WalMart ear protection?

[tman]

At WalMart I saw that they had some muffs for $7 and some change. Anyone have any experience with these?

Is it a good idea to spend good money on muffs, even if you'll be using plugs as well?

Thanks.

[maxicon]

Good muffs are worth a few extra bucks. I'd recommend using muffs that others have had good luck with, because even more expensive ones can be crap.

I bought a pair of Radians Eliminator 29s for $20 at a local range, and within 6 months, the glue had let the ear cushions slide around and come off the frame, and I threw them away. This is a reputable safety gear name brand, and they were junk - even before they came apart, the fit with safety glasses was terrible, and the NRR was noticable lower than my Ultimate 10s, even though they're rated the same.

I'd recommend the Peltor Bull's-Eye Ultimate 10 (also sold as AOSafety Professional 90561 at Orchard Supply in NorCal). They cost $20, have excellent noise reduction rating of 30, great seal around my safety glasses, and are very comfortable. They're bulky and can get in the way of rifles and shotguns, so I also use Peltor Shotgunner/AOSafety 90560 Stow-A-Way slim muffs (21 nrr) and earplugs when I want a low profile.

[mstlaurent]

I bought mine at Lowes, really nice folding set for $18. Same with the safety glasses, they have nice looking ones for about $10.

[schizrade2]

At WalMart I saw that they had some muffs for $7 and some change. Anyone have any experience with these?

Is it a good idea to spend good money on muffs, even if you'll be using plugs as well?

Thanks.

Had some WalMart baffle style plugs once... almost went deaf. Don't walk, run.

[rod]

You get what you pay for. I just take my wife shooting with me. She will stand there and nag at me so much that I can't hear anything else. I pay dearly for it, and in so many ways, but it's good ear protection.

[fairfaxjim]

Hearing is one of those things that when its gone, it is really gone for good. It goes away in little tiny increments, so you don't immediately notice that you have injured yourself, until you have done a lot of damage. Firearms noise is not continuous, but is of a very high peak decible level. Single high dB level sounds can cause permanent hearing damage. The hearing protection must be able to protect against these high peak levels, so must be more efficient than that used for continuous lower levels. A few extra bucks now can save you thousands later on hearing aids, not to mention that you still may not hear that well.
I spent a lot of years around loud machinery. I wore good ear protection ALWAYS, and still have excellent hearing. A lot of guys that worked the same places and didn't use it are pretty deaf now.

[Rem1492]

Listen to these guys, us military guys who are around loud equipment get our hearing checked often and its always bad news.

Buy peltor or more expensive stuff at least. Double up on plugs and outside muffs. I use custom earplugs from a gunshow, best things ever. I also double up wiht a low profile peltor shotgun earmuff that isnt as large so my ears dont hit my stocks on some of my guns. If you do pistol only, then get the big peltors, they block more sound.

Its what, the price of a few more boxes of ammo to buy a good hearing protection set? DO IT while you're new into this sport.

EDIT
I also use hearing protection when mowing lawn or doing other loud stuff. its generally a good idea.

[Astig Boy]

I say double up regardless. Wear the cushions that go inside your ear and muffs.

[tman]

Thanks for the replies.

I went to OSH (hardware/supply store) and saw they had some decent looking muffs so I bought them. I think they were around $17-18.




I think these are the same ones maxicon mentioned.

What do you guys think? Should I keep them? Would these muffs paired with plugs definitely protect hearing?

Thanks again.

[zefflyn]

I use some just like that, and they are my favorite.

[maxicon]

Yep, those are the Shotgunner. Turns out AOSafety and Peltor are the same company:

http://www.aosafety.com/aosafety.com/shooters/products/pas_05.htm

They're good, if light on the noise reduction, but are fine matched with plugs.

These are the Ultimate 10, and are the best I've used. When they say all day comfort, they mean it.

http://www.aosafety.com/aosafety.com/shooters/products/pas_02.htm

Here's a good set of faqs, including:
"Dual protection - What can I gain from wearing a plug and a muff together?"

http://www.e-a-r.com/hearingconservation/faq_main.cfm

OSHA gives an extra 5 dB for combining them, which would bring your total protection to 26 dB. A benefit of plugs under muffs is that you still have good protection if your muff slip or your glasses pull them away a bit just as the guy next to you touches off his 3" 44 magnum.