Hearing Protection

[OldLincoln]

We all have known to use hearing protection when at the range and I have been consistent using earmuffs my son gave me when I first started getting back into guns. I really did know that wasn't enough when a big gun was fired in the next stall. It wasn't just loud but actually hurt even with muffs. So I tried a cheap pair of ear plugs under the muffs with no improvement.

When HDoc (H = Hearing) sent me his 7rd mag to look over, he included some earplugs called Skull Screws. Never heard of them, but he said they are important and seems to know his stuff so I gave them a shot.

I stuck them in and put the muffs on and there was a little improvement but not much. Then I thought that are called "Skull Screws" so maybe I should twist them in tighter. I did and the sound became a little pop instead of a loud bang. Now THAT'S protection.

So, I now recommend good plugs under good muffs. My ears are already damaged from military service but especially when starting out little ones teach them right.

[ripley16]

Good advise. I always double up when shooting indoors. I've lost enough of my hearing.

[jocko]

probably most of us back i thedays 40+ years ago didn'tknow what ear muffs were other than to keep ur ears warm in thewinter. I never wore them, didn't reqaly think or know about it. never seen back then anyone else doing it so it was cool to go deaf by shooting.

I wll say this, when u wear shooting protectors for years now and then all of a sudden that full bang thing happens for some reasonlike forgetting to put on the protectoirs, It is freightening tosay the least. I cannot picutre anyojne emptying his kahr inside a home or in a car... I would rather these gunh makers include a set of some hearing protectors instead of a damn lock and cable,

[Barth]

http://www.thegunsandgearstore.com/ears-ultra-passive-muffs-black-p-26401.html
http://www.proears.com/store/i/is.aspx?path=/Shared/images/Proears/PE-33-U%20Law-Mil-2.jpg

[LaP]

While in the Air Force from 1974-78, it was required in many circumstances to wear ear plugs. We had to attend a few safety briefings where they scared the hell out of me about loud noises (including lawn mowers)
I've been wearing some form of protection ever since.
I bought my 18 month old grandson a pair of Peltor ear muffs (yup, always thinking ahead). When he's ready, he's gonna be protected also.

I've seen too many older guys that lost their hearing.... it's kinda sad.

[Tinman507]

For those of you with an iPhone, there's an app called Ear Muff. It works like the noise cancelling headphones you buy for large dollars. You connect your ear buds (with mic) to the phone, insert into ears, place your regular ear muffs on and you're good to go.

It cancels out the loud bangs but allows you to hear normal voices and other ambient noise. It takes a bit of tweaking to get it right but I like it. Cost is $9.99 at the iTunes Store.

[muggsy]

I haven't lost any of my hearing from shooting. I can still hear the ringing loud and clear. I learned about hearing protection in the mid 70s. About ten years too late to do a lot of good. I wear my muffs a lot now, especially around the Missus. :)

[apheod]

http://www.srstactical.com/communications/supreme-range-headsets/msa-sordin-supreme-iii-proaplus/75200.html

i use these. hadn't really heard anything about them on the handgun forums, and i just used regular earplugs for a few years, while shooting handguns in IDPA.

when i bought a bravo company AR-15 a few months back, i became active on the m4carbine.net forums and read up on hearing protection over there, where i was directed to these MSA sordins. my girlfriend bought them for me for christmas, along with the gel pads, and they blow away the cheaper ones i've used. amazing ears, and so comfortable i don't realize i'm wearing them after hours. voices sound like i'm not wearing anything, or louder if i choose.

[ltxi]

What jocko said......without the speeling eroors.

[jocko]

huh? did someone speak???

[getsome]

+1 on what Jocko says....Come again, say what, what did you say? WHAT, come closer I can't hear ya....This is what I've come to due to stupid decisions shooting shotguns as a young-un and going to way too many rock concerts and thinking that if the stereo wasn't moving the house off the frame it wasn't loud enough...

I now hear constant ringing "tinnitus" in my right ear and what sounds to me like cicadas in the summertime woods in both ears....A few range visits ago back in the summer it was real hot and I moved the muff on my right ear because the sweat made my ear itch just as the guy in the next lane over let go with an 12 gauge round and man that hurt for several hours and we use to shoot box after box of shotgun shells in the woods with no protection at all and never thought a thing about it....Now I'm paying for it...

If you are bringing up a new shooter I think the safety rule (HEARING PROTECTION REQUIRED) is just as important as the other basic firearms rules for safe shooting...Teach um right before it's too late!!!

[jocko]

I am deafin my left ear but with a good hearing aid in my rightear, I can now hear the wife bitching at me. Not sure that hearing aid was designed for that, I tried to take it back to see if I could just get her sound pitch deleted but no deal.

[HDoc]

We all have known to use hearing protection when at the range and I have been consistent using earmuffs my son gave me when I first started getting back into guns. I really did know that wasn't enough when a big gun was fired in the next stall. It wasn't just loud but actually hurt even with muffs. So I tried a cheap pair of ear plugs under the muffs with no improvement.

When HDoc (H = Hearing) sent me his 7rd mag to look over, he included some earplugs called Skull Screws. Never heard of them, but he said they are important and seems to know his stuff so I gave them a shot.

