Hearing protection Help

[David247]

I am unhappy with most ear plugs that I've tried and the ringing in my ears keeps getting louder. I would like some opinions on what you guys like the best. I always double up and I usually use Surefire EarPros with the best passive ear muffs I can get, having the highest NRR. The EarPros become easily dislodged in my ears though and I don't think that the NRR ratings of the muffs are always accurate. I have not tried any of the electronic models either so I don't know if they are worth the money.

What types, brands, and combinations of protection works best for you guys?

Thanks, Happy Memorial Day!

 

[DRNewcomb]

I started having a little tinnitus (ringing) in my late 30s. Now in my mid-60s it's a continuous 5 kHz whistle that accompanies me through all my waking hours. I've always used ear plugs and/or muffs except hunting, in my teens. The etiology of tinnitus is complex and not always a direct result of loud noises. I'm not sure it really matters what type you use. The most you'll get out of any hearing protection is about 30 dB, if it's properly used. When I'm alone on the line with my .22 pistol, I'll wear molded ear plugs. When I'm shooting F-Class under and awning with a bunch of other shooters, I'll use soft foam plugs under muffs. Yes, this way it's hard to hear the line boss unless he has a megaphone. The reason for the soft foam rather than molded is that when I get into a prone position, the shape of my ear canal changes and the molded plugs break their seal with the canal.

 

[ragsflh]

have molded ones made.works for me.or ear muffs help too.silincers help alot

 

[David247]

I am having a rifle built and I met the smith at his range while there was a lot of shooting going on as we tried to talk. There were even some 50's being used and I noticed that the foam plugs that he handed me seemed to work as well as the pricey ones and the seal didn't break no matter what I did for an hour or two. I guess I will try using them and also find where to get the molded ones and try them too.

How about the electronic muffs, are they worth the effort and expense or are the passive ones as good or better?

 

[MN50Shooter]

I shoot a lot of 50 BMG and wear foam plugs and electronic muffs (Howard Leight Impact Sport) The combination works well for me. The electronic help me hear the line commands during a match, even with the plugs.

 

[bsekf]

I muff and plug for all shooting and plug with the lawn mower and tractor. I like the soft plug with 3 rings, have found them at under the name Remington. Just get the soft ones, they are much easier to use than the foam and just as effective. I have a pair in all my work pants pockets..... run them through the washing machine, keeps em clean.

Bill

 

[SmokinJoe]

From what you have said, it seems that you may have a situation unique enough to warrant the help of an audiologist. I have a pretty severe hearing loss and very straight ear canals which makes keeping plugs in place a challenge. My audiologists have been very willing to help me find the best hearing protection solutions. If you try an audiologist and don't feel that they are tuned in to your problems, just keep trying others until you find the one that seems best at helping you. Interestingly, most audiology services are free because their real business is to sell hearing aids. You might benefit from that, too. It's worth a try.

 

[M-61]

If you do a search under the below listed members posts you will find detailed info on hearing protection which may be of help.
normmatzen

 

[swd]

If you do a search under the below listed members posts you will find detailed info on hearing protection which may be of help.
normmatzen

That's who I've trying to think of. ALOT of great information on hearing protection!!

 

[savagedasher]

There is no such thing as too much hearing protection . Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

There is no such thing as too much hearing protection . Larry

HUH?

 

[SETH A TRAUGH]

Agree with having them molded for you. I have always found that over the ear get in the way or interfere with shouldering. We used to have to double up while working flightline in the Airforce and it works but probably try low profile for shooting

 

[TC260]

I always double stack at the range. Large high NRR cans if by myself at the range. If others around, the electronic muffs with volume up enough to hear with the foam plugs in underneath. Usually Foam plugs for work and electronic protection for hunting.

Foam plugs are quite good IF they're used properly which from what I see, most people don't. Roll them up tight in your fingers, put 'em in and let them expand tight. Don't just stick em in your ear like a lot of people do without rolling them down first. Second, they're DISPOSABLE. They work best the first time and each successive time they get squeezed down they don't expand as good and let more noise in. I'm guilty of putting them in and out of my ear 3-4 times during the day at work but they always get tossed at the end of the day. One hearing aid will pay for several lifetimes worth of disposable plugs. Use and toss 'em.

