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Hearing protection

S

siglover

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 19, 2013
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MD
The more i shoot my new riles the more I realize ear muff are not the best option. My ear muff's keep getting in the way and i can't seem to get comfortable with them on.

Any suggestions or recommendations on hearing protection? If possible i'm looking for the same protection i would get with good ear muffs.
 
siglover said:
The more i shoot my new riles the more I realize ear muff are not the best option. My ear muff's keep getting in the way and i can't seem to get comfortable with them on.

Any suggestions or recommendations on hearing protection? If possible i'm looking for the same protection i would get with good ear muffs.
Click to expand...

I am on the opinion that your hearing is very important. It is one of the major senses, so why risk it.

I like the MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X electronic hearing muffs. They are very comfortable. What amazed me about these was how much more I can hearing with electronic hearing. Some of the cheaper ones will block everything, but the advance circuitry on these only takes out the loud shots and nothing else. So I can hold a conversation with someone right in the middle of a firing match without difficulty. They are expensive, but then again, how much is your hearing worth?
 
Most electronic muffs only have an NNR of 18-19 dB. Good muffs or plugs are a minimum of high 20's. Do you guys that run the electronic muffs "Double up" as Triad noted or are they really more effective than the #'s would appear? If I am going to "Double up" why not buy decent plugs to begin with, skip the electronic muff cost and go? I know a lot of guys use these, so leads me to believe maybe I am missing something here?
 
Yes i'd like to get away from muffs if i can get the same protection with just plugs.
 
I like the Surefire plugs on the cost/comfort/convenience scale. Relatively cheap and comfortable (for a non-foam plug) but still has the downside of blocking everything (conversations and all). They are easier for me to get in and out than foam plugs though (no waiting for them to expand and stay put).
 
ericthebeard said:
I like the Surefire plugs on the cost/comfort/convenience scale. Relatively cheap and comfortable (for a non-foam plug) but still has the downside of blocking everything (conversations and all). They are easier for me to get in and out than foam plugs though (no waiting for them to expand and stay put).
Click to expand...

Thanks i just ordered these from amazon. I've read some positive reviews about them. And at $15 its not a big deal if they don't work out for my ears. I got the one that has a filter plug to allow sounds and conversations to be heard if needed.
 
Hear Pro makes excellent in-ear hearing protection. HEAR-PRO | Custom Sound Management. They have amplified and standard options that are custom fit to the individual. Agreed, muffs generally smoke pole when shooting rifles unless you back them up with plugs.
 
CMH said:
Most electronic muffs only have an NNR of 18-19 dB. Good muffs or plugs are a minimum of high 20's. Do you guys that run the electronic muffs "Double up" as Triad noted or are they really more effective than the #'s would appear? If I am going to "Double up" why not buy decent plugs to begin with, skip the electronic muff cost and go? I know a lot of guys use these, so leads me to believe maybe I am missing something here?
Click to expand...

There is an added benefit of adding plugs under muffs, but you do NOT add the two NRR together. The benefit are; the extra protection of double coverage, back up protection of the plugs if you happen to break the seal of your muffs, the muffs reduce the amount of sound "conducted" into your ears by your skull, and last but not least, QUALITY electronic muffs amplify ambient noise(voice) and reduce the loud.
 
Howard Leight MAX1 Earplugs Uncorded NRR33 Box/200 Count - Amazon.com

When they don't interfere with the stock I double up with:
3M Peltor Ultimate 10 Hearing Protector - Amazon.com

These may give you a little more clearance when on a stock:
Amazon.com: Pyramex PM5010 Folding Ear Muffs NRR 31: Sports & Outdoors

I am not a fan of the custom molded silicon plugs, which I've had. I found that on occasion, when I had a solid cheek weld, a gap would form in my ear canal between my ear and the plug. This resulted in too much sound being transmitted. Moreover, even without the gap, they didn't attenuate as much sound as the first foam plugs I listed.

I also buy the Max Lites, which fit my wife's smaller ear canal better, and are more comfortable if I need them when sleeping.
Howard Leight LPF-1 Max Lite Uncorded Foam Earplugs Box, 200 Pair - Amazon.com
 
i've been pretty happy with the surefire plugs. do the msa muffs work well with a cheek weld on a stock?
 
turret said:
i've been pretty happy with the surefire plugs. do the msa muffs work well with a cheek weld on a stock?
Click to expand...

I never have issues like the other electronic muffs. That is why I went with the MSA's. They have a very low profile. There is no interruption with my cheek weld, and I have a very high cheekbone. So my cheek weld is very high. No issues.

I think a lot of people who second guess electronic ear muffs have never tried them themselves, especially the good ones. Some people refuse to use them because they fear they will buy a pair. I get that a lot. I have never tried using foam inserts with my MSA's. That just seems strange, like turning on the heater in your car while the A/C is running.
 
I use the Stealth but they all are excellent for hearing and protection. The digitals will give you the best sound though.
 
I went to a local hearing centre and had custom ear plugs made. Took about 2 weeks to get them, they fit comfortably and I wear them under my muffs. It's cheap to get extras made since they already have the mold. I leave an extra pair with my hunting stuff so if I have the time to put them in I do. They don't need to expand to your ears since they are custom fit so I actually usually put them in now for hunting shots.
Highly recommend this route

I'm unsure how electronic muffs work. I understand what they do but how is it done? Do they just create a sound that cancels out the gunshot noise? If so do they really protect your hearing?
 
