Right now I use the big ear muffs from Lecht(?) but see guys at the range with these little plugs in their ears. Which is best?

It depends on what you are shooting. Sometimes big muffs, sometimes just ear plugs, and sometimes BOTH at the same time. Some guns are a lot louder than others.

I also always use both on my Grandchildren, I don`t want any damage done to those precious ears!!!!

If I'm indoors I use both. When I'm outside I have a set of the electronically amplified earmuffs. Mine are not expensive ones and they work great.

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"I'm your huckleberry."

Using both is always better. Sound propagates to the inner ear not only through the ear canal but also through the bones of the skull. Plugs and muffs give you some protection to both pathways, with extra to the ear canals themselves. Is that level of protection always needed? No, it depends on conditions. Inside, most definitely, I use as much protection as I have.

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Pisgah

I use electronic ones with full sized muffs since I have big ears as well as big hands and feet.
When shooting something loud, I add disposable foam earplugs under them.

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

Ditto on using both plugs and electronic muffs, especially indoors. You may be shooting your model 1 with .22 shorts when someone touches off the full power load from their 2 3/4" model 460 in the next booth .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Ditto. As someone who has lost some hearing in the military due to firearms and F-4 Phantoms, I believe that you can not have too much hearing protection.

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Retired Police, Life NRA

What Pisgah said....

Always use both.... anywhere! Hearing loss will sneak up on you without warning. Once damage occurs it can't be reversed. There is no known remedy except hearing aids and that is a very poor option..

Absolutely always both!

I use a pair of caldwell electronic ear muffs and always carry a pair of earplugs in my shooting vest. As I pull up to the outdoor range I put in the plugs. If no one else is shooting I may use the muffs only if other people are shooting high power rifle or pistol I use both. The nice thing about the electronic muffs is that you can hear normal conversation and tend to not remove them when reloading, changing targets etc. In the past I have occasionally been caught with the non-electronic muffs off when a new shooter starts shooting without checking that everyone has their ear protection on.

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Revolver luvin' Mountaineer

I think you have the Howard Leight. afaik they have some of the best nrr ratings - the full sized Leightning L3 I have is rated nrr 30 I believe. I also use their foam disposables - also rated nrr 30.

Amen to all the foregoing ... there enough threats to your hearing that you can't control, but no excuse for not taking appropriate precautions.

For 30 years I have been using ear muffs and foam plugs untill last year. A shooting buddy suggested I try custom cast ear plugs as I am sensitive about protecting my hearing. At the gun show last year, a custom plug company had a booth so I tried a pair. The plugs were cast in my ears at the show and the casting was sent to a lab in Colorado for their best quality plugs in a custom color. The plugs attenuate the sound to a level that sounds like a pellet gun and still allows me to hear conversation. The plugs are supposed to last about 7 years. I recommend this route to everyone. The plugs are quite expensive ($135) but well worth the money to me.

Hey thanks for all the replys..I have been using the Leightning L3 outside but with the plugs inside. The wife uses the Leight electronic muffs and plugs. The plugs we uses don't go in the canal. You roll them in a ball and just cover the opening, not stick them in the canal...They heat up with your body and forms an airtight seal. Works well. I guess what I have is working, just remember to put them on....

What about the Dillon electronic earmuffs?

Any others worth considering?

We shoot in a small range and the noise can be almost concussion like with .38 Special and pretty tough even with .22 CC Stingers and such.

I double up, but sometimes don't get a great seal from the rentals...

You need hearing protection that will reduce the dB noise level by 19 to 31 depending upon what and where you are shooting. Indoor and large calibers require the most. Ear muffs and most plugs will give you the protection that you need. Just check the noise reduction ratings.

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Doug

I wear a set of custom made ear plugs. The kind where the audiologist packs your ears full of the bright colored goo...you get the finished product in about a week.

And then I wear the best set of muffs I can find on top of the ear plugs...

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The American dream is alive

I use a pair of pretty inexpensive $30 Bass Pro active muffs that are rated at -27db . They work well unless you're right beside someone shooting a high-power rifle or really hot magnum load. And even then it's only annoying, not dangerous. The only thing I don't like as well as my wife's (much more expensive, pink!) muffs is that the audio cutout takes longer to cycle back on, which means it's hard to talk to someone at an indoor range with all the firing keeping the microphones muted most of the time. But I'd buy the same ones again if I lost / broke mine.

Speaking of which, a bunch of us were shooting in the desert and one of the guys had the high-tech little plugs mentioned above. Seemed to like them pretty well, but I did notice his hands over his ears when I was shooting .357 magnum rounds...

I use electronic Peltor Tactics (about $230) at all times. Loudest kaboom is from the 4" S&W 500 using 300 grain Hornady SST's.

I generally use both plugs and muffs as well. I have not tried the electronic ones. Lately, I discovered another option that works VERY well.

I have Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic and I carry the orange sqwichy ones in my bag but I really don't ever use them both... electronic ones work great indoors or out.