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Posted: 12/30/2014 6:55:10 AM EDT
| 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? |
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personally I use the foam earplugs for rifle bench rest shooting.
the muffs interfere with my cheek weld I use the muffs for pistol. Get a pair with the electronic hearing. nice to be able to carry on a conversation or hear range instructions while wearing them |
| I just posted a similar thread (about wanting electronic ears) in GD......anyway, I did some research and ended up getting the Peltor Tac 100, home depot has them on sale for $49. I was going to get more expensive ones but these had great reviews. Anyway, just thought I'd share the info. |
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For max protection I would recommend the Dimension Pro Ears. They used to be over $300 but I have seen them on sale for about 270. They are rated 32 or 33 NNR which is about good as any muff and these are electronic. If you go with a plug, for me, there is no question those ones custom molded to your ears are by far the most effective. Off the bench I use both.
Remember, if you leave a shooting session with any ringing or stuffy feeling in your ears you have suffered permanent and irreversible damage to your hearing. While the feeling may go away the damage is done and the effects are cumulative. Keep it up and the ringing will never go away. I know Peltor makes several models of electronic ear pro and I don't know what model I picked up off a prize table but I do know they were junk. One side quit after a week and compared to the Pro Ears the sound quality and protection were poor. |
| +1 for the custom molded ear plugs (available at gun shows) and/or Pro Ears. I too have a problem with muffs when shooting rifles. Getting a good cheek weld usually results in pushing the muff up and off my ear. I use the custom plugs for rifles and muffs for pistol. Also, the Surefire plugs are much better than the foam plugs (imo). |
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Quoted: I use plugs and muffs at the same time. Hearing loss adds up over the years. Protect your hearing while you still have it. http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01523-Leightning-Lightweight/dp/B001BL04PS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1419969621&sr=8-7&keywords=howard+leight HL also makes an electronic one that seems to be really popular, but it doesnt fit my big head well: http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419969695&sr=8-1&keywords=howard+leight |
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. This. These are my favorite electronic ear pro, if you want cheap the Caldwell low pro's arent bad either. |
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I just posted a similar thread (about wanting electronic ears) in GD......anyway, I did some research and ended up getting the Peltor Tac 100, home depot has them on sale for $49. I was going to get more expensive ones but these had great reviews. Anyway, just thought I'd share the info. The NRR on those are pretty low (In the low 20's), you probably want to use plugs with them. Protect your hearing, once it's bad it' sbad for good. I use Peltor Optime, they have a 30+ nrr, cost around $20 or less off Amazon if you are patient and don't interfere with my cheek weld with my AR or M1(everyone is different). I still double up when shooting rifle or pistol indoors. Custom molded plugs are another option, usually under $100 and high NRR as well, with no worry about cheek weld interference. I'm saving up for a nice pair of electronics as I think I will like to be able to hear others when I'm at the range. If you are wearing anything under 30NRR you are doing yourself a disservice and will damage your hearing over time. Even with the higher NRR muffs you most likely should be using plugs with muffs if you are shooting a rifle or anything indoors. A nice trick with good electronic muffs is doubling up with plugs and turning up the sound to hear voices.. |
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I have a couple sets, they work well Quoted:
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. I have a couple sets, they work well I used these for quite some time but, then ended up getting some MSA Pro X with the Gel inserts. By far the most comfortable set of electronic ear pros I have ever used. ETA: When I'm bench/precision shooting, I used the SF ear plugs under my MSA's and it works very well to muffle out most of the noise associated with firing under a covered range. |
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For plugs, I like the Peltor "Combat Arms" ear plugs, and have several sets that I keep in different pockets in their little carrying cases.
They have a yellow side and an OD green side, one of which blocks all sound, and one of which allows "pass through" sounds so you can hear normal speech - IIRC, they usually run about $9-$11 a set. Most of the time when I shoot, though, I run Peltor ComTac IIs, both with and without plugs, depending on the situation, though part of the reason is for the comms capability. They do, however, offer both the ComTac and SwatTacs without boom mics and dowleads for comms. I've also tried Sordins and HLs, but I just prefer the fit and feel and comfort of the Peltors - but then again, I may have an oddly shaped head, since almost everyone insists that the Sordins are more comfortable than the Peltors except me. The Peltors do have a better NRR than the Sordins - IIRC, 22 dB to 21 dB or something along those lines. IMHO, active, electronic hearing protection is a world away from passive plugs or muffs, and highly recommended. FWIW, while there are cheaper versions available from various sources new, I see ComTacs and Sordins come up used pretty often in the sub-$200 range, IIRC, a set of Sordins with gel earcups just sold for $150-160 on the EE. While a couple moments with some alcohol wipes should satisfy even the most squeamish when it comes to wearing used muffs - you get, cliché as it may sound - "military grade hardware," hardened for use in combat and under austere conditions, and should last quite a while under casual use, rather than just a cheap Home Depot or LGS "hobbyist" set of hearing protection. ~Augee |
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. These, plus yellow EAR plugs purchased in bulk. I used to just use ear plugs only, but after one particular afternoon at the range, I caught the tinnitus. |
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Look for muffs with at least a 30 NRR for the best protection. Or, if you double up with, say a 22 NRR muff, and foam plugs, they will give you 39 NRR or so. Howard Leight Impact Sports are only rated at 22 NRR. The HL Impact Pro is rated at 32 NRR, but are a lot bulkier. If you don't need or want electronic muffs, Midway has their store brand rated at 32 NRR. It is really difficult for me to get any kind of good cheek weld with even the very slim HL Impact Sports, so when I'm shooting a rifle, I wear the plugs.
