Hearing Protection

[Curmudgeon]

The electronic muffs are very handy if you*re taking a class, instructing etc. They let you hear what*s going on around you which is important on a shooting range.
I*ve used them almost exclusively, including overseas- convoy ops required eye and ear protection under a helmet. The electronics allowed one to hear the radio and other vehicle crew members.

In addition, you should wear the foam or other type plugins at the same time. You can still hear through the push ins. Push ins alone do not protect your hearing like a full ear cover. If you only use the push ins on the range, your hearing WILL be damaged.

This is what I have suspected although I haven't purchased any electronic muffs.
I've tried the foamies and I seriously doubt they come anywhere close to 32db NRR.
Maybe it's just my ears. I've also tried in-ear protection made by Sennheiser, a company
well known in audio, with a reputation to protect. They didn't do anything for me either,
not even in reducing the noise level of about 500 cooling fans at work.

Plain muffs and foamies are a nice combination, in the garage, the yard, the range, at
work, and given how well I can hear with just foamies I'm sure they would work well
under electronic muffs.

Maybe it's finally time for me to make the investment.

[West Chester]

Depends what I am shooting... busy range higher protection

I am alone shooting black powder. Basic protection for the shots.

I want to hear whose around me while shooting alone for safety aspect

[Gunowner99]

A lot to consider which I am doing right now. I think I should double up regardless considering I have tinnitus already.

[Gunowner99]

I like these plus add the gel inserts.

Walker's Razor Slim Earmuffs https://a.co/d/av04frN

[RockIsland]

That may be what I do, but honestly does having the microphone help or should I just skip it?

I*m just trying to figure out what my best course of action is

That's the only reason I use them. Otherwise I'd just use plugs exclusively. I find anything on my head annoying and they do tend to interfere with glasses and gunstocks.

[markshere2]

Mine are not electronic but I have seen the advantages of being able to hear
between booms. And I have also seen what you have, the relatively wide range
of protection between various products. I seem to recall searching the web based
on the NRR rating, and being able to locate electronic units rated in the high 20's
and low 30's, but it took a lot of looking.

I don't recall the NRR for my over-the-ear protection but for the past several years
I have always worn both the foam inserts and the muffs simultaneously. I think
would still do that with the electronic ear-pro.
I've done enough to my ears in the past 5 1/2 decades.

Doubling up on the protection only makes sense.

I wish I had done it as a youth.

[Sgt.K]

I appreciate the reduction available from disposables. I find them quite effective once properly inserted - which takes about a minute each. That time is seriously inconvenient if one wishes to take one out between shooters/stages at a pistol match. I found that custom-molded plugs offer nearly the same noise reduction (30db vs 32db) and the ability to quickly slip them in place. I am a cheap bast frugal guy, but I found the convenience well worth the $60 I spent.

My 2¢
YMMV
etc...

[Ronin]

Doesn't matter how good your hearing protection is, if you shoot a lot, you are damaging your hearing over time. You should always wear the best protection you can to keep your hearing for as long as you can.

[Curmudgeon]

Doesn't matter how good your hearing protection is, if you shoot a lot, you are damaging your hearing over time. You should always wear the best protection you can to keep your hearing for as long as you can.

Yep, it's one helluva lot of noise.

I'd love to try a set of the ear pro that flight line mechs wear around fighter jets, or on
the flight deck of aircraft carriers. Our son says they are absolutely amazing.

Definitely huge though. Anybody know the NRR specs for those things?

[Ronin]

Yep, it's one helluva lot of noise.

I'd love to try a set of the ear pro that flight line mechs wear around fighter jets, or on
the flight deck of aircraft carriers. Our son says they are absolutely amazing.

Definitely huge though. Anybody know the NRR specs for those things?

According to this, they use custom silicone ear plug along with muffs. Mrs Ronin has a set she got at the Outdoor Show in Hbg several years ago. They work great, but she can't hear range commands as well as she can with regular plugs and electronic muffs. So there's a trade-off of convenience over protection.