) electronic muffs.

I am working on getting a way to deliver the electronically transmitted sound directly into my ear canals BENEATH both layers of protection. My current hang-up is getting a volume-limiting electronic circuit into the mix.

Anyone have any advice?


Lost Sheep
 
mikemyers said:
Thanks for all the great feedback! Are there any brands that are preferable? Anything else to look for? I've never bought any before..... Time to do an internet search, but I learned more last time in this forum than from reading all the reviews...
Click to expand...
So far, the best I have found are Walkers. They offer 9x amplification (nearly enough to penetrate my plugs that I use to double up on protection - see my post #13)

On sale at Cabela's for $65 (as a set with eye protection).

I gave my 4x Walkers to my shooting buddy because they are the only ones we have found that are not painful to wear (his ear lobes are too long to fit under any others). Then, when I went to replace those 4x units, I stumbled across the 9x muffs. Apparently, karma rewarded me.

I am still intent on building my ideal muff-enhancers: An amp that can be added onto regular muffs and deliver sound directly into the wearer's ear canals beneath both layers of protection. Still working on the electronics.

Lost Sheep

p.s. I must admit that I have not tried any of the muffs that retail for over $100. I am on a budget (that means I am cheap --- er, frugal). But that hos not prevented me from wasting several $30 to $80 attempts at a low-budget solution.

I guess the cheap/frugal thing is the pure definition of penny-wise and pound foolish.
 
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Personally I never double up. I use earplugs rated for chainsaw work. 33 db protection I believe. Maybe higher. I regularly shoot a 5" 460 magnum with ports. I've never felt that my ears were being damaged by it at all. Never any ringing afterwards either. Though it's different if someone next to you is shooting a cannon.

Doubling up will help, but I want to hear what is going on around me though or if someone is trying to get my attention.
 
Nobody has ever felt their ears were being damaged.

Until they won't stop ringing for the last 50 years.
And you can't understand a human voice in a crowded restaurant, or any other crowd.

Rc
 
Nobody has ever felt their ears were being damaged.

Until they won't stop ringing for the last 50 years.
And you can't understand a human voice in a crowded restaurant, or any other crowd.

Rc
Click to expand...

This ^ ^ ^

I've had fairly severe tinnitus since the early-mid 70's. The not being able to hear people talk clearly is one the the saddest parts. Eventually you get to the point of just being used to not understanding a lot of what people say, and they get really tired of you saying "what?" all the time for clarification. It seems to help if I repeat back the totally off the wall sounding thing I thought I heard, so they can correct me. (Not help me hear, but help with the issue of always saying 'what?")
 
Have been doubling up on ear protection ever since that first indoor range session where even with a pair of ear muffs on I still had a slight ringing in my ears that evening. No problems ever since once I added a pair of ear plugs to the mix.
 
"It will also muffle the sound of the RO or anyone else yelling 'CEASE FIRE! -- CEASE FIRE!!!"

FWIW, I wear plugs, then electronic muffs turned up to max volume. The combo gives maximum attenuation of gunshots and still lets you hear.


As to plug type: since I'm wearing plugs inside of muffs, I go for the convenience (but slightly less noise reduction) of one of the plug types that has a little stalk for easy insertion/removal.
 
Plugs and muffs work together work great. But like others have mentioned, things you actually wanna hear will tone out too.

I rarely double up at the range, but I do frequently at work. It makes communiction with others quite difficult.
 
That is standard procedure for me. The muffs can get hot in the summer and I may take them off between strings that I'm shooting or if shooting a 22 and just depend on the ear plugs during that time. But if I'm shooting a center fire rifle I always use both.
 
Lost Sheep wrote,
...on top of passive custom-molded plugs (which I got when the maker was offering them half-price as a promotion at our range). Foam plugs offer just about as high a protection as the custom-molded ones, by the way. But you have to insert them properly. Follow the directions assiduously.
Click to expand...
I have had a couple of sets of custom molded ear plugs over the past 30 years. They probably don't work any better than the foam plugs, but as you mentioned they are much easier to insert properly than the foam plugs and they last for a very long time.

If you want custom plugs, see an audiologist.
 
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