SHOOTING MUFFS

[antelopedundee]

Can anyone recommend a good set of muffs that have somewhat thin cups? The ones I have bump the Monte Carlo type stocks when the rifle recoils and the noise isn't sealed out as good as it could be.

 

[rjtfroggy]

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+l...ps,175&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_7_3&tag=accuratescom-20

About as thin as you will find without going to electronic plugs.

 

[normmatzen]

Be VERY careful!
check out the specs on all the thin muffs that work with your rifle. You will find that most all have an NRR of 22dB. This is very inadequate! Ironically, the performance of the old yello foamies can be improved by deep insertion (DI) to ~38 dB but the NRR spec is what you get with muffs.
Your best bet is wearing yello foamies under the muff with deep insertion. Both good foam plugs as well as most electronic blast protectors by them selves have potentially enough protection but ONLY with DI (deep insertion). which you can't get without some effort.
Check out the curves (Courtsy of Mead Killion pHD who is a professor of Audiology at North Western and the retired President and founder of Etymotic Research). These curves are with DI (deep insertion) as well as lesser degrees of insertion. The curves labeled SI and PI mean partial insertion and semi insertion.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Ear plugs.. I hate muffs. All I have used are in the way. My personal earplug favorite is Skull Screws.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Peltor shotgunner is how i roll

 

[normmatzen]

By the way, in Doctor Killions curves above, notice that the most variation is 500 Hz and below. This is critical as explosive noises like gun fire have most of their energy at this frequency range where standard industrial noise is nearly flat across the frequency range. This big difference between white noise (industrial) and explosive noise is what effects us shooters, not the flat, white noise industrial noise that most hearing protection is specified for. I have some scholarly articles on explosive noise and protection for same if any one is interested. PM me.

 

[foxguy]

Norm,

Has there been testing with the silicone Plugs. The type that have the 3-silicone rings. I am using them, it seems that they allow deep insertion fairly easily.

Thanks

 

[skeeljc]

You need good ear protection on a covered range. I like David Clark's muffs. You can replace the foam filled cushions with liquid filled cushions for more comfort. I still wear foam plugs with them.

 

[GNERGY]

I use the yellow foam plugs and the Howard Leight muffs that I got on Amazon from the warehouse for cheaper ( said packaging was damaged, corner was bent on blister pak )
Tarey

 

[antelopedundee]

Ear plugs.. I hate muffs. All I have used are in the way. My personal earplug favorite is Skull Screws.

I use both since I have to protect what hearing I have left.

 

[antelopedundee]

I use the yellow foam plugs and the Howard Leight muffs that I got on Amazon from the warehouse for cheaper ( said packaging was damaged, corner was bent on blister pak )
Tarey

These look like they might be worth a shot NPI.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HI8CN24/?tag=accuratescom-20

These Caldwell muffs also.

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/ca...1252638322567&utm_content=Bing - All Products

I'd just leave the batteries out.

These also, but they look delicate so might need to order 2 or 3 of them. together with the concert type plugs they should work pretty good.

https://www.caldwellshooting.com/sa...e-muff-low-profile-25-nrr/498024.html#start=1

 

[mac86951]

I also use both; add electronic muffs and I can hear the RO commands thru the plugs.

-Mac

 

[Old Navy]

I have to wear the deeper muffs to protect what I have left also. I decided to go with taller rings.

 

[xswanted]

I bought the Peltor from 3m a few months ago.

Electronic ear plugs.

Best things I’ve ever had. I will never use muffs again.

 

[Shooter13]

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+leight+impact+pro&crid=2YF807K10QTN2&sprefix=how,aps,175&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_7_3&tag=accuratescom-20

About as thin as you will find without going to electronic plugs.

I use these with the Walker electronic plugs, if I'm shooting alone at the range the electronic ones are good enough.

 

[Shooter13]

Here are the ones I use
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GUB2SMU/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[Hohn]

By the way, in Doctor Killions curves above, notice that the most variation is 500 Hz and below. This is critical as explosive noises like gun fire have most of their energy at this frequency range where standard industrial noise is nearly flat across the frequency range. This big difference between white noise (industrial) and explosive noise is what effects us shooters, not the flat, white noise industrial noise that most hearing protection is specified for. I have some scholarly articles on explosive noise and protection for same if any one is interested. PM me.

This is an excellent point. Gun shots technically have no frequency because it is an impulse. The frequency content would come from the resonances of things that are stimulated by that impulse.

Unfortunately, low frequencies are the hardest to block. This is why that kid's booming subwoofer shakes your car and you can't even hear what "music" he's listening to.

 

[bsekf]

Plugs and muffs! I use Howard Leight muffs.

 

[Hohn]

I also use both; add electronic muffs and I can hear the RO commands thru the plugs.

-Mac

Yesterday I only wore my green Impact Sports (the ones so common you'd be forgive for thinking they are issued with any gun purchase) because I was only shooting 9mm.

It was far more fatiguing and I'm certain more prone to hearing damage than my normal doubled-up approach of Surefire +impact sport. NRR of 22 db is just woefully inadequate even for pistol.

Truth is, I suspect my Surefires at only 26db NRR are inadequate even when doubled up with the Impact Sport muffs.

I'm sure most of you are aware that protection ratings are not additive. The addition of muffs on top of plugs doesn't adds the 22NRR your muffs might be rated, it adds more like 3db of reduction.

H

 

[rjtfroggy]

I lost my hearing from sirens and air horns just in front of me or right over me. Now I just try to protect what is left, and I have or tried the new designs, next up will be some sort of hearing aide, hopefully I can find something that does both amplify and reduce levels so I don't have to change them out when at the range.