Opinion on hearing protection
- Thread starter dickn52
- Start date
I don't know about the Walker Ear Buds, but I do know that foam plugs are the most effective if they fit tight, and muffs are second best. I use both at once. My muffs are electronic. When I crank them up, I can hear conversations and range commands with the foam plugs still in. When the shooting is about to start I crank the volume back down. Works great. I also use the electronic muffs when hunting. Keeps my ears warm and helps me hear deer in the leaves. If I shoot, there is a cutoff.
I have tried several different products but none of the high end electronics even though I've wasted enough on every lower level product to buy a set. Muffs are not comfortable for me as I shoot F-T/R and they interfere with a comfortable cheek weld and are too ht in the summer so I've mostly used ear plugs vs muffs.
I have the Walker's and I don't much care for them. I have regular size ears but small ear canals and even the smallest ear foams are too big. Google it. It's apparently a fairly common issue with them. Also, even if they are off they will kill the batteries so you have to take them out every time. Also a common issue with them. Bottom line for me anyway is they are uncomfortable, the foams tear easily and the batteries are constantly dead.
I recently got a set of Decibullz moldable percussion filter earpieces and I love them. You boil water and put the bases in for 5 minutes and then form them to your ears kind of like a mouthpiece. They have an assortment of foams and silicone inserts so no issue with fitting any size ear canal. The percussion filter is a very interesting little device. It is passive so no batteries to deal with but allows normal sounds, conversations etc.. to be heard but suppress loud sounds. They work very well. Since you custom mold them to your ears they are very comfortable. I've literally had them in for several hours at a time and experienced no discomfort at all. I'm quite pleased with them. They are $75 and include 2 sets of bases along with the assortment of inserts and a nice case. They make similar ear pieces that do not have the filters that are only about $25. They are available on Amazon but I bought mine directly from the manufacturer so I could get some extra foams, lanyard etc... Worth a look in my opinion.
https://www.decibullz.com/
I have the Walker's and I don't much care for them. I have regular size ears but small ear canals and even the smallest ear foams are too big. Google it. It's apparently a fairly common issue with them. Also, even if they are off they will kill the batteries so you have to take them out every time. Also a common issue with them. Bottom line for me anyway is they are uncomfortable, the foams tear easily and the batteries are constantly dead.
I recently got a set of Decibullz moldable percussion filter earpieces and I love them. You boil water and put the bases in for 5 minutes and then form them to your ears kind of like a mouthpiece. They have an assortment of foams and silicone inserts so no issue with fitting any size ear canal. The percussion filter is a very interesting little device. It is passive so no batteries to deal with but allows normal sounds, conversations etc.. to be heard but suppress loud sounds. They work very well. Since you custom mold them to your ears they are very comfortable. I've literally had them in for several hours at a time and experienced no discomfort at all. I'm quite pleased with them. They are $75 and include 2 sets of bases along with the assortment of inserts and a nice case. They make similar ear pieces that do not have the filters that are only about $25. They are available on Amazon but I bought mine directly from the manufacturer so I could get some extra foams, lanyard etc... Worth a look in my opinion.
https://www.decibullz.com/
I use to compete in sporting clays and muffs don't do well with that. I have a couple of sets of the injection-molded plugs that work very well for either shotgun or rifle. I do notice when someone is shooting a rifle with a muzzle brake that they aren't the best. I'll double down and put muffs on over the plugs in those conditions.
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
My father in law bought me a set of the protecktor electronic ear muffs two years ago for Christmas and I love them. I have tried muffs in the past and didn't really care for them because of them interfering with my cheek weld as well. These, however, are molded a bit differently and don't get in the way at all. They muffle sound great and my hearing is actually amplified when I have them on. It's awesome to shoot the long range steel and hear the full impact of the bullets. I even take these with me on Coyote stands and I can now shoot my short barrel model seven in .260 with no problems at all.
You Called??
Norm again.
1. Yes, yellow foamies (or any color foam) have the best protection IF they are inserted correctly.
2. NO, Ear muffs are not the next best, they are the worst protection! Yes, you can get good muffs but for two reasons they are not popular. First, to be good they are both BIG and second, expensive. A muff comfortable for most shooting is at best only 26 dB attenuation. Only time muffs are safe is with additional plugs under them. If you use foam plugs under muffs, you are wasting money on muffs as the plain foam plug is just as good as both! That is because the mastoid bone is the limiting factor as it still only attenuates by 40 dB or slightly more even with totally plugged ear canals. The electronic muffs can be made both safe and still hear somewhat. That is by wearing a pair of ETY-PLUGS under them for around $10 a pair.
3. I would say the best bet is a good pair of electronic protectors like the Etymotic GSP-15 (like I use) or some of the other brands of hearing aid-like plugs. I can't speak for the other brands as I use a pair of GSP-15 and never looked back!
Norm again.
1. Yes, yellow foamies (or any color foam) have the best protection IF they are inserted correctly.
2. NO, Ear muffs are not the next best, they are the worst protection! Yes, you can get good muffs but for two reasons they are not popular. First, to be good they are both BIG and second, expensive. A muff comfortable for most shooting is at best only 26 dB attenuation. Only time muffs are safe is with additional plugs under them. If you use foam plugs under muffs, you are wasting money on muffs as the plain foam plug is just as good as both! That is because the mastoid bone is the limiting factor as it still only attenuates by 40 dB or slightly more even with totally plugged ear canals. The electronic muffs can be made both safe and still hear somewhat. That is by wearing a pair of ETY-PLUGS under them for around $10 a pair.
