Ear Protection

If your topic has nothing to do with Spyderco, you can post it here.
murphjd25
Member
Posts: 3286
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:43 am
Location: Bothell,WA

Ear Protection

#1

Post by murphjd25 »

Up until now I just have always used the orange foam ear plugs, but I saw these on a shot show video and they were priced good enough I thought I had to try them. http://www.safariland.com/products/comm ... ml#start=1
What kind of ear protection do you prefer at the range?
Josh
OldHoosier62
Member
Posts: 727
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:57 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Ear Protection

#2

Post by OldHoosier62 »

WHAT???????......CAN YOU SPEAK UP PLEASE?????

Honestly, just google "Peltor hearing protection"
User avatar
Evil D
Member
Posts: 27147
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Northern KY

Re: Ear Protection

#3

Post by Evil D »

I buy the highest noise reduction foam plugs I can find, usually 32, and put them in backwards. For some reason they seem to seal up in my ears far better this way and block out far more noise. I have some pretty nice range ear muffs that filter out loud noise but still allow you to hear speech and lower level sounds but they don't block as much loud noise as the backwards foam plugs.
All SE all the time since 2017
~David
User avatar
SpyderNut
Member
Posts: 8431
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
Location: Hoosier Country, USA
Contact:

Re: Ear Protection

#4

Post by SpyderNut »

OldHoosier62 wrote:... just google "Peltor hearing protection"
+1 Peltor ear muffs are what we use at the range too. Very well-made and will last a long time.
:spyder: -Michael

"...as I said before, 'the edge is a wondrous thing', [but] in all of it's qualities, it is still a ghost." - sal
User avatar
wrdwrght
Member
Posts: 5078
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:35 am

Re: Ear Protection

#5

Post by wrdwrght »

Howard Leight Impact Sport muffs, sometimes augmented by foam plugs.
-Marc (pocketing an M4 Sage5 today)

“When science changes its opinion, it didn’t lie to you. It learned more.”
User avatar
Sharp Guy
Member
Posts: 8561
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:19 pm
Location: DFW, TX (orig. from N. IL)

Re: Ear Protection

#6

Post by Sharp Guy »

Early in my RSO days (prior to the new electronic muffs) we were required to use the Sonic II ear valves (plugs) so we could communicate with the shooters. They worked well but weren't comfortable for me to wear for long periods of time. In my later RSO days at the club I belonged to we used the electronic muffs. My competitive shooting is all rimfire so I use good foam plugs. They work well and are the most comfortable option IMO. When I'm shooting a loud centerfire (or somebody near me is) I typically use foam plugs combined Peltor muffs.
Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most!
User avatar
ChrisinHove
Member
Posts: 4059
Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:12 am
Location: 27.2046° N, 77.4977° E

Re: Ear Protection

#7

Post by ChrisinHove »

The joy of internet shopping is that specialist retailers will sell bundles of different styles of ear plug so you can find which type works best for you. Makes a huge difference.
User avatar
z4vdBt
Member
Posts: 988
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:42 pm
Location: U.S.A. Earth

Re: Ear Protection

#8

Post by z4vdBt »

Howard Leight Leightning L3, and Howard Leight Plugs.
User avatar
Donut
Member
Posts: 9568
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:47 pm
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Re: Ear Protection

#9

Post by Donut »

I have some Etymotic ETY Plugs for when I go to concerts: http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearin ... ction.html

They are acceptable to me. They sound good and my ears aren't hurt after concerts. I thought I paid $20 for them on amazon.

I have a couple of Surefire ear plugs after watching a youtube review on them. The EP3 are nice and that little flexible plastic thing lets the weight rest on the shape of your ear instead of the weight hanging from the inside of your ear. They have these little plugs that you can take out of the middle and it allows you to hear better if you need to.

http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipm ... ducts.html

Don't be scared by the prices, they sell 25 packs!
-Brian
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
User avatar
SpyderEdgeForever
Member
Posts: 6325
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:53 pm
Location: USA

Re: Ear Protection

#10

Post by SpyderEdgeForever »

Thanks for this topic. I have two questions:

1 How do you make sure the plugs don't get stuck in your ears too deep where they can damage or interfere with inner ear?

2 What is a good efficient and safe way to remove excess ear wax?
User avatar
Pinetreebbs
Member
Posts: 1833
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:55 am
Location: SC

Re: Ear Protection

#11

Post by Pinetreebbs »

I use a combination of foamier plugs made by Gateway and amplified ear muffs from Howard Leight. With the combination I can hear range commands and shoot alongside of most shooters. I say most because there are some rifles/pistols with exceedingly rude muzzle devices. When they are being fired I take the opportunity to load magazines behind the firing line. :(

I have a narrow ear cannel and the Gateway foam, non latex, plugs work very well:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FA ... UTF8&psc=1

I like the low profile ear muffs for rifle use and you can get replacement er pads for these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T ... UTF8&psc=1
Have you joined Knife Rights yet?
Go to: http://www.KnifeRights.org
Protecting your Right to own and carry the knives YOU choose.
User avatar
Water Bug
Member
Posts: 2196
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:21 pm

