Ear Muffs

[lmacrichter]

I currently use ear plugs and muffs when shooting on an indoor range. Very loud as you probably know. Does anyone know of a good brand of electronic ear muffs for less than $100. I am looking to eliminate the need for plugs and just use the muffs.

 

[Salty RI]

I was reading on hearing protection, it had nothing to do with shooting, it said ear plugs if put in correctly, is the best protection.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

 

[ContinentalOp]

I have not tried them personally, but I've read good things about the Howard Leight Impact Sport. I plan on giving them a try some time this year.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Thumbs up on the Howard Leight products.

 

[joe44va]

I gave a thumbs up on the Howard Leight muffs, but I wear ear plugs wigh them.

 

[chief38]

The best combo I've found to date are the Howard Leight Maxi Plugs (33db reduction) along with a set of Peltor muffs (30db reduction). Yes - the plugs actually provide better protection than the muffs IF INSERTED PROPERLY. READ the directions!

While electronic muffs are certainly convenient for competition when you need to hear Range commands, they just do not give the hearing protection of traditional muffs along with plugs!

 

[misswired]

I immediately sold the Leight electronic muffs for a loss. I prefer plain jane muffs with a 34 to 37db rating. Less than 30$ retail.

I don't shoot on a range where verbal commands are given.

 

[johngalt]

I thought the purpose of electronic muffs was to allow spoken words to be heard, not to cancel the noise from gunfire. Is that correct?

I don't have any electronic muffs, but on the few occasions I have shot inside recently, I do think it is a good idea to double up with both plugs and muffs. I use the yellow foam EAR plugs and not very expensive muffs (can't remember the brand).

I use the same combo when shooting center-fire rifle outside.

 

[carpriver]

A couple years ago I found some ear plugs, the information on the package said they were the ear plugs issued to the Army Infantry. They have a green end and a yellow end the green is for inside shooting the yellow is for outside shooting. They are rated at 32 dbi. When I pull them out I feel like they are going to go POP. The instruction tell you to pull up on the top of your ear and insert the plug into the ear channel.

 

[rwsmith]

Nobody is saying.....

Nobody is saying that you can't wear ear plugs with electronic muffs. I just wouldn't screw them into my ears too tight.

A Desert Eagle, AR 15 or similar in an indoor range is loud even with good muffs on.

 

[BC38]

FWIW, I use a set of electronic muffs I got at Harbor Freight for $15-$20, and they seem to work fine. My ears don't ring or have any other issues from the weapons fire, and in between firings I can hear conversation - a little muffled, but I can hear well enough to carry on a conversation.

 

[Rpg]

Electric muffs aren’t a replacement for plugs and regular muffs together.

 

[chief38]

Electronic muffs are geared for hearing Range Commands while shooting matches, but unfortunately do NOT give anywhere near the maximum hearing protection of standard types and or plugs. For those using electronic muffs all the time - I believe you are making a mistake for your hearing longevity. Your choice of course, but look into the numbers - I think you will be enlightened.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

We can shop for top name brands of hearing protection devices in gun stores and sporting goods catalogs/websites, and we can pay premium prices.

Or we can shop for hearing protection devices made for industrial use (manufacturing, construction, etc), and quickly find that a number of outstanding products can be had for very reasonable prices.

I suspect that many of the top brand names marketing to the shooting public are nothing more than re-branded products, perhaps some cosmetic modifications and a logo added.

OSHA has standards that apply to industrial products for hearing protection. A brief period of research should identify what will meet your needs, then browsing through a few websites should allow you to make a good selection at a good price.

I discovered this years ago. I use a very inexpensive unit (less than $3 per in quantity) intended for manufacturing environments, which I buy by the dozen and share with family and friends at the range. Huge variety available, and lots of sources.

 

[H Richard]

I've been using the Howard Leight Sport electronic muffs for around 7-8 years now and am well pleased. In an indoor range a shot fired 30-40 ft away blocks so well a person I am speaking to will be totally blanked out and you only see his lips moving.

 

[rockquarry]

Tried the electronic muffs once and wasn't impressed with the effectiveness, but perhaps they've improved. Best I've found is plugs and muffs for centerfire rifle or handgun; plugs OR muffs for rimfire rifle or handgun.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I currently use ear plugs and muffs when shooting on an indoor range. Very loud as you probably know. Does anyone know of a good brand of electronic ear muffs for less than $100. I am looking to eliminate the need for plugs and just use the muffs.

The only advantage to electronic muffs is that you can hear normal conversation when not shooting. Has nothing to do with the level of protection . . .

 

[chief38]

In general, electronic muffs are in the range of 20 - 25db noise reduction ratings where as plugs are up to 33 db and muffs are at about 30. I am unaware of any electronic muffs that exceed 25db. Also to wear plugs underneath the electronic muffs defeats the purpose.

IMHO if you need the electronic muffs to use during a shooting competition then I can see them, but any other times you are shooting for practice or fun, I don't really see the point.

 

[swsig]

I bought Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs for use at my indoor range. While they do allow you to hear range commands, they do not, in my opinion, provide sufficient hearing protection by themselves. Not long after buying them, I started wearing earplugs under the Howard Leights. I can still hear what I need to hear, but the sounds from firing have been greatly reduced.

 

[TTSH]

I use the Howard Leight Impact Pro Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuffs over top of Champion brand gel ear plugs... and I still come out of my local crowded indoor range with my screaming tinnitus 3 or 4 times worse than before the visit. It's unbelievable.

I'll admit that my deteriorating hearing situation is far worse than most folks probably experience, but I'd sure like a better solution than what I am using now.

The Howard Leights themselves are no better than the plain muffs provided by the range. In fact, I think those plain Jane ones are actually a little better at protecting the ears.

I keep wondering if custom formed ear plugs would help me more than the gel plugs. Certainly the gel plugs perform better for me than typical generic foam plugs... that much is clear.

I'm willing to spend whatever it takes to protect my hurtin' ears to the max in that ultra-loud indoor range environment, but so far I'm not finding the solution I need.