Last edited:
.284 said:
I went to a local hearing centre and had custom ear plugs made. Took about 2 weeks to get them, they fit comfortably and I wear them under my muffs. It's cheap to get extras made since they already have the mold. I leave an extra pair with my hunting stuff so if I have the time to put them in I do. They don't need to expand to your ears since they are custom fit so I actually usually put them in now for hunting shots.
Highly recommend this route

I'm unsure how electronic muffs work. I understand what they do but how is it done? Do they just create a sound that cancels out the gunshot noise? If so do they really protect your hearing?
Click to expand...

Short version is, Electronic Muffs are pretty much like any other ear-muff. They cancel out the sound through shell design and soundproofing material inside the shell. The electronic ones have a microphone on the outside of the shell, an electronic processor and battery pack, and a speaker on the inside.

So, all the sound around you is deadened. But, the microphone is picking up all the sounds around you, and transmitting it inside through the speaker. Any sound that is 'over' the limit is then caught and shut off via the electronics.

There is no 'sound-cancelling-waves' being created, or anything like that. The general civilian market can't really understand that concept to begin with. This is simply an "upper limit" on/off switch for the speaker driver. Easiest way to understand this is, when the batteries are dead/missing, all you get is a pair of sound-reducing earmuffs.

That help?
 
The SureFire sonic defenders are a really good deal and product. However, if I wear them for long periods of time my ear canal feels like it's been raped by an ape at the end of the day. By long periods I mean several hours without removing them.

For electronic earmuffs I am a diehard Peltor man as it's what I was issued and have used extensively. They work great when you need to run comms.

For in ear electronic protection I went with a custom molded set of Nitro Ears: Nitro Ear | Revolutionary Premium Custom Digital Hearing Protection Enhancement Product
They have varying levels of amplification just like muffs do and do a good job of blocking out guns noise but letting voice /sounds in. They also don't hurt my ears after hours of use and they stay in my ear even during physical activity. They are a top shelf item and aren't cheap but they are worth it IMO as I value my hearing.
 
I went to Triad Tactical and got a set of these!

They are awesome, I also got the Gel replacement wraps and they are well worth it for sure.

----MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X---
 
Sean the Nailer said:
Short version is, Electronic Muffs are pretty much like any other ear-muff. They cancel out the sound through shell design and soundproofing material inside the shell. The electronic ones have a microphone on the outside of the shell, an electronic processor and battery pack, and a speaker on the inside.

So, all the sound around you is deadened. But, the microphone is picking up all the sounds around you, and transmitting it inside through the speaker. Any sound that is 'over' the limit is then caught and shut off via the electronics.

There is no 'sound-cancelling-waves' being created, or anything like that. The general civilian market can't really understand that concept to begin with. This is simply an "upper limit" on/off switch for the speaker driver. Easiest way to understand this is, when the batteries are dead/missing, all you get is a pair of sound-reducing earmuffs.

That help?
Click to expand...

Makes perfect sense, thanks
 
NevadaZielmeister said:
I am on the opinion that your hearing is very important. It is one of the major senses, so why risk it.

I like the MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X electronic hearing muffs. They are very comfortable. What amazed me about these was how much more I can hearing with electronic hearing. Some of the cheaper ones will block everything, but the advance circuitry on these only takes out the loud shots and nothing else. So I can hold a conversation with someone right in the middle of a firing match without difficulty. They are expensive, but then again, how much is your hearing worth?
Click to expand...

I have the same opinion as Nevada on this one i use my liberator 3 headset when doing any type of shooting. train how you fight right? you can get your self a nice set of sordin's or liberators and shoot shoot shoot untill you get comfortable with them. and the low sounds are easy to pick up as well. all in all its shooters preference
 
You should wear both if you can, if you have them in series and they have similar dB rating the noise reduction is more than doubled. A rule of thumb is to add 5 dB to the higher rated device if they are approx equal. This means you have triple the protection by using two equal attenuators.

dB rating = 10 x log [original intensity/suppressed intensity]

so e.g.
30 dB is 1000 fold attenuated (10 x log 1000)
35 dB is ~3000 fold

I use moldable ear plugs with these muffs, the best bang for the buck I've found (33 dB) Amazon.com: Pro Ears Ultra 33 Passive Hearing Protection: Sports & Outdoors
 
I wear my surefires with my bolt guns but double up with my AR.
I'm anxiously awaiting my Form 4 for my suppressor so I can put my ear pro on my gun. ; )
 
Suppressor + 30 dB ear muffs. Don't sit next to the guy with the huge muzzle brake.
 
I have MSA Sordins and I'm not impressed by them. They get in the way as far as cheek weld is concerned, never seem to seal properly which only serves to channel the blast into my ear. Consequently, I use foam plugs as well.
 
The surefires work great for skeet as its not quite as loud and they still allow you to hear conversation. However when your at the pistol range or shooting in the middle of a bunch of rifle lanes they dont cut it and can cause me to flinch. For pistols I have a set of those epoxy plugs you form to your ear and they work pretty good. For rifles nothing really beats the over ear style muffs, i just dont like how they interfere with my cheek placement on my stock. If everyone would just shoot suppressed our hearing would be so much safer ;)
 
308Gunner said:
+1 on the custom plugs can wear all day with no problem
Click to expand...

+2. Go to a gun show where they will make the mold. They will send them off and you will get them in the mail. All day comfortable and allows for solid cheek weld. Get the tube that still lets you carry on conversations and hear range commands.
 
ear plugs offer more protection than muffs. they seal better to the ear canal. the only way you can get the muffs to give you the noise reduction rating they claim is to shave around where they seal on your head.
 
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