Best Ear Protection ?

[westex1948]

Looking for some advice.....What is best way to protect your EARS while shooting (in doors or out)

I've been using a foam plug rated 32 dB, with no problems. Yesterday went to indoor range, where had shot before, shot 150 rounds 40S&W. AND today have slight ring in ear.

What do all of you suggest? Do I also need to add earmuffs?....My ears are 61 years old & I would like to keep them...

[Mike1951]

Any muffs would add to the protection offered by your plugs.

But Howard Leight offers the highest rated muffs at 31NRR.

[Crossfire]

There are some theories that earplugs are not as effective as over-the-ear muffs. Personally, when shooting indoors, I like to use both.

[Texas10X]

I got a Guide Gear Stereo Hearing Protection headset from SportsmansGuide.com for $20 and I love it! I like it better than my husband's Remington Stereo Hearing Protection which cost a lot more. Check the customer comments on the Sportsmans Guide website.

[CompVest]

I too prefer ear muffs for indoor shooting. However, I have used my E.A.R. Inc. in the ear hearing protection for indoor shooting and have never experienced any ringing in my ears after full 3 hour lessons with 11 women.

I use my E.A.R. ear plugs for all of my outdoor shooting. I love them. They are comfortable, have digital electronics so I can hear everything and everyone around me, and I can wear any style hat I want. The only draw back is that they are way expensive! If you can get your work to pay for them as a safety item it helps!

[joe817]

There was a lengthy discussion about this back in May, and had good comments:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... protection" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BobCat]

Foam plugs with these http://www.cdnninvestments.com/29thheprnewh.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; over them. This is a great price, Cheaper Than Dirt has them for 2-3 times as much.

You are wise to protect whatever hearing you have.

Regards,
Andrew

[Mike from Texas]

I use the Peltor Tactical 6S electronic muffs. When shooting indoors I add a set of plugs with them.

[mred]

In my younger days I never used protection because the boom was part of the fun. Now it is a must. I still hear fine but I can't handle the boom now in my 50's. Blew out one ear once when I came up too fast while scuba diving, maybe that contributes.

[Charles L. Cotton]

The Howard Leight muffs were mentioned in the thread cited by joe817 and they sure look nice. The 22db passive noise reduction is nothing to write home about, but you could combine this with soft earplugs when in a higher noise environment (i.e. "big guns"). I'm going to have to try a pair. If they really get 300+ hrs on 2 AAA batteries, that will be an added bonus. At $50, they just may be the best bargain available.

Here is a link to the product brochure

Chas.

[Mike from Texas]

The Howard Leight muffs were mentioned in the thread cited by joe817 and they sure look nice. The 22db passive noise reduction is nothing to write home about, but you could combine this with soft earplugs when in a higher noise environment (i.e. "big guns"). I'm going to have to try a pair. If they really get 300+ hrs on 2 AAA batteries, that will be an added bonus. At $50, they just may be the best bargain available.

Here is a link to the product brochure

Chas.

Charles I have a pair of those as well and they do a decent job indoors but I still use plugs with them. The main reason I bought them is for when my kids go hunting with me. We can whisper and still talk to each other and not have to worry about gun blast in the blind.

[Charles L. Cotton]

The Howard Leight muffs were mentioned in the thread cited by joe817 and they sure look nice. The 22db passive noise reduction is nothing to write home about, but you could combine this with soft earplugs when in a higher noise environment (i.e. "big guns"). I'm going to have to try a pair. If they really get 300+ hrs on 2 AAA batteries, that will be an added bonus. At $50, they just may be the best bargain available.

Here is a link to the product brochure

Chas.

Charles I have a pair of those as well and they do a decent job indoors but I still use plugs with them. The main reason I bought them is for when my kids go hunting with me. We can whisper and still talk to each other and not have to worry about gun blast in the blind.

I just got a pair at Academy, but I haven't been to the range yet. They are more comfortable than any muffs I've ever had and I like the fact that the battery case is accessed "outside." They really do amplify more than my old Peltors. The price went up to $60, but that's still a very good price if they perform as well.

Chas.

[apostate]

I just got a pair at Academy, but I haven't been to the range yet. They are more comfortable than any muffs I've ever had and I like the fact that the battery case is accessed "outside." They really do amplify more than my old Peltors. The price went up to $60, but that's still a very good price if they perform as well.

Chas.

Please post your impressions when you take them to the range. I hear good things about them but haven't seen a side-by-side review of them and Peltor. Are they comfortable for extended wear with eye protection? Do they attenuate as well as Peltor? Personal thoughts on pros and cons of the Howard Leight and Peltor muffs?

Muchas Gracias!

[Mike from Texas]

The only reason I prefer my Pltors over the Howard Leights is beacause of independent volume controls on the Peltors.

[MegaWatt]

I've got a pair of Howard Leights and a Peltor pair. I use the Peltor with independent volume controls when I shoot IHMSA silhouettes because if I'm next to somebody shooting a big bore like a 7BR or 7TCU I shut that side off and it's less distracting. I use the Howard Leights for IDPA and just about everything else. I like the 4 hour shut-off function too on the HLs. Saves a lot on batteries. The Peltors take 4 x AAA and the HL takes 2 x AAA so there is cost savings too. Especially since I always seem to forget to shut the Peltors off so I'm having to replace the batteries. If I had to choose one over the other I would take the Howard Leights.