Hearing protection

[Guest Revelator]

Those little rubber ear plugs are not good hearing protection when at the range. Especially when shooting 12 gauge and .308, which I was yesterday. It's been about 20 hours now, and the ringing in my ears is down to about what it sounds like when you leave a rock concert.

Makes me wonder what combat soldiers do, especially when it's a pitched battle with grenades and artillery and whatnot. What did WWI and Civil War soldiers do about this? They must have been deaf after a month.

[Guest jwp]

Did you squeeze them down and allow them to expand in your ear canal?

The foam plugs I use have a range between 29 and 32 NRR. Haven't had any discomfort yet.

[Daniel]

Ive had explosions go off and machine gun / rifle fire. It is bothersome in training but in the real thing I didnt really notice it so much.

[Oh Shoot]

Did you squeeze them down and allow them to expand in your ear canal?

The foam plugs I use have a range between 29 and 32 NRR. Haven't had any discomfort yet.

Yeah, I have some Smith and Wesson ones, seem okay with my 9mm and .357, even with my 870, but I admit that I added headphones when Bubbiesdad started firing off that big bore howitzer of his at Norris last week.

I've also added the headphones near somebody shooting 44 mag indoors at Coal Creek.

- OS

[Magiccarpetrides]

Yeah, I have some Smith and Wesson ones, seem okay with my 9mm and .357, even with my 870, but I admit that I added headphones when Bubbiesdad started firing off that big bore howitzer of his at Norris last week.

I've also added the headphones near somebody shooting 44 mag indoors at Coal Creek.

- OS

How often do you guys go down to Norris...I been meaning to get down there so I could let loose with some cheapo birdshot through the Saiga 12and sight in my .308

[Guest c.a.s.]

We're planning to on the 18th, actually.

[bubbiesdad]

I think Phantom is working to have his range open.

[Oh Shoot]

How often do you guys go down to Norris...I been meaning to get down there so I could let loose with some cheapo birdshot through the Saiga 12and sight in my .308

Hollar at me if you wanna/can go on a weekday, I'd go widja; probably pretty open then.

I got a new pistola I'd like to shoot more soon anyway...

- OS

[Smith]

Those little rubber ear plugs are not good hearing protection when at the range. Especially when shooting 12 gauge and .308, which I was yesterday. It's been about 20 hours now, and the ringing in my ears is down to about what it sounds like when you leave a rock concert.

Makes me wonder what combat soldiers do, especially when it's a pitched battle with grenades and artillery and whatnot. What did WWI and Civil War soldiers do about this? They must have been deaf after a month.

Had the same question and heres what I got. http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2632&highlight=combat+hearing+loss

[rd97]

I have hearing loss because I didn't protect myself so I noe go for the best I can find, Ear plugs just don't do it for me.

[Almond27]

I use the cheapie Winchester ear plugs from Wal-mart and they have always done the job

[Smith]

I love the Zem headset. You can hear (pretty good at least) casual conversation and they deaden to 32db. Plus they are affordable.

Buy them here.

http://www.pistolgear.com/products.php?id=31

Here is their website.

http://www.sensgard.com/

[VERO1]

Most of the cheapie foam plugs offer more db reduction than the ear muffs. About the only thing you can do, is to double up with plugs and earmuffs.

[DWARREN123]

Inside I use ear plugs and muffs, outside usually just plugs. Good foam plugs form to the ear canal and cut down on noise quite a bit.

[catsbackr]

Give the Peltor Tactical 6 ear muffs a try. They are not cheap, about $80 or so, but they applify normal speech, but suppress sounds above 79 db.

[shaftbass]

I use foam earplugs along with muffs. It muffles everything pretty well.

[catsbackr]

The advantage with the Peltor's is that you can hear a normal conversation without having to remove them and they still protect your hearing while you are shooting.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Ive had explosions go off and machine gun / rifle fire. It is bothersome in training but in the real thing I didnt really notice it so much.

My experience is the same. When things were for real, I hardly noticed it. Having said that, my "for real" situations have not been heavy, sustained rifle fire. Mine have consisted of a few pistol shots (both indoor and outdoor).

On the range however, I'm pretty anal about hearing protection...especially since I have sensitive/good hearing ears.

As far as Peltors, I'm issued these at work. I'm on my third pair in less than 2 years. They're nice when they work, but we're having trouble with these things constantly breaking.

Edited September 29, 2008 by Todd@CIS

[Guest canynracer]

I use these: http://www.lapolicegear.com/holeimspelea.html

Howard Leight...they work great!! and I can plug my iPod into them I got them at my local Range

[Guest db99wj]

I use these: http://www.lapolicegear.com/holeimspelea.html

Edit gianormous pic

Howard Leight...they work great!! and I can plug my iPod into them I got them at my local Range

I have these as well, they work great.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Can't go cheap on your hearing.

I double up (plugs and muffs) when I shoot anything .44 mag or bigger. Most handguns I only use plugs.

[Angus]

Been in or around airplanes now for 25 yrs...wow. Started flying when I was 13, never wore earplugs till I was 25 and started working around jets. I just wear the foamy ear plugs due to the comfort. We get our hearing checked every year and so far no loss, even with the little orange foamy deals.

After seeing what canynracer put up, I think I would buy these for the range.

Huh?...What?..thought I heard something?

[Guest mike45acp]

I use small rubber earplugs with a metal baffle in it they are comfortable and I use them at the shotgun shoots.

[Guest db99wj]

Been in or around airplanes now for 25 yrs...wow. Started flying when I was 13, never wore earplugs till I was 25 and started working around jets. I just wear the foamy ear plugs due to the comfort. We get our hearing checked every year and so far no loss, even with the little orange foamy deals.

After seeing what canynracer put up, I think I would buy these for the range.

Huh?...What?..thought I heard something?

The weird thing about the electronics, and those for sure (because I have them and have personal experience with them) is the amplification that you get. You can here people across the room talking that normally you wouldn't. It's pretty neat.

[Guest Centennial]

Ear muffs with at least a 29 NRR rating provide much better hearing protection than plugs. Mine are Leight 31s and they work well.