Hearing protection

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Does anyone know of a good noise-canceling set of headphones for under $100?
Or,probably an easier question at the price,just one of the best standard,non-electric headphones for shooting 357 Mag indoors? I don't want to keep using the ones that the range lends out...I want my own,and I don't like using plugs outside. I've spent quite a bit of time reading customer reviews and there just doesn't seem to be a good answer. Thank you
 
Henry Leigth makes a set of muffs that work great, cost around $50.00. Yes your hearing is worth more than that but why spend more? These work great and were highly recommended to me by an Army Marksmanship trainer as being just as good as the ones supplied to him by the military. They use std. batteries and have an auto shut-off at 3 hours IIRC.

Oops!! HOWARD not henry-----Howard Leigth

JellyJar, your help was no help.
 
I have used disposable ear plugs for all my shooting, indoors and out, for over thirty years. Shooting everything from .338 Win Mag to .44 Mag without any negative impact to my hearing whatsoever! Hard to beat the price, currently .99 per set.
 
Non-electronic, standard Winchester hearing protection, $15-25 at Walmart. Used it for a few years now shooting .308, .44mag, plenty of noise reduction..

Foamies underneath make it even quieter.
 
Non-battery, Peltor makes a blue model that has one of the highest ratings at 29. If you're shooting 357 INdoors, I would STRONGLY recommend that you wear 29db foam plugs AND a set of muffs. I just got back from the ENT - my tinnitus at 53 has a nice hissing noise all day long and being in a room with multiple conversations going on means I hear them all and understand none of them - there is no cure for deafness. It doesn't take much exposure or many times either.

Don't forget about them when using your power mower, trimmer, chain saw, etc. either

Get the BEST noise reduction rating you can - this is NOT the time to just buy the cheapest thing out there
 
I have a set of Radians that I like:
http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/prod...-958E-DF11-A0C8-002219318F67&mr:referralID=NA

They aren't high-end, but they work. When they die, I'll probably replace them with something better but I've used them several years now.

However, I would not depend on just them for anything much higher than a .22. They have an NRR of 23dB which I don't think is enough to use them by themselves. I will usually use plugs underneath them.

When I don't want to wear the Radians, I wear a set of Walkers. They have an NRR of 29dB and are very comfortable. They are also low profile which is nice since I shoot rifles more than pistols.
http://www.walkersgameear.com/enhancement_muffs.html

This page also has an inexpensive electronic version, but at a lower NRR.

If you only shoot pistols and want to wear only over-the-ear muffs, try to find something with the highest NRR you can since a lower profile isn't an issue. Such as:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true
 
Another vote for the two fold approach of muffs and plugs. Cheap, effective, and if you leave the plugs in you'll never be caught completely unprotected at an outdoor range when the target setting interval ends.
 
NRR 30 and higher rated muffs are available from plenty of sources (Home Depot) and a set of NRR 30 plugs properly worn under them will give you the best protection possible.

A pair of Peltor H10 muffs and 200 foam Howard Leight Max plugs should run you all of $40.

You can upgrade to the Howard Leight "Impacts" or the Peltor 6S for $60 if you want an electronic ear muff (valuable if you need to listen to range commands or an instructor, but overkill for most folks).
 
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+1 on the Howard Leight muffs if you have to go that route. They're good (NRR 22), but not quite enough (for me) for handgun or large rifle under a roofed line outdoors. Especially if the guy a few spots down has a muzzle braked boomer. Then I plug up underneath them.

My old fold up pair of Silencio's with an NRR of 26 has done good work for me, I use 'em with the mower, trimmers and saws as well as at the range. If you go that route (which is a good one) those NRR 29 Walkers that Cuervo linked would be a good buy, between the rating and the low profile earcups staying out of the way of your cheek weld.
 
Most of my hearing damage is from loud music at dance contests and the like, but I use the best hearing protection I can afford, and that usually means plugs and good muffs. ESPECIALLY indoors where the overpressure wave is contained, and there are all types of echos etc. I hope to hang onto whatever hearing I have until I die.
 
for indoor shooting, your ears really deserve the protection of 30dB NRR muffs combined with foam ear plugs.

if receiving instruction, i'd combine the plugs with electronic muffs...the amplification of the muffs allows you to hear better through the plugs.

you have to decide what your hearing is worth...once it's gone, it is gone forever. i personally use the $200+ MSA electronic muffs, but i teach and need to hear everything happening on the line if someone is having a problem or a question...plus it was a business expense
 
Anyone use ZEMs? I have some good muffs like pro ears and stuff like that but they are bulky and get in the way. I switched to mainly plugs and those aren't too bad but I want something where I can hear people talk a bit but will reduce the damaging noise. They look pretty good to me. Any info?
 
I happen to work at a place that has a stamping department. Ear plug issue solved.:D
 
Silencio has a set of reusable blue rubber 25dB plugs that cost all of $4. Had mine for... wow, almost 16 years now! They work just fine for use doing most noisy tasks. Mowing, vacuuming, shooting outdoors, running power tools (yes, plug up on a circular saw, router or chainsaw!). Throw in the Peltor H10s and you'll be very well protected.

The Hi-Viz H10s can be had at Amazon (a tick steep, but worth it) while the Silencio Blue plugs are about $4 at Able Ammo.
 
I've used the ZEMs and the only drawback to them is that you can't put plugs under them or muffs over them.

For all you folks with muffs that you've been using for a couple of years, please get a rebuild kit and replace the pads. These get worn and the linings crack or the body compresses and you loose some of the effective protection. It's very inexpensive and easy to replace the pads.
 
I use some Remington ear muffs that I have had forever, they work good and are dirt cheap.


DSC05709XCCOV1.png
 
Took me a good bit of shooting to realize that economizing on hearing protection was negatively affecting the quality of the time I spend shooting.

Muffs were uncomfortable--occasionally so much so that I shortened my shooting time.

They also restricted my ability to hear important communication going on around me.

The result of both problems was that I took them off any time I could. That resulted in several instances where I had them off when someone else fired a gun. On at least one occasion I forgot to put them back on before I fired a shot.

Awhile back I bought a high-quality set of electronic hearing protectors and then retrofitted them with gel comfort pads. Some of the best money I ever spent on shooting.

I can wear them for hours without discomfort and because they allow me to hear what's going on around me I'm never tempted to take them off while around shooters.

I sincerely wish I had figured it all out earlier...
 
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If you don't want to spend about $250 for amplified muffs from ProEar, then you can get regular muffs that are excellent by Peltor.
 
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