 

[Eddie Harren]

http://www.howstuffcompares.com/doc/f/foam-earplugs-vs-premolded-earplugs.htm

Here's a pretty unbiased comparison.

 

[BoydAllen]

I see a lot of foam plugs that have not been properly installed in shooters' ears. For best protection double coverage is best.

Amusing aside: After many years I finally determined that my left ear canal is so large that even though I have always compressed my Howard Leight 33 db plugs before inserting them, that I could not insert one in my left ear deep enough to seal properly without some concern about being able to remove it without some sort of tool and/or assistance. This led to a successful innovation. Looking through my wife's sewing box, I found a spool of very strong upholstery thread and a large needle. I threaded the needle and pushed it through the center of a plug and then back through to the end that would be on the outside, offsetting the second path slightly from the first. Then I cut the four strands of thread and tied them to each other close to the end of the plug, and then shortened them to a length of an inch and a half or so. Now my my plugs had handles. The next part involved using two hands to compress each plug to get its diameter as small as possible before insertion, which had to be done quickly so that the plugs did not expand. Using this method I was able to insert the plugs deeper than I had before, to a depth that would have made their removal difficult. The end result was a very good seal in both ears.

Before I go to the range I take the time to clean the wax out of the outer ends of my ear canals. This results in a great reduction of wax transfer to the foam plugs. After I return from the range I wipe off as much wax as I can and then use some alcohol based hand cleaner to remove the rest, which allows the disposable plugs to be reused. Normally I don't bother with this, but I do with the modified plugs.

One thing that I have learned over time is that no one's problems are likely to be unique, which is why I shared this.

 

[H380]

3M Skull screws + good muffs. I use them every day at work. Ear plugs are like gloves, work boots, hats or jeans. You need to find out what works for your body shape, size and your personal habits.

 

[Alexander-M]

After trying many plugs and muffs, including two of the electronic types, almost a year ago I bought the Etymotic GSP-15 GunsportPRO Earplugs(*), have used them since, and I am very happy with them. The electronic muffs worked OK, but they interfered with my stock. As a side benefit, with the Etymotics I can hear conversations, etc. better than when I am using my regular hearing aid.

The Etymotic earplugs use the same battery (C10) as my hearing aid, but instead of lasting four days as in my hearing aid, they last at least two weeks if the Etymotic battery compartment is opened (turned off) while not in use.

(*) Do a search by either Etymotic or posts by @normmatzen, as mentioned above.

Alex

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5P8OGS/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[bdale]

After trying many plugs and muffs, including two of the electronic types, almost a year ago I bought the Etymotic GSP-15 GunsportPRO Earplugs(*), have used them since, and I am very happy with them. The electronic muffs worked OK, but they interfered with my stock. As a side benefit, with the Etymotics I can hear conversations, etc. better than when I am using my regular hearing aid.

The Etymotic earplugs use the same battery (C10) as my hearing aid, but instead of lasting four days as in my hearing aid, they last at least two weeks if the Etymotic battery compartment is opened (turned off) while not in use.

(*) Do a search by either Etymotic or posts by @normmatzen, as mentioned above.

Alex

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5P8OGS/?tag=accuratescom-20

I see a lot of foam plugs that have not been properly installed in shooters' ears. For best protection double coverage is best.

Amusing aside: After many years I finally determined that my left ear canal is so large that even though I have always compressed my Howard Leight 33 db plugs before inserting them, that I could not insert one in my left ear deep enough to seal properly without some concern about being able to remove it without some sort of tool and/or assistance. This led to a successful innovation. Looking through my wife's sewing box, I found a spool of very strong upholstery thread and a large needle. I threaded the needle and pushed it through the center of a plug and then back through to the end that would be on the outside, offsetting the second path slightly from the first. Then I cut the four strands of thread and tied them to each other close to the end of the plug, and then shortened them to a length of an inch and a half or so. Now my my plugs had handles. The next part involved using two hands to compress each plug to get its diameter as small as possible before insertion, which had to be done quickly so that the plugs did not expand. Using this method I was able to insert the plugs deeper than I had before, to a depth that would have made their removal difficult. The end result was a very good seal in both ears.

