Hearing Protection

[Donkey]

What do you like and dislike? Why?

 

[SmokingGun]

I double-up (foam ear plugs and ear muff style).....'cause I wanna hear clearly when I'm a geezer.

 

[GNLaFrance]

I'm sorry, what?

I have a pair of Navy carrier deck ear cups that I happened to find among my effects soon after I left the service (ahem). Those and foam plugs will make me nearly impervious to loud noises.

 

[rseymorejr]

personally I like the foam ear plugs that are attached to a rigid semi-circular piece of plastic. They seem to help them stay in place and I can throw them over my rearview mirror and don't have to wonder where they are. The ear muff types always bother me; either they are cold as ice in winter or they make my ears sweat in summer, and they always seem to get in my way.

 

[Bikebreath]

I shoot outdoors and use the electronic Peltor Sport-Tac muffs, (around $100). I also have the electronic Caldwell E-MAX muffs, (around $25). The Caldwell E-MAX cut-out from loud noises for about 1 sec. The Peltor's cut out for about .25 sec. I'm not sure it's worth $75 more, but they are better. I sometimes shoot IDPA and I need to hear instructions. For indoors I have plain muffs and ear buds I double up on.

Edit: They both make cheek weld somewhat difficult. Recently for Trap I find I keep my left ear covered with the Peltor's and an ear bud in my right ear, (yes I wear the muffs cock-eyed across my head). With only buds in both ears I can't hear any outside instructions.

 

[lx1x]

No matter how many plugs earmuffs i put on. I can still hear my wifes whining. Oops wrong thread.

 

[Dave MP]

No matter how many plugs earmuffs i put on. I can still hear my wifes whining. Oops wrong thread.

Borrowing a quote from K31,
Dump Her!

 

[Second Amendment]

What do you like and dislike? Why?

A pair of Howard Leight 30 DB earmuffs protects me just fine!

 

[dev]

personally I like the foam ear plugs that are attached to a rigid semi-circular piece of plastic. They seem to help them stay in place and I can throw them over my rearview mirror and don't have to wonder where they are. The ear muff types always bother me; either they are cold as ice in winter or they make my ears sweat in summer, and they always seem to get in my way.

I have the same type. They allow you to hear peoples conversation and although you can hear the gun it's not overpowering. It is at a volume I can tolerate at the firing range. These headphones are so comfortable I forget to take them off when they call for the line to be cold and sometimes I forgot that I have them on when I leave the range.

Those 70 style stereo headphones are terrible for me in both weight and knowing something is sitting on my head as I am consciously aware of it.

 

[lx1x]

Borrowing a quote from K31,
Dump Her!

why you think i spend most of my free time at the range.


OP.. i got winchester electronic earmuffs from walmart.. it actually nice for what i paid for it.

 

[KMK1862]

I can't get used to having the little earbuds in my ear. I use big 70's style earmuffs. They work well as far as I can tell.

 

[Minuteman]

I double-up (foam ear plugs and ear muff style).....'cause I wanna hear clearly when I'm a geezer.

When casually target shooting, 'doubling up' hearing protection is the way to go. This was required at some training I attended a few years back. I've continued the practice as much as possible.

No hearing protection is the primary reason a lot of vets can't hear so good. When doing certain drills (and reality), it is critical that you can hear what's going on, so a lot of folks go without hearing protection.

There are some NATO / USArmy plugs that offer the best of both worlds- best protection for training, and minimal protections (~22dB-ish) that let you hear and do mission, but protect hearing.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/reviews/reviews-peltor-indoor-outdoor-range-hearing-protection.html

~$25 when I bought them, many years ago. Now $12 from Midway USA!

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=453211

 

[MikeTF]

Pro Ears


http://www.proears.com/Pro-Ears-Shooting-Hearing-Ear-Protection-Pro-Tekt-Plus-Gold-Muffs

 

[Ethan83]

+1 on Peltor Sporttac. The quality of the mic's and the ADSR curve of the limiter is vastly superior to any other headset I've used. Everything sounds so natural you can forget you have them on - gunshots don't make it go dead for a second; the level comes back up as soon as the shot's report is over.

They're also pretty comfy, and pretty slim compared to many other, bulkier headsets. I personally haven't had any trouble shouldering a long gun, even my trap gun with the comb jacked up. They're not cheap, but buy once, cry once.

All that said, they don't have the largest SPL reduction out there (nor are they intended to be) - but that's what doubling up is for if you're shooting indoors, powerful rounds, etc.

FWIW, I make a living with my ears, so I do take this pretty seriously, and I'm confident with my Peltor Sporttacs for 99% of the shooting I do.

 

[Bikebreath]

+1 on Peltor Sporttac. The quality of the mic's and the ADSR curve of the limiter is vastly superior to any other headset I've used. Everything sounds so natural you can forget you have them on - gunshots don't make it go dead for a second; the level comes back up as soon as the shot's report is over.

They're also pretty comfy, and pretty slim compared to many other, bulkier headsets. I personally haven't had any trouble shouldering a long gun, even my trap gun with the comb jacked up. They're not cheap, but buy once, cry once.

All that said, they don't have the largest SPL reduction out there (nor are they intended to be) - but that's what doubling up is for if you're shooting indoors, powerful rounds, etc.

FWIW, I make a living with my ears, so I do take this pretty seriously, and I'm confident with my Peltor Sporttacs for 99% of the shooting I do.

I have to say that I've had mine since the middle of April and I haven't changed the batteries yet. I've used them most every weekend.

 

[Ethan83]

I have to say that I've had mine since the middle of April and I haven't changed the batteries yet. I've used them most every weekend.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that - the battery life is absurd. I have yet to change the batteries on mine either, and I've had them for I think about a year. That said, I only have them on for a few hours a week, and that's on a good week, but it still adds up.

 

[Dave MP]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=453211

I use these when at military ranges.
At other ranges I primarily use these:

Peltor Sound Trap

Sometime double up with these:

Surefire Sonic Defenders®

They fit well under the Peltors and provide good protection when I have to remove one ear muff when firing the rifle.

 

[VWTurbo]

so how do you select the proper size of the surefire plugs?

 

[Minuteman]

Dave, ah, I see what you mean now, that's a great idea, will try inside&out suppressed noise, but open normal sound.

Thx!

 

[Dave MP]

so how do you select the proper size of the surefire plugs?

I guessed with the first pair, they didn't fit the way I liked. I think I am using the med or large.

Dave, ah, I see what you mean now, that's a great idea, will try inside&out suppressed noise, but open normal sound.

Thx!

They work pretty good. Same concept as the ones you mentioned using. Those have a hole in them to allow some sound to come through on one side and the other side is closed.