Hearing Protection

[bench]

Ok I have seen many,many post about hearing protection and I am still confused.
Where I live I dont have the opportunity to ever go to a location or site (shooting range or club) where I can see what most people use for hearing protection.What I do now is to use ear plugs with muffs but have found the muffs get in the way of my butt stock when shooting.My hearing loss from work and shooting has taken its toll and I must find a better more comfortable hearing protection that can be used while target shooting and hunting.I want to wear them full time when hunting but it seems muffs do get in the way sometimes.Walkers Game Ears look good but there are so many types to choose from and have never seen any of them in use.
Help me choose a product that will work for me.
Thanks

 

[canderson]

I use the cheap orange stuff in your ear plugs. There are several sling shooters that use a more rigid molded plug that fits in the ear. There are a couple of economical kits to make the molded plugs. I agree the muffs hit my stock and bother me.

 

[JFMorgan]

Bench,

Try the Peltor Shotgunner. They are contoured to eliminate the interference between stock and muff.
About fifteen dollars give or take

Jim,

 

[pikespeakgoat]

bench,
I too have a great amount of hearing loss and I purchased a set of the ESP analog electronic units in 2001 (these http://www.espamerica.com/p-24-elite-classic-shooters-hearing-protection-earplugs-earbuds-ear-plugs-ear-buds.aspx) and I have had zero issues with them. For me, they are the ticket, they provide a good amount of sound magnification (good for understanding range commands as well as hearing critters in the woods usually before I even see them) as well as providing the necessary "blast" protection. I use them for all my hunting and shooting needs. The biggest downside is the price, $900.00, but for me they are absolutely worth every penny. If I had to do it over, the only change I'd make is I would get the digital type over my current analog type.

Also, I occasionally use the champion low profile elctronic muffs when I need more protection. If I am shooting next to someone using a brake on their gun, I use these in addition to my ESPs. I must say for the $$$, they work well for shooting, but not so much for hunting, too bulky for me.

And lastly, I have a few friends using the Caldwell low profile electronic muffs for shooting and they are satisfied with them.

FWIW.

 

[Redhighpower]

Bench, I've been shooting highpower across the course and mid and long range prone for quite a few years. I have the same hearing problem that you have . My hearing loss is from industrial noise. I have always worn ear plugs when shooting. I have found the round tubular yellow ear plugs work the best. If you really want silence then the molded plugs work better. The yellow tubular type are very inexpensive and are easy to use. You simply roll them so that the diameter is smaller then insert in the ear and they then swell back with a firm fit. they are the best in hot weather. Larry

 

[SS427]

Check out the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muff. They work great and are inexpensive at $59. They are about as low profile as an electronic muff gets. I use them with ear plugs and even the muzzle break guns don't bother me. They amplify low db sounds so you can hear pretty good with them on even with ear plugs.

Leight also makes a simple low profile muff called the Leightning L0F. About the same profile as the Peltor Shotgunner, but according to the marketing has slightly better sound suppression.

 

[wmdron]

The company I work for gives classes on industrial safety yearly and our safety advocate says that according to OSHA the foam roll up type earplugs lower noise levels the most. He also said that electronic ear muffs are good also. I asked how much more noise reduction I could get if I wore both foam earplugs and ear muffs and he said that studies indicate an additional 5db reduction in noise levels, I expected it to be more. I don't like muffs so I wear either EAR classics (yellow tube shaped) or Pura- Fit (green tube shaped) foam earplugs as they are comfortable and have the added advantage of being free as my company encourages us to use safety equipment at home and doesn't mind supplying it free of charge.

 

[normmatzen]

I have commented on this subject many times here. My career background is in electronics design and audiology.

And, yes, the yellow foamies offer the best protection, IF INSERTED CORRECTLY! I used them till my employer, before retirement, came out with the EB-15 electronic blast protector. That is all I use as it matches yellow foamies for protection and also allows you to hear soft sounds plainly. I also designed the amplifier in them!

Check out www.etymotic.com and look up their ear protection devices as well as the clinical testing behind the EB-15. In the audiology busines, anecdotal evidence is a NO! NO!

 

[Bulseyetom]

After 40 years of way too much noise exposure I have severe to moderate hearing loss depending on which ear you want to talk about. I just got a Peltor WS Tactical XP with behind the neck support. If you turn the electronics off, you can't hear a thing. With them on, I can turn the volume up and hear noises that I can't without them. I haven't shot with them yet but I believe that at the range in the off position I won't hardly know the gun went off. It will be interesting to see how they work on but they have several delay modes so I am sure that in fast delay they will work just fine. Tom

 

[357Mag]

Pike's -

Howdy !

Neither earplugs nor earmuffs alone are the best bet. Wearing both at-the-same-time is best

ANR ( " Active Noise Suppression " ) type headsets have microphones in them to detect the noise that the ear will hear.
The ANR headset then generates a "white noise" signal to help counter-act the inbound offensive noise.
When designed for the correct noise frequency range, ANR's can be very effective, to the point that free speech can be heard from a source external to the earcups; even though the offensive outside noise(s) continues. For example, conversation taking place next to a running jet aircraft. When ANR's have the frequency range right, they're superb at what they do.

