Hearing Protectors

[crb07]

I have some low profile Peltor electronic ones. They are great. When I shoot anything more than 9mm I also have some disposable foam earplugs in as well.

[Jim Bremner]

I had 7 hours of training on Sunday. 5.56, 7.62x51 and 9mm

Two other shooters.

I used foam + over ear electronic.

I'm sound sensitive today, left ear is tender

[flatbutt]

+1 on the Howard Leight

[masraum]

I noticed that the 3M and the Howard Leight (and presumably several others) have various ratings. If there are ratings of 22dB, 27dB and 30dB, I'll get the 30dB. 30dB blocks twice as much sound as 27dB. I suppose I'm not sure if there's a difference or if it matters if you say "30dB rated ear muffs only allow half as much sound through as 27dB rated muffs," or if you say "30dB rated ear muffs block twice as much sound as 27dB rated muffs."

[908/930]

I prefer to look at it as removing 30DB, so for a Miter saw that is 95DB you end up hearing the 65DB, with a gunshot of 150DB you still hear 120DB, still quite loud but way better then 150DB. I think getting above 130DB for even short durations can cause damage. I went to a Iggy Pop concert years ago it had to be up in the 130DB range, ringing in the ears for two days, LOL.

[vash]

i have 3 pairs of the exact same cheapo muffs. they work great.

the best thing. they are the Behind the neck type, made to wear with a hardhat. but behind the neck is so much better even with a ball cap on.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 908/930

I prefer to look at it as removing 30DB, so for a Miter saw that is 95DB you end up hearing the 65DB, with a gunshot of 150DB you still hear 120DB, still quite loud but way better then 150DB. I think getting above 130DB for even short durations can cause damage. I went to a Iggy Pop concert years ago it had to be up in the 130DB range, ringing in the ears for two days, LOL.

I was curious about how it works, and found the following. If it's on the Internet, it must be true. It may be; I have no idea.

https://www.coopersafety.com/earplugs-noise-reduction

When hearing protection is worn, your level of exposure to noise is based on the NRR rating of the protection device being used. Keep in mind, however, that while the NRR is measured in decibels, the hearing protector being used does not reduce the surrounding decibel level by the exact number of decibels associated with that protector’s NRR. For example, if you are at a rock concert where the level of noise exposure is 100 dB and you are wearing earplugs with an NRR 33dB, your level of exposure would not be reduced to 67 dB. Instead, to determine the actual amount of decibel deduction applied (when decibels are measured dBA which is the most common), you take the NRR number (in dB), subtract seven, and then divide by two. Given the previous example, your noise reduction equation would look like the following: (33-7)/2 = 13. This means that if you are at a rock concert with a level of noise exposure at 100 dB and you are wearing a hearing protector with an NRR 33 dB, your new level of noise exposure is 87 dB. If you are wearing a product with an NRR of 27 it would deduct 10 decibels (27-7/2=10).

When hearing protectors are worn in combination (i.e. earplugs AND earmuffs), rather than adding the two NRR numbers together, you simply add five more decibels of protection to the device with the higher NRR. For example, using 3M™ E-A-R™ Classic Earplugs (NRR 29) with 3M™ Peltor™ H7 Deluxe Earmuffs (NRR 27) would provide a Noise Reduction Rating of approximately 34 decibels.

For a better grasp of industry standards, here are a few of the most common producers of noise levels that OSHA considersto be dangerous: lawnmowers, rock concerts, firearms, firecrackers, headset listening systems, motorcycles, tractors, power tools and industrial machinery. The use of hearing protection is strongly recommended during continued exposure to any of the previously listed environments, as all can deliver sounds in excess of 90 decibels.
Painful:

150 dB = Rock Concerts at Peak
140 dB = Firearms, Air-Raid Siren, Jet Engine
130 dB = Jackhammer
120 dB = Jet Plane Take-off, Amplified Music at 4-6 ft., Car Stereo, Band Practice
Extremely loud:

110 dB = Machinery, Model Airplanes
100 dB = Snowmobile, Chain saw, Pneumatic Drill
90 dB = Lawnmower, Shop Tools, Truck Traffic, Subway
Very loud:

80 dB = Alarm Clock, Busy Street
70 dB = Vacuum Cleaner
60 dB = Conversation, Dishwasher
Moderate:

50 dB = Moderate Rainfall
40 dB = Quiet room
Faint:

30 dB = Whisper, Quiet Library

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I had 7 hours of training on Sunday. 5.56, 7.62x51 and 9mm

Two other shooters.

I used foam + over ear electronic.

I'm sound sensitive today, left ear is tender

I used to shoot 3006 and 308, full power long range
only ever used peltor 3M electronics, nothing else, not doubled up.
All of that was outdoor. Prone.


I found indoor pistol usually was way worse on the ears because you shoot way more volume of fire, the muzzle is closer (short barrel) and the walls/box per shooter reflect sound right back at ya..


The only time long rifles were a problem, was if somebody was shooting with a muzzle brake on a full bore next to you.
Muzzle brakes are obnoxious to the people next to the shooter.
I'de ask people who were setting up to either move away to the sides of the firing point, or take it off if there were to many people around (I was the RO )

Was anybody shooting with one to your left?

[matthewb0051]

Get a pair of these. Wait, no don't.

The Army gave me some and they were junk. I threw them away after less than one use.

[svandamme]

those just hurt my ear canal after barely any time wearing em.
I'de get ear inflamation from anything in ear (same with in-ear earphones)

and yeah, barely any DB reduction for shooting

[908/930]

Hey Masraum, I looked that up also and appears to be the way it is, but that looks like it is intended for derating for workplace safety regs.