Hearing protection

[ScubaSigGuy]

I searched and couldn't find much in the way of endorsements on upper
end hearing protection in previous posts. I am currently using a fairly
inexpensive set of "ear defenders" from Leightner (sp?) that promise
31db of noise reduction. I wear foam plugs under those, but I am still
looking for something a little better. Having spent a decade around jets
aircraft, and 2 on motorcylces I want to preserve my hearing or at least
stall it's level of decline.

I looked at some Peltor electronic muffs and the price range varied from
$80.00 to $200. I don't mind paying for them i just want to make sure I
get what I pay for? The small in ear electronic type are interesting, but do
they work? Any suggestions?

Thanks for the input.

[nitrogen]

The electronic earmuffs i'm familliar with work wonderfully outdoors, but leave something to be desired indoors.

Right now, I just use a pair of earmuffs I got from Home Depot originally for use with power mowers. They are rated at 31db, the best I saw, and they were only about 30 bucks.

[Skiprr]

IMSUO (in my somewhat uninformed opinion), what the electronics buy you are better ability to hear range commands, something I found necessary for IDPA and training courses. But the actual sound suppression is not aided by electronics. The electronics don't muffle sound better; what they do is allow better normal hearing at low volume levels then, like a surge protector, clamp quickly to prevent loud sounds to get through. I say "clamp," but in fact there are two basic methods they deal with loud sounds: peak clipping (most like a surge protector), and compression technology (kinda just squishes the unsafe sound down to acceptable db levels).

Passive, over-the-ear muff-type protectors like your Howard Leight's reach as high a NRR (Noise Reduction Rating; the pretty complex calculation determined in accordance with ANSI S3.19-1974) as any electronic protector. I have a pair of Pro-Ears Pro-Mag Plus electronic muffs rated at NRR33 that cost just about 10 times what my passive NRR30 Leightning L3s cost. Sometimes the choice isn't only about the NRR.

But if you're already wearing plugs underneath your Leightnings, I don't think you'll find anything that will significantly improve that overall sound suppression. On the other hand, if you find catching range commands difficult with the plugs and the muffs, going electronic could be a worthwhile safety consideration because even with the plugs in you'd be able to hear the commands better.

A while back I asked someone whose opinion I respect about in-ear protection, because the muffs absolutely do get uncomfortable in the summer heat. He pointed me to these guys: http://www.earinc.com/p1-electronic.php. But you'll want to have your checkbook healthy and ready.

[TX Rancher]

Something to remember when buying protectors is while the NRR is important, and in general the higher the number the better, the rating applies to continuous noise, not impulse noise…a firearm represents impulse while a power tool would be continuous.

Also, the original method for testing defined by OSHA turned out to be a little suspect, and actual field data indicated the NRR numbers were giving a false sense of protection to the end user. People were not getting the protection the numbers indicated.

The industry responded by coming up with a better method of testing. The rating is NRR Subject Fit (SF) and more closely approximates real world usage. But here’s the problem, this rating is voluntary, and not all manufacturers use it. Many of the higher end systems are tested to the SF criteria, but many of the inexpensive ones are not. So in other words, a NRR of 27db means different things depending on what procedure they chose to use. The old adage you get what you paid for comes to mind…

There’s also the issue that for most shooters, the NRR rating is effectively lower in application due to fit. For instance, if you wear glasses (and you should when shooting), they can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of the protectors since they keep them from forming a tight seal around your ears.

Electronic protectors, in general are just as good as their non-electronic counterparts…but no better. They just have the advantage you can hear what’s going on around you much better.

For continuous noise, it seems the ear muff type work better then the plugs. But for impulse noise such as gunfire I haven’t been able to find definitive information that shows a difference between them. It may be there, I just haven’t found it yet…

For me, the combination of the two gets good results. I use a high quality electronic ear muff coupled with ear plugs. The electronics still allow me to hear range commands, but the combination really checks the impulse noise.

According to info I’ve found (OSHA), combining roughly halves the noise my ears are subjected to…that’s about 3db on the scale. You don’t get to “add� the protection number. Coupling two 25db rated devices doesn’t get you 50db attenuation…

So to me, the bottom line is to stay away from the “cheap� protectors (unless they use the NRR SF system) and to double up (muffs and plugs).

