What do y'all recommend/ use for ear protection while shooting (from bench rest)?

I have a set of Peltor Presidents but 90% of the time I use 3M disposable ear plugs.

On a side note, I was spotting for a guy sighting in his 22-250 the other day at the ranch. He refused my offer of earplugs and was happy with .45 cartridges shoved in his ears. He also refused my offer of my portable bench rest and chair as well as my chronograph, target stand and actual targets. He insisted on shooting across his flatbed at 100yds (actually 77 according to my range finder) at the O on a political sign. When I left he had shot 12 shots and was no closer to zero than when he started. Who sights in a 22-250 with a 100 yard zero anyway?

I like Walker Razors.

https://www.walkersgameear.com/razor-slim-electronic-ear-muff/

You can find them cheaper at Academy

I wear electronic ear plugs, and regular muffs. I find muffs too hot to keep on, all the time, and the amplified muffs do not seem to dampen as well as regular ones. (I buy the ones with the best NRR I can find, for wear with impact noises.)

...and use suppressors. Always best to address pollution at the source.

I wear Surefire EP4s as in ear for many things and also wear Howard Leight Impact Sports. Just depends on the situation, sometimes both.

I have a couple suppressors on order now before my kids get old enough to start shooting (safety first you know , Great spousal reason if you ever needed one).

I have custom molded in ear plugs - one of the best decisions I've ever made for my shooting sports hobby. I can wear them all day at a match and not get a headache from muffs squeezing in on my head. I can shoulder any rifle or shotgun, standing or at a bench and not worry about the muffs getting nudged by the shoulder stock and potentially losing their seal around my ear.

Find a local audiologist and get an appointment for them to do the molding of your inner ear, DO NOT use one of the at home - do it yourself kits, they are inferior, and really shouldn't even be allowed to be sold, IMO.

I use custom molded also for shotgun, pistol, and small caliber rifle. When shooting 308 or larger, I add muffs over them.

Disposable ear plugs. Electronic muffs are great but they can interfere. Custom plugs are nice but they typically do not offer the protection rating as disposable.

My grandpa used extra bullets.

Surefire EP4s with MSA Sordin Supremes on top. I find it gives me good protection even at indoor ranges where people want to bring AR pistols or shotguns, and I can still hear everything just fine. Hunting I'll just wear the surefires to take the edge off the shot, Comfy as the Sordins are with the gel ear cups, I don't want to take wear them all day tromping around mountains in CO.

If anybody has any electronic ear muffs that seal good over eyeglasses let me know.

Same here

I use whatever disposable 'marshmallow' type plugs with some overhead ear muffs. I try and double up every time, especially when shooting a braked rifle under a cover.

slammerag said:

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Disposable ear plugs. Electronic muffs are great but they can interfere. Custom plugs are nice but they typically do not offer the protection rating as disposable.

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I completely disagree with your statement on custom plugs not offering the same protection rating as disposable. I was part of a study being done by the audiology department at Louisiana Tech while I was in undergrad, and their findings were the exact opposite of your statement. Disposable ear plugs rely on the user to place them in a very particular way in order to be fully effective, and that is never done consistently. Custom molded ear plugs (molded by an audiologist, like I suggested to be done) reach down into your ear canal, and can be consistently inserted every single time, because they are molded to the unique shape of your inner and outer ear. I will NEVER use disposable earplugs as a single source of ear protection - IF I use them its because I forgot my custom molds and am using them UNDER a set of muffs that I keep as a backup. I never use muffs over my custom molds, because they offer more than efficient protection, even when shooting my 3 gun rifle, which has a break on it so loud it will rattle your teeth fillings.

I have posted this info often on the OB when hearing protection comes up.
I lost about 50% of my hearing and have sever tinnitus.
This happened fairly quickly so it started a long journey with Doctors and I ended up in San Antonio with an Otologist named Dr. Wesley Krueger. He was one of the Drs. Who developed the cochlea implant.
He has written many publications on ear protection and specifically shooting.
An Otologist deals only in ears period. There are few of these in Texas. He is a avid shooter himself. Here is what he told me and showed me with his research.
First... custom molded earplugs are not the best protection available. Why? Because our ear canals change daily per the amount of water in our bodies. The mold is only accurate for the day it was made. Audiologist won't tell you this because they make big money on custom plugs.
Secondly... Doubling up using plugs and muffs does not double your protection in NRR
Decibels. It will only give you 5 more NRR decibels and that will be a plus 5 on the lowest rating of the two. Example. Ear plug has a NRR of 33 and muffs have a rating of 25. If you wear both your total NRR protection is only 30.
2nd Example... ear plug is 33 and Muff is also 33.. if you wear both your protection level is 38 NRR. (33 plus 5 =38)
Why is this? The mastoid bone (behind your ear) transmits sounds to your inner ear almost as well as your ear canal. So it does not matter how much sound you keep out out of your ear canal..., lots of damaging sound can still transmit to your ear from the mastoid bone.
Thirdly sound can travel from your eustacion
tube to your middle ear as well. So it is recommended to keep your mouth closed when shooting.
Suppressors used with hearing protection (if not using sub sonic velocities) is the best protection.
Use 33 NRR plugs and insert them correctly.
Use 33 NRR rated muffs.

My noise cancelling wireless earpods/earbuds work pretty well and I can listen to music too.

I have the walker electronic ones from Academy. When I'm doing a clay shoot they annoy the crap out of me because they give me no sense of direction where the noises are coming from. Are there electronic muffs out there that don't have this issue?

For bench top type shooting, use a foam plug rated to 32/33, then ear muff type protector on top. I agree with a lot of what Gunny has posted above. I frequented a public rifle range as a teenager with my dad before ear protection was mainstream. We used to sit next to a line of rifles on a concrete slab under a metal roof without any ear protection and I'm paying the price today. YMMNV (your milage may not vary, it's biology and physics).

If the NRR 33 plugs are inserted correctly they will offer better protection than