Hearing protection

[kamagong]

Is the expensive stuff necessary? I bought an inexpensive seat of Winchester earmuffs at Wally World for $7. It's rated to 25 db. I combine it with earplugs that are rated for 28 decibels, and I get 40 of them for $3. Together the plugs and the muffs provide very good protection. So for ten dollars I have a very inexpensive, but effective way of protecting my hearing. Much more economical than the $100 electronic muffs I sometimes see.

 

[RNB65]

The ear protection is the same with the cheap muffs as the expensive ones. The NRR rating is computed using an industry standard process. The difference is going to be durability. A 7$ set of muffs is probably going to be far more fragile than a $30 pair of Peltors.

I've never used electronic muffs, so I can't comment on them. I'm perfectly happy with my battery-free Peltors. Muffs + foam earplugs offer the very best ear protection possible.

 

[lance22]

I shelled out over $ 200.00 for a pair of pro-ears. They protect my ears LESS than foam ear plugs (which cost practically nothing).

However - I bought the expensive head phones so that I could talk to people while supervising them on the firing line, and in turn to be able to hear those I supervise - that is something I can't do with my cheapo hearing muffs / ear plugs.

I think if you are an IPSC RO, IDPA 'Safety officer", a Range Officer - or do anything else where you need to communicate on the firing line- then yes you probably need expensive hearing protection - because you are not just keeping loud sounds out, but also letting soft sounds in.

Otherwise, nothing beats foam earplugs - and spend that $ 200.00 on something more worthy like a new optic for your rifle or Kel-Tec P-3AT for pocket carry.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Much more economical than the $100 electronic muffs I sometimes see.

With electronic muffs, you aren't paying to block more sound, you're paying to block less.

I wear foam plugs (33 db plugs from the pharmacy dept, they are cheaper there than in the sportings good department) with electronic muffs. With the electronic muffs turned up a bit, I can still hear conversations, enviromental noise (important as I commonly shoot at "undeveloped ranges"), and the like while pretty much completely blocking out the gun shot sounds.

As mentioned above, one of the things with more expensive non-electronic muffs is you get a bit better durability, better comfort, better fit, usually more positive sizing, etc.

 

[jhansman]

I wear Silencio Falcons, and for inexpensive (I paid about $50) electronic muffs, they are great. I shoot next to .44 mags, .308 muzzle brakes, you name it, and it's all good. I like not having to shout to hear myself!

 

[indie]

+ 1 for jorg's post.

I got the 33 db plugs from the pharmacy section in wal mart. Me, my wife and my friend who is an officer used them at the indoor range yesterday shooting my 357 magnum.

It did the job and cost like 3 bucks for 10 pair.

Im going to invest in a couple pair of walmart 7 dollar winchester muffs for my wife and I, and my friend who is a cop uses those too.

But all felt that the foam plugs did the trick. It wasnt startlingly noisy at all.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

You need not spend a lot of money for good ear muffs (my personal preference). I got a Peltor Ultimate 10 (31 or 33 NRR, I don't recall, but it was pretty high) muff for $20-ish. The higher the NRR (noise reduction rating), the better your ears will be protected. I also prefer muffs to plugs because my skull vibrates when a large caliber is fired nearby and the soft muffs dampen this down.


I've often thought about some electronic muffs, as it makes normal conversation (e.g., talking to my buddy or hearing the range officer) during shooting much easier, but the highest NRR I can recall seeing on these is 25 or possibly 27. Not good enough. I usually shoot at an indoor range that allows rifles up to 8100 ft lb of muzzle smash to be shot, in much closer proximity. I will just have to talk louder.

 

[fletcher]

Cheap stuff is fine, especially if you double-up anyways. I use a $15 set from Wal-Mart along with earplugs, and it works just fine. I'm sure I could get much more comfortable ones for more money, but for protection, it's sufficient.