Re: Ear Protection

#12

Post by Water Bug »

I use the Aeciro E-A-R Classic foam ear plugs as well as the Howard Leight Industries Thunder 29 earmuffs when I go to the shooting range.
Spyderco WTC #1044

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress, 1905 to 1906

NEVER FORGET!!!
User avatar
awa54
Member
Posts: 2685
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:54 am
Location: Vermont, USA
Contact:

Re: Ear Protection

#13

Post by awa54 »

I use any old 28db or better roll-up foam plugs, or alternately a set of 3M commercial muffs, also have a Remington branded set, not sure who made them, but they work fine.
SpyderEdgeForever wrote:Thanks for this topic. I have two questions:

1 How do you make sure the plugs don't get stuck in your ears too deep where they can damage or interfere with inner ear?

2 What is a good efficient and safe way to remove excess ear wax?
if you lose grip on the end of the rolled up earplug or it hurts your ear, then it's too deep!

there are ear wax removal kits with a dropper bulb and cleaning solution for those who are unwilling to put a cotton swab in their ear.
-David

still more knives than sharpening stones...
User avatar
noseoil
Member
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:28 pm

Re: Ear Protection

#14

Post by noseoil »

Cheap foam earplugs work very well. Roll them into a narrow cylinder & quickly stuff them into the ear canal. Hold them in place until they expand. Cuts out sounds almost completely once they expand.
User avatar
bearfacedkiller
Member
Posts: 11411
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
Location: hiding in the woods...

Re: Ear Protection

#15

Post by bearfacedkiller »

I wear decent muffs over cheap foam plugs at the range. It never hurts to double up. I used to work for 12 hour shifts in 80+ decibels and just got used to doubling up for safety. I did have to keep qtips in my locker. It was quite warm too. I don't miss the sweaty waxy ears, that is for sure.

I had regular hearing tests over the years working there and never lost any hearing. I also wore a decibel meter once a year to track my actual exposure. My shift average was around 80 but the peaks were much higher.
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
User avatar
z4vdBt
Member
Posts: 988
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:42 pm
Location: U.S.A. Earth

Re: Ear Protection

#16

Post by z4vdBt »

noseoil wrote:Roll them into a narrow cylinder & quickly stuff them into the ear canal. Hold them in place until they expand. Cuts out sounds almost completely once they expand.
I always pull up on the ear while inserting (step 2 in video below).

Howard Leight video
User avatar
Dr. Snubnose
Member
Posts: 8799
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 10:54 pm
Location: NewYork

Re: Ear Protection

#17

Post by Dr. Snubnose »

For 12 years I was a Firearms Instructor and Range Officer for a Public Town Firing Range. Hearing protection was very important being around gun fire 8-12 hours a day. I found most muffs did not give me adequate protection.
I went to a Hearing Specialist and he made me custom ear plugs (in flesh color) fitted and molded to my ears. The reduced decibel level was 32 decibels. They were surprisingly not very expensive to make up and worked very well. I would then double up by putting an additional muff over my ear plugs. I still carry my custom ear plugs, and slip them in whenever there is too much noise around me. I would really suggest you not use the cheap foam earplugs...It's just too easy to have loss of hearing issues from range exposure. Even with the best possible protection, I still suffer from hearing loss in my right ear from that exposure...so be very very careful.....Doc:)
User avatar
Evil D
Member
Posts: 27147
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Northern KY

Re: Ear Protection

#18

Post by Evil D »

I worked in a factory once that also made us custom ear plugs that had speakers in them for radio communications.

One tip for foam plugs, besides putting them in backwards (seriously, try it), make sure you roll them up slowly and gradually instead of just mashing them up. You don't want wrinkles in the foam because they won't expand property and will leave gaps for sound to get through. Roll them slow, put them in backwards nice and deep and you'll be good to go. If anything maybe get some powered ear muffs like the Howard Leight muffs that only reduce loud noises. I sometimes use those because you can turn up the volume of speech so you hear the people around you but they still help muffle the bangs. It's a pretty effective combination.
All SE all the time since 2017
~David
User avatar
Sharp Guy
Member
Posts: 8561
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:19 pm
Location: DFW, TX (orig. from N. IL)

Re: Ear Protection

#19

Post by Sharp Guy »

Evil D wrote:I worked in a factory once that also made us custom ear plugs that had speakers in them for radio communications.
I forgot I also have a pair of custom molded plugs. They work well but I find that firm foam plugs work just as good when used properly.

Good hearing protection is important! Especially when you're working on a firing line all day. Eye protection too!
Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most!
User avatar
Evil D
Member
Posts: 27147
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Northern KY

Re: Ear Protection

#20

Post by Evil D »

Heh, yeah eye protection is a must. Funny story, last time I was at the range with my bro in law, he had some brass fly up and actually land on the arm of his glasses and it stayed there and burned the crap out of his temple, even left a little tiny blister. We both laughed our butts off.
All SE all the time since 2017
~David
Post Reply