Ear protection for outdoors

[roushstage2]

I've been reading and reading...and reading as many threads as I can for "what's the best ear protection." Sooooo many opinions, choices, etc. I've spent and hour reading and am just at a loss of what to even consider.

I shoot .22LR to .308 to 12 gauge, outdoors. I ordered Peltor H10A muffs the other day from Amazon, but evidently that wasn't a good choice due to the size of 'em and the fact that I shoot rifles/shotguns. The plan is to return them and find something that won't interfere with rifle shooting. I have never been to an actual range yet, so, needing to hear range commands or conversations is pretty much at the bottom of the list. The rare occasion that I go, I'm sure I'll manage with "old-school," non-electronic ear protection.

Simply put: Will a pair of high NRR foam ear plugs, like these, get the job done for outdoor rifle/shotgun shooting?

[Merc1138]

If you insert them correctly, yes. If you just kinda jam them in your ear, no.

[Tier One Arms]

Check out the Surefire EP3's

[CalNRA]

I wear ear plugs and a pair of ear muffs.

Better safe than sorry. I wouldn't recommend jus ear plugs alone, as it only takes one incorrect placement to cause damage, especially if you are shooting 308 and 12 gauge.

[voiceofreason]

Me personally:

Pistol outdoors- for less than 2 hours, just muffs

rifle, shotgun, anything indoors- double up

Once lost, you can't get your hearing back and firearms are LOUD.

[jlbflyboy172]

I bought a pair of Westone Shooting earplugs. I went to an audiologist and had them make molds of my ears. The plugs are not cheap but they have a steel trap in them so when you talk on the range you can hear but the trap shuts down at the increased decibel levels. Don't know how they work buy they work great. Just spent four days at Frontsight. They accepted them (they require electronic hearing protection) and I had no issues at all. The really nice thing is that they are custom fit to your ears so you can comfortably wear them all day long. They seal up perfectly and you don't sweat and they don't interfere while shooting rifle. A perfect solution for me. They were $250 but I will have them for the rest of my life. Well worth the investment for me.

[BanjoGunner]

I bought a pair of Westone Shooting earplugs. I went to an audiologist and had them make molds of my ears. The plugs are not cheap but they have a steel trap in them so when you talk on the range you can hear but the trap shuts down at the increased decibel levels. Don't know how they work buy they work great. Just spent four days at Frontsight. They accepted them (they require electronic hearing protection) and I had no issues at all. The really nice thing is that they are custom fit to your ears so you can comfortably wear them all day long. They seal up perfectly and you don't sweat and they don't interfere while shooting rifle. A perfect solution for me. They were $250 but I will have them for the rest of my life. Well worth the investment for me.

I don't see 'shooting earplugs' on the Westone site. Are they the Hunter's Style 39?

Thanks.

BG

[erik_26]

'Doubling up' with hearing protection doesn't give you 'double' the protection.

There is a slight gain. I just want make it clear to everyone so they don't think they are getting 'double' the protection and really only getting ~1.25


You are almost always going to get the best protection with foam in-ear plugs. But.... you have to insert them correctly. Just pushing them in the ear wont do you any good. You have to roll them with your (clean) finger tips first, then while lifting on your ear to help open it up, insert the plug. Then allow the plug to expand into position.


Ear muffs don't offer the same protection as foam ear plugs.

[jlbflyboy172]

Don't recall the exact model of Wedtones I just called them. Ou are correct that they are not on the web site. I am also a musician and I was having some in ear monitors made for me so inquired about these while I was having my ear molds made. I would suggest just calling them.

[biloutkast]

I used to wear Howard Leight electric earmuffs until all my friends copied me. They worked great for outdoors, not so much indoors.

[ChrisTKHarris]

I used to wear Howard Leight electric earmuffs until all my friends copied me. They worked great for outdoors, not so much indoors.

Agreed. Indoors they don't offer enough protection in my opinion. For indoors I picked up the Howard Leight L3's for pistols and for outdoor rifles I use the Impact Sports.

[Rhythm of Life]

Just pay attention to the NRR rating. Electronic muff with only 18 nrr isn't so grand. Nor is a super bulky muff with only 23.

I balance the NRR to the situation. I use my 28s indoor and my 23s outdoor.

[ChrisTKHarris]

Just pay attention to the NRR rating. Electronic muff with only 18 nrr isn't so grand. Nor is a super bulky muff with only 23.

I balance the NRR to the situation. I use my 28s indoor and my 23s outdoor.

For reference the Impact Sports are rated at 22 dB and the L3's are rated at 30 dB.

[xrMike]

Simply put: Will a pair of high NRR foam ear plugs, like these, get the job done for outdoor rifle/shotgun shooting?

Yeah, those should be good enough for rifle and shotgun, but only if you insert them correctly. Some guys just turn them sideways and stick them in their ear holes, so you can pretty much see the whole plug. That's not the right way, and provides hardly any protection.

You need to roll the plug lengthwise between your thumb and forefinger so you compress it down into a tiny, long sliver. Then you insert that sliver directly into your ear canal as far as you can, but not so far that you can't pull it out again later. Let that expand and it will fill your ear canal along its whole length, giving you the maximum NRR of the plug. That's the right way.

Personally, if I'm outdoors and shooting rifle/shotgun, I double up with plugs like those + electronic muffs. I want to be able to hear my grand kids talk to me when I get old. If only shooting pistol, then foam plugs are good enough by themselves.

[roushstage2]

If you insert them correctly, yes. If you just kinda jam them in your ear, no.

Yeah, those should be good enough for rifle and shotgun, but only if you insert them correctly. Some guys just turn them sideways and stick them in their ear holes, so you can pretty much see the whole plug. That's not the right way, and provides hardly any protection.

You need to roll the plug lengthwise between your thumb and forefinger so you compress it down into a tiny, long sliver. Then you insert that sliver directly into your ear canal as far as you can, but not so far that you can't pull it out again later. Let that expand and it will fill your ear canal along its whole length, giving you the maximum NRR of the plug. That's the right way.

Personally, if I'm outdoors and shooting rifle/shotgun, I double up with plugs like those + electronic muffs. I want to be able to hear my grand kids talk to me when I get old. If only shooting pistol, then foam plugs are good enough by themselves.

I do indeed know how to properly insert them. Thank you for the replies guys.

I'm thinking I'll just keep the H10A muffs so my 7 y/o stepdaughter can wear them when she feels like watching me, or shooting the .22's. I honestly wouldn't mind buying another set of thinner earmuffs to have the extra protection, but want to make sure they won't be getting in the way. Anyone happen to know if these are thin enough for rifle/shotgun shooting? http://www.opticsplanet.net/howard-l...fs-r01525.html

Either those, or I could go with the L0F (and I get free 2-day shipping from Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-...0182909&sr=1-3