Hope this helps.

[propellerhead]

I'm cheap and I've always doubled up. $10 each muffs with a 23 NRR and $0.50 plugs with a 31 NRR. I can't see how you can get any better than that. I tried the $30 electric ones from MidwayUSA but they were heavier and don't clamp down on your head as good as the $10 Walmart specials. By that alone, the $10 ones were more effective. One of the guys at the range had a $200+ set and they were even heavier.

At the IDPA match last night, I used just the plugs but I actually put them on the proper way. It was too hot in the range to wear ear muffs. I felt like they were filling up with water. To put the plugs in, I pulled back on the ear before inserting them, which allows the plug to go deeper into the ear. That's the way they should be worn. That's how you get maximum effectiveness from the plugs. Otherwise, they are just like putting cotton balls in your ears.

[ScubaSigGuy]

That's some great info guys. Thanks!

[mcub]

Dont forget the fit
The over the ear mufs are only effective if they (the muff part) fully contacts the skin all the way around the ear, and they should fit firm.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Great post Tx Rancher, Thanks.

Chas.

[TX Rancher]

Thanks for the kind words Charles

[Texas Armadillo]

I've had the MSA Sordin Supreme Pro IV for over a year now. I won't wear anything else if these are with me.

http://www.csuk.us/sup_pro4.php#cutoff

Tight fit, excellent microphones, input jack, great battery life, auto shutoff, great noise reduction, and a shape designed to allow good cheek weld when shooting long guns.

You can turn the volume up and hear someone wispering several feet away and gun shots anre still cutout just fine.

Some people like them, some don't, just like any other hearing protection. I happen to love these.

TA

[Zero_G]

I had a long discussion with an audiologist I work with (retired Army O6). He does not recommend the electronic muffs. They don't have a quick enough response and don't cover the full range of frequencies produced by firearms.

Good muffs (with especially soft/compliant comfort ring to provide a good seal) with foam ear plugs underneath are the best. You also need to put the ear plugs in correctly - if you can see foamy plugs when you look at yourself straight on in a mirror, they aren't in far enough.

A good plug (audiologist recommend) for outdoor use is the Combat Arms and AOSafety plugs (http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/aosinranplug.html). They allow you to hear essentially normally, but close off loud, percussive noise. They can be turned around and used as normal plugs too. A good brand of muffs is the Elvex SuperSonics HB-5000 ($18 at http://www.rdfaulkner.com/catalog/item. ... 74c48cf67f)

[ScubaSigGuy]

Thanks for the info Zero G.

[GlockenHammer]

I looked at some Peltor electronic muffs and the price range varied from $80.00 to $200. I don't mind paying for them i just want to make sure I get what I pay for? The small in ear electronic type are interesting, but do they work? Any suggestions?

I'm in the same boat. I am planning to request high-end, in-the-ear electronic hearing protection for Christmas. There's been some great info here, but I am still unsure of how best to spend the ~$250 I'd be willing for someone to spend on my behalf.

I know some shooters here actually own and use in-the-ear electronic hearing protection. What do you use, what do you like/dislike about it and would you recommend it to others?

[The Marshal]

Something I was told, that I do not now how much fact it is, but I will repeat as it sound really good is this:

the bone right behind your ear is 'uncovered' with in-the-ear plugs. Yet this bone transmits a high amount of sound to the inner ear.

Therefore, using ear plugs, rather than ear muffs, does not prevent the sound transferance thru the bone behind the ear, which will still cause damage to the inner ear.

That said, I tend towards the muffs....

[L8RG8R]

Something I was told, that I do not now how much fact it is, but I will repeat as it sound really good is this:

the bone right behind your ear is 'uncovered' with in-the-ear plugs. Yet this bone transmits a high amount of sound to the inner ear.

Therefore, using ear plugs, rather than ear muffs, does not prevent the sound transferance thru the bone behind the ear, which will still cause damage to the inner ear.

That said, I tend towards the muffs....

My CHL instructor said the same thing.