anyone have recommendations for a good in ear hearing protection system for bench shooting? I'm finding my over the ear hearing protection doesn't let my cheek rest of the rifle correctly and I'm having to make adjustments to get a good site picture in the scope.

What is your budget?

For bench top shooting at public ranges where I'm not the only shooter, I use plugs (cheap foam plugs or my custom molded plugs from Ear Inc) and then low profile muffs that cover my ears. For me it's the only way not to be affected by rifle range type shooting. I have been told that inside the ear plugs (even the best, and I've got some custom in-ear digital plugs) are insufficient for rifle shooting). YMMV.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/radians-radband%E2%84%A2-ear-plugs#repChildCatid=33435

$8

AggieGunslinger said:

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What is your budget?

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cheaper than hearing aids in 20 years

I use the walkers razor xv for protection. Use at work around equipment and on the range. Adjustable so you can still hear conversations but have the protection at the same time.

Love these. Have a couple pairs. They are silicon plugs, seal up well and you can wear muffs over them if needed. I really like them during the season as you can wear around your neck and put in right before you shoot.

Great for travel also - noisy planes, etc.

Macks Ear Plugs

Decibullz

I've used Etymotic for several years. They are electronic and "clamp" the shot below the damage level. They use hearing aid batteries and sure beat muffs in Texas heat.

Any audiologist will make you a set of custom plugs that will protect the small bones on the outer ear for about $100. Good foam plugs are fine but most people don't wear them right, if they can be seen by someone looking straight at you from head on then they aren't in far enough. They also don't protect the small bones in the outer ear. If you are shooting under a cover I would you muffs and plugs.

Sounds like a lot of lawyers are recommending the 3M combat arms earplugs these days.

https://www.64audio.com/store/earplugs

Good suggestion on the molded ear plugs. I didn't think about that but got some a number of years ago. They are great if you don't need to communicate with others because they do work well. My issue was that I shoot IDPA, 3Gun, and carbine matches where I am also a safety officer. They did not serve me well in that capacity because I couldn't hear myself talk nor others in my squad. They would probably serve the needs of the poster.

They make molded plugs with electronic amplifying and dampening. They are really good options for folks like you but they start out of most people's price range. They start near $1k.

Etymotic for shooting run $300. My first pair had a clear monofilament type cord that attached the two ear plugs Had them hanging around my neck before the match. After the shooter briefing, walked to the next bay which was our starting bay. When I went to put them in my ears, they had fallen on the ground. The range is all dirt so they blended in. Had the whole squad looking but never found them.
Bought another pair and now tie to my cap or hat.

Surefire EP7's. Love them.

schmellba99 said:

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Surefire EP7's. Love them.

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I have some of these. They are great if you are outside and not under a cover or at an indoor range.

My ears are about gone. Had a thing called "sudden sensoneural hearing loss" no cure. Ended up with a specialist Otologist/Neurologist in Houston. He was one of the Doctors that invented the cochlea implant and traveled the US teaching other specialist how to do them. He is an avid shooter and has written many papers and research thesis on noise induced hearing loss.
A really intelligent man that basically saved me from deafness. He gave me some good information that He learned in his research.
He recommended the Howard Leight foam plugs that are NRR 33. They must be installed correctly. He cautioned me on "custom plugs" as he said that your inner ear canal is basically composed of cartilage and can change in dimensions daily due to water content in your body, body temp. etc. He explained that custom formed plugs may fit correctly one day but not another as your ear canal changes.
He did lots of research for the Navy as the loudest environment is the flight deck of one of our carriers.

He also cautioned me that the mastoid bone (behind your ear)can almost transmit the same decibels of noise to your inner ear as the ear canal and that only muffs large enough to cover the mastoid bone can really help with that.
He also said a shooter should train themselves to always pull the trigger with your mouth closed as an open mouth can allow sound to travel to the inner ear by the jaw bones and the Eustachian Tube.
He said, unless using a suppressor, all shooters should use double protection when shooting anything other than a .22 rimfire.
He said, however, that using both plugs and muffs does NOT double the NRR protection and that it will only add plus 5 NRR above the highest rating of plug or muff.
To explain......say a shooter uses a plug that is NRR of 27 and a muff of NRR30. The actual NRR protection would be the 30NRR plus 5 NRR for a total protection of 35NRR.
He said that the carrier flight deck crews have specially designed helmets with insulation and foam to protect the mastoid bone, have built in high NRR muffs of 33NRR and they are required to use a properly inserted foam plug of at least a 30 NRR rating.
He does a lot of long range shooting and he himself uses a low profile type of muff made by Peltor that is made wide to cover the mastoid bone, and he uses Howard Leight foam plugs that have a NRR33 rating.
He said a good rule of thumb on proper insertion of the plugs is to roll them to a small size, pull the top of your ear up with one hand and insert the plug gently till you just feel it come against you tympanic membrane. Then hold them in while they expand fully so they don't push out.
He said a good test to see if they are inserted correctly is to snap your fingers just outside your ears and you should just be able to hear it if the are inserted correctly.
He also did research on the electronic "clipping" type of protection and explained that his research proved that even if you get the fastest acting available that for that "millisecond" or so to activate... your ear gets the full blast.....but your brain never hears it but damage to the inner ear may still be occurring.
He said that his research and findings really upset all the custom plug companies and the expensive electronic companies.
I have religiously followed his advice. I have to have my ears thoroughly examined and tested every year and I can happily say that in the last 10 years, with all the shooting I do, my hearing has not declined nor has my tinnitus got any louder.

