Help with ear protection, please?

[Juna]

I'm looking to buy some ear protection, preferably around 35 dB reduction. Everywhere around here seems overpriced except for the 19 dB clunkers.

1) Will regular muffs do that (~30-35 dB), or do you need electronic?

2) How do electronic ear muffs work?

3) What's a good price for 30-35 dB reduction muffs (& where can I get 'em)?

4) What do you use for your ears?

 

[GlenJ]

I use ear muffs when I'm pistol shooting that I got in the Navy, don't know what db they are. For rifle shooting I use free throw away foamys that I get at work.

 

[JohnL2]

I still use the soft rubber earplugs I was issued in the Army. Cheap, portable, and effective as any fancy schmancy muff out there.

I don't like the head in a clamp feeling of muffs.

 

[Bruce333]

The good electronic muffs have a slight delay built in that is longer than the cut-off time. That is, what you hear lags behind what the mics on the outside of the ear cups pick up (the delay is so slight that I never notice it). The electronics shut off the speakers (some just turn them down) when the sound picked up is louder than the decibels allowed.

Can't help 'ya on prices. I got electronic muffs as a gift years ago, and get foamies for free from work. When I'm shooting outside I just use the Electronic muffs. Inside I'll double up and use foamies under the muffs.

 

[RNB65]

Peltor H10's at 30db NRR are about the best you'll find. Wear a set of foam rubber earplugs under them if you need more protection.

 

[vesmcd]

In my opinion, the custom ear mold plugs work best.

 

[Futuristic]

Muffs and Plugs is Best

OK, here goes:

Juna:

I'm looking to buy some ear protection, preferably around 35 dB reduction. Everywhere around here seems overpriced except for the 19 dB clunkers.

1) Will regular muffs do that (~30-35 dB), or do you need electronic?

2) How do electronic ear muffs work?

3) What's a good price for 30-35 dB reduction muffs (& where can I get 'em)?

4) What do you use for your ears?

1 = There is at least one pair of Muffs from Howard Leight that will do 31 dB of NRR (Noise Reduction Rating). That is the highest I am immediately aware of in a set of Shooting Muffs.

2 = Electronic Muffs for Shooting just AMPLIFY sounds around you so you can hear things like Range Officer Commands, etc. UNTIL a gunshot or other Loud Noise, then they instantly Stop Amplifying sound. (ANR or Active Noise Reduction Headsets are designed for Steady State sounds, like the Droning on an Airplane. They use Acoustic trickery to actively reduce those sounds, but they cannot normally deal with Transient Noise like Gunshots. They are the cat's meow for Pilots of GA airplanes, though.)

3 = A quick search shows the 31 dB HL Leightnings at anywhere from $13 to $22 USD.

4 = I wear Plugs (usually HL Max 33 dB NRR, sometimes HL Quiet 26 dB NRR) then I wear Electronic (Sordin 18 dB NRR plus Amplifying) Muffs over the plugs. You don't get to add the Muffs and Plugs NRR together, but you get about an extra 6 dB of NRR from wearing both. My biggest reason is that if you manage to cock your head so that your Muffs touch your shoulder or the stock of your longgun, that can lever them up just a little so they break their seal around your ear. Then you go from 31 to 0 (ZERO) dB instantly, and you probably won't know it until you touch off a shot. OWWWWWW!

If you do a LOT of shooting, look into getting Custom Molded Earplugs from an Audiologist. They are the most comfortable by a long shot.

Futuristic

 

[cloudcroft]

Juna,

You're not going to get 35db rating for one type of ear protection no matter what kind it is.

The non-electric ear muffs like Silencio Magnums give you 29db I believe....about the best when it comes to ear muffs, even electrical muffs.

But if you use electronic or regular ear muffs AND a pair of ear plugs, you will come close, maybe a bit over 35.

I use a set of "Pro Ears" myself...

http://www.pro-ears.com/

...but no ear plugs because I want to use the amplified hearing feature (gain jumper "on").

Yes, I mainly use them out in the desert for shooting sessions -- for noise suppression but also to hear (gain "on") any ATVs/4WDs or whatever out there for safety purposes -- but they also my choice for any "disturbances" at night when I may have an intruder inside, again for noise suppression (gunshots inside a building) but also so I can hear any noise any intruder makes to locate him.

-- John D.

EDIT: I am not sure of the exact amount of gain these muffs provide so I deleted the "8db" gain amount I stated in my original post. It seems to be LOTS MORE than what I originally thought. Sorry for my misstatement.
-- JD

 

[WNTFW]

Futuristic said it pretty well.
I have some Howard Leights (29dB) & Like them.
They are fairly comfortable. The foam on the ear are good as a backup but I do believe than muffs help by covering some of the bone behind your ear.
If you are going to wear ear protection might as well go for the best dB reduction.
I had some custom ear molds for car racing & you cant beat them for comfort. I've worn them for hours on end & no discomfort. They have an added bonus of keeping things from getting in your ears if you work in a really dirty situation. I got them at a hearing aid place.
Good Luck
WNTFW

 

[Wedge]

I wear muffs, these are what I have:

http://www.radians.com/remington/hearing_protection/ear_muffs_m31.htm

I think these were $30ish dollars, my mother got them for me as a Christmas present 3 years ago.

