Best ear protection?

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Fenian

Fenian

Member
Sep 26, 2018
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50
Mesa AZ United States
Hi guys,

Just wondering what’s the best ear protection for shooting, obviously Airguns are quiet but I shoot at a gun range and need some protection....

I don’t want ear muff style, they don’t work well with rifles. Is there anything like molded silicone ear plugs and with active noise cancelation???

open to suggestions and if you happen to know the price points too
 
I've got the cheesy hearing protection from Harbor Freight and Peltors. To be honest, they both work. I think the Peltor's are a bit more comfortable, and you can hook up a MP3 player, but I never use that stuff.

If I'm at the range and someone close has an AR or something else loud, I'll double up and use ear plugs along with the muffs. My father was in the artillery during WW!! and was basically deaf, so I do all I can to protect my ears.

Hearing protection is rated in Decibels (DB) reduction. It should be on every package, so find something that is comfortable, and has the reduction you want. More reduction is better, but its all a compromise.

Protect those ears and eyes, you only get one set of each
 
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Yeah, I get that there are times when muffs don't work well but they are by far the best option for ear protection. The highest rating that I could find was 33db by Pro-Ear. Have the speakers within so conversation is easy but shut off in nanoseconds. Asking for "The best ear protection" is one thing, settling for something much less than the best is another thing altogether. My point is why settle?

mike
 
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Agreed, don't settle

You only get one set of ears. Being deaf because you settled for second best isn't the brightest idea. After all, good protection starts at $7 for the Harbor Freight 23DB reduction muffs, or Peltor's at $40 or so in Amazon for a 21DB reduction. Higher reduction doesn't necessarily cost more. $12 gets you 26DB at HF again. Hearing protection is cheap. Hearing aids run $5000 or more for good ones. Do the math.

I like the Peltor style. Many manufacturers have similar, Thin, with the so you can have a conversation when no one is shooting, but the microphone shuts off when someone shoots. Nice feature. I think I paid $40 for those at Walmart. Amazon has a boatload of muffs, any shooting store has them as well. Some even have BluTooth connections so you can listen to music from your phone.

Even if you pay the $150 for muffs, you'll only get about 30DB reduction. You are paying for (Hopefully) features, comfort, and something that lasts for decades.

Do protect your ears. After watching dad struggle with hearing for years and finally just about give up in the end, I want to hear to my last minute.

To that end, use muffs when mowing, using a leaf blower, table saw, circular saw, router, grinder or anything even approaching 100DB. Many will tell you it doesn't matter, but why take a chance? It might matter to you.
 
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NOT ONLY deafness, but "ringing" in the ears is also caused by long time loud sounds.

Me, I've got heavy ringing in one ear and somewhat light (I think since they overlap!) ringing in my other ear.

Cause, being around high powered (loud) drag racing for most of my life, I'm almost 70. And all but this last year without any type of protection, even on the starting line. The odd thing is, lower pitch sounds (engine sounds) never bothered me much. It's high pitched sounds that did and still do bother me.

But even though the low pitched sound didn't hurt at the time, they are taking their toll now. It sucks..!

Wear ear protection.

Mike
 
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These are some of the electronic noise cancelling ear buds. They work in a similar fashion to noise cancelling ear muffs, but are inside the ears so there's nothing to get in the way of a rifle, etc. They cost from under $200 to over $400. I have no experience with any of them, but a quick search located these as some of the top units based on effectiveness.

Personally I use foam plugs plus an inexpensive (under $50 as I recall) Caldwell noise cancelling muffs. I only shoot off hand and have no issue with the muffs getting in the way.

Westone Defend Digital Ear Plugs

Etymotic Research Pro Series HD Electronic Earplugs (GSP15)

3M PELTOR TEP-100 Digital Tactical Earplugs


 
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I have worked industrial jobs since 79 that require hearing protection. New type Plugs and pods have came onto the seen but the old classic cylinder shaped foam ear plug usually has the highest NRR of any like 33DB reduction. As stated above they must be worn properly. True story I worked with a kid for a year in generating stations that talked trash about ear plugs, saying they are dumb and dont work. One day entering the running turbine deck I watched him put them in. He rolled them like a ball and shoved them toward the ear. I said hey watch me put these in. I rolled them correctly straightened my ear canal by pulling gently the top of my ear, placed the rolled plug in my ear holding it gently for the foam to resume its shape. He says really. I say try it. He did and a smile came over his face , he couldn't believe how quiet things got. He was a young cool guy that wouldn't pay attention during safety meetings. We have all been that. guy. Man I am glad I dont have to be cool anymore, it was tiring. But really fit is the key. Personally I use the 3m express pods on a cord. they have a less NRR only 28. But they are convenient and comfortable. This may be too much info but I quickly wet them, mouth I know gross. then stick them in my ear. But for me they are the most comfortable disposable out there. During Emergancy outages I have worked 32 hours. Find what will be comfortable and still effective. They all work effectively when worn properly. I have never found a pair of muffs that work by themselves while wearing safety glasses.




 
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Dense foam plugs, inserted properly, are the best I have used. When at the gun club, and I need secondary protection from the centerfire rifles at the next range, I use muffs, because of their convenience. I'm 70, and after years of noise abuse from shooting when I was younger, I now have 2 hearing aids that I have to wear about all the time. This is another reason that I wear muffs for convenience, if the noise isn't too close. I can wear them over my aids. But if I'm shooting any type of shotgun or cartridge firearm, I wear both foam plugs and the muffs. Our hearing is a gift that should be protected. Once damaged, it's gone. I love music, and now I can't really effectively listen to it. I miss that, every day.
 
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Just an FYI: If you get heavy duty intravenous antibiotics make sure the person dosing you knows how to start low and regulate by blood work. I learned that the hard way after it killed the fine hair in my ears. This is becoming more common with drug resistant bacteria.
Click to expand...

I work in healthcare. The amount of mistakes made by people who didn’t get the training, are not smart enough, simply don’t care, or just plain stupid is much more than you would believe !

i constantly prove so called specialists and NP wrong even when they are in another field than me 
 
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These are the plugs I prefer under my muffs. The cylinders fit best in my ears and stay in place. None of the pointy shaped ones stay in place for me.

ear plugs.1602017370.jpg





 
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