Ear protection
 

Wasn't exactly sure where to post this topic… Looking to purchase a new set of ear protection for bench/target shooting (not hunting). What's a good set & what decibel reduction should I be looking for?

I wear those foam plugs under my old Ithicgun muffs.
Use the same set up at work too.

:D Al

I went to an audiologist and had a set of plugs custom molded to my ears. Cost was 60 bucks but I have5
used them 6 years now. They are soft silicone easily washable come with both attached to a lanyard which i loop on a dedicated ball cap.
I do shoot lots of trap
Audiologists recommend under 80 decibels but with these plugs i am under 40 or less.
JW

I use his stuff............................Works for me !

http://www.howardleight.com/images/p...Guide_iPad.pdf

For outdoor ranges

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Howar...h-All+Products

huh? what you say? shoot my 7 mm Allen a couple times with no hearing protection and nothing is very loud then, heck I was 54% deaf in 1980, not any worse now.
RR

Electronic muffs are my choice for shooting on public ranges or at a shooting club. It lets you hear range commands and still protects your hearing. I have a few pairs of Howard Leight electronic muffs. It is hard to beat the price and they do a fine job.

If there is one of those guys with a muzzle brake on the next bench I usually wear soft plugs in my ears along with the electronic muffs. When I shoot on my private range I like non-electronic muffs.

f some one has a brake at the next bench I move and/or just leave. Even with the foam plugs and muffs it is more than I want to put up with.
If you show up at my home range with a brake you just ain't shooting.

:D Al

I use foam plugs for sighting in and range sessions. I shoot 3 braked rifles, not for recoil reduction, they are imperative for seeing long range impacts while hunting. 2 of those have a QD Holland brakes, they are loud but just a big boom. the 3rd uses a KDF brake, it has a sharp ear piercing bark that is uncomfortable without hearing protection.
RR

Indoors I use plugs plus muffs.

Outdoors just muffs.

If at a public range outdoors I use electronic muffs.

Sometimes I double the PF, with foams and muffs, as needed..

I tried that with foams and regular muffs and it was very quiet. Too quiet (hard to hear) while on a range with commands or if you need to hear stuff behind you. I then switched to electronic muffs and foams which seemed to work better in those applications. YMMV of course.

As far as the OP's question, I use an electronic pair of Howard Leight ear muffs that I picked up from Cabelas when on the range and giving commands. The electronic muffs block the loud stuff and you can still hear people talking when you need to.

If your in the field a good set of electronic muffs or plugs. For shooting practice just regular muff and indoors I'd double with muffs/plugs. The only time at a public range when you need to double is when someone decides to bring a rifle that is doesn't belong in a busy range so you have to double your protection. If your firearm is loud enough that it requires double hearing protection shoot it at your own property or when the range is empty.

I got a pair of the Howard Leight hearing enhancers so I could hear turkeys gobble, etc. But the things also work well to reduce sounds even while on amplification.

While shooting: muffs and foam plugs together. During cease fire times I remove the muffs and leave in the plugs. The public range I use has a very loud PA system - it is loud in order to be heard over gunfire. However during the cease fire period the PA is almost painfully loud. So during cease fire I remove the muffs to hear any range officer commands but leave in the plugs to protect my ears from the PA system.

And yea those muzzle breaks are freakin' loud!

I'm curious if anyone has tried the electronic Radians? I can't stand ear muffs I'm back to using foam ear plugs.