Hearing protection at gun range

What hearing protection do you use that you would recommend for use at the gun range? My price range is below $100.00.

for that amount, buy a big box of foam earplugs. you'll never run out of them, and they do pretty well. You can also get the Military style dual sided earplugs. Otherwise get a set of production muffs made by cabelas or another big box.

Try to find some that will bring the decibels down below 85.

For the range I'd look at a pair of Caldwell or Howard electronic muffs. You can still hear ordinary conversation (and range instructions) but they muff anything over 85 dB or so. Both are well under $100.00.

edited to add: I have a pair of Caldwell's that I've had for about three years and they work great. I've heard good things about the Howard's though, which is why I threw them in there.

Thanks to all for the input.

If you want real sound deadening, go to Home Depot or Lowes and get the 3M marked earmuff for about $26 or so. They are made by Peltor and are the same ones in the Sinclair catalog. The muffs are red. NRR is 29. You can hear voices, but barely. You could probably hear what the range master says on the loudspeaker. Great for when your wife is on your case.

Howard Leight electronics do just right

Lol. Next time my wife starts in on me I will put on my shooting muffs...I will update with how many nights I sleep on the couch

Army uses peltor, good system.

i use plugs and muffs indoors.
one or the other isn't enough
when the sound can't dissipate.
my ears ring enough already.

I used foam plugs and Howard Leights, good combo but not comfortable for me after a couple of hours. Went to the gun show at the Allen Event Center several months back and had a pair of custom ear plugs with the valve in them made. Those are all I wear now, very comfortable and I can hear and carry on a normal conversation with them in. They cost under $90.00.

Will be getting the wife a pair, after the crowds thin out some at the gun shows. Until then she is using the Howard Leights.

I've used plugs and muffs at the range. However, when a large bore mag is touched off, I sometimes have to move.

Greetings, this is my first post. I have been using Industrial muffs that I used for years but in Oct 2012 I bought Howard Leight electronics from Cabella and they did not protect my hearing due to loose fit and they did not grab my ears tight enough and I ended up being deaf and have gone through Steroids treatment and so far still deaf!
Learn from my bad experience and double protect your self!
Follow Maximum's advise.
BlazingSabots

Thanks everyone for the input. I have alot to look into.

^^^ Yes. Best on the market for the price. The only problem with mine I ever had was when my Michelins ran over them with a Dodge truck. So I bought several pairs as extras!

Do NOT get the Peltor electronics. Many people, including myself, have had theirs go out within a few hours of use. Biggest POS muffs out there.

Ear pro is over rated.....But then again I am half deaf....... basic Plugs work and their cheap unless your giving instruction or taking it you don't need the ear phones...IMO.

Another vote for Howard Leights. Great bang for your buck.

Had a pair of older peltors they were fine but not as good value as the HL's.

If you want something that isn't over the ear take a look at Surefire EP4's. Comfortable and cheap to boot.

Want to try a pair of custom ear molds though.

THESE!!!

You can hear when you need to & they muffle when it is loud.

I've used these for years & they're the only ones I take to the range.

These? Did I miss something?

It REALLY depends on where you are shooting.

In "free field" conditions, basic plugs are sufficient 95% of the time. I only shoot outdoors, so basic industrial plugs are great unless I'm very close to big bore guns side by side. At the range, in booths it's a whole different story because the sound pressure can increase dramatically.

In a hard surface booth for example, when shooting side by side you really should use good muffs on top of plugs because of the reflective reinforcement. Distance quite often becomes the key factor because sound pressure levels follow a basic logarithmic scale of impact/damage to your hearing.

IMHO for general intensive shooting, use ear plugs and have muffs around your neck for immediate use!

Marc

The word " THESE " is a link to Peltor 6S on Amazon for $53.

Click on it.

I have a pair of the Peltor electronic muffs that were bought so that I could hear the radio while woodworking. No problems with them at all, but I wanted more noise reduction. The Peltor with a NRR of 29 is $26 (no electronics, just sound deadening). The HL's I was just reading about that had a NRR of 33 were, I believe, over $300. Maybe I got that price wrong, but I'll make do with the $26 Peltors. I don't compete and I shoot at my own range, so I don't need the electronics. I do need my hearing.

I have a Cap that is a Flexfit that has earplugs mounted in it w/retractable windup devices in the slot..I'm never without it when shooting..even if I'm hard of hearing..and it's within your
price range....Look it up on the Net..Don

Howard Leight Impact Sport electronics are the best on the market and reasonable price.

I use the Howard Leight electronics. They work great and are decent priced.

Here ya go..

http://www.amazon.com/Pyramex-PM5010-Fol...otection+snr+35

Use the rest to buy something nice for your wife...

I shoot a lot of sporting clays and skeet and I had a set of custom moulded ear plugs made that I wear when doing that. They cost about $75 and are very comfortable and can be worn all day. I wear them while mowing or working with power tools etc. I also have a pair of the cheaper Pyramex muffs that have a noise reduction rating of 31db. When shooting rifles (especially AR's), at indoor ranges, revolvers, etc... I always wear both plugs and muffs and this works very well.

I have some husqvarna muffs that I got with my chainsaw. they work well for shootin and they couldn't have cost more than $30.

Ya'll may laugh, but I've got about 6-7 pairs if the Western Safety muffs from Harbor Freight. I catch them on sale for $2-$3 and they work better than the Brownings that are in the top of my closet. The only drawback is, they're bulky.

I have hearing problems, some of it may be inherited, work related and most from rifles and shotguns...I used the molded type earplugs when I used to competition shoot, but my cousin Dave in Dallas sent me a cap made by FlexFit which has ear plugs
on self rewind mech in the sides which wears really well and I'm
never without them when at the Gun Club..DD

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=pd_sim_sg_4