Before I go to the range I take the time to clean the wax out of the outer ends of my ear canals. This results in a great reduction of wax transfer to the foam plugs. After I return from the range I wipe off as much wax as I can and then use some alcohol based hand cleaner to remove the rest, which allows the disposable plugs to be reused. Normally I don't bother with this, but I do with the modified plugs.

One thing that I have learned over time is that no one's problems are likely to be unique, which is why I shared this.

After trying many plugs and muffs, including two of the electronic types, almost a year ago I bought the Etymotic GSP-15 GunsportPRO Earplugs(*), have used them since, and I am very happy with them. The electronic muffs worked OK, but they interfered with my stock. As a side benefit, with the Etymotics I can hear conversations, etc. better than when I am using my regular hearing aid.

The Etymotic earplugs use the same battery (C10) as my hearing aid, but instead of lasting four days as in my hearing aid, they last at least two weeks if the Etymotic battery compartment is opened (turned off) while not in use.

(*) Do a search by either Etymotic or posts by @normmatzen, as mentioned above.

Alex

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5P8OGS/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[normmatzen]

This time I'm not re-writing the whole story, search on my name for that.

Eddie, that is a good article on simple ear plugs andit amplifies what I have said that yello foamies are the best protection, but they don't touch on muffs (VERY poor protection generally) and electronic protection.

Larry, you are kind of right, but anything over 40 dB IS wasted. Our Mastoid bone transmits directly to our inner ear with slightly slightly over 40 dB attenuation. That means with a completely plugged ear canal we still hear outside noises with slightly over 40 dB attenuation. That is the maximum protection we can achieve.

Still, people continue to use muffs! And, only the thin ones are comfortable to shoot with and are reletively cheap. DON'T GO THERE! On average, these muffs have only 26 dB or so protection! Sure, you can buy safe muffs, but no one wants to spend what they cost or wear huge blobs over their heads!!!
If you persist in wearing muffs, at least buy a pair of Etymotic ER-20 Hi-Fi ear plugs. These are about $10 on line and offer 20 dB attenuation as well as hi fidelity as opposed to yello foamies that reduce the highs more than lows and they sound very muffled. ER-20s under muffs, especially electronic muffs, are a good alternative to yellow foamies and you can still hear your neighbor till you start shooting than the attenuation goes up due to the compressor amplifier in the muffs.

A couple questions you all may have, 1. Why do I stress Etymotic products? Simple, for two reasons, one, I worked for them before I retired and I consider the President a personal friend and I respect his competence as well as his morals! Two, They are an audiology based company ( The President has a pHD from Northwestern in Audiology and teaches Audiology at North Western as well as another university in the Chicago area. They also have the facilities and the knowledge to exhaustively test products as well as testing the competition.

2. What do I use when I shoot? Simple, I always use Etymotic GSP-15 Blast Protectors. Of course these cost more than yello foamies but they use a high quality hearing aid analog compressor amplifier in them. Why do they use an "Old Technology" for their amplifiers? Simple, they work better! The general public is totally unaware of how bad most digital hearing aids sound. Their fidelity in some cases is on a par with a 1960's 4 transistor radio! They also introduce a delay in the amplifier channel. This is why the GSP-15s have been clinically tested to not degrade situational awareness for military and police use. The combination of high fidelity and no built in delay makes determining the origin of a sound as accurate as with no hearing protection! And, I'm prejudiced, I designed the amplifier!
The GSP-15 is actually cheaper than the digital competitors and supplies more life-like sound.

 

[bdale]

I use the Howard Leight plugs that come in the little blue ear shaped container, like Boyd said most don't get them in far enough. I have found that after I started getting them in far enough it was night and day difference. I to have ringing in my ears that never stops and after a trip to the VA for a hearing test I found that I have a 90 degree turn in my ear canal was told this was unusual. Was told if I tug rearward at my ear while inserting the ear plug it would be easier to insert, they are also hard to get out sometimes as Boyd mentioned but worth the trouble.