Muffs VS Plugs

[CNYCacher]

I used earmuffs for shooting for the first time this past Sunday. I had brought my new WASR-10 to the parents-in-law's house and was going to clean it. When my father in law saw it, he wanted to shoot it, which was a pleasant surprise for me. I told him that unfortunately I didn't bring any plugs. He said that wasn't a problem and produced two sets of earmuffs which he normally uses for running chainsaws.

Previously, I had only used plugs and I'll tell you why. Way back when I was first selecting hearing protection, I saw that the box of plugs said 32dB NRR and all the muffs I could find said something in the low 20dB range. When we went to shoot Sunday with just the muffs, I was actually worried about it being too loud. Boy was I wrong.

Now, it DID seem to me that the muffs were louder overall. It was easier to hear him talk and also to hear the echo of the shots as the shock wave rolled down the valley we were shooting in. But I found that the muffs seemed to work better than the plugs at attenuating the initial BOOM of the shot going off. Now, the boom is what really gets my head ringing, I think I like muffs better now.

I am going to buy a pair, and likely use them WITH plugs as well.

Jut wondering if this is consistent with anyone else's experience.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

Yes

Muffs have a larger surface area to stop the intense boom from the first shot, letting quieter noise through with less of a problem than louder noise, thus a broader span of effectiveness

Plugs work best against high-pitched sounds; they try to dampen the sound going through them mechanically (through the vibration of the foam) whereas muffs place barriers between the sound and your ear.

Using both should provide more than adequate protection if you are worried about hearing loss.

 

[BobTheTomato]

I never noticed much of a difference between the muff or the plugs. The biggest problem with ear plugs is that you must use them right and get them the whole way into the ear canal. Every talk I have heard on hearing protection shows there is not too much difference so users should use whatever they are most comfortable with. I use the plugs myself.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

I used to use just plugs for pistols and muffs for rifles (.30-'06 and .308, so loud). However, I seem to be the only one that cannot get a cheek weld with muffs on, so now I use plugs for everything (although I have considered going to muff with pistol, as it is easier for others to tell I have my hearing protection on). As far as volume, with rifle, I would rather use both (the best there is).

 

[Waywatcher]

I much prefer plugs over muffs. I think the critical elements are good earplugs and proper insertion. I often see people over/under insert them. My personal favorites are called "Amigo". They're yellow and perfectly cylindrical.

Muffs seem bulky, hot, constricting and uncomfortable to me.

 

[GCW5]

Muffs are OK, but I prefur plugs, even if I have a hard time digging them out of my ears. Muffs always seem to be in the way when I shoot rifles, and since I always wear a hat they mess them up too.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

First time I went shooting I used plugs, lot of problems with my ears as a kid so they were more a waxy, silly putty type thing I found worked best for me. While they did muffle noise I still had some ringing. Bought a cheapo pair of muffs from from Wally world and found they work better then the plugs... But it also could have been the guy in the lane next to me firing the .50 cal the first time I went....

 

[Onmilo]

Plugs for combat shooting and Wolf Ear electronic muffs for pleasure shooting and hunting.

The set of Wolf Ear muffs I have enhance normal sounds and shut down at any sharp sound such as a gunshot.

I don't like the Muffs for combat shooting because as stated, they are bulky and tend to get in the way.

 

[junyo]

I usually work in places where hearing protection is required PPE, and so I have a love/hate relationship with plugs. They work well if you use them correctly (but most people don't, as has been said, you have to actually get them all the way into the ear), but they are always uncomfortable to me. And muffs are always in the way. But I bought a set of shotgunner's muffs at Cabelas, and they are the best. The cups are concave on the exterior below a point, and fairly thin, while still effective (effective like twice annual hearing tests for the last 5 years with no discernable loss, and as I said shooting's not the only abuse my ears take). Thanks to the thinness you can still get a decent weld when you bring the gun up, and they're lighter than most other muffs I've tried too. I find that for all but the most serious rifle shooting they work pretty well.

Of course, the other problem with muffs is sweaty ears...

 

[Bailey Guns]

From working the range a lot and needing to hear other shooters, I got in the habit of wearing plugs and a nice set of low profile Pro-Ears electronic muffs.

 

[hso]

Use both. Each type covers different frequencies better than the other. Your hearing is far to precious to risk.

 

[#shooter]

I have found muffs with a high decibel rating. I always find myself chatting with people at the range and find it harder to listen to others with plugs in. Then again the muffs get in the way of a good cheek weld. That came out wrong. So I tend to use plugs for rifles and muffs for pistols. I also have electronic muffs which cuts off loud noises and amplifies normal sounds (speech) which I find very helpful. Electronic muffs tend not to work so well on a busy range or in the rain (our range roof is metal and thus LOUD) because they turn on and off so much, rendering them ineffective.

 

[TX1911fan]

I use both most times. My eye protection pushes out the muffs just a bit and lets in more noise than I like, so I double up.

Dr. Dickie, Browning and Peltor both make a low profile muff that stays out of the way to help get a good cheek weld. Check them out.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/accessories/detail.asp?value=007J&cat_id=126&type_id=41524

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Dr. Dickie, Browning and Peltor both make a low profile muff that stays out of the way to help get a good cheek weld. Check them out

I have a pair of the low profile "shotgun" muffs. They are better, but they still don't allow me to get my eyes down tight enough to aim without them being hit, and often lifted up.
I must have a fat head. My wife says so.

 

[Feanaro]

I had tubes in my ear when I was a small child and plugs are uncomfortable for me. Once in, they don't bug me. But it hurts to put them in or get them out. Not a lot but it's still not fun. I double up when I can, otherwise I just use muffs.

Just another reason why suppressors should be deregulated.

 

[benEzra]

I always use both (Peltor Shotgunner muffs, and the soft foam plugs).

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Huh?

What'd you ask?

I use both now.

Soakers

 

[686S&W]

If I'm shooting a handgun indoors, muffs. If I'm shooting a rifle outdoors, plugs, because I have trouble aiming properly with muffs on.

 

[waterhouse]

I try to always use both.

 

[ceetee]

Both is best. I use foam plugs, combined with a set of cheap electronic muffs I got at Harbor Freight. The electronic muffs amplify spoken words enough to be heard through the plugs, but cut out almost all muzzle blast.

 

[trueblue1776]

ahhhhhh, muff or plug, trying to avoid... joke......

I like plugs, muffs make me sweat too much.

 

[BamBam-31]

Another vote for both.

I took a Bruce Gray class last year, and he said that plugs really didn't protect your hearing like it should because while your ear hole is plugged, the rest of the ear is still exposed to the blast. That takes its toll. Muffs will protect the entire ear.

Plugs and low-pro electronic muffs are the ideal combo, IMHO.

 

[JWarren]

I confess....


This weekend, I was testing if I had properly adjusted the firing pin on my mosin. I could't find my plugs, so I shoved 1/2 a cotton ball in each ear to fire 5 shots.

Frankly, it seemed to work as well as my ear plugs.


Let the redneck and bubba comments commence!


John

 

[RNB65]

I use both. Plugs can slowly work their way out without you realizing it and let in more and more noise. Muffs lose some of the effectiveness when worn with shooting glasses because the arms on the glasses weaken the seal.

 

[aerod1]

I use both together. I have never had any problem with plugs coming out.