Ear/eye protection for noob

[EKIM]

Well I'm planning to purchase my first handgun within a week or so, so I figured its time to buy some good ear muffs and glasses. I prefer ear muffs since my ear holes are pretty small and have a really hard time fitting ear plugs. So for ear muffs I plan on getting Peltor Bull's-Eye Ultimate 10. These seem to be good muffs... any objections or suggestions? Dont plan on buying any rifles soon so those muffs being bulky dont bother me. I just want good muffs at a decent price. And as far as glasses Im in the air, I usually use what the range lets me rent(for both muffs and glasses). Any specific brand better then others, or is this a what ever fits me is better. I also dont want to spend to much on the glasses either, so no $200 oakleys for me. Well any suggestions and opinions will be appreciated.

[ahead]

as far as hearing protection i use plugs, but will soon be getting muffs. cant really help you on that end. i use these:

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/silnatrubear.html

but for eye protection i bought some basic safety glasses at the range for $5, you can pick some up at any hardware store or sports supply store. any type of glasses should be fine, but i personally would want something that keeps close to my face so brass from the guy next to me cant get caught inside (pretty rare but who knows).

[jumbopanda]

I like these plugs. I don't think you will have any problem fitting them in your ears.

http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/ear-370-1000.html

[Fjold]

Peltor makes great products. They're electric earmuffs are great, you don't have to yell, they amplify regular conversation and block out anything over 85 dbs.

Check out Baretta.com they have their three lens set shooting glasses on sale for $29, normally $100

[ocabj]

The thing I find funny about people who use the foam earplugs is how they put them in. They just shove them into their ears and expect them to work. 10% of the people I see who use them actually roll them with their fingers, pull their ear back with one hand and insert with the other.

I thought that was common sense. Granted, the instructions I ever saw that outliend this method were on the foam plugs my dad used the bring home from work back when he was still active duty.

I bought a pair of the Peltor Tactical electronic muffs. I sent them back to Midway for a refund. Totally unhappy with them. They work as far as reducing sound, but they wre horrible when amplifying conversations. Picked up stuff around me except the guy in front of me.

[jumbopanda]

The thing I find funny about people who use the foam earplugs is how they put them in. They just shove them into their ears and expect them to work. 10% of the people I see who use them actually roll them with their fingers, pull their ear back with one hand and insert with the other.

Yea I tried to just jam some foam plugs in once...but it wasn't at the range, I was trying to sleep while my neighbors were yelling at each other.

Right now I use those plug that I linked to, those you can just shove in.

[krim]

i picked up this cheapo combo set from S&W 9 yrs ago, clear folding glasses and linked gel ear plugs. I have small ear canals too, you can find plugs that are tapered if you dont want muffs.

I've been using this combo since then.. well, until my buddy put 400 rds of 45 on top of my glasses last month.

[RedBluff]

For eyes I like:

http://www.essgoggles.com/High-Adrenaline-Sunglasses_19_category.html

The Flyby is perfect for those of us with hugh to mega sized mellons.

[shinigami]

I only use OSH bought ear plugs, around 28 NRR, and silencio eye protection.....

Although If I'm going to get earmuffs, I'll go for a peltor..... I don't really talk to anybody when I go to the range so electronic earmuffs won't do me good.

[phod330]

I have the Peltor tactical electronic muffs. They've been working fine so far. If you are looking for electronic ear muffs, then the Peltor's are probably the best ones you can get for the price. If no electronic, any regular muffs or plugs should be good.

[markymark]

I double up on my hearing protection (foam plugs and muffs) because I've had situations where the muffs don't adapt very well against my glasses/shooting glasses.

[Inoxmark]

I use Ultimate 10, like them a lot, they hush the sounds pretty well and I can still hear range commands.
As far as glasses: consider that the temples will go under the muffs, you want them fairly thin and to stay closer to the face so you won't have a huge opening in the foam seal of muffs.

[xenophobe]

I have the Peltor Tactical 6s, and they're decent. Not great, but better than not having amplification, IMO.

I use them, and sometimes just the squishies.

Eye protection... I have a pair of GI issue eye protection. Not great, but they get the job done.

[ElKabong]

I have the Ultimate 10. It's good for indoor pistol shooting. However, they are not good for rifle or shotgun shooting.

So what I often do is use Peltor Shotgunner muffs and double up with plugs if it happens to be too loud at the (indoor) range that day. Those muffs fold up into themselves into a shape about like a softball which makes them easy to store. Outdoors I only use one of the two (the plugs or the muffs). As far as plugs go, I get the softest possible material because after inserting and removing them many times at outdoor action shooting matches my ear canals feel raw with the rougher foam plugs. I think these plugs (I get the ones with the cords for outdoor matches and use the ones without the cords when they're going to be under muffs) are okay. At action shooting matches I tend to prefer them to foam plugs because I often need to put the plugs in quickly and it takes too long to roll them, insert them and wait for them to expand.

For eyes I have Silencio glasses (a few clear and one with different color lenses for outdoors) and Wiley X glasses with different color lenses.

[Omega13device]

You should double-up with plugs and muffs. When you're wearing eye protection, the glasses going over your ears can break the seal of the muffs against your head and without plugs you'll really be hurting.

For plugs I use the MAX foam plugs from Dillon. They also have Multi-MAX for smaller ear canals. http://dillonprecision.com/template/...9&min=1&dyn=1&

Like ocabj said, you have to roll them up, pull your ear back with one hand and insert with the other. If they're in correctly you can give them a tug and they won't come out easily.

For muffs I use the Peltor Ultimate 10. It's the highest NRR of any muffs I've found. Not so great for shooting rifle/shotgun though due to the size.

Hearing is a one-time deal. Once you lose it, you're never getting it back. Be smart and over-protect it.