Ear Protection - Asking for your opinions

The quality of muffs to protect your hearing depends on the electronic suppression when pretty much shuts everything down, and the physical construction of the muffs themselves.

They are rated in decibels. The higher the number the better the protection.

If the muff is not correctly built, it will bleed noise through the shell and no amount of electronics will suppress it enough to prevent hearing loss.

When I worked in the Power Plant in extremely noisy areas, plugs, and muffs rated at NRR27 decibel were required.

What I see on a lot of muffs is that they are rated NRR22 decibel like Peltor Tactical.

What's left of your hearing is worth $$ to keep.
 
You guys have shared your opinions, which I've much appreciated and helped me walk through the muddle. Thanks.

I've been doing some thinking..........which is sometimes tough on my old brain. While I like the idea of being able to communicate with someone during a shooting session, I'll more than likely never need to hear range commands, so communication isn't all that important to me...........................convenient but not important. I often get caught up in the "it's what everyone else is using" mindset, but I've only shot inside a range 5 or 6 times in my life, shooting mostly by myself at my outdoor range at home. So if truth be known, all I really need is the highest NRR rated muff (NRR30/31) for pistol shooting, and the highest NRR rated muff, cut away for proper cheek weld, (backed up with earplugs) when I'm shooting a stocked firearm.

Thanks again for all the input.
 
Mike,
Earlier you said "msa sordins for the win"...
Why are these so good if the NRR for them is only 19? Did I not find the correct muffs? Am I missing something?
Wouldn't it be better to buy less expensive muffs that have a better NRR or offer better hearing protection?
 
Here's a FYI. I took my David Clark Straightaway Mod 27LS muffs that had a NRR of 22 and added a layer of soundproofing lead and a layer of 1/64" sheet lead inside under the foam. With my ear plugs and the modified Clarks, I can report that a 9mm round sounds like a pellet rifle. I'm a satisfied customer! :sarcastichand: Now I've got a muff to use indoors at the range when I'm forced inside by the weather.
 
Jeff T said:
Mike,
Earlier you said "msa sordins for the win"...
Why are these so good if the NRR for them is only 19? Did I not find the correct muffs? Am I missing something?
Wouldn't it be better to buy less expensive muffs that have a better NRR or offer better hearing protection?
they are 100% waterproof/sweatproof, they are unbelievably comfortable, the electronic protection is pretty natural sounding,

read this link
https://trevoronthetrigger.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/msa-sordin-supreme-performance-the-misleading-nrr18db-rating/
 
Holy Cow, Mike, that's a pile of data!
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Good read though...........appreciate you posting the link. When I win a scratch card, I'll buy the Sordins. For now, I'll stick with what I've jury-rigged. I can handle the report from a pellet rifle just fine. Just won't be able to hear someone yell "incoming" in my ear.
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Fair enough. My comment was based on the Walkers I have and I know them to work well with stocked firearms. Looks like the Sordins are about the same width at that point.
 
I use Peltor Comtac II's. They are very comfortable for all day use when shooting competitions. Helps to keep them on all the time,

When shooting rifle, even outdoors, I double plug as most guys are running very loud comps. And I often RO.

While most good electronic earmuffs arent cheap, my hearing is more important than most other things.
 
Mike,
How do the Sordin muffs compare to some of the custom fitted plugs that you can have made?
Are the plugs a better sound block/protection or are the Sordins better?
 
Boy am I ticked! I contacted LA Police Gear to ask a question about an earmuff they offered. They politely and thoroughly answered my question. But then I started getting e-mails from them claiming I'd put an item (not related to the item I was asking about) in my "cart" and hadn't followed up. It's happened 5 times already and each time it's a different product from their catalog. I wrote them about it and asked they remove me from their list of customers. They apologized and said it would not happen again................but it has happened twice since. It's outright phishing and I don't appreciate it. Anyone have any dealings with them who might have a contact name I can use to get this harassment stopped for good?
 
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