I'm not sure if this is the correct Forum for my Post, but it's the only one that I could find that seems relevant. I am a semi-competitive pistol shooter, both indoors and outdoors, as well as an outdoor shotgun and rifle shooter. I routinely use either Peltor or Walker's Razor Slim electronic earmuffs and they work great. However, when shooting outdoors in the hot Florida sun, I like to wear a wide-brim boonie hat instead of a baseball hat and that just doesn't work with earmuffs. Do you have any recommendations for ear plugs (ear buds)? I'm leaning towards Walker's Shooting Protection earbuds (29 db) or something similar. Db protection is the same or better than ear muffs and I can wear them outdoors with any style of hat. Thoughts?

We use these.
When inserted properly, they expand,
and are great for Trap.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

You'll have to look for them, but there are muffs that have the headband arranged so it goes behind the head. Or maybe buy a larger size boonie hat to go over the head band.

You can get a hat with the brim slotted to pass the ear muff band.
TCG Boonie Hat with Headphone Ear Protection Compatibility at Men’s Clothing store - B0914SQF4B

But high NRR plugs are a simpler solution.
Do you NEED the electronics? A simple foam plug works for me shooting a rifle or shotgun that would bump the cup of a muff.

Thanks for the input. I may try the foam plugs first...they actually seem to have higher NRR ratings (30-33 db) than most of the muffs or ear buds.

I have a set of these which work well and doesn’t break the bank.

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Since someone mentioned the plugs.......a massive advantage of the muffs is that they prevent/minimize sound conduction through the mastoid process. This would be especially important indoors/under cover where the current prudent practice is both muffs and plugs. At least with rifle.

Yes, I have employment related hearing loss The only upside was that I took the notice of it to show the wife. "See, I'm not ignoring you, I didn't hear you.")

Peltor makes Pro For Sho muffs with a 34 NRR rating.
We use them and the 33NRR Macks with handguns, especially with the 460s, indoors or outdoors.

Those 33NRR Macks, when inserted properly, will kill the sound of my piccolo, so I can't hear the resonance, and I put them in a bit less or just use older muffs in a lower NRR rating.
The picc can go up to a loud 5000 Hz or thereabouts.

Stars and Stripes needs a Picc.
Old '60s USAF plugs in picture.

Pro For Sho 34dB NRR Noise Reduction Earmuffs - Lightweight Design - S

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Of you are serious about protecting your hearing, especially indoors, most are recommending plugs and muffs. It has been required at my agency for a long time.



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Agreed- indoor shooting is much louder than outdoor shooting and requires more ear protection. I plan to use these plugs for outdoor shooting only (tactical shotgun, Action Steel, rifle range) and to use muffs or muff/plug combo for indoors. I think I'm going to try the SureFire EP-7 Sonic Defenders. They have NRR 29 db, and the foam plug completely expands to fill the ear canal.

I use Howard Leight Impact Pro IMPACT PRO ELECTRONIC EARMUFF | Howard Leight Shooting Sports and foam plugs when shooting pistols inside, just the muffs shooting pistols outside, and foam plugs when shooting scoped rifles.

I also wear foam plugs at the racetrack, as they are in the 87 dB range when racing, and thats above where I feel comfortable. BTW, our favorite racer is in her mid 20s and races a semi. Seriously. 25 laps in semis!

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NRA RSO

I use 30dB NR Peltor's in combination with Howard Leight 33 dB NR plugs. AFAIK that's about as good as it gets. I do have a pair of the electronic muffs I use in competition but their NR rating is a very low 23dB and so if I do not actually need to hear range commands they stay at home.

Another alternative is to have a set of custom fitted ear plugs made. But hearing loss is cumulative and irreversible...so it's plugs and muffs for me no matter the shooting venue.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Plugged and muffed is the safest way to go. I use the rolled up foam in ear plugs that provide possible max reduction then wear electronic muffs with volume turned up to hear commands/conversation.

Most people don't realize that NRR is not actual decibel reduction.

Armed Defense Training Association - Hearing Protection Buyer’s Guide.

Only wearing muffs or electronic plugs is not enough protection. The noise exposure will affect your hearing over time.

In most shooting competition, hearing the RO commands is essential.
Not sure simple plugs would be acceptable.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

my solution to this is foam ear plugs and electronic muffs turned up all the way. Verbal commands are boosted, so the foam doesn't block them, but the shots are clamped down by the elec tronics, and then I still have the foam in.

For those not familiar with active muffs, they are like standard passive muffs, but have speakers and microphones that pass normal sounds. They sense the sound spikes of a shot, and don't transmit the noise through the speakers in the muffs. You can also get them with either bluetooth or a cable jack to hook up to a phone or music player. Many like them for mowing or when working with power tools.

I shoot rimfire bullseye at an indoor rage, and let me tell you, .22LR pistols in a concrete bunker are louder than you think.

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NRA RSO

Plugs and muffs. Once you lose your hearing, it's not coming back.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this subject. I had been thinking about starting a thread myself but this seems to cover it.

Surefire sonic defenders.

Both Foam ear plugs AND electronic ear muffs.

I have a serious hearing issue from shooting, rock & roll, and a bizarre condition that “may” have been influenced by shooting.

I will use foam plugs with the band, but never alone for shooting. Got a set of old muffs that work really great, might add foam plugs too but always at least the muffs for shooting.

Also going towards low-pressure cartridges for carry (44Sp, 45acp) just in case.

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