Ears??? What do you use at the Range

What hearing Protection do you use???

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Brian Williams

Brian Williams

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I was wondering what you use. This covers range and while hunting. Also if you are a member of Law Enforcement/Military and happen to participate in "TacticoolSituations" do you use some type of hearing protection?

I normally just use in ear plugs for both hunting and range time, and I do not plan to participate in any Situation.
 
Depends on the range.

Indoors its Ear Muffs ... sometimes with ear plugs.
Outdoors its usually just ear plugs.
 
Peltor Tac-7s 90% of the time; other than that, in-the-ear foam plugs.

I used foam plugs until I started handgun hunting. First time I took a shot in the field (without ear protection) with a .35Rem Contender with a muzzle break my ears were ringing for three days. That was years ago, and fortunately, I don't seem to have suffered any permanent damage. I bought my first set of Peltors the next Monday. I started wearing them while hunting, and then started wearing them at every range session. I bought a second pair when my wife agreed to take a handgun class with me, so now have one for me and one for a guest (when my wife's not with me).
 
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I am using double hearing protection (muffs over ears with pugs already in). Ever since I shot eight rounds out of my 1911 without hearing protection last November my left ear has been ringing.:banghead: That stroke of stupidity reinforced the importance of protecting ones ears with me.

What is the best over the ears type protection available? I want maximum dB reduction.
 
I generally use earplugs and earmuffs both on indoor ranges and if I'm shooting large-bore rifles outdoors. Just got a set of electronic muffs recently, and they're quite nice; make it a lot easier to talk to someone between shots.
 
I am predominately a pistol guy so I went with "Electonic Over Ear Muffs" since that is what I use the majority of the time outdoors.

Indoors or if the ambient noise outdoors is high (i.e. big bore guys nearby) I add in ear plugs as well.

-PB
 
I have a set of Peltor 6s that I use for hunting or for .22LRs. Otherwise, I wear good plugs under them since their rating is a woefully low 19dB NRR.

Ty
 
I had ear surgery when I was 16 and simply can't stand to have anthing IN my ears.

I used to just wear ear muffs, but changed to the electronic ones since I have been going to the range with other people.
 
At the hangun range I use both plugs and muffs. But, at the rifle range I only use plugs because muffs are uncomfortable to me when trying to aim my rifles. I have seen people wear muffs at the rifle range that shoot from the hip. Color me old fashion, but I like to aim at what I am shooting at.
 
Foam earplugs and outer muffs. I bring spare foamies and and hand 'em out to everyone. ($26 for 100 packs from most anywhere). Earplugs are cheap, hearing damage is forever.
K
 
I have enough hearing loss from band in school back in the days when teachers and administrators weren't concerned about hearing loss potential that I always wear both muffs and plugs. As a result, I tend to not shoot at the outdoor range when others are around as I can't hear them when they want to check targets, etc. But my hearing is more important to me than a little inconvenience.
 
Depends upon the situation:

On ranges:

1) When shooting shotguns: custom-molded silicon plugs
* I would like to use plugs and muffs, but I have yet to find muffs which don't bang on the stock and break the seal on my right ear.

2) When shooting pistols: the plugs above plugs, plus electronic muffs

3) When shooting rifles: the custom plugs plus low-profile standard muffs

When hunting:

As much as possible, I will wear the silicon plugs. However, for certain things like deer hunting, when I need to be able to hear well and will likely only be firing one or two shots, then I'll admit to not using anything.

That being said, I'm currently looking into getting some in-ear electronics, so that I don't have to "go bare" at all.
 
In my book, nothing beats being able to hear: someone trying to talk to you(without them having to "yell"), range commands, the noises around you while in the woods. I love how my electronic earmuffs amplify the quieter sounds and dampen the louder ones at the same time.

$109 well spent!

regards,
 
I shoot mostly indoors, so electronic muffs over ear plugs. When shooting outdoors, plugs or muffs, sometimes both depending on who's around and what they're shooting.
 
I am born Deaf... Have been for the last 20 years, 21 soon. I do not wear ear protection most of the time. I shoot mostly .22's and small calibers, but however when the bigger calibers such as .45, 30-06 or the louder firearms come out, I do wear ears.

Even though I am deaf, they are loud enough that I can hear it. I just use either in ear foamies or muffs will do fine for me because it just blocks out the majority down to the level where I can't hear it. So no need for me to spend big $$ on top of line muffs, but my uncle and dad do, since they are not deaf and have other things for our guests to use. I do too.

Even though I am deaf, I don't want to lose what little I may have, I wear hearing aids and hear well with them on... /end post


Forgot to mention, if I'm at the range and someone's on the bench shooting loud ones I'll put ears on.
 
The optimum that I've found is NRR 30 foam plugs and Peltor 6s electronic muffs to allow conversations while protecting my already damaged hearing while rifle shooting. I plan on getting the more protective Peltors since I do more pistol than rifle/shotgun shooting.

Would someone get that dang phone?!?:scrutiny:

For those asking about what's the best, let me advise that you not buy off brands without very serious checking on their performance. While muffs with clipping circuits are great not all are created equal. You need fast cutoff to protect your hearing. Cheaper electronic muffs may not get the little speaker shut off in time.

Also, if you are using ear plugs make sure they are well down in the ear canal. They are not nearly as protective as advertised if they don't seat deeply enough to block that little "kink" in the ear canal. For foam plugs, that usually means that you must roll them down to less than 1/8 in. diameter and put them in. Not all custom plugs perform as well as cheap foam if the tech making them doesn't get them molded down to that kink.

If you have poor hearing or partial deafness hearing protection is even more critical because you have so little that you can afford to loose.
 
Dad always preached to me to use plugs when shooting or at the airport. Working around jet engines I always doubled up, muffs over plugs. These days electronic over plugs at the indoor range, just electronic outside. I'm happy to report the last hearing check at work only showed normal amount of loss for age.
 
I recently picked up some Ear Pro plugs from Surefire...they've been awesome! So, lately I've been using the exclusively both indoors & out.
 
I've found that most people who aren't comfortable with foam earplugs alone (especially outside) aren't putting them in right.

It's not enough to just wad them up and stick them in your ear. You need to roll it up nice and tight, then reach over your head with your opposite hand and pull gently up and back on your earlobe - then insert the earplug You'd be amazed at how much that simple action opens up your ear canal. If you don't believe me, next time you get out of the shower try the same thing (carefully!) with a Q-tip. You could pretty much tickle your brain like that if you wanted to.

By opening up the ear canal you can get the foam earplug seated much better, and they work much more effectively.
 
With most ear plugs, big calibers ear plugs and electronic muff's, Subguns nothing I use suppessors., 22's suppresor.
 
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