Posted: 3/24/2005 10:37:09 AM EDT
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I just bought my first handgun and while picking up ammo and cleaning products at the local sporting goods store, I grabbed some ear protection. The box had db level 29 on it, and I value my hearing, so I took it. There were options ranging from 22-29 available. A friend of mine who is much more familiar with guns said that a lot of people think this is "too much" protection because it blocks out too much (range instructions, safety instructions, etc.). Can someone tell me what the deal is? I've thrown out the box for the ears so I can't return it--am I stuck with something I don't want, or are these going to work out ok? Please forgive me if I'm opening up a debate a la Glock v. 1911. That is not my intention. Thanks. |
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No such thing as blocking 'too much'. If your getting instruction you remove the muffs. When you are shooting put them on. Lots of guys even shoot with muffs and plugs. If you think hearing commands is going to be an issue - then get a pair of Petor Tac 6's (22db IIRC) and use earplugs. The Tac 6's have a microphone speaker system and can even amplify your hearing - but when a lound noise occurs the electronics shut down. |
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The only real way to tell for certain would be to do some research. Find out what doctors think is a reasonable decibel level for short and long periods of time (last I recall 80db for extended periods, but I could be totally off). Grab a db measuring device of some type. Shoot your gun. See how loud it is (I think 140db is considered about "standard" though obviously a .32acp is a lot differant than .50bmg). Purchase hearing protection that brings the levels down to what doctors recommend for short term exposure. EDIT: I could shoot a 20guage all day long with #8 and never be bothered. |
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You should wear both ear plugs and ear muffs. I do, and I can still converse and hear others. Remember, the use of plugs doesn't reduce the sound level to zero, it merely lessens the intensity of the sound. If someone is speaking at a decibel level of 70db (which is close to yelling), you will still hear them only it may sound like 20-50db (depends on type of hearing protection). A whisper is 30dB, normal conversation is 60 dB Pain threshold of hearing is 140dB--Gunfire is anywhere from 150 to 175dB If you are shooting a 12 gauge-which is about 170-175dB, you should wear plugs and muffs which will reduce the sound level about 60dB. It will reduce the noise to about 110-115dB and won't damage your hearing. |
| I just wear foam ear plugs, I believe they are rated for 31db. I've never had a problem hearing range commands, unless the range officer is way down on the other side of the firing line. But I am a little hard of hearing already because of years of indoor smallbore shooting without using ANY ear plugs. Many times, If I don't know you are talking to me(and I am not looking at you) I won't hear what you said. It pisses my wife off to no end, she thinks I am ignoring her, when the truth is I just didn't hear her say anything. There is no such thing as too much protection when it comes to your ears!! |
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The rating is the amount of Db it will reduce. If its rated for 29 then an 170 Db noise will be 141 w/ the plugs. Use double if possible, as plugs are not good for impulse noises such as gunfire. This is as I understand it per our OSHA training at work. However, I use the foam ear plugs only and shoot at least twice a month at an outdoor range. We are tested annually as hearing loss is grounds for dismissal at my job. My hearing has not suffered any in any of the tone ranges, I am still on my baseline. This leads me to believe that ear plugs 22 or greater would be sufficient for my shooting condtions but YMMV. ETA qualifying statement. |
Even a dB level of 141 would be very loud and painful. I know that when I wear my muffs, my rifle isn't cracking in my ears at 141 dB. |
