I have been shooting significantly more this year mostly with .45 ACP and have noticed a slight buzzing in my left ear. I thought I had good earmuffs bit I think I need better ones. Can anyone tell me whether electronic earmuffs are better than passive and what they recommend? Being this is really important price is not an issue and I will spend whatever it takes. Thanks all.
Recommendations on the best Earmuffs?
- Thread starter jlficken
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Honestly, I think this is an excellent question. Perhaps we could get a number of options:
Best passive plugs
Best passive muffs
Best electronic system
Best plug/muff combination
Personally I always go with plugs and muffs but never thought about which brands might be better.
Best passive plugs
Best passive muffs
Best electronic system
Best plug/muff combination
Personally I always go with plugs and muffs but never thought about which brands might be better.
Here are my thoughts on the subject.
Electronic muffs do not protect your hearing any better than similarly constructed non-electronic muffs. They simply allow you to hear better in between shots.
I ALWAYS wear both ear plugs and muffs when shooting anything louder than a .22 rifle. Since most of my shooting is shotgun shooting, I prefer the slim muffs because they do not interfere with my shotgun mount.
As for ear plugs, it's very hard to beat the cheap foam plugs. In fact, they are better than most other type ear plugs.
Electronic muffs do not protect your hearing any better than similarly constructed non-electronic muffs. They simply allow you to hear better in between shots.
I ALWAYS wear both ear plugs and muffs when shooting anything louder than a .22 rifle. Since most of my shooting is shotgun shooting, I prefer the slim muffs because they do not interfere with my shotgun mount.
As for ear plugs, it's very hard to beat the cheap foam plugs. In fact, they are better than most other type ear plugs.
My wife and I both use the Tactical 7S from Peltor.
I like the electronic muffs because of the ease of hearing others while at the range and they work great when taking a class/training.
I also like the 6S because of their slimmer profile, but they have volume control knobs mounted on each ear cup, compared to the single dial on the 7S.
I like the electronic muffs because of the ease of hearing others while at the range and they work great when taking a class/training.
I also like the 6S because of their slimmer profile, but they have volume control knobs mounted on each ear cup, compared to the single dial on the 7S.
I really strongly recommend Peltor brand, though which specific model is more a comfort thing. I use Peltor industrial-grade muffs (I think they're model 600 or something? They're green) when running equipment around the farm, and also for shooting. They work superbly.
langenc
Member
A couple years ago I tried to get some of the makers of earmuffs to send their sales reps to our club so we could 'sample' the products. NO interest.
I think they should get more active in the marketing end. The disagree. Perhaps you could 'bump' them-several posters and they may get the message.
I think they should get more active in the marketing end. The disagree. Perhaps you could 'bump' them-several posters and they may get the message.
MikeS63301
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Save yourself some money. Use the muffs you have, but also use those cheap foam plugs in your ear too. With the low pitch bang of a .45 doubling up is the way to go. With shotguns too.
I have tried these before and think I will get a pair as with dealer discount they are reasonable.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=671923
I will also double up from now on since they aren't as high of an NRR as I would like.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=671923
I will also double up from now on since they aren't as high of an NRR as I would like.
Chipperman
Member
I use plugs and Peltors.
If you shoot often, you need as much protection as you can get. Somebody here posted something I'll never forget: Hearing damage is permanent and cumulative.
Indoors I use Peltor Ultimate 10s (NRR 30dB) over E-A-R Grande foam plugs (NRR 33dB). I bought both of these products because they had the highest noise reduction ratings that I could find, and they work very well for me.
Outdoors I usually use Peltor Tactical 6 electronic muffs (NRR 19dB) over plugs. I crank up the amplification so I can hear range commands even with plugs in, and when a shot is fired the amplification cuts out and I still have 19dB muffs over 33dB plugs.
Indoors I use Peltor Ultimate 10s (NRR 30dB) over E-A-R Grande foam plugs (NRR 33dB). I bought both of these products because they had the highest noise reduction ratings that I could find, and they work very well for me.
Outdoors I usually use Peltor Tactical 6 electronic muffs (NRR 19dB) over plugs. I crank up the amplification so I can hear range commands even with plugs in, and when a shot is fired the amplification cuts out and I still have 19dB muffs over 33dB plugs.
Also look at fit and condition
+1 on using plugs under over the ear protection. But I've noticed some the foam breaking down my older ear muffs causing a less than adequate seal and relegate them for yard work.
But a few times I got a surprise when the ear muff shifted, or my glasses moved the ear cup, and the seal got broken. Fit is key. Also having plugs on when the seal is broken prevents you from getting a full blast of sound.
