hearing protection? ringing ears even with muffs

[Altahick]

today for the first time ever i noticed my ears were ringing even though i was wearing my shooting muffs (same pair i have been using at least 5 years and never had ringing). i was shooting my AR and only shot one mag (which means 30 rnds for you california folk). i have never had ringing in my ears wearing these muffs before. they are the basic cheap common muffs that you see alot of people wear. i know a lot of you guys double up with ear plugs and muffs. i hate wearing ear plugs and taking them in and out etc so i dont want to double up if i can help it.
my question is how much do i have to spend on a set of muffs that have noise reduction levels that allow me to not double up? what to you recommend? budget is a big factor for me, but i hate thinking i am damaging my ears. i am a musician and if i cant hear music that would be worse that having my guns taken. i would like to go electronic. would a $50 set of howard lights have enough noise reduction?

[cigardog]

I have a $50 pair of electronic Howard Leights that work well.

Have you tried different ear plugs? There are a lot of different styles out there - you may find some to be more comfortable than others. Even with electronic muffs, I still double up sometimes.

Once your hearing is damaged...that's it. It doesn't come back. Consider that.

[Jet Setter]

Spend the money on a nicer set or double up. It is unfortunate but your hearing is worth it. I double up as I am too cheap to drop $150+ on ear protectors. Most of the folks at my club use the pro ears brand but it is quite expensive.

[Librarian]

NRR on the HL electrics is 22 - not much, actually. Peltor 6S electric is just NRR 19, much less.

Peltor Ultimate 10 is NRR 30 - $20 or so. But they are pretty big and are clumsy when shooting rifles/shotguns.

HL Earplugs worn properly are NRR 33.

Plugs + muffs do not add NRRs, unfortunately. (That is, it would not be 23 + 33 = 56; it would be 23 + something, but hard to say what the net would be.)

Plugs + electric muffs, with volume turned up, seem to work fine. Hear conversation but cuts out gunfire.

[cigardog]

According to OSHA you should pick up an extra 5dB of sound attenuation from doubling up.

https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/hcp/attenuation_estimation.html

Another advantage of plugs is that you are able to somewhat compensate for the compromised seal of over-the-ear hearing protection that results from wearing eye protection in conjunction with hearing protection.

[Yerman]

I have Howard Leights and I can tell you, they are not enough for me. I also have Pro Ears Gold Pro Tac and I still double up.

Try the Surefire EP3 earplugs under some quality slim electronic muffs. Doubling up is the only way I can get high NRR and wear a slim muff that alows me to get a good check weld on a rifle without obstruction from the muffs.

You can always get the Pro Mag Gold's with an NRR of 30 but they are big. Hard to shoot a rifle with them on.

[9mmepiphany]

the rule of thumb is that doubling up adds 5db of protection...which is a lot as the db scale is geometric

[sonofeugene]

Electronic muffs don't offer more protection, they simply allow you to hear normal levels of sound better when you're wearing them.

[Javi]

I'm thinking of trying out the Surefire Ear Pro plugs with some 26db reducing muffs & might get some ESS safety glasses that are supposed to be extremely flat around the area that the muffs would cover them up as to not break the seal.

[russ69]

the rule of thumb is that doubling up adds 5db of protection...which is a lot as the db scale is geometric

The decibel scale is logrithmic.

[Altahick]

what NRR would i have to find in a set of muffs to not require doubling up?

i know electronic muff do not ad any noise reduction, but if im going to spend money on a set i want electric so i can hunt and talk etc while wearing them.

i dont like ear plugs because i end up taking them in and out constantly. then once i take them out i dont like putting dirty ones back in and i feel completely deaf when wearing them properly which i dont like. thats why im looking at electronics. i want to hear and have protection.

[9mmepiphany]

The decibel scale is logrithmic.

oops, you're correct. I should pay more attention when posting and watching TV

[Yerman]

what NRR would i have to find in a set of muffs to not require doubling up?

i know electronic muff do not ad any noise reduction, but if im going to spend money on a set i want electric so i can hunt and talk etc while wearing them.

i dont like ear plugs because i end up taking them in and out constantly. then once i take them out i dont like putting dirty ones back in and i feel completely deaf when wearing them properly which i dont like. thats why im looking at electronics. i want to hear and have protection.

I'd say NRR 30

http://www.proears.com/Pro-Ears-Shooting-Hearing-Ear-Protection-Pro-Tac-Mag-Gold-Black-Muffs

Be aware they are large and difficult to use with a rifle.

If you really want the best and money is no object...

http://www.proears.com/Pro-Fit-Custom-Ear-Plugs

[Altahick]

i have never had ringing in my ears with my .243 ,12 ga various pistols etc. i just finished my AR recently. I guess my 16" AR really is loud LOL

[Reelemup]

I use my old none electronic muffs they work.