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Hearing Protection

I need to get some better hearing protection. I am also going with double ears. Slowly losing my hearing and want to preserve what I have for as long as I can & will continue to shoot.

So, looking for recommendations for GOOD ear plugs and ear muffs.
 
I really like the cheap peltor sport reusable plugs personally. They are the tri flange that is a soft plastic and are connected with a cord. with a supressor I often just wear the plugs, without I will cut the cord so the plugs fit under my muffs and double up.

I could spend a lot of money on buds and have spent plenty more, I just really like these. In fact I’ve probably got 20 pairs floating around my house waiting for me to use them.
 
I like the Walker Bluetooth plugs enough that I bought two pair, and I wear the Peltor electronic muffs too. Using both really cuts down the gunshot noise but it’s still easy to hear conversation.
 
Muffs are the way to go.

As much hearing damage occurs because the area behind your ears also collects the bad noise.

Plugs are only a beginning.

NRR (noise reduction rating) rating of at least 27 db, preferably higher.

I run Pro Ears Gold.
 
Plugs... I like the HL Maxx and for muffs Peltor... When buying muffs usually the ones that really knock the sound down are large and bulky I find they hit the butt stock when shouldering the rifle or shotgun which I do not like... When outdoors I normally only wear plugs unless it's really loud like under a cover..
 
Howard Leight NRR 33 flared. All day comfort (when inserted correctly) and no better Noise Reduction Rating.

1617087201594.jpeg

Then some muffs on top. I have talked to multiple audio scientists and there’s a general consensus that good plugs with decent muffs on top can add an effective 5 -6 dB of additional real world protection over muffs alone .

About the earplugs. I would say that at least half the people I see using foam earplugs are not inserting them correctly. You want to roll them pretty tight before inserting and go in far enough that the flare is almost flush.
 
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Audiologists all say that the soft foam plugs give better hearing protection than the triple or quadruple flange plastic ones do. Not the cylindrical yellow (foam) ones, but the almost teardrop shaped ones. I have difficulty obtaining a good seal with those, and really have to try to get them in correctly. Doubling up is absolutely the way to go - plugs and muffs.

An alternative for earplugs are the custom-fitted ones. Do yourself a favor, and pay the money to have them made professionally. They are spendy, but what is your hearing worth?
 
I need to get some better hearing protection. I am also going with double ears. Slowly losing my hearing and want to preserve what I have for as long as I can & will continue to shoot.

So, looking for recommendations for GOOD ear plugs and ear muffs.
What did you say ??
 
Howard Leight NRR 33 flared. All day comfort (when inserted correctly) and no better Noise Reduction Rating.

View attachment 1245602

Then some muffs on top. I have talked to multiple audio scientists and there’s a general consensus that good plugs with decent muffs on top can add an effective 5 -6 dB of additional real world protection over muffs alone .

About the earplugs. I would say that at least half the people I see using foam earplugs are not inserting them correctly. You want to roll them pretty tight before inserting and go in far enough that the flare is almost flush.
We have these available at work. They work well but after about 4hrs my ears get sore. Roll tight, not just squeeze them, then reach over with opposite hand grab ear an pull up on ear to open canal and insert plug and hold till it seals.
 
Like forum boss I also use the HL plugs and muffs. I have gel pads on my muffs (MSA Sordin) which are more comfortable and seal better tha the standard foam filled pads. I also have significant high frequency hearing loss and am very protective of my remaining hair cells. Definitely go with dual protection.
 
I use peltor x5a muffs. Not all muffs with the same NRR are equal. These muffs cover a broader spectrum of frequencies and are noticeably more vault like when you put them on. 3M post test specs for these and some of their other industrial-use muffs so that you can compare. Hearing others can be a challenge with these on but gunshots are noticeably quieter compared to all other muffs that I've tried.
 
Another note...I would choose a muff that has gel pad options. There is nothing equal/better than the gel pads for proper seal and all day/week comfort. Aftermarket gel pads are made for some Leight muffs and MSA has them as a factory option.
 
I've lost most of hearing and now have to wear hearing aids which only restores about 70%. Learn from my mistakes and take the utmost precaution to preserve what you have - once you lose it you can't get back.

Double protection is my best advice, i.e. plugs and muffs. I've been using this system for over 30 years now - wished I had done it earlier. Purchase the best available - don't go cheap.

I use the foam style plugs and the Walker Slim Profile muffs which provide a tight seal but does not interfere with cheek weld. Not saying that these are the most effective just what I use and they seem to work - at least I haven't lost anymore hearing capacity since using this system.

Also, avoid shooting next to guys with muzzle brakes. In my experience it doesn't matter what you're wearing for hearing protection if you're shooting along side one of these devices - the noise wave is tremendous and almost guarantees hearing damage. I go as far as waiting until a position at the range is available so I'm not shooting next to someone using a brake.
 
@normmatzen , is there a site that can show pictures of how foam plugs should look like if inserted correctly?
What ER-20 earplugs do you recommend? Thank you.
 
Howard Leight NRR 33 flared. All day comfort (when inserted correctly) and no better Noise Reduction Rating.

View attachment 1245602

Then some muffs on top. I have talked to multiple audio scientists and there’s a general consensus that good plugs with decent muffs on top can add an effective 5 -6 dB of additional real world protection over muffs alone .

About the earplugs. I would say that at least half the people I see using foam earplugs are not inserting them correctly. You want to roll them pretty tight before inserting and go in far enough that the flare is almost flush.

These are exactly what I use - except I cut the cord off of them (they interfere with my cheek piece when shooting in position). They're soft enough, that when rolled between my fingers, I can insert them all the way in my ear canal, hold it for a few seconds until it expands, and they don't allow any sound to enter. If you're on a range where you need to hear the range commands - that can be a problem. If you're by yourself, or on your private range - no worries.

-tc

Edit: I also use the "deep insertion" method. I keep a pair of needle nosed pliers in my shooting kit, and on several occasions, have needed them to get the un-corded ear plugs out when finished shooting...
 
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@normmatzen , is there a site that can show pictures of how foam plugs should look like if inserted correctly?
What ER-20 earplugs do you recommend? Thank you.

What I do is roll the plug into a thin cylinder as much as possible, then quickly insert them; generally straight in, but maybe pointing a bit forward, while pulling up and/or back on the ear flap. You'll feel the tip of the plug slide through a slight turn in the ear canal. At that point, give it a few seconds to expand, and you should be good to go. This is hard to do with the cylinder type plugs, BTW, and they can be really tough to remove afterward.

I chanced upon a brand of plug called "Softies" by Moldex; they worked so well that I hunted them down (I bought on Amazon.) They are the most comfortable plug I've ever used. They are a closed-cell foam plug, but without a surface sealant. I actually adapt these to use with my amplified Etymotic ear bud type plugs.

One other tip from way back: If you're using non-amplified/non-electronic muffs, stop by a drug store and pick up a bag of cotton balls. Divide the contents in half, and stuff one portion in each ear cup of your muffs, forming it so your ears have room, but all other space is filled (especially any cranny behind the sealing pads.) It'll increase the attenuation by a bunch. This would probably work on electronic as well, but you'll have to crank up the amplification.
 

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