I stuck them in and put the muffs on and there was a little improvement but not much. Then I thought that are called "Skull Screws" so maybe I should twist them in tighter. I did and the sound became a little pop instead of a loud bang. Now THAT'S protection.

So, I now recommend good plugs under good muffs. My ears are already damaged from military service but especially when starting out little ones teach them right.

Glad you liked them. I'd recommend double protection for anyone shooting at the range and especially an indoor facility. By the time you notice hearing loss it's already gone AND it's permanent. You were born with one set of ears, when their gone, they are gone.
As an aside, the maximum hearing protection physically possible is about 40-45 dB as beyond that the sound pressure just bypasses the ear canal
and attacks the inner ear through the skull, so a pair of foam earplugs and a set of passive muffs with an NRR of 30+ is as good as you can get.
I don't recommend "shooters muffs" or active electronic muffs unless communication is important on the firing line, for instance if you are the range officer, instructor, or competing in a combat match. Save your money for ammo.
Also unless you have a weird ear canal (tortuous,extra small or twisty) I personally don't think much of custom plugs even though I have colleagues who charge upwards of $150 for a pair. They don't provide any more protection than a $1.00 pair of EAR foamies.
Unless of course you are really into tacti-cool gear and are a secret mall ninja.....

[KMA]

I always wear ear plugs under the ear muffs.



probably most of us back i thedays 40+ years ago didn'tknow what ear muffs were other than to keep ur ears warm in thewinter. I never wore them, didn't reqaly think or know about it. never seen back then anyone else doing it so it was cool to go deaf by shooting.

I wll say this, when u wear shooting protectors for years now and then all of a sudden that full bang thing happens for some reasonlike forgetting to put on the protectoirs, It is freightening tosay the least. I cannot picutre anyojne emptying his kahr inside a home or in a car... I would rather these gunh makers include a set of some hearing protectors instead of a damn lock and cable,

I know what you mean and you are right; that is the reason because IMO a silencer is a must on a home defense weapon. Even though you are shooting supersonic ammo it will lower the blast enough so it is not dangerous for your hearing. And if you are shooting subsonic ammo the sound will be even lower. IMO silencers are a very good idea for noise reduction and also for reducing the flash which is very important if you are shooting in the dark.

[jocko]

Glad you liked them. I'd recommend double protection for anyone shooting at the range and especially an indoor facility. By the time you notice hearing loss it's already gone AND it's permanent. You were born with one set of ears, when their gone, they are gone.
As an aside, the maximum hearing protection physically possible is about 40-45 dB as beyond that the sound pressure just bypasses the ear canal
and attacks the inner ear through the skull, so a pair of foam earplugs and a set of passive muffs with an NRR of 30+ is as good as you can get.
I don't recommend "shooters muffs" or active electronic muffs unless communication is important on the firing line, for instance if you are the range officer, instructor, or competing in a combat match. Save your money for ammo.
Also unless you have a weird ear canal (tortuous,extra small or twisty) I personally don't think much of custom plugs even though I have colleagues who charge upwards of $150 for a pair. They don't provide any more protection than a $1.00 pair of EAR foamies.
Unless of course you are really into tacti-cool gear and are a secret mall ninja.....

always wear double protection. I have since I first started dating:behindsofa:

[OldLincoln]

What's odd about the Skull Screws is that I really DID screw them in and they really DID go further. Of course when I took them out the ends were all twisted and pointy like a wet washcloth twisted up. Hope I didn't have them against the ear drum, but man did they work!

[TriggerMan]

What's odd about the Skull Screws is that I really DID screw them in and they really DID go further. Of course when I took them out the ends were all twisted and pointy like a wet washcloth twisted up. Hope I didn't have them against the ear drum, but man did they work!Just ordered some. The only time I tried foam inserts, I had trouble keeping them in place.

[O'Dell]

I've spent my whole adult life around jet engines, race cars, motorcycles, and guns. I never thought much about it before the eighties [no one did], but I did wear the foam plugs in race cars and on long MC trips. I'm paying for it now - I have a loud ringing in both ears, and really need to get an aid, but I'm way too vain for that. It's not a big problem in a quiet setting, but with a noisy background or on a cell, I'm useless.

[tv_racin_fan]

I have loved the foam plugs since way back.

I wash em in a knotted sock and reuse em. In fact I have a couple socks sitting on my desk I need to put in one of my range boxes/bags.

Those Skull Screws look interesting, I'll have to get some and give them a try out.

[HDoc]

Any foam plugs like the skull screws, ear pistons, comfort fits, that have a rigid post to insert the foam work really well for those of us with sausage
fingers. Many quality ear protection companies like EAR,Howard Leight and
MOLDEX make 'em. I like them all and always give the posts a 3/4 twist when inserting. You'll know if they are really working if you try and back them out slightly and feel a mild vacuum.
On the other hand, they are also working well if you pull them out fast and your eyes cross:eek:

[muggsy]

The biggest problem I've found with losing your ears is you have no place to hang your glasses. Makes it damn near impossible to see your front sight. Could be the reason for Jocko's one hole groups.