Hearing Protection at the Range
 

Went to an indoor range with wife and son on July 2. Had a great time, except for 2 things: my Ruger LCP extractor doesn't want to work properly.

Secondly, my ear pro wasn't cutting it. I'm pretty much back to normal but last week was rough.

I usually use a plunger style ear plug that I got from the Army. Never had any complaints until now. In fact, I always thought those worked best for me as others like the Christmas tree style was garbage.

The lane next to us had 3 people shooting 1911s. I could tell my ear pro wasn't blocking everything but didn't realize how bad until I got home. Ended up having to waive off dinner out with family that night and church the next day. There was a certain volume and frequency that didn't feel good.

I posted before about being at a range in Mogadishu and lost an ear plug and the guy to that side of me was going to town on a SAW. I'm sure my current situation is impacted by that event.

Any suggestions on what to wear next time? I'm firmly convinced if it were an outdoor range I would have been fine. The closeness and sound bouncing around the walls was pretty tough.

I have a pair of Champion electronic noise cancelling earmuffs. It provides high levels of noise protection, white at the same time enabling you to hear people talking with you. This can be a huge benefit should there be an intruder in your home and you have to defend yourself and don't want to be disoriented by the ringing in your ears...

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Traps-Targets-40974-Electronic/dp/B001E8PPM0

^^^^

Dang, those are inexpensive. Nice

I wear $30 ear plugs and good tight fitting grade 5 earmuffs. I find it really does work doubling up.

I wear silicone earplugs (Walmart) and a good set of ear muffs. Both rated at 22-25 db reduction.
I have the electronic ear muffs that cut out high sound but not voices and then have a pair of just bulk ear muffs and unless with someone, I use the basic one.

When I was looking into ear muffs for shooting, someone recommended these.
https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Honeywell-Amplification-Electronic/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sxin_18?asc_contentid=amzn1.osa.0c16ffbf-0679-4419-a442-68d5ed393bce.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&asc_contenttype=a rticle&ascsubtag=amzn1.osa.0c16ffbf-0679-4419-a442-68d5ed393bce.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&content-id=amzn1.sym.15d473d8-31ee-48d9-a207-aaa8ce868fca%3Aamzn1.sym.15d473d8-31ee-48d9-a207-aaa8ce868fca&creativeASIN=B001T7QJ9O&crid=6L0SG65A 5M18&cv_ct_cx=noise%2Bcancelling%2Bear%2Bmuffs&cv_ ct_id=amzn1.osa.0c16ffbf-0679-4419-a442-68d5ed393bce.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&cv_ct_pg=search&c v_ct_we=asin&cv_ct_wn=osp-single-source-earns-comm&keywords=noise%2Bcancelling%2Bear%2Bmuffs&lin kCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B001T7QJ9O&pd_rd_r=b56cccd7-9bb7-4677-be10-803afd7e6813&pd_rd_w=eeVlL&pd_rd_wg=tAhyK&pf_rd_p= 15d473d8-31ee-48d9-a207-aaa8ce868fca&pf_rd_r=PFXS0QVAZ40Z9BN9AW4W&qid=1657 753166&sprefix=noise%2Bcancelling%2Bear%2Bmuffs%2C aps%2C86&sr=1-3-071eec3b-aca5-449e-bbff-36c3e2e2e9e2&tag=bestcont06-20&th=1

I go with whatever the "best" Mack's earplugs that you can get most anywhere. If you put them in right, works fantastic.

Cab: thats the ones I have - they work well but the db reduction is a little low.
(That link is a great price)

^^^
You might have been the one who recommended them in another thread.

I have the Leights but find them uncomfortable. So, I've gone back to doubling...silicone under good muffs. Wait ... that doesn't sound right.

Seahawk recommended them a few years ago. I bought a pair, but I haven’t been back to the range to try them.

^^
I have those as well. Work well, but I have not used them with really big spoons, just my .40 and couple other hand spoons.

^^
Which ones?

Get the best ear muff style with the max sound reduction. Remember that every 3dB is half of the sound level, i.e. 27dB has half of the sound of 24dB.

It also doesn't hurt to double up with some in ear and ear muffs.

The best hearing protection I have found is simply avoiding indoor ranges. I know that is not realistic for some, but I avoid them like the plague. At my club ranges, all outdoor, all I need is a cheap pair of ear muffs. And I don't have to worry about breathing all of that lead styphanate primer residue either. Shoot outdoors if you can - your ears and lungs will thank you.

Howard Leights. Not sure what model if any.

^ I have those also. But I also have the Otto earplugs, and will put those on under the earmuffs when at the rifle range. Way more noise with rifles.

Especially indoors. Whenever I see guys carrying rifles into the range I make sure to get a port as far away as possible.

I doubt my rifle rounds would stay indoors, but point taken!

I have the Howard Leight Impact Sport sound cancelling ear muffs. Absolutely love them ! When shooting indoors, I put a pair of foamies in my ears first...or my silicone.

Like some others here I double up my hearing protection, foam plugs and Howard Leight earmuffs. I started doing this several years back and it really makes a difference (especially indoors). It feels a little hokey at first but allows for conversation and prevents any weird auditory effects after shooting ,even with rifles/muzzle brakes, etc.