Hearing Protection Suggestions?

[MCA]

Sadly, like many of you I am sure, I have got some pretty bad tinnitus in my ears due to my youthful ignorance and just being stubborn and stupid. Years of motorcycle racing and decades of driving heavy equipment (D-8 track dozers and loaders) without ever wearing hearing protection. Especially the dozer doing rock work...my skin creeps just thinking of the sound. I also was dumb enough to shoot some 3" magnum slugs with my 12 gauge Benelli one day with no ears on and "poof"...a ringing that has never gone away.

Anyway, I am looking for some suggestions for some really good hearing protection for shooting. Right now I am using some old school foam plugs (those yellow cylindrical foam ones) with some ear muffs over that. Don't know the brand but it just isn't cutting it for me anymore.

Don't care about price as I really do not want this damn ringing to get any worse.

A big thank you, in advance, for your replies and experiences.

 

[TheSwampFox]

I use the surefire hearing protection.

check out: http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipm ... ction.html

I have the EP4's and they work well and do not get uncomfortable in your ears after wearing them for a while.

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

My .02 cents worth: I use the cheap disposal foam plugs for both shooting and motorcycle riding. The trick, as you probably know, is to "roll" a fresh pair to get them into your ear canal then let the foam expand to make a good seal. Not that I know, but I've heard, that heavy round shooters (like 50 cal BMG and .338 Lapua) use ear muffs over foam plugs for a two layer approach. IMHO that ought to do it. Google or Bing "hearing protection for shooting" and you'll get all kinds of ideas. I posted a link to a short article that kinda summarizes the topic.


http://www.chuckhawks.com/hearing_protection.htm

 

[MCA]

Thank you for your time and the suggestions TheSwampFox and LiveFreeorDie. I appreciate it.

I was curious as to what some of the other members did. Thanks for the links...

 

[Paco]

Thank you for your time and the suggestions TheSwampFox and LiveFreeorDie. I appreciate it.

I was curious as to what some of the other members did. Thanks for the links...

WHAT? TANKS ON THE BLINKS?

With the really loud stuff I use new foam inserts (roll them, then hold them in-place while they expand) under my electronic muffs. It seems to work well.
Especially with .308 in an indoor range ('cus I'm an ass sometimes :twisted: )

ETA: Muff's foam inside the seals around the ear can break down over time and become less effective. (or get crushed like mine did)
Most have replacement kits for them (because they also can get nasty from sweat and what not)

 

[beerman]

I use the surefire hearing protection.

check out: http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipm ... ction.html

I have the EP4's and they work well and do not get uncomfortable in your ears after wearing them for a while.

Those are pretty cool. I might have to try them out.

I just use a pair of electronic earmuffs I got from Fleet Farm in Wisconsin. I want to get a new pair though, they are kinda bulky and make it hard to shoot a rifle accurately while still maintaining a seal around my ear. I do like the electronic ones though. Mine have a volume knob and pick up way more than I can normally hear, so you could use them while hunting to hear stuff moving in the woods.

 

[11B3XCIB]

I like to use a pair of quad flange plugs that have a full-noise cancellation setting, as well as a little switch to flip that will allow you to hear conversation but will still halt pulse noises. Not so great when you've got 4-5 guys rattling off rifles indoors. I don't like muffs in general because they can interfere with my cheek-to-stock weld on my rifle. If I am pistol shooting (unsuppressed) or am acting as a range safety, they work just fine.

What am I really saying here?

There is no one-size fits all solution. I have a set of ear muffs and a set of plugs I toss in my bag, so I'm ready for whatever.

 

[MCA]

Thanks for all of the great advice and suggestions. I guess it is like an IWB holster...just got to try a few and find out which one works for me. I think I am going to give the Surefire a try that TheSwampFox suggested first. Hey, at least this will be a much cheaper endeavor than my holster search!

Cheers to a nice weekend everyone.