Good hearing protection

[D-man313]

Anybody have any suggestions for good ear muffs for indoor shooting? No centerfire stuff at the local indoor range, just rimfire, so not too terribly loud. But getting a full firing line it can get pretty noisy. Not looking to spend a outrageous amount of money.

Thanks

 

[dryfarmer]

There is good ear muffs at local stores like NAPA, welding supply shops, got mine at Fastenal, good passive protectionfor $20

 

[D-man313]

There is good ear muffs at local stores like NAPA, welding supply shops, got mine at Fastenal, good passive protectionfor $20

Wow didnt even think about places like that, the whole time i was thinking cabelas/basspro where they're 75-100 bucks.

 

[straightshooter1]

I really want a set of ProEars, but just can't seem to pull the trigger on a pair since they are very expensive.

Brownells sells ProEars built muffs for about $125, but still, being more interested in talking rather than hearing someone else's opinion (which is wrong if it doesn't match mine), I haven't purchased them either.

Bob

 

[Rule 303]

When I'm by myself on a range that is not controled by a range master, I wear ear plugs and ear muffs. I'm trying to save what little hearing I can. When I'm on a range that is controled by a Range Master I wear electronic ear muffs.

Rule 303

 

[sqhead]

mower shops have em,i got a pair of peltors at a garage sale for a dollar.........they work good...........i've never left the range complaining about my hearing,so i guess the cheap ones work pretty good.

 

[vytoland]

I've used a pair of peltor 105 model h10a ear muffs for several years and they have always given me very good ear protection. especially when I'm next to someone firing a .44 magnum.

 

[rwsmith]

Howard Leight

I find the L3 model trim and comfortable with great noise reduction and they only cost about $30. At the range I forgot that I had them on.

 

[redlevel]

In the days of yore, when cigarets were .40 cents per pack, we would break the filter off two cigarets and use them for ear plugs. I always thought they worked pretty well, but then again, I can't hear very well, and my ears constantly ring. I believe tractors with poor mufflers, irrigation engines with no muffler, etc., have as much to do with that as shooting without ear protection.

I have also heard of using a fired 9mm hull as ear plugs, but never tried that one myself.

 

[Maddmax]

When I'm by myself on a range that is not controled by a range master, I wear ear plugs and ear muffs. I'm trying to save what little hearing I can. When I'm on a range that is controled by a Range Master I wear electronic ear muffs.
Rule 303

I grew up around loud heavy equipment. My Great Grandpa and Grand Pa used to give me cotton balls to stick in my ears when I was young (I still thank their long gone heads up protecting my hearing). 60+ and still have top of the chart hearing and I'm still operating heavy equipment.

ALWAYS wore hearing protection. The double up can't/won't hurt for later on. I have younger friends that can't hear unless you talk very loud to them. It's a shame for how simple it is to protect your own hearing. I have foam plugs everywhere. Nothing to find them in the wash...

 

[brucev]

Anybody have any suggestions for good ear muffs for indoor shooting? No centerfire stuff at the local indoor range, just rimfire, so not too terribly loud. But getting a full firing line it can get pretty noisy. Not looking to spend a outrageous amount of money.

Thanks

For use with .22 LR at a indoor range I have found that a pair of Silencio over the head ear-muffs and a pair of USGI ear plugs are very effective.

 

[hayesxb]

A couple years ago, I had a set of the custom ear plugs made. It cost me 60 bucks, but it turned out to be the best 60 bucks I have ever spent. I can wear them to an indoor range without the over the ear muffs (though I wear them just for the extra level of protection), and I wear them outside with nothing else. They get a lot more use too, as I wear them on long motorcycle rides.

I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for better ear protection.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I'm another one that favors doubling up. I wear plugs and muffs even at outdoor ranges.

 

[don5]

My son and I have used the Caldwell brand of electronic muffs. They are around $20-$25. They are great. We also wear them while hunting. We can whisper to each other and it sounds like we are talking. We can hear animals walking as well. Of course when the wind blows the leaves, well... I just bought another pair of electronic muffs that have the beveled bottoms, so you can shoot a rifle easier, from Midway. While we use them, they are not as nice as the caldwell brand in my opinion. I bought them on sale for $15. I hope this helps.

 

[Poodle Soup]

wallyworld has some with winchester written on them. The only ones they had, not a bad price, and they work. (Im also used to loud noises and could just be deaf )

 

[Mcwsky09]

My dad got some for a out a dollar at Harbor Freight. I got Peltor 6S active on sale for $50 each.

 

[loc n load]

Ear protection/ eye protection

Having instructed professionally going on 40 years, I learned the hard way about hearing protection. For the past 20 years I have used Peltor electronic muffs coupled with ear valve plugs.
The electronic muffs can be pricey, but they are wonderful. You never have to "crack" a muff to hear commands or shooter's asking questions. I have run ranges where we had handguns, shotguns, smg's, M-16's,M-14's, 50 BMG's and been inside shooting houses where hundreds of flash bangs have been lit off during years of training.
I have a constant ringing in both ears 24/7, and a substantial high freq loss. Wished I had the Peltor's during the first half of my career.
Also, never shoot or clean firearms w/o eye protection. I have seen several instances where shooter's eyes were saved on the line by inexpensive shooting glasses. After having a student let a recoil spring and guide rod get away from him and shoot across a cleaning bench years ago and strike another student forcibly in the corner of an eye, I have always required student's to wear safety glasses when cleaning firearms also. All part of that learning curve.

 

[mkk41]

I use some cheap yet comfortable ones from Cabelas , but I also use the disposable foam plugs under them.

 

[Deacon KC]

Don5 beat me to recommending the Caldwell's from MidwayUSA.

 

[16thVACav]

All hearing protection has a noise reduction rating "NRR", which usually ranges from the mid-teens up to the low 30s. The higher the number, the higher the protection. There are several muffs with NRRs over 30.

Keep in mind that the NRR, in part, is a function of how tightly muffs seal against your head. A high NRR muff might be somewhat uncomfortable for a small number of folks. Also, be aware that if your shooting glasses penetrate the seal of the muff cushion against your head, you lose a good deal of the protection.

As for me, I wear foam plugs plus muffs when I shoot, to protect what little hearing I have left.