Best Hearing Protection

[Safra460]

I am using this custom edge 60 ear protection from Axil. https://www.goaxil.com/shop/hearing-...ar-protection/
Bought them a few years ago and last year I accidentally washed them with my clothes and I sent it back to AXIL for repair and waterproofing and they only charged me for the waterproofing. I use them at Frontsight for pistol training without extra muff and when shooting indoors I put on my MSI sordins to double up and they both worked together very well to let you hear the conversations and block out the loud noises.
Most importantly the custom edge can be upgraded if your hearing acuity changes and they will only charge you the upgrade fee and not the entire unit’s cost. Look it up.

[ja308]

Although we have a few pair of electronic muffs and custom molded types, these are the ones that always get used.

https://www.macksearplugs.com/product/ear-seals-dual-purpose-ear-plugs/

I believe ordering a case or 2 cases gets the price reduced to around $1.80 each.
Call them direct and explain why you need so many.

[bigbearbear]

First of all, sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. My wife is a shooter and we shoot together all the time, can't image what life will be like without her.

Anyway, the type of hearing protection you will need depends on your range you'll be shooting at. Generally, indoor ranges requires greater protection. So if you are shooting indoors, look for those with higher level of sound reduction, such as the Howard Leight Impact Pro.

If shooting outdoors, you can use a lighter version, such as the Howard Leight Impact Sport version.

[shafferds]

Whatever you do don't cheap out. Save what hearing you have and buy the best you can afford. My dad just had his hearing aids fixed at the hearing doctor and he asked them how much the hearing aids cost without the VA. The reply . . 7100.00 and the they should last between 5 to 6 years. So let me ask you this? How much is your hearing worth?

[ja308]

These days I double up even outdoors - hearing damage is cumulative and every small bit helps.

The muffs are MSA Sordins and I highly recommend them. Don't look just at the single number rating. Those are deceptive. You need to look at the overall distribution over frequencies. A muff that attenuates well a frequency that is not problematic in shooting won't protect you as well.

One important consideration is the plugs. Depending on your ear canal shape, off-the-shelf type might or might not work well. I couldn't get any meaningful seal with plugs I have tried, so I did a completely custom set where the guy prepares the binary mixture on the spot and injects it into your ear. The cost was just south of $100.

The best investment I've ever done in hearing protection since now I have two pieces, plugs and muffs, that can each protect really well on their own. When combined, I have no problem even with the loudest guns.

We shoot lots and I thank you for the double up tip. We will use that procedure, starting tomorrow .

Your statement about hearing damage being cumulative really hit home for me.

[Dirtlaw]

I don't know if this is true or not but it is a scary thought. My audiologist said that loss of hearing leads to atrophy of parts of the brain due to lack of stimulation and may be a cause of dementia.

[bb557]

[SteveHamn]

+1 for Pro Ears, I bought a pair of $40 ears on Amazon but the way they clipped when a gunshot went off became annoying. Proears use compression which is a lot better. I usually double up with earplugs when indoors.

This is what I mean:

https://youtu.be/1JP23qrq-JQ

[SmokeTheClay]

I double up with a good set of in the ear plugs and a pair of over the ear muffs. It's pretty foolproof and very effective.

Me too

[tanks]

I am using this custom edge 60 ear protection from Axil. https://www.goaxil.com/shop/hearing-...ar-protection/

Second the custom edges. I have had them for about 4 years now. Work perfect.

[KevinA.]

I have an old pair of peltors called “ultimate 10” that have a NRR of 30 that I pretty much use all the time. I think they’ve since changed the design and are now just called ultimate but still have the same NRR and I believe they are only around 30 bucks. You can always double up with buds.

[FeuerFrei]

I'm 55 years young now and I haven't own a gun ever. Lived in SC and Texas when I was younger and I just go to gun ranges with friends and family. I'm planning to buy a handgun and join amateur shooting competitions since my wife just passed away and I need to be out more. I have some hearing problems so I need some help deciding what to buy. I have a idea on what to get but still, I need some recommendations. Price is really not an issue as long as I don't get deaf.



Thanks!

I'm sorry for your loss.

As to choosing a handgun I suggest you call around to a local gun store that has a range and take some lessons with a few rental guns they have. Try before you buy.
You'll learn what you need and discover a handgun or two that you like to shoot.
They'll have eyes and ears for you too.

Again, sorry for your troubles.

Sent using a long string and 2 used soup cans

[NATEWA]

Sorry for your loss OP.

I really like my .22’s - ammo is cheap, low recoil/sound and it allows you to focus on the fundamentals. The reactive targets at sac valley are fun to shoot.

[faterikcartman]

Start here:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

Howard Leight Max-1 NR33 uncorded box of 200.

And then add ear muffs on top. I'm using some double cupped Peltors that I've had for years. Read reviews and, personally, I wouldn't equate a NRR from a reputable American company with some overseas company new on the scene.

But for sure, as others wrote above, DOUBLE UP!

EDIT: As with Kevin above my Peltors are the ULTIMATE 10 Model.

Further EDIT: As noted by someone above, everyone's ear canals vary in size. The plugs I suggested above are for larger canals and are firm. They may be uncomfortable in smaller canals. If yours are small Howard Leight makes a Lite plug (green in colour). As for the custom molded ear canal plugs I've tried those as well. But while shooting trap with my face on the stock, and possibly partly due to calling for targets, the seal would sometimes break and blast my ear with sound. Not cool.

Also the warning above about looking at the attenuation range of the devices is important as some devices might strongly attenuate an inconsequential frequency which leads to a high NRR but is ultimately ineffective at protecting your hearing.

[hgoff]