Using electronic muffs while wearing foam plugs?

[tomhenry]

I've tried it with various electronic muffs but still without success. The muffs don't seem to amplify ambient sounds enough to be practical. My current muffs are Howard Leight Impact Sport muffs.

This is for field use. For range use I use ordinary non-electric muffs with foam plugs.

I'd like to wear foam plugs with electronic muffs and be able to hear leaves rustling, etc.

Suggestions?

 

[Nevada Ed]

You must have great hearing.

I can't hear moving leaves with just foam ear plugs in.

 

[tomhenry]

I have earlier/elsewhere read where shooters are wearing plugs, but have their electronic muffs turned up so that they can hear ambient noise such as normal conversation, rustling leaves, charging Kodiak bears.

Just normal stuff.

 

[Doug M.]

I have Sordins that I bought in 2006 or so. The amplify nicely and bring down the bark of a comped SBR (you have not lived until you experience that). I wear them backwards on the range, so the mikes are facing the RM, instructor, or whomever. I also carried them in helmet on duty, as they could be jacked into my radio and help maintain comms in the event of an active shooter situation, while also protecting my ears. (It only matters when it really matters.)

 

[Wdbutcher97]

You must have great hearing.

I can't hear moving leaves with just foam ear plugs in.

I don't think I could hear leaves rustling even if I was sitting in the tree.....without ear plugs.

 

[m75rlg]

I don't think I could hear leaves rustling even if I was sitting in the tree.....without ear plugs.

Yep, too many hours running those USCG Magnum Marines with no mufflers on the engines or hearing protection. That was "Old Guard"

(60 plus years of firearm use with only occasional hearing protection hasn't helped!)

 

[brucev]

Have a pair of the Howard Leight electronic ear-muffs. Excellent. Also wear a pair of standard USGI orange ear plugs. W/ the ear-muffs off, just about any gunfire, even heavy calibers, is no problem. With the ear-muffs on, I can hear and carry on conversation w/o problems. Nevertheless, gunfire is not a problem. Have used the ear-muffs while deer hunting from a stand. Very helpful. Allow me to hear normal sounds w/o problems. When I need to shoot, the ear-muffs automatically cut off the sound. I insist that my daughters and anyone else use similar quality ear protection when we are out shooting, etc. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Krogen]

I've tried it with various electronic muffs but still without success. The muffs don't seem to amplify ambient sounds enough to be practical. My current muffs are Howard Leight Impact Sport muffs.

This is for field use. For range use I use ordinary non-electric muffs with foam plugs.

I'd like to wear foam plugs with electronic muffs and be able to hear leaves rustling, etc.

Suggestions?

I think your electronic muffs have limited volume capability - by design. If they were to overcome the attenuation of foam plugs, they could possibly damage your hearing without plugs and the volume at 100%. I doubt you'll find a pair of electronic muffs loud enough to do what you desire.

 

[Fishinfool]

I use amplified headphone and foam hearing protection together often at indoor ranges. With the volume turned up, you can still hear better than with just the foam plugs alone, but not nearly as clear as without.

In the field, especially with big bore handguns, I always use just the electronic headphones. Plenty of blast reduction, with the benefit of amplified hearing - without the foam plugs I do pick up a lot of subtle sounds. Keeps your ears warm too... Pic from a couple seasons ago.

Larry

 

[chief38]

Here is my recommendation with hearing protection.......

Unless you are in an active competition at the time and need to be able to hear range commands, I would not wear the electronic muffs. They simply do not block enough noise. Let the dB ratings on the ear protection devise be your guidance. The higher the dB reduction is the better the devise is.

Most descent quality standard type ear muffs protect at about a 33dB reduction. The Howard Leight and 3M ear plugs are also around 33dB reduction. Most of the electronic muffs are about a 23dB reduction and the best I have ever seen is 26dB. Read the instructions on inserting the plugs - I'd bet many here are actually not inserting them correctly!

Unfortunately for me, I learned all about this too late and damaged my hearing. Now I wear both earplugs and ear muffs every time I shoot - even outdoors. Hopefully I can hold on to what I have left. Learn a lesson from guys like me - take better care of your ears! Oh - BTW, hearing loss is a gradual and cumulative thing so it takes a long time for you to realize just how bad it will get. Once you are at hat point - it's to late!

So that is my personal recommendation on hearing protection - hopefully I will help at least a few who read this. I wish someone had told this to me 40 years ago - I might hear a lot better than I do!