Ear Protection

[countrygirl]

Hey, I'm sorta new to the whole shooting thing. The reason i say sorta is because I've lived around guns my whole life & i know how to shoot a gun and all, but i never really worked on my aim, because of the loud bang the gun makes. Now I've tried just about every thing my fiance has given me for my ears and none of them really just seem to work, because they ARE ALL UNCOMFORTABLE! The earmuffs feel like they are trying to suck out my brains and the earplugs hurt my ears, because they are not made in an ear shape or they are to "hard". So what do you think is the best thing i can use for ear protection, that is comfortable and will block out the noise so that i can actually try and improve my shot?

[Dale]

Ear plugs under muffs.

You might not care for the feel of plugs or muffs but, trust me on this one, you'll care even more later in life that you have poor hearing!!!!!!!!!!!

[jerry]

Ear protection is important. You can't reverse hearing damage.

Here is an example of a link. See an audiologist. Get some impressions made and send off for custom plugs.

"Mickey's" ear muffs, are good for double protection. The better the quality the pads the better experience you will get. These can also be had in electronic form, letting you hear, but blocking the high db.

Custom Fitting Procedure For Ear Molds and Ear Plugs

[countrygirl]

I like the idea of getting custom made plugs a lot...that will definitley go into consideration. Thanks, Jerry. I know that ear protection is important and that's why i dont ever go hunting when a gun is going to be used for sure...b/c hands just don't do the job properly...plus it takes the fun out of hunting yourself.

[nathangdad]

Use soft plugs under your external ear protection. Check out the higher end vendors on the web for external protection. Unfortunately, a lot of the lower end products are hard plastic with little cushion.

[jerry]

I'm guilty. I have foregotten mine. My buddy had to smoke 2 unfiltered cigs once, I needed the filters to cram in my ears.

[khahn79]

Originally Posted by jerry

I'm guilty. I have foregotten mine. My buddy had to smoke 2 unfiltered cigs once, I needed the filters to cram in my ears.

lol...whatever works! I always keep a plastic baggie in my van w/ a few pair of the foam disposables. Been doing that for years before I started shooting though. I used to be a youth leader and some of the concerts we took the kids to were way too loud!
Welcome to G&G, countrygirl! Hope you enjoy the site.

[Natosha]

Welcome- I don't think the ear muffs are enough so I used the foam ear plugs under the ear muffs when I was at the range. Now when I am outside we just use the foam ear plugs. (Roll them between you hands and stick them in) The soft ones wont hurt even after wearing them for a while.

[redhed]

I've never much been impressed with the little ear plugs either as they never seem to want to stick in my ear canals long enough to do me any good. The muffs seem to do weird things to my equilibrium if I don't take them off on occasions and rest my ears. About the most comfortable hearing protection I've found for myself are the battery operated sound amplifier earmuffs made by North. They don't squeeze my head too badly, fit my ears comfortably and seem to work well when it comes to dampening down the sound of gunfire. There is still that certain amount of discomfort but it sure beats saying "WHAT" and "WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE" when I have to answer the phone after shooting without hearing protection.

[Guns&Dobes]

Welcome countrygirl! You definitely want to protect those ears and I agree with Natosha, I have found that the foam ones that Walmart sells are great, I think if a person puts them in right that they can't be beat, what you need to do is roll them between your fingers until they are small and hold your ear out while inserting them deep into your ear, the foam will then expand and form with the ear canal and cut most of the sound out. I can use only the foam or with the muffs at the range.

I also use one at night to go into the ear that is up while the other ear is on the pillow to drown out my husbands snoring LOL.

[Natosha]

Originally Posted by Guns&Dobes

I also use one at night to go into the ear that is up while the other ear is on the pillow to drown out my husbands snoring LOL.

I still think that is so funny!!!

[Chris]

There are also some muffs that block out intense increases of decibels (gun shot or clapping of the hands.) They use the same technology as Bose earphones for noise canceling...they run $150ish....well worth having.

You can talk to someone and hear them fine, but once the shooting starts you hear very little.

[billy]

this thread got me thinking............
i have never heard what most of my guns really sound like.
ALWAYS ear protection!

[BunnyWabbit]

When I took hunter's safety I didn't want to shoot a gun, just wanted to do archery because I didn't like the noise. The guys at the gun range got me pink foam earplugs and a headset. I finally realized how much fun it was because I didn't have to deal with the noise. I still wear one foam earplug when I turkey hunt in the ear closest to the gun. So that being said, Cabelas sells some Walker's Game Ears that are the headsets that will shut off at the sound of a clap. And, they are actually pretty comfortable. Probably more comfortable than a hearing aid later down the road.

[ArkansasHunter]

Jerry how did the cigarett butts do ??? LOL

[rckymtnboy]

Originally Posted by Chris

There are also some muffs that block out intense increases of decibels (gun shot or clapping of the hands.) They use the same technology as Bose earphones for noise canceling...they run $150ish....well worth having.

You can talk to someone and hear them fine, but once the shooting starts you hear very little.

I have a pair of "ProEars" that do this. They are GREAT. Lots better than stuffing something into your ear canal, and you can talk to the people around you without taking them off. Archery hunters use them out in the field.

[Onesonek]

I wear both the foam plugs and electronic muffs(proears). The key to those foam plugs is to get them rolled between your fingers small enough the you can get it just about all in the ear. If you get them too deep, don't panic, you may have to tweeze them out,,but they are effective to their rating if you have them in most of their depth. The double up protection helps a lot, and then the electronic muffs amplify the normal conversation so I can hear through the plugs. I know my flinching disappears worn this way.
Dave

[jerry]

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

Jerry how did the cigarett butts do ??? LOL

Huh?



Seriously. They were better than nothing AH. I stuck to the .22 mostly left the big boomers in the case. Just remember, not all substitute methods are good.

[redhed]

Originally Posted by Chris

There are also some muffs that block out intense increases of decibels (gun shot or clapping of the hands.) They use the same technology as Bose earphones for noise canceling...they run $150ish....well worth having.

You can talk to someone and hear them fine, but once the shooting starts you hear very little.

The ones we have have cancel out loud noises but allow you to hear normal conversations, etc. We found them at a gun shop for 25$. They work well, but our biggest problem with them seems to be forgetting to turn them off and killing the batteries in record time.

[neophyte]

Goggle Search 'ear protectors'. Most interesting.
I read a lot and do go off in tangential thinking and exploring other ?[professorial]? thinking
I don't see too good; but hearing is good.