Hearing protection — Best Plugs?

[PAUER]

What is the best moldin ear plugs everyone’s using?

 

[ChrisNZ]

Do not simply rely on a brand recommendation. Custom moulded plugs are only as good as the quality of the ear impressions. You need an experienced operator at the very least, and even then that's no guarantee.

In the end, if they sound leaky, the job was not done right.

 

[DirtySteve]

I bought two sets of moulded ear plugs. Purchased from a local store. They are in the trash now. I use the old fashioned jam them in type still.

Edit; decibels I believe is what I used.

 

[TRSR8]

Very hard to beat the DIY kits from Radians thru eBay, they work well and fit well if you can follow instructions.
That said, for any range shooting, multiple shots, you’re kidding yourself if you believe ANY plug is enough, you need phones, even over them.
Proven fact, damaging sound gets transmitted from the bone around the ear.

 

[TTE]

IMO ... get the swimmers wax (mold it in) or foam plugs ... and use muffs.

Works pretty well for me.

What ? What did you say ? Oh ......... never mind

 

[BigBolt]

I use these from Milwaukie.

Milwaukee REDLITHIUM USB Bluetooth Jobsite Ear Buds 2191-21 - The Home Depot

The Milwaukee REDLITHIUM USB Bluetooth Jobsite Ear Buds deliver UNCOMPROMISED SOUND, providing a powerful and balanced audio experience with the capability to take phone calls. Additionally, Jobsite Aware

www.homedepot.com

 

[DRK]

I use these.

DEWALT Orange Foam Disposable Earplugs (50-Pack) DPG63BG50 - The Home Depot

The DEWALT DPG63 Bell Shape Disposable Foam Earplugs are tested according to ANSI specs S3.19-1974. They feature soft, slow-recovery foam for extreme comfort. These ear plugs provide outstanding noise

www.homedepot.com

 

[rlporter507]

I used the mold in from the lady at Perry for years, had her make several pair. She used a very dense material, and got them fitted well. Now they are just not enough, I get a pain in my left ear when the rifle fires. using the Walker Razors now without plugs, pretty happy.

 

[CJ6]

There are a few companies that make the soft foam plugs with NRR ratings of 28-32. These work well. Having said that I use custom molded plugs I had made while I was working. I also use muffs especially if a shooter next to me has a brake.

 

[urbanrifleman]

3m skull screws and full size muffs.

 

[K22]

I use the foam disposable plugs AND muffs. I have lost a lot of my hearing from my time in the Army and being stupid when I was a new shooter just using plugs which were not enough neither in the Army or as a civilian shooter.

I would encourage you to use both plugs and muffs for double protection. Especially if you encounter a fellow shooter shooting with a muzzle brake next to you.

You can get low profile muffs that won't interfere with cheek weld. I have a pair of Walker's and they work fine with a rifle. For the pistol range, I have a pair of Clark professional grade muff. These provide really effective sound attenuation, but they are not low profile and create cheek weld problems when using with a rifle.

Don't go cheap on hearing protection, get the best with the highest rating. Once you lose your hearing, you can't get back.

PS: I tried custom plugs fitted by a professional. They were not enough, especially on the pistol range or shooting next to guys with brakes. Eventually they started to get hard and leaked and wouldn't provide a seal fit.

 

[creedfan]

hands down OTTO!

 

[DLT]

3m skull screws.

 

[Shooter13]

hands down OTTO!

The ones I have are not mold in but are the soft foam that forms to your ear, just telling the guys at the match today that they are great, had them for about 2 years.

Amazon.com

 

[ChrisNZ]

Very hard to beat the DIY kits from Radians thru eBay, they work well and fit well if you can follow instructions.
That said, for any range shooting, multiple shots, you’re kidding yourself if you believe ANY plug is enough, you need phones, even over them.
Proven fact, damaging sound gets transmitted from the bone around the ear.

Going to have to disagree on that.

Doing your own ear impressions, no matter what the material/gear, is not going to give a -good- result. I'd never consider it myself despite having done tens of thousands of impressions over a long career in clinical audiology. I actually specialised in shooters' ear protection as it was a hobby interest.

I have only ever used custom electronic plugs in my competitive shooting career, originally a sling shooter but latterly an FO shooter. I have no HF notch in my hearing despite being exposed to -many- thousands of rounds. The only time I'd consider adding muffs over top would be shooting beside a big braked gun, luckily something I never run into.

Finally, blaming bone-conducted sound for the supposed inadequacies of plugs is barking up the wrong tree. Almost invariably with small arms fire, it's an air-conduction leak causing the problem, ie, a poorly sealing plug.

 

[mikecockcroft]

If you wear glasses while shooting the frames create a gap between your head and the muffs so additional plugs are a good idea. I buy the disposable 100 packs.

 

[OKBoomer]

@ChrisNZ - Thanks for the professional insight. Can you provide some examples of custom electronic plugs and what to look for in those? I double up with foam plugs and ear muffs, but I’m still looking for better protection.

 

[Murray Brook]

Tag

 

[muleystalker]

hands down OTTO!

My OTTO's took a crap after not much use, they won't take a charge. Called them and they want about 90% of what they cost new to repair them. They weren't 2 weeks over the 1 year warranty and only used about 15 times. I will never deal with them again as it's a known problem they have and they won't address it ( think Lab Radar).
I now use 3M disposables and a pair of SORDIN Supreme Pro muffs and love them. Sometimes I double up sometime just the SORDIN's, I like them so much I'm getting a pair for my daughter. They cancel the loud dangerous noise but you do not loose your conversational hearing while shots are going off.

 

[jk80]

Go to an audiologist and have a pair made. They taken impression and send them of to be made. MUCH better than the ones made at most shoots. Not counting rifle and pistol I shoot trap and go through 20,000 plus shells a year at various competitions. I use a pair of custom molded and chuck them every other year. When shooting rifles or pistols I wear muffs too. Between shooting and working construction in refineries for 40 years I've lost enough hearing. A pair of custom molded plugs every two years is cheap compared to hearing aids.