Ear protection

[Scott in Houston]

Awesome! Thanks.

Great stuff.

[PUCKER]

I need to upgrade my hearing protection. I have been using a plain-jane set of basic muffs and also have the orange, multi-stage in the ear plugs. If I'm shooting my .300 win mag with the brake on, well, I "double up" (muffs and plugs). When I'm shooting pistols I just use the ear plugs. I have been wanting to try the electronic muffs for some time now. I've seen the Howard Leights at Cabelas and I'm trying to recall if they carry any other brands in-store. I'm a big "try before you buy" person, especially if it's going to be some serious $$$. Do y'all have any input/recommendations for DFW area stores that carry good/great e-muffs that are available to try on, and the brands you recommend? Thank you in advance.

[C-dub]

For the last few years I've been using the little spongy type you roll in your fingers and then insert into the ear. They've worked really well and are supposed to be 32db reduction, I think. I've always thought I might like those Quad microphone Peltor's, but I don't hunt and just figured at the range the sound would be suppressed most of the time anyway.

[bowserb]

I've used the Peltors for several years. Don't know what generation they are. Big pain changing batteries. Generally work OK, although a couple weeks ago there was a guy shooting...I don't know what--44 magnum? Big revolver, anyway. The noise was so loud it hurt my ears with the Peltors. Now I subscribe to the Tom Gresham approach: Electronic muffs AND foam earplugs. Combined, they work very well.

[Scott in Houston]

I had the Leight's and Peltors at the same time for a while and ended up returning the Leights. Too much of the sound came through with the Leights when volume was up. The both were about equal when they were powered down. On an indoor range, both are much more comfortable with internal plugs in addition to the muffs themselves.

However, when volume was up. The Peltors way outperformed the Leights. They were quicker to recover and also damped the noise much faster.

[C-dub]

Cool, thanks guys. Sounds like the Peltor's would work well with plugs.

Just how good are those Sordin's? Anyone have some? Would you still recommend plugs underneath?

[koolaid]

Especially at indoor ranges you should always double up. Even with 30db muffs, you are potentially getting blasted with >100db. Even muffs + plugs are only going to reduce the volume ~40db.

Anything over 100db can cause hearing damage even with very brief exposure, and even at lower volumes cumulative damage is quite possible.

I say this as someone who completely screwed up the hearing in my right ear at an indoor range. Better to have to shout at the range than to have to have people shout at you for the rest of your life, in my opinion.

[Jumping Frog]

Especially at indoor ranges you should always double up. Even with 30db muffs, you are potentially getting blasted with >100db. Even muffs + plugs are only going to reduce the volume ~40db.

Anything over 100db can cause hearing damage even with very brief exposure, and even at lower volumes cumulative damage is quite possible.

I say this as someone who completely screwed up the hearing in my right ear at an indoor range. Better to have to shout at the range than to have to have people shout at you for the rest of your life, in my opinion.

I double up as well.

My tinnitus is already so bad that sometimes it is louder than the TV. I am protecting the hearing I have left.

I use the Surefire Sonic Defenders for the in-ear plugs with muffs over the top.

[noeesp]

Great info. Thanks

[C-dub]

I'm checking back after going to my first match today. I didn't shoot, but wish I had. It looked like a LOT of fun. I wore my foam plugs and could definitely see where some electronic muffs would be really nice for an event like this. So, I'm looking back at the Sordin's and noticing that they are only rated for 18db NRR. Seriously, only 18db for something pricey? Why?