I use these at the range. I don't use the cord but I like them because they are easy to put in and remove.

https://www.amazon.com/Radians-Plugs-Reusable-Corded-Earplugs/dp/B000F7P1ZM

Who is your doctor - Gunny456?

Gunny456 said:

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He recommended the Howard Leight foam plugs that are NRR 33. They must be installed correctly.

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So, these? https://www.howardleightshootingsports.com/collections/earplugs-bands/products/usa-shooters-ear-plugs

I use the Leight softies with Leight impact sports over them.

Been meaning to order the surefires to wear under the muffs

Yes but the orange 100 pack from cvs will work just as well. Have to really insert them deep

These will work same as the Leights.

https://www.amazon.com/Ear-Buddy-Premium-Plugs-Decibels/dp/B00PSX6ZV2/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?keywords=foam+ear+plugs&qid=1559787449&s=gateway&sprefix=foam+ear+&sr=8-15

Which muffs are you running

Cost can go up. The Leight impact sports are a good start. Smaller profile with electronic control. I still put plugs in under them.

Here is a list of where to start. Google beat earring protection and you'll find articles like this from other websites

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-shooting-ear-protection/

Yes

I have some 3M peltor muffs that I'm using now. they work well for blocking the sound, but they are hot and interfere with cheek placement.

Gunny456 said:

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My ears are about gone. Had a thing called "sudden sensoneural hearing loss" no cure. Ended up with a specialist Otologist/Neurologist in Houston. He was one of the Doctors that invented the cochlea implant and traveled the US teaching other specialist how to do them. He is an avid shooter and has written many papers and research thesis on noise induced hearing loss.
A really intelligent man that basically saved me from deafness. He gave me some good information that He learned in his research.

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So who is your doctor?
I need to go see one

ShinerDunk93 said:

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schmellba99 said:

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Surefire EP7's. Love them.

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I have some of these. They are great if you are outside and not under a cover or at an indoor range.

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Wouldn't know, can't recall having shot with them at an indoor range. My range has a cover, but never had a problem with them there either. Granted, it's only a roof so not much sound deflection. Are you shooting with the inner plug in as well? Makes a big difference, I can't shoot with the small inner plug not installed - just not comfortable for me.

Without any science or proof behind it -- just experience -- I think you're asking for trouble by using any kind of in the ear plug for any firearm that isn't suppressed or a .22. I don't even wear the electronic muffs in an indoor range as I don't think they provide enough protection. You're not going to have a do-over on these things so make your decisions wisely.

Second to Gunslinger's audiologist recommendation.

The custom fit ear plugs are very comfortable, even over extended periods, and fit much nicer under my Walker headset when I want to double up at an indoor range.

Best $200 ever spent on hearing protection.

AggieGunslinger said:

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Any audiologist will make you a set of custom plugs that will protect the small bones on the outer ear for about $100. Good foam plugs are fine but most people don't wear them right, if they can be seen by someone looking straight at you from head on then they aren't in far enough. They also don't protect the small bones in the outer ear. If you are shooting under a cover I would you muffs and plugs.

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FYI, a few of the places I called when I was looking into this last season, starting prices were closer to $200 and went waaaaaaaaay up from there depending on how fancy you wanted. Seemed like $200-250 would get you into a set of custom molded solid plugs, but if you added passages for certain decibel ranges or electronics, you could spend a lot more.

Dr. W.R. Krieger, but is retiring. I now go to a Otologist that studied and worked with him. He is in Austin. Dr. Kemper. Great guy and very savvy. His daughter just graduated from TAMU.

The key to the foam plugs are to get the highest NRR as possible (33) and MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU INSTALL THEM CORRECTLY!
As my Otologist/Neurologist said..........use both plugs inserted correctly, in conjunction to a good wide muff that covers as much of the mastoid bone as possible for non suppressed cartridges greater than a .22 Rimfire. If suppressed and shooting supersonic rounds use either a good NRR33 plug inserted correctly or a good 30NRR or better muff.
Muffs are good for pistol but can move and release their correct fit when shooting shotgun or rifle.

what about Electronic Earplugs?

Gunny anyway to make your original post like a permanent "sticky". your Dr's information is SPOT ON