Indoor Hearing Protection

[jbradley]

If you could have any hearing protection out there, what would it be?

I typically shoot indoor pistol.
I have inexpensive sets now. One standard and one electronic.
I don't like either one. I like the idea of electronic, but mine pop and still don't drowned out some of the cannons at the range.

 

[hso]

What do you currently have?

All shooters need to wear plugs under muffs.

Impact Sports are an excellent option and you can't beat foam plugs under them.

 

[jbradley]

The ones I have are Peltor Shot Gunner and Silencio Falcon.
If I double plug with Combat Arms Ear Plugs, I don't hear much of anything out of either... including range officers and other people.

I have only had the one pair of electronic ones, so maybe I just don't understand the concept.
I was thinking that a really good pair would allow you to not need to double plug, hear people talking to you and really block out the majority of the blast.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

Impacts Sports with SureFire Sound Defenders! But if I had the money...Proears Pro Tac Mag Gold NRR 33!!!

 

[al123]

Most people I know double plug. I use foam inserts covered by electronic muffs. The muffs have to be turned up higher to hear any commands.

Even though your hearing is protected sometimes it's no fun if someone is shooting high powered rounds next to you. You feel the wall vibrations. You get used to it after awhile.

 

[BIGGBAY90]

thats true-- and make sure they are on right especially if you are wearing glasses

 

[hso]

I was thinking that a really good pair would allow you to not need to double plug, hear people talking to you and really block out the majority of the blast.

Nope, you always need to double up. Good electronic muffs allow you to turn the volume up and hear range commands.

 

[dbarnhart]

All shooters need to wear plugs under muffs

I agree, but make sure you understand that the noise reduction ratings of the two are not additive.

There have been serious studies (mostly for the aircraft carrier flight deck environment) that show that the most additional protection you'll get is about 5db.

Here is one such study:

http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-HFM-123///MP-HFM-123-19.pdf

 

[jbradley]

Need to read that one some morning when I am fresh. Really good info, just too brain dead to absorb it tonight.

Do have to say that I found some Pro Ears at a somewhat decent price. Used them at an outdoor class. They worked great. Could easily hear the instructor, but blocked what it needed to. No popping or static. Now I just need to see how they do indoors.

 

[Jenrick]

Hey 5db is 5db, I'll take what I can get when the yahoo next to me is cranking off a .300 win mag with a muzzle brake. I double plug, because you always lost a little bit of your NRR due to your ear pro and your eye pro trying to seal around each other. I've found double plugging helps with it quiet a bit.

-Jenrick

 

[imsobored]

I only use muffs. Never been next to a pistol loud enough to bother me. And mine are the cheapo walmart ones, winchester i believe

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using tapatalk

 

[dbarnhart]

Hey 5db is 5db, I'll take what I can get when the yahoo next to me is cranking off a .300 win mag with a muzzle brake.

I absolutely agree and that's why I too wear earplugs under my earmuffs.

When I was looking I found that the Pro Ears Gold appeared to have the highest NRR of all the electronic earmuffs (33db) but they are also around $300. ouch. The online reviews at both Brownell's and MidwayUSA were really good.

 

[jbradley]

I got mine at www.thegunsandgearstore.com for $199.99. The cheapest I found. Certainly more than the ones that I got at a local sporting goods store, but are much better quality.
Glad for the tip.

http://www.thegunsandgearstore.com/gold-series-electronic-muffs-black-p-26392.html

 

[sugarmaker]

Impact sport with volume all the way up plus foam plugs. It's comfortable, very good ambient hearing, and excellent noise supression, all for about 50 bucks.