I've had some tinnitus for years now. The only time I really notice it, is when I read about it here or in other forums, lol. Kinda like "Don't bite your tongue". Wow, now I hear it. And I just bit my tongue. 
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WHAT!?
Sorry, usual response to questions about hearing loss. I'm a carpenter and probably suffer more hearing loss from work than I do firearms. I use the cheap yellow foamies for shooting. Harbor Fright is the best place to get them cheap. It's always good to have spares for taking people out shooting too. |
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I have a couple sets, they work well Quoted:
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. I have a couple sets, they work well Mine don't. Not very well at all. The seal is quite loose, and my ears ring a bit after shooting anything loud and concussive indoors (not that I shoot indoors on a regular basis, but it can still happen). I have to step away on stages where old guys with their ported fire breathing Open guns shoot under a roof. |
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Mine don't. Not very well at all. The seal is quite loose, and my ears ring a bit after shooting anything loud and concussive indoors (not that I shoot indoors on a regular basis, but it can still happen). I have to step away on stages where old guys with their ported fire breathing Open guns shoot under a roof. Quoted:
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. I have a couple sets, they work well Mine don't. Not very well at all. The seal is quite loose, and my ears ring a bit after shooting anything loud and concussive indoors (not that I shoot indoors on a regular basis, but it can still happen). I have to step away on stages where old guys with their ported fire breathing Open guns shoot under a roof. Yes, shooting indoors definitely requires more protection than the HL Impact Sports alone can provide. |
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I just posted a similar thread (about wanting electronic ears) in GD......anyway, I did some research and ended up getting the Peltor Tac 100, home depot has them on sale for $49. I was going to get more expensive ones but these had great reviews. Anyway, just thought I'd share the info. The Peltor Tac 100's are off sale at Home Depot. I stopped there today to pick a set up but they were listed at $69. So for kicks I took a pair over to the service desk and told them I just missed the sale and was there anything they could do for me. Surprisingly the gal made a call and I got them for the sale price of $49.99. Thanks for heads up on these. |
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Mine don't. Not very well at all. The seal is quite loose, and my ears ring a bit after shooting anything loud and concussive indoors (not that I shoot indoors on a regular basis, but it can still happen). I have to step away on stages where old guys with their ported fire breathing Open guns shoot under a roof. Quoted:
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. I have a couple sets, they work well Mine don't. Not very well at all. The seal is quite loose, and my ears ring a bit after shooting anything loud and concussive indoors (not that I shoot indoors on a regular basis, but it can still happen). I have to step away on stages where old guys with their ported fire breathing Open guns shoot under a roof. You need to double up indoors. Out doors they are great. |
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. As I state below in my review, they're fine for most things if you're shooting outdoors but if you're inside/under cover I'd double up........ 
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personally I use the foam earplugs for rifle bench rest shooting. the muffs interfere with my cheek weld I use the muffs for pistol. Get a pair with the electronic hearing. nice to be able to carry on a conversation or hear range instructions while wearing them +1 |
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I double up foam plugs and muffs for almost all shooting anymore. If the seal on the muffs isn't solid, the plugs help out.
I usually just get the foam plugs from wal mart or wherever. For Earmuffs, good NON electronic muffs are higher performance and much less cost than the fancy electronic ones. My favorites are Bilsom Viking V3, and Lightning 31. The Viking V3s seem to be especially good with gunfire noise. |
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I went with the Surefire ear plugs and they work great. They have a small plug that you can open and have a normal conversation. I love them because I hate wearing ear muffs and they fit nice in my ears. +1 I have a couple different pairs and team them up with electronic muffs when shooting indoors or under a cover. |
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As I state below in my review, they're fine for most things if you're shooting outdoors but if you're inside/under cover I'd double up........  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LemklL0kV9AQuoted:
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The Howard Leight Impact Sports are very hard to beat for the price. They are incredibly popular as well. The last course I took, literally everyone who attended had them except for one guy. As I state below in my review, they're fine for most things if you're shooting outdoors but if you're inside/under cover I'd double up........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LemklL0kV9AHe mentioned that there was an aftermarket gel replacement for these. Does anyone know if there are and if they are similar to the ones used on the MSA Sordins? |
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