What are all you guys out there using for hearing protection??? Been hunting since I was 13, am 54 now and never used anything but foam ear plugs. Thinking about getting a nicer one of those electronic ear muff gadgets. They say you can turn the volume up and hear better with them, of course they turn off when a gun goes off. Anybody out there use them, what do you recommend/how well do they work??? Thanks in advance for any info!!!

I use Howard Light 33Db NRR Max foam plugs under a pair of Peltor 29Db NRR head phones. When I hunt I use a pair of 3M rubber plugs that block most of the guns noise but still allow me to hear the dogs and Hunting buddy's.

Unfortunately for me I started being this careful too late in life.

Check out Peltor's latest offerings. I range instructed for years and the Peltors were the only ones that I could use near powerlines as they had virtually no pickup of the magnetic interference. I have a pair beside my bed at night just in chase I had the time to put them on I would before starting to 'clear' my house and property. ...........

I've haven't been able to afford them yet, but electronic muffs are great. So I wear Howard Leight L1s for the 25 db reduction and real ear plugs, not foam.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Foam ear plugs and passive muffs at the range. Hunting I would just use electronic ones. They make some good ones that will not break the bank.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Could you repeat that I didn't hear you?

It's true I'm losing my hearing. Not from shooting.

I use muffs. What ever is on sale.

Passive muffs for my handguns and my long guns. Add foam plugs if someone at the range lets loose with a cannon.

Thanks to everyone that posted so far!!! This is a very good idea...never thought about how important it is to hear when having to clear your own house and also how much more important it is to be able to hear after having to shoot while doing so!!!

Two things to consider. A higher NRR rating is better. I won't use anything under 30. For indoor use, soft rubber sculped ear plugs under muffs help are best.

When looking at the electronic over the head ear muffs, a NRR rating of less than 29 us unacceptable. The important part of that NRR rating is the shut down time. Cheaper ones have a cutoff measured in hundredths of a second. Great ones are measured in thousands of a second.
In electronic ear protection, It seems that the faster the shutdown time, the more expensive. You get what you pay for here.

Consider that electronic hearing aids are in the neighborhood of $2500 an ear, then even the most expensive sets are cheap!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

There was a show on TV not long ago about hearing protection, the foam, if put in correctly, came out on top.

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Don

I bought the cheap Caldwells, and I love them. You can converse without shouting, and they work great.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I feel OBLIGATED to post this Fellas.................

For YEARS and YEARS I always looked upon the Foam Ear Plugs as garbage -non effective, cheap junk and always discounted them as real earplugs. WELL..... one day I woke up and actually read the instruction sheet at the local Range and found out I was NOT installing them correctly! I aways thought "what dummy can't figure out how to insert earplugs"? - - I WAS WRONG!!! They have an actual drawing on the instruction sheet that comes in the bulk box of 200 pair and it tells you the CORRECT procedure for installation. When the CORRECT procedure is followed they are unbelievably effective, reduce gunshots more than any other earplug I know of, are comfortable, cheap, and stay in place all day long!

I just purchased a 200 pair bulk box of the red, white & blue ones 33Db NRR for $22.00 DELIVERED! Once installed correctly I challenge anyone to find a better earplug and although they are meant to be used once, they only cost a bit over a dime per set! They can be used a second and third time but honestly, I don't bother to save them.

So if you guys have just grabbed a pair of these things and have haphazardly just shoved them in your ear like I use to do, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS and you will be very happy.

BHP Safety Products sells them on Amazon for $22.36 /200 set bulk box delivered! That's 11 cents per pair to be exact!

Steering issues? Ugh What? Can't hear ya! I've been shooting my 3" ported 629 with those cheap foam ear plugs! Were you talking to me?

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Live From Music City USA

I also use Howard Leight sound protection. My main regret is that I wasn't using them many years ago. I'm also not sure that you can over-protect your hearing - using ear plugs AND over-the-ears ear muffs. This is also not an area to "go on the cheap". Once your hearing loss begins, it usually starts in the upper ranges and then eventually destroys or at least diminishes your hearing in the audible speech ranges. In my case, my auditory nerve is damaged. Even the best hearing aids on the market can't compensate or correct this problem. There's also no known surgery that's available today, although I would gladly pay for it even if my medical insurance didn't.:

"Cochlear nerve. The cochlear nerve, also known as the acoustic nerve, is the sensory nerve that transfers auditory information from the cochlea (auditory area of the inner ear) to the brain. It is one of the many pieces that make up the auditory system, which enables effective hearing. "

Forget any "male bravado", make the investment now!

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That's what we do!

What I really like em for is "security", I spend a lot of time at the range alone and with my back to the parking area I can hear a car pulling in behind me and have time to scope em out a bit. Some times we get some rather "seedy" characters at the range but thankfully most of em don't get up that early.

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Stay safe people!

Worst thing about electronic hearing protection is remembering to turn it off when you're done for the day. Always carry spare batteries . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I've been wearing the Howard Leight electronic muffs for around 9-10 years. If you watch much action shooting, USPSA, Steel Challenge, etc you will see many of the pro's using the same muffs. On the trap range, you can be standing next someone having a conversation and a shot goes off 50 ft away, and all you hear is a muffled pop and only see lips moving on your friend. They are medium priced, in the $40+ range, and available lots of places. They have a 4 hour on/off (will automatically shut off after 4 hours if you forget to turn them off). I went probably 4 years before needing to replace the batteries, and I shoot trap/skeet at least once per week and bullseye on an indoor range once per week, and outdoor practice at least once per week. I just bought a set for my granddaughter who I'm giving a handgun to for college graduation.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Well, I got a pair of the 3M Peltor Sport Tacticals...I tried them out today and so far so good. These are ones you can turn up and they are very clear stereo sound. Kinda weird that I can hear everything perfect but my own voice. Anyway, shot some AR's with brakes on them and was very comfortable. These things were like $125.00, so not too bad. Wish I had them years ago. Comfortable too. Thanks again to all that replied and/or read this thread!!!

The problem with the electronic sets is they do not give you the maximum ear protection (compared to the better Peltor muffs) and if you use ear plugs underneath them you can't really hear anything that you want anyway. If you are let's say an instructor or Range officer and must hear others on the Range then I understand why you would like the electronic ones - but just be aware that your ear protection level is not the best you can get.

While hunting I use "Walker Game Ears" with the auto shut-off. At the range I use a combination of foam plugs with a good pair of muffs.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><