3. I would say the best bet is a good pair of electronic protectors like the Etymotic GSP-15 (like I use) or some of the other brands of hearing aid-like plugs. I can't speak for the other brands as I use a pair of GSP-15 and never looked back!
I have those ones that are actually molded in your ear. They work good. I also occasionally use foam plugs. I have a pair of Peltor electronic muffs and to make them more comfortable I got the silicon rings that are super soft. Still, they are no good for shooting a rifle and they do interfere with the stock.
No matter what you use, use something. I am "flying in a Lear jet" 24/7. Even in my sleep. I went to an ENT specialist and had a hearing test after an MRI and CT scan. She said, "good news and bad, no tumors but you are going deaf." I said, "well I guess I have fired one too many rifles in my time." and she said, "nope, that didn't do it. This is from higher pitched noise damage. What did you do for a living?" I was a machinist for 16 years. She said, "that's it...the constant high pitched whine of the electric motors on those machines"
Wear protection, you don't want to be flying in a Lear jet 24/7!!!!!!
No matter what you use, use something. I am "flying in a Lear jet" 24/7. Even in my sleep. I went to an ENT specialist and had a hearing test after an MRI and CT scan. She said, "good news and bad, no tumors but you are going deaf." I said, "well I guess I have fired one too many rifles in my time." and she said, "nope, that didn't do it. This is from higher pitched noise damage. What did you do for a living?" I was a machinist for 16 years. She said, "that's it...the constant high pitched whine of the electric motors on those machines"
Wear protection, you don't want to be flying in a Lear jet 24/7!!!!!!
Norm,
I went to an ear specialist and had custom molded plugs made. They don't work as well as the foamies in my opinion when shooting a rifle with a brake. In fact even the foam plugs don't quite cut it. I've resorted in wearing muffs over the plugs but even the slimmest muffs interfere with my cheek weld. So what's the answer when shooting a rifle with a brake?
Danny
Foamies are the best IF inserted correctly as stated above. Most people don't seat them in the ear canal correctly though. BTW, the noise from your 'brake' is worse on either side of you. The muff and rifle thing MIGHT be corrected with a high mount. Don't lean over the stock, but lift the chin and barely touch the stock. BUT this might require higher scope mounts too...??
So answer me this, I am certain I insert ear plugs properly, at least that's the way I've been instructed though various types of certifications I need to enter job sites.
Why is it then, my perceived audio level is significantly reduced when I put muffs over top of foamies. I know I'm not just hearing things, pun intended.
Why is it then, my perceived audio level is significantly reduced when I put muffs over top of foamies. I know I'm not just hearing things, pun intended.
spitfire_er
Silver $$ Contributor
I also noticed quite a bit of noise reduction with both properly inserted foam plugs and muffs on top of that. You can't convince me that the muffs on top of plugs do nothing further than just plugs.
You do need to be aware that cheap muffs from harbor freight and others which do nothing. They have a noise reduction of 12 db which is basically worthless when shooting, but better than nothing.
You do need to be aware that cheap muffs from harbor freight and others which do nothing. They have a noise reduction of 12 db which is basically worthless when shooting, but better than nothing.
JRS,
That warning sign is there as the management knows that 1. muffs alone are not adequate and 2. most folks using foam plugs don't insert them properly. So, the advise to use plugs AND ear plugs is to insure EVERYONE gets adequate protection in spite of people using relatively worthless inexpensive muffs and/or not inserting the plugs correctly.
That warning sign is there as the management knows that 1. muffs alone are not adequate and 2. most folks using foam plugs don't insert them properly. So, the advise to use plugs AND ear plugs is to insure EVERYONE gets adequate protection in spite of people using relatively worthless inexpensive muffs and/or not inserting the plugs correctly.
The signs are there to protect the hearing of those working in, or in close proximity to the Turbine Building and the Emergency Diesel Generator Building. The noise generated by those pieces of equipment is off the chart.
JRS,
I stand by my last post.
The combination of both muffs and plugs will usually offer maximum protection of about 40 dB attenuation. 40dB is about as much as you can get as the mastoid bone still bypasses the ear to the tune of 45 dB or so of attenuation. Regardless of how loud the background noise is, yo aren't going to get more than ~40 dB of protection!
I stand by my last post.
The combination of both muffs and plugs will usually offer maximum protection of about 40 dB attenuation. 40dB is about as much as you can get as the mastoid bone still bypasses the ear to the tune of 45 dB or so of attenuation. Regardless of how loud the background noise is, yo aren't going to get more than ~40 dB of protection!
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Help me get this straight? You bring them up to boiling water temp (220 degrees?) and then stick them in your ear?
Help me get this straight? You bring them up to boiling water temp (220 degrees?) and then stick them in your ear?
Exactly. lol... Ok, well not exactly. A cooling off period is advised.
They are quite pliable at a considerably lower temp. Instructions say no to leave them in your car in the summertime.
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