I didn't find any area that this topic might be in. I'm looking for a little help in finding the proper "ear protection" for indoor and outdoor shooting. Not sure if there is any difference between the two locations or not. I have been doing a little looking at my LGS and thought this might be a good place to get more good information from. I've seen some ear protection that requires batteries and some that don't.

Any of your experience would be appreciated with this. I'm a new M&P 22 owner. I also have a .38 revolver and a few .22 rifles. In the future is an M&P 40.

Thanks...Howard

For very effective hearing protection, as well as low cost, a good pair of muffs with a high NRR is a good bet. I have a pair of Pro Ears Ultra 33 Passive Muffs, costs about $ 35.00 at Cabelas. When around anything louder than .38s I supplement these with a good pair of disposable ear plugs. Between the two I can stand even a 500 Mag. This is more important indoors than out. If you decide to go electronic you'll be paying north of $ 200 for the best. Whatever you decide, ask anyone with Tinnitus how important good hearing protection is.

I had decent hearing protection but I had to step up because people bring cannons to the outdoor range where I go. The Howard Leight L3 is not expensive at all and have NRR of 30 db. I spend hours at the range and with these I forgot quickly that I had ears on at all. I could understand speech well and NOTHING bothered me all that day. The shots were just 'poomps'. Since they cost under $30 I was able to get a pair for my wife and boy and they liked them too.

I, too, use the Howard Leight L3s and have found them to be very effective and comfortable. I also supplement with earplugs indoors, ever since a couple of guys with a .500 wound up on the lane next to me. Unfortunately, even that doesn't do away with the pressure wave.

Interesting that my trousers ripple from the guy that's shooting three tables away.

Thanks Steve, as a matter of fact I do have Tinnitus. Listened to very loud music as a kid and that did it. Wish there was a cure for it. I'll be borrowing some ear protection from a buddy today when we shoot so I'll see how his stuff works.

Definitely plugs and muffs indoors. The electronic ones (unless they have changed since I acquired mine, the Dillon version) respond by blocking noise above 85 dB or so and work fine outdoors, but don't seem to work indoors so the safe bet there are the thicker non-electronic ones.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I routinely use Howard Leight "Impact Sports". I like the protection and the performance. They are very thin and don't interfere when shooting shot guns and rifles. I find them comfortable with shooting glasses and they don't loose their seal. They are very effective when used with in-ears (especially indoor). No electrical interference and quite good during conversations or for range instructions.
They can be had for under $50.00. A screaming deal!
I recently bought my son a pair (upgraded from a pr. of a Caldwell earmuffs)

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paws for friendship

Have been on firing lines for forty years, and was a LE instructor for 30 years....have the constant ringing and hearing loss to prove it.....for the past 20 years I have used the sonic "ear valves" plugs with the Peltor Tactical 7 electronic muff's...I can adjust the volume on the muff's and hear questions, commands, etc/ w/o "breaking" a muff free to hear. ..invariably when I did that in the old days somebody would trip one off right next to me... the ear valves are double protection....I have spent a lot of time running firing lines on hi power rifle ranges, indoor ranges and also shoot heavy caliber rifle like the 50 BMG....protect your hearing...if you don't you will live to regret it.

When I need more protection (as in guy on the side of me has a hand cannon) or don't want the muffs in the way (bench rest/shotgun shooting) I use custom molded ear plugs. These used to cost huge dollars but you can now buy the DIY Radians Brand kits off Ebay for less than $12/set. What's nice about them is that they fit tight, flush and never fall out.

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Dave

I have tried several brands of the foam style inserts and the best i have found is Hearos "Xtreme" (blue color)


They are rated 33db reduction and very comfortable to wear/use. Great for riding as well if you are a motorcyclist.

Available at Walgreens and others.