Ear Protection - Asking for your opinions

Chris54326 · Jan 9, 2015

You guys have helped me a lot, even though I'm not a participating member of your shooting sports. So I'm, once again, asking for your opinions. I'm looking for a good muffler type hearing protection to use both in the outdoors with my rifles and inside in a range with my pistols. Right now I'm looking at the Howard Leight R-01526 Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff. Is this a good selection for my purposes?

jtischauser · Jan 9, 2015

My Peltor sport have been great.

racnsoonr · Jan 9, 2015

That's what I've been using for a few years now. I've been happy with them. I've also considered the Peltor..if I switch it will be to Peltor's

charger arms · Jan 9, 2015

I have the HL like you mentioned. I am very happy with them. Been using them 3 years now.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chris54326 · Jan 9, 2015

Thanks, Adam.

Jessie and Jason, the Peltor, while I'm sure it's great, is out of my price range. Heck, the HL is also, but I'm looking for something that I can couple with ear plugs that will protect me from the report or my G29 at the range. (not so much my G29, but the High Powered rifles being shot next to me while I'm trying not to flinch from the report of my G29)

racnsoonr · Jan 9, 2015

A good idea to double up when indoors for sure. Cabelas had a sale on the impacts recently, but it may be over now...

Chris54326 · Jan 9, 2015

Do you mean the Howard Leight Impact?

twss · Jan 9, 2015

Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic hearing protection is good to go. I've been using them for a few years now. Battery life is excellent. I think I've changed them once? I've shot in light to moderate rain several times with no issues from the electronics. Once you go to an electronic type hearing protection you'll wonder how you ever got by without them.

Robaire Pullicar · Jan 9, 2015

If your looking for a deal the Howard leight impacts are ok. But they clip sound and I have had two sets that one speaker quit working.

jtischauser · Jan 9, 2015

I had cheaper electronics muffs before and they fried from ear sweat. The Peltor tactical sport have held up for 3 years now and Ive only changed batteries a few times.

Chris54326 · Jan 10, 2015

I shoot more rifles than pistols, and 90% of my shooting is outdoors. When the weather is too extreme to shoot at my outdoor range here at the house, I travel to the City to shoot indoors. Of course, in the latter scenario, the percussion of rifles nearby (sometimes in the next booth) is almost intolerable. So I'm looking for maximum NRR and yet narrow enough to properly cheek a rifle. The HL Impact Sport has a NRR of 22 and the Impact Pro is 30 (which is a marked improvement)...........but I don't think the Pro would allow me to get a good cheek position on a rifle.

jtischauser · Jan 10, 2015

always double plug Indoors too!

Chris54326 · Jan 10, 2015

I do that. Thanks for the tip, though. Frankly, I'd like not to hear any report when shooting. It's not the recoil that I anticipate, but the percussion. Stupid, huh!

Wild Bill1 · Jan 10, 2015

I'm with Jesse 100% I use 3m Peltor X5A with ear plugs for indoor shooting. Those are some of the highest NRR (noise reduction rating) muffs you can buy, they're around $30 off Amazon.com. The passive muffs (non electronic) usually have a higher NRR and are cheaper than active muffs but the key to indoors is definitely using plugs and muffs to keep the noise under control. I shot my 30-378 Weatherby at Heartland Outdoors to break in the barrel a few years ago and didn't have plugs. Even with muffs that thing is loud as hell with the break.

Jeff T. · Jan 10, 2015

These are the Howard Leight muffs that I use. I chose them because they are the most Noise reduction I could afford, in an electronic muff, so I could still hear the range commands.
NRR = 30.

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-R-01902-Electronic-Shooting-Earmuffs/dp/B007BGSI5U/ref=sr_1_12/175-0965433-4362053?ie=UTF8&qid=1420904269&sr=8-12&keywords=peltor+tactical+sport

Chris54326 · Jan 10, 2015

I have been eying those, Jeff, but I don't think I could get a good cheek weld on my rifles while wearing them. I have a pair of Walkers Alpha Electronics that have a NRR of 24 and a pair of (non-electric) David Clark Straightaway, Mod 27 that have a NRR of 22. The Walkers were sold to me as muffs that would shut off upon the report of a firearm...........but that isn't how these seem to work. Unless I'm doing something wrong or they just don't work. I finally just took the batteries out of them and use them as non-electric. But they still aren't very good inside a gun range.

Chris54326 · Jan 10, 2015

Bill Dickinson said:
I'm with Jesse 100% I use 3m Peltor X5A with ear plugs for indoor shooting. Those are some of the highest NRR (noise reduction rating) muffs you can buy, they're around $30 off Amazon.com. The passive muffs (non electronic) usually have a higher NRR and are cheaper than active muffs but the key to indoors is definitely using plugs and muffs to keep the noise under control. I shot my 30-378 Weatherby at Heartland Outdoors to break in the barrel a few years ago and didn't have plugs. Even with muffs that thing is loud as hell with the break.

These have a NRR of 31......which is great, Bill. But I struggle to hear instructions with non-electronic muffs.

charger arms · Jan 10, 2015

For me, I can not shoot a rifle wearing the muffs. I think my fat face pushes the muff up and they are useless at that point. You will see me change from a muff to plus if there is a rifle section in a 3 Gun match. Shotgun and pistol only I have the muffs on my head.

This reminds me of a safety meeting we had once at the Fertilizer Plant. The contract safety guy was covering different type of ear protection and it uses. He said "I have never seen a muff at 19." About that time, someone said "Sucks to be you!"