[RookWV]

I usually wear the soft foamy ear plugs or the ones I made from a package of goo stuff but as I was looking at some training courses I noticed many places prefer electronic ear protection.

I am guessing this is to make commands easier to hear.

But what I am a little concerned about is the NRR of more reasonably priced models (<$100) just seems low when compared to either the foamy plugs or non electronic muffs.

I don't get a chance to shoot often enough to justify spending a couple of hundred dollars on them and I'm not sure just how much better those costing $200+ really are.

Those of you with the Howard Leights or other "normal" ear muffs, are you happy with the noise reduction? Are the gun shots muffled enough? Do you wear foamy plugs along with the ears?

 

[Ransom]

I wear my electronic ear muffs over ear plugs. Previously I was wearing regular muffs over ear plugs--the electronic ears are an improvement. Definitely worth the $25 I paid.

 

[ArkhmAsylm]

-
I paid around $60 for my Howard Leights Impact Sports electronic muffs and initially, I had the same concerns as you regarding the lower rating.

The first few times I wore them along with the rubberish ear plugs with the small hole through them and they were just fine. I found the plugs to be beneficial when I had to take off the electronics to adjust them or to dab my face with a towel.

Eventually, I just ended up wearing the electrionics by themselves and although they let through a little more noise (say, if a rifle or a 50 cal were being fired nearby), I found them to be real convenient in being able to hear people talking around me, and being able to understand someone when I was conversing with them near the lanes.

The price of the HL Impact Sports is around $50 now and I would highly recommend them.

Cheers!

 

[ccw9mm]

I've used plastic/rubberized plugs for years, and either a standard Silencio or an electronic Silencio muff Particularly with both plugs and muffs, it's useful to have the electronic type. Though, I've occasionally used just the electronic. Combined plugs plus the standard muffs, hearing is all but shut off for spoken words, and the "din" of shooting is barely a mild "thud" of sound waves through the chest. Plenty of NRR, IOW.

 

[NONAME762]

The first ear muffs I wore for shooting were accessories that came with a chainsaw. They were better than regular ear plugs. Personally I don't care for foam plugs. Mainly due to ear problems most of my life. Electronic muffs are out of my price range.

Nearly 20 years ago while working as a grounds keeper on a Navy Base I found the best ear plugs I'd ever used. Made from a soft rubber like foam material with a shape like 2 stacked bowls with a little handle. These puppies really cut the weed whacking roar down to a tolerable level. You pull down on your ear lobe while rolling them inside your ear. Made by MSA (safety gear) these work pretty well. I've since gotten some Winchester brand ear muffs and these work way better than the chainsaw muffs. I try to use plugs and muffs together but sometimes forget the muffs. I learned the hard way to keep plugs in my shooting cans. Or I just use a couple ciggy butts.

 

[RickyD]

I have a pair of HL's and a pair of Peltor's. Both rated the same. I use them without any additional protection and agree with others here that they work well as long as no one around you is shooting a cannon. I think I paid around $60 for each. i really like the fact that you can hear people talking and range commands.

 

[paaiyan]

I also have the HL Impact Sports. Love em. If I know there will be rifles nearby I try to put in foam earplugs as well.

 

[84160]

I also wear Peltor and feel they are better than the foam or the molded ones that are fit to your ears.

No matter what they cost if it cheaper than losing your hearing

 

[ccw9mm]

Nearly 20 years ago while working as a grounds keeper on a Navy Base I found the best ear plugs I'd ever used. Made from a soft rubber like foam material with a shape like 2 stacked bowls with a little handle.

Best I've ever found was in a grocery store, a similar "stacked-bowls" design of similar rubber-like material. About ~27 NRR, IIRC. Designed for swimming, but they worked wonderful well for cutting the sharp report of gunfire. Simple rubbery material, two cups to keep the water/sound out, and you tug the earlobe down while inserting. With muffs added, it's practically silent.

 

[Fallschirmjäger]

Outdoors, I've found even the least expensive electronic muffs sufficient. Indoors I'll always double up with muffs and plugs as the muffs are only rated at 25dB. To the best of my recollection 25 dB is the Minimum recommended for indoor shooting (and my indoor shooting usually has all 10 lanes at capacity.)

33dB plugs and 25dB muffs should come to about 35-36dB which is about half as 'loud' as 33dB.

 

[pgrass101]

I wear regular muffs over foam ear plugs, the people I shoot with know to make eye contact with me before speaking to me when we are shooting

 

[OldVet]

What . . . ?

 

[Gil3232]

Electronic for me. After years and years of non-electronic muffs, I bought a pair of Sordins. They're awesome. If I'm indoor, it's plugs under muffs and they work great.

 

[Yoda]

Any of the electronic models work with rifle or shotgun so as not to affect cheek weld?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JaySkiBum]

I use the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs and I love them. No, they don't cut as much noise, but they are still effective and being able to hear when I'm not shooting is awesome.

They can get in the way just a little bit when shooting long guns, I'll bump them depending on how I have them on, when my cheek is on the stock. Nothing bad and it's usually just a little adjustment and they're fine.

 

[CJ_mp40c]

I have the Howard Leights Impact Sports electronic muffs and they work great for handguns. When shooting rifles, I'll add the foamies inside them.
The electronics are great since you can hear whats going on around you. This is not only a convenience but a nice safety feature. When using the electronics, adjust the volume to a low volume.

 

[bigbadsmiles]

I have the HL impact sports as well. Work great, no complaints

 

[Sontag]

I recently bought a pair of Walker's Alpha Muffs and tried them out for the first time this weekend.

I shot several rounds of high brass 410 shells out of my Judge (VERY loud report) and noise reduction was awesome.

I also wore them coyote hunting yesterday, and they did a great job of amplifying high frequency sounds like leaves rustling. My hearing is not great, and I was able to hear much better with the Walkers. They have separate volume adjustments for left & right, and dual microphones make detection of sound direction easy.

I bought them in a set that included batteries, shooting glasses with 4 different lenses, and a nice case for them for $40 on clearance at Walmart. Knowing what I do now, I would say they are a GREAT value even at the regular price ($60).

 

[Super J]

I like my HL electronic muffs. I think I paid around $55 for them. I use foamies to supplement the HL when someone is firing a large caliber gun directly beside me.

 

[srings]

based on the info in this forum, I'm going with the HL impact sport electronic muffs. Approx. $45 on Amazon. Gonna need another pair as my son will take my year old HL L1 muffs. He's going to need a pair when he hits the range with me this summer to shoot the new Ruger 10/22 Takedown rifle. Good times! Thanks for the info all!