Double Hearing Protection Question

[Infrequent Shooter]

it is amazing how high some of the cheap plugs are rated for>>>not sure how accurate the ratings are. some of the Peltor plugs are rated pretty high. belt and suspenders for my ears. but a 25 and a 30db protection do not equal 55. from what I have read you can get up to about 40db with combo. I am getting old and cranky. I hate going to a crowed indoor range with some one banging away right next to me. Worst I ever endured was a 38 super a few lanes down.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Remember that muffs are only adding 3-6db of reduction to the foam in-ear plugs. Be sure you are sticking the foam ones in deep. They should nestle well into the ear canal and honestly should be a little uncomfortable.

With proper deep-seated foam plugs, any muff will do. Crank up the volume as needed.

Tge best muffs for actual sound reduction are made by David Clark. You might know them from aviation headsets.

I will definitely check out the Clark product

 

[xswanted]

There was a thread in here a few years back from an audiologist regarding doubling ear protection. Maybe someon that is good at searching can link it up but the gist of the thread was it didn’t really gain anything over good plugs.

I understand what the OP is trying to accomplish however.
I personally use electronic plugs as I can’t wear muffs due to the stock knocking them off when I shoot.

Forum Boss: That thread was deleted because the self-proclaimed expert was publishing completely inaccurate information. The general scientific consensus for muffs over plugs is a 4-7 dB noise reduction. You can do your own test with a loud car engine to verify.

 

[Rick300]

There was a thread in here a few years back from an audiologist regarding doubling ear protection. Maybe someon that is good at searching can link it up but the gist of the thread was it didn’t really gain anything over good plugs.

I understand what the OP is trying to accomplish however.
I personally use electronic plugs as I can’t wear muffs due to the stock knocking them off when I shoot.

What electronic plugs are you using that are good enough not to wear muffs?

FORUM Boss: Double protection does work. All the major scientific studies say so and you can prove it yourself in about 10 seconds.

 

[Monte F]

I have the molded plugs and just got the gel pads for my electronic muffs. The new pads feel more comfortable so far.

 

[Dave Marshall]

For you that can wear muffs when shooting it must be great. I've tried different muffs and with the shape of my head the muffs hit the stock hard enough the push the ear muff off when trying to shoot with my trap gun. Im going to try some custom molded plugs.

Just double up all the time. Disposable foam plugs, (properly used) will still provide 90% effective protection. If the stock pushes your earmuf off, so what? Custom plugs work well, but small variations in anatomy will cause gaps in your ear canals. For standing with my rifle, I had the same problem. I simply wear both types and place the earmuff that moves muff on top of the right ear plug rather than over that ear

 

[xswanted]

What electronic plugs are you using that are good enough not to wear muffs?

FORUM Boss: Double protection does work. All the major scientific studies say so and you can prove it yourself in about 10 seconds.

I have the 3m Peltor.

Use the skull screw plugs. They work very well.

 

[divingin]

I have the earmuffs and the small insert in your ear type electric muffs. My ears must be an odd size because I can never get the small ones to stay set so I use the muffs more. As a suffer of Tinnitus with mild Hearing loss, use something, anything.

I have a set of Etymotics; I never found an eartip that worked securely and comfortably (one or the other, or neither.) I ended up dismantling an old set and contact cementing a pair of regular contoured foam earplugs (that I punched a hole in) onto the silicone tube core they use. I suspect you don't need a complete through-hole as it gets squished down when inserted; the mod makes a big difference in retention and comfort. It probably attenuates more then the normal tips, but the amplification is still better than wearing straight plugs. It also makes it possible to bear wearing them for a full day of shooting.

 

[M-61]

I always wondered if different decibel ranges effect individuals differently. I realize there will be a number that will cause damage. That's not my question. For me a .357 pistol makes a noise that I can not tolerate at all. Yet my 257 Weatherby is tolerable. I am assuming the 257 is 'louder', but then that's an assumption.
I have never seen a chart that gave decibel ratings for individual cartridges. I know barrel length, ambient temperature. etc., will all have an effect that will cause a difference
(and I guess size of an individuals mandible), but any kind of guide line?

 

[BoydAllen]

I generally believe my own ears when it comes to how loud things are, but I do recognize that there are sounds that do not immediatly hurt that can damage your hearing, so yes, for those sorts of things a list would be helpful.