Hearing Protection - how much dB reduction is enough?

[Greg-Dawg]

...but I think I'm going to wear plugs beneath my muffs from here on out. Thoughts?

I always do.

[ripcurlksm]

i purchased the slim muffs with 23db protection for outdoor trap. I thought I would need more for indoor ranges, but they do just fine. 23db is very comfy with everything i shoot: 12ga, .45, .223 and .308

[rabagley]

Some figures to remember, 160db = instant hearing damage, 130db = pain threshold. 85db at 8 hours is enough to cause hearing damage, and for every 3db over the permissible time is cut in half, so at 115db you wont feel pain but you will have hearing loss in about a minute of continuous exposure. 100db hearing loss in about 15min. Probably not a bad idea to double up on hearing protection, I don't but having just done the math I think I might start. I'm too young and unlike some people I know I don't think its the true mark of a man to have to say "Huh?" after every other word. I want to be able to hear my grandchildren.....I think??

Continuous exposure are the key words in your posting. Attenuated down to 100dB, multiple momentary exposures to gunshots isn't going to do much. Would take days to accumulate the equivalent of 15 minutes of continuous exposure.

That said, I do use earplugs under electronic muffs. But I don't get my panties in a bunch if my ears are still getting muzzle reports at 90-100dB. Just doesn't worry me.

[sorensen440]

depends on indoor or outdoor and what your shooting

[Jicko]

Regarding Surefire EP3/EP4....

I have these as well. I found them to be somewhat gimmicky. They dont do really do anything 'special' that the walmart/.25 cent ones dont.

I bought them with high hopes but as it turns out, the benefits are subjective as "yes" you can hear some sounds better, but is it simply due to the lower NRR rating? I tried these indoors/out and while they're very comfy (the cheap ones were comfy too), I finally gave up on these after shooting outdoors with guys using guns with compensators. It was just not enough protection.

My use model is to have them under your electronic muff.

[bohoki]

just curious about the ringing in ears

ive always used muffs shooting occasional the blase orange squishies with my 50 bmg i use orange squishies and muffs

but i have accidentally been around people who make alot of noise like chainsaws and compressed air and oxygen releases i think those are the noises that hurt me

i don't have a ringing but i do notice i generally always hear a kind of open mike kind of sound like a quiet static or hiss ive never had "ringing" do people really hear bells?

oh i have had times where i hear a kind of test pattern in one ear but it fades after a minute is that the ringing?

[maxicon]

Ringing, or tinnitus, is a bit hard to describe, but mostly like a high-pitched whine that won't go away for me. It's generally a steady sound, not like bells, but it depends on the individual. Your "test pattern" sound is probably ringing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

Sometimes you don't notice it, and it can be very low, but as it gets worse, it can get very annoying and even disturbing. Young folks recover better, and as you get older, you recover more slowly. Eventually, it quits going away and stays all the time. Many people turn to drugs to help deal with bad tinnitus.

I used to be into rushing the stage at concerts when I was young, and they were all freaking loud. Sometimes, my ears would ring for a week or more after a particularly loud show, or one where I was right in front of the speakers, but it would always go away.

I have a constant low-level background ringing. It doesn't bother me much and I mostly tune it out, but when I listen for it, it's always there. I can still enjoy music, but I like to turn it up loud to get the most out of it (just like when I was younger!). Food with lots of salt or MSG makes it worse.

So, you kids out there - use good hearing protection, and use more than you think you need. Once you get serious hearing damage or ringing, it never goes away.

[johnny_22]

Maximum attenuation, unless in class

I wear Howard Leight MAX (33 dB) earplugs with their muffs (32 dB) indoor or out.

When I am taking a class, I wear the plugs with the amplified muffs (28 dB).

Too many rock concerts with no plugs has taught me to protect my hearing.

[CSDGuy]

I double up unless I'm shooting .22LR. When shooting those, I use either plugs or muffs... both of mine are NRR 29 dB or better. Even then, I will usually double up as I'm likely to be changing to a different rifle or pistol soon anyway.

[rkoace]

i just wear ear plugs. makes rifle shooting a lot easier than muffs.

[cush]

Need multiple options.
Electronic in-ear plugs for outdoors when wearing a hat.
Plugs (Surefire) under electronic muffs indoors.
Wife and daughters have custom fit ear plugs for outdoors but sometimes fit the electronic muffs with the hat anyway.
They wear electronic muffs over plugs indoors.
Note: the electronic muffs, Howard Leight R01526 Impact Sport electronic earmuffs NRR 23dB, are generally slim enough for rifle use.
-cush

[yellowfin]

Don't you all wish this state wasn't so anal retentive and allowed the other, altogether better hearing safety device?

[Flogger23m]

Can someone recommend me some decent hearing protection for an off list AK? I will most likely be shooting at an outdoor range. What brands should I be looking for, or staying away from? And how much will it cost? Around $80?