I really like them and need to get another pair. I have 2 sets of cheaper muffs that I keep around for general hearing protection or taking someone to the range. They work fine, but aren't comfortable for my wife (she can't fit her glasses, some safety glasses and the cheap muffs on) so she wears the nice ones and I wear the cheaper ones. NRR of like 25 or something, got them for $10 at wal-mart.

 

[WNTFW]

33dB

Cloudcroft,
Pretty cool. They make some nice looking passive. 33dB Noise reduction!!
http://www.pro-ears.com/shootingsportshearingprotection.htm#passive

Thanks,
WNTFW

 

[cloudcroft]

You're welcome...didn't know about those passives at 33!

I got mine some time ago and am not up with any new stuff they have.

-- John D.

 

[Juna]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! I always love how quickly I learn on THR. I could spend all day on here.

The foam on the ear are good as a backup but I do believe than muffs help by covering some of the bone behind your ear.

That's probably true b/c sounds can transmit through your skull (e.g. a tuning fork on your forehead).

 

[IDriveB5]

I just got the Bilsom L3s. Pretty comfortable, not too expensive. Pretty good for noise reduction... a lot better than the remington ones that I had for a while.

http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/manufacturer/Bilsom#

 

[thirty-thirty]

I've got some Western Safety (should be Eastern Safety since they're made in china) electronic ear muffs:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92851

They supposedly block out everything over 85 decibels.

I do NOT reccommend them. They are a poor fit because the inner foam bottoms out against my ears before the outer cup bottoms against my head. The outer cups are now warped and fall off, after which the batteries fall out.

 

[Hemicuda]

I have Radians electronic muffs... 29DB reduction... IF something is bothering me with these muffs on, I add a set of cheapo foam plugs...

 

[12many]

I don't like to wear both, muffs (peltor) and foam ear plugs, but I do. Hearing loss sucks when you get old. My brother had hearing loss from lots of shooting.

My advice is to wear as much protection as you can. Once you start shooting, you forget about your ear protection anyway and focus on the shooting.

 

[ezypikns]

Electronic Ear Muffs from Cabelas

34.99 and good quality too.

 

[razorburn]

Many earplugs are rated for over 30dbs. They're cheaper too. Just less comfortable to wear, you really need to put them in deep to get proper protection.

These reusables have a NRR of 32dB and cost $9. http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/silnatrubear.html

Here's a list of 29-33dB earplugs. http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/unfoamtrialp.html

I may have seen some 35dB plugs somewhere too, but I'm too lazy to search at the moment.

 

[10-Ring]

I use a set of Surefire ear plugs out doors & I add ear muffs indoors.

 

[wooderson]

I got a pair of the 31-32db Leights from Academy Sports for $20. Big and bulky, but if you're not shooting a rifle or shotgun, they work great.

This weekend, at the gun show, I got a pair of insta-mold plugs, form-fitted to my ear. They're only rated at 29db, but I figure they'll actually be more effective than soft plugs. I plan to continue doubling up indoors, and outdoors as well when I'm shooting handguns.

To get to 35db, you're basically going to have to double-up - a good pair of 30db muffs and 30db plugs will put you where you want to be.

 

[JP1954]

My son and I went to the range yesterday and shot my new 870 20in 12 gauge. On the way there we stopped at BIG 5 sporting goods and bought two sets of ear muffs that were on sale for $ 10 each. They were comfortable and muffled the sound nicely. I personally like muffs vs plugs. I've used cheap plugs and have found them effective, however, for me I always seem to have trouble getting them to seal right which is an annoyance when I take them out to talk to someone and then have to put them back in again. Personally I think spending a lot of money on ear protection is a waste of money. I'm not talking about damaging your hearing. All I'm saying is I have always had good results with inexpensive stuff.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I can't stand muffs, they make my head hurt, make my glasses dig into the side of my head, and most importantly they get in the way of a good cheek weld.

Plugs are the way to go.

Anyone complaining that plugs don't work haven't figured out how to insert them properly.

I use silent ear silicon filled plugs. NRR of 33 and very comfortable. You don't have to roll them up to insert them. Made of a rubber skin filled with silicon, so they're washable and infinitely reusable. At $12, they're on par with the price of cheap muffs, without the disadvantages.

For outdoor shotgun/clays, I use the blue quiet ear ones. They don't block out as much sound, so I can actually carry on a convo, and they're more than enough for shotguns.

http://www.silentear.com/

FAQ

 

[peteinct]

A couple things about Earmuffs. They work by sealing off your ear from the noise and if you are wearing glasses they will interfere with the seal of the muffs and lower the rating. I prefer electronic earmuffs because I shoot mainly pistol and competition and need to hear the range officers but if you shoot rifles the foam kind of plug doesn't interfere with your cheekweld on the stock.

pete

 

[22-rimfire]

I wear the Radians. Mine cost something like $100 and are stereo. Have no idea what the noise reduction is but I will take everyone's word above.