Make sure they fit with glasses and a cap if you wear one on the range.
+1 on using plugs under over the ear protection. But I've noticed some the foam breaking down my older ear muffs causing a less than adequate seal and relegate them for yard work.
But a few times I got a surprise when the ear muff shifted, or my glasses moved the ear cup, and the seal got broken. Fit is key. Also having plugs on when the seal is broken prevents you from getting a full blast of sound.
Make sure they fit with glasses and a cap if you wear one on the range.
JohnBT
Member
Peltor Ultimate 10 not only works, it's comfortable. I wear Remington foam plugs underneath.
I don't have much hearing left, what with the ringing and all. We didn't know any better back in the '50s, but it could have been the firecrackers and not the guns. Naw.
John
I don't have much hearing left, what with the ringing and all. We didn't know any better back in the '50s, but it could have been the firecrackers and not the guns. Naw.
John
I have a number of hearing protection options, but of all of them, I have really learned to love these Peltor earplugs.
http://www.aosafety.com/shooters/products/ear_05.htm
I get them at Wal Mart for $1.84 per pair. They're clear polymer. Really comfortable, and they block sound better than anything else I've tried.
I find that many earmuffs don't work nearly as well as advertised, when you wear them over safety glasses so they don't seal around the ear all that well.
My $60 Peltor tactical earmuffs are neat-o because you can talk to people while wearing them, but their sound protection is insufficient for indoor shooting.
The cheap little plugs above, though, are more than plenty for shooting in a small indoor range where we're shooting magnum rounds. And they're reusable, even washable, at a disposable price.
http://www.aosafety.com/shooters/products/ear_05.htm
I get them at Wal Mart for $1.84 per pair. They're clear polymer. Really comfortable, and they block sound better than anything else I've tried.
I find that many earmuffs don't work nearly as well as advertised, when you wear them over safety glasses so they don't seal around the ear all that well.
My $60 Peltor tactical earmuffs are neat-o because you can talk to people while wearing them, but their sound protection is insufficient for indoor shooting.
The cheap little plugs above, though, are more than plenty for shooting in a small indoor range where we're shooting magnum rounds. And they're reusable, even washable, at a disposable price.
I agree with MattMan. I use Peltor HA 10 muffs (about the same as his Ultimate 10) and the highest rated ear plugs I can find underneath.
Read through this thread as well:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=328525
Read through this thread as well:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=328525
Snarlingiron
Member
I bought a set of Radians Pro Amp electronic muffs. Complete junk. Battery life (I think it is 6 aaa's) is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When the battery dies, you get a high pitch squeal in your ear, like feedback. For Christmas I received a Peltor SportTac set. I haven't shot with them yet, but I will be at the skeet range on Sunday. I need the electronic ones because I have already suffered significant hearing loss, so when I take a shooting class, I can't hear the instructor without the electronic ones. The electronic ones are a good solution for use in conjunction with plugs, because with the gain at maximum you can still hear conversation pretty well, but you have the added protection when the guns fire.
mjrodney
Member
The Rangers at our County outdoor range stand shifts of 7 hours per day, 5 days per week.
That's a lot of gunfire.
All of them choose Pro Ears Dimension series as their hearing protection.
That's a lot of gunfire.
All of them choose Pro Ears Dimension series as their hearing protection.
RON in PA
Member
Plugs and muffs together is the way to go.
Snarlingiron
Member
Ok, went to the range today, and tried out the Peltor electronic muffs. Got there about 10:00a, and shot until about 1:15p. No degradation in performance, and they worked very well. So well, a couple of times I turned them off, because I thought they weren't working. The instant silence told me that they were indeed working. Pretty good testimonial that the sound was so natural (except for the lowered volume of the shooting). Best hundred bucks I have spent in a long time.
Snarlingiron
Member
Ok, went to the range today, and tried out the Peltor electronic muffs. Got there about 10:00a, and shot until about 1:15p. Shot about 200 rounds, both 12 ga, and 20 ga. No degradation in performance, and they worked very well. So well, a couple of times I turned them off, because I thought they weren't working. The instant silence told me that they were indeed working. Pretty good testimonial that the sound was so natural (except for the lowered volume of the shooting). Best hundred bucks I have spent in a long time.
Monkeyleg
Member.
ArmedBear, where did you get Peltor electronic muffs for $60? What model are they?
DoubleTapDrew
Member
I'd like to try the plugs/muffs combo but it seems like you wouldn't be able to converse with your shooting buddy and pulling off muffs then pulling out plugs all the time can get old. It works ok if you have electronic ones? I may have to splurge on some peltors.
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