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First, hearing protection must be worn and fit properly. If you have thick hair, muffs will not seal well. If a foam plug is not inserted well into the ear canal and expanded to fill it, it will not work. I have seen people just insert the foams into the outer part of the ear, with them hanging out about to fall off. When an expanding foam earplug is properly inserted, it is almost invisible to the casual observer. There is a type of "shooter's plugs" with tiny metal valves that close with high noise levels. These can work well, but not as good as expanding foam types in my experience. Most muffs are in the 23-25 db reduction range. (I said MOST) Most foam plugs are in the 31-33 db reduction range. This is a LOT. Wearing both plugs AND muffs will not give you 24 + 31 = 55 db reduction. It is not additive because once you reach a certain level there is more sound coming to the ear through the bones of the head, up the sinuses or in the mouth through the eustacian tubes. Muffs have the advantage of easy on-easy off. Plugs have a lot more db reduction. Some "active" sound cancellation muffs will rival good foam earplugs. Muffs may be difficult for some rifle shooters in getting a good cheek weld. Let me give you an example, and feel for the db levels. If you turn up the volume on your stereo one notch, it is about a 3 db increase, and is just a barely noticable amount. That 3 db increase requires a doubling of amp power. Doubling your distance from a noise source will drop the sound level by 6 db, which is a reduction of 3/4 of the power delivered. To sound "twice as loud" takes about a 10 db increase, and requires a 10x power increase. As you see, going from muffs of about 23-24 db reduction to plugs with 31-33 db reduction my not sound like a lot of noise reduction, but it really is. While I do not put myself up to be the final word, or "expert" in hearing protection, I have had a lot of training in this area. And I do understand sound level vs power and distance relationships. (Edited to add) You do not "get used" to gunfire... your ears are damaged by it. You lose hearing if you don't protect yourself, high frequency is lost first, which affects intelligibility of spoken language. People sound like they are mumbling, "What did you say? Say that again? Speak up, don't mumble!" you say. But that's OK, you're tough, you are "used to it", and don't need hearing protection, right?  Sambo1999, 29 db reduction is pretty good, good choice, and it is NOT too much. |
Yes, you are correct, it is logarithmic. A 3dB increase is a doubling of the sound intensity (in other words, a doubling of sound level is not going from 50dB to 100dB rather it is going from 50dB to 53dB-I think), however, humans would perceive a 3dB increase as a 30 percent increase in "loudness". As for purposes of addition and subtraction of dB levels to ascertain the effectiveness of plugs and/or muffs what do you suggest? What is the mathematical formula for determining the effectiveness ratings of muffs? I don't remember this info from my college physics class. |
| You CAN add or subtract db... but the thing you cannot acct for is the amount of sound that bypasses the ear canal. There IS a little more noise reduction with muffs over plugs, but you do not achieve the theoretical total 23-24 + 31-33 = 54-57 db reduction. Some of the sound bypasses the muffs and plugs, getting to the ear by other means as stated in my previous post. |
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This is from a guy that now says "huh" a lot and "I'm sorry I can't hear you." The ear plugs and electronic ear muffs are a great idea. Just remember... it ONLY takes ONE time to cause permanent hearing damage. Hearing "crickets" for the rest of your life is a real drag! After 30+ years of "crickets"... it never fails to be annoying!!! The damage is sometimes also gradual and is cumulative. Just because you don't hear "crickets" and your do fine shooting X. Don't think you are not damaging your hearing. I am careful to protect my hearing (at least after my first big goof) and over the past 30 years, I am gradually going deaf in my left ear. The one with the worst damage. The right ear don't work so good neither! Each annual hearing exam shows more hearing loss than the previous. I even wear ear plugs on my motorcycle and use hearing protection when mowing and using power tools. You can't do too much to protect your hearing. ALWAYS wear hearing protection for all calibers. When shooting indoors use plugs and muffs! Once it's gone... it's gone!! Off topic... always use a good pair of eye protection too! |
Good advice. As a friend that is a professional hygenist once told me, "That ringing in your ears after shooting a weapon without ear protection, is the hearing receptors singing good-bye to you. Because, once they're gone, they're gone forever." |
The fact that is is logarithmic is not the reason that simple addition and subtraction does not work. The reason that it does not work is that the sound attenuation of almost any hearing protection device is dependent on the incident sound pressure level and frequency. That's why 25 dB muffs + 25 dB plugs probably doesn't equal 50 dB protection.
+1. Shooting indoors, I use plugs + muffs for comfort, but outdoors I only use muffs. |