For a lot of us w/ Tinitus or other similar reasons why we have trouble discriminating hearing free speech against background noise,
"hearing" is sometimes benefitted by simply wearing foam earplugs. The plugs can screen-out a lot of Db, which is otherwise impairing
one's ability to understand speech or conversation. In many cases ( such as my circumstance ), I can hear people better when I wear earplugs in a noisy environment; than I can if I don't wear them. In a lot of industrial settings, they are offered or provided to workers
free. They don't cost much neither, should one have to $$$ their own.

I find that at the end of the work day, my ears ring less after I've worn earplugs ( as they can sure ring MORE... if I don't ).

My son gave me a set of rubbery flange-type earplugs which has sets sets of replaceable inserts for them. These are designed specifically to provide reliefe from loud music. You simply use whichever central insert ( noise filter ) works best. I wore them today inside a ridiculously noisey music store, and I was able to stay in the store as a result. Without some sort of noise screening, I would not have been able to tolerate the noise & stay. They'll be in my ears when I return to work next week, as there is a worker close by my station who plays
his music WAYYYYY to loud.

As an aside, most hearing aids advertised today... are a joke. They do little more than amplify ALL noise, and pass it on to the wearer.
And, who needs that ?! Hearing aids that have the tech necessary to only amplify and pass on desired ( speech ) signal ranges are $$$.

With regards,
357Mag

 

[normmatzen]

To repeat;

First, nothing can reduce sounds much below 40 dB ( a factor of 100) as the human mastoid bone conducts sound into the skull and allows a maximum of 40-45 dB.

Ear muffs must be worn with ear plugs as most popular price muffs do not seal to the skull well enough.

And, the yellow foamie and plugs like them WILL protect to the maximum. BUT, only if they are worn properly. The reason plugs are rated in NRR is that because of mis-insertion problems, the manufacturer MUST begin with the maximum available noise reduction (around 38-40 dB) and subtract the loss of attenuation due to poor insertion or poor fit. That is why yellow foamies have a NRR of 20-25 dB. If you can see mostof the plug sticking out of a users ear, it is NOT inserted properly! If it is laying accross the ear canal, it does virtually nothing.
To properly insert foamies, one must roll the plug between the thumb and fore finger till it becomes a small rod. Then, insert it in the ear canal with a screwing motion and finally push it in with the small finger tip. Only when you are afraid you won't be able to get it out is it in properly! To remove them, use the thumb and middle finger together like a pincher and grasp the outer surface of the plug.


Of course, now you can't hear anyone talking in the vacinity! Now look up Etymotic Research at www.etymotic.com and find out about true quality high fidelity hearing and protection rolled into one device, the EB-15.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have muffs but find they get in the way.. The plaec where I work is OK with us taking ear plugs home for use, so I have a bunch in my range bag. The ones I like best right now are called Skull Screws.. They have a small stem that allows easier insertion into the ear canal.. I also have a set of custom formed plugs that I sometimes use. They seem to reduce the sound the best as they were made to exactly fit my ear opening..

 

[Nodak7mm]

"As an aside, most hearing aids advertised today... are a joke. They do little more than amplify ALL noise, and pass it on to the wearer.
And, who needs that ?! Hearing aids that have the tech necessary to only amplify and pass on desired ( speech ) signal ranges are $$$."

But getting and using the correct hearing aids for your type of loss is a godsend. Most of us younger folk who have hearing loss in their 30/40/50's is due to industrial noise damage and recently (last 5 yrs), mfg's finally make hearing aids that amplify only the frequencies that "you/I" cannot hear.

I have had severe frequency loss since I was in my 20's and have always been told by audioligists, dont bother with hearing aids, they just amplify what you can hear. This is no longer true.

I am 47 and got my first pair of hearing aids just last year and they are digitally dialed in to amplify only the frequencies I couldnt/cant hear. LIFE CHANGING EVENT my friends. Best 4200$ I spent. Most Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans cover $1K per ear and you can flex (flexible medical spending account/125 plan...) the rest.

So for the first time since I can remember, I can hear crickets, birds, coffee pot beepers, watch tv and hear instead of lip read and you cannot believe how loud you have been talking all this time...

They are extremely lightweight, 98% of folks cant see em in, and I forget I have em in. Incredible life changeing event. Batteries last me 7-9 days..

Protect your hearing!!!

But to address the OP, I have had the same concerns this past yr. Have always worn muffs, but shooting prone, muffs can be bothersome. So I too have been researching foamies and other smaller devices. And from what I can see, the foamies are the best for my situation. I found that not all foamies are the same. But they are cheap enough to try a bunch of different types. So shortly I will be trying several brands to find a pair that work for me.

Look for the NRR rating (Noise Reduction), the higher the better. I was suprised to see my peltors were only in the mid 20's. I have seen quite a few different varieties of foamies that are rated for 30-33 db reduction. So I hope to find a comfy, easy to install brand of foamies. Lot of info on the web for this specific subject..

Good topic...

Rod Vigstol

 

[SmokinJoe]

Rod, what brand & style hearing aids have you gotten such good results with. I've been wearing hearing aids for years, have in-the canal digitals by Starkey, but still not all that happy with the results. Always interested in something that may be better. Thanks, Joe

 

[Nodak7mm]

Hi Joe,

Glad to help.. They are "Siemens Life 301's" and they are a behind the ear type.

Google em and there is a ton of info on em.. But if you'd like more info from me, shoot me a "pm"... Very happy with em..

Rod

 

[normmatzen]

For excellent aids, go to COSTCO. They have great products and the dispensers are very competent.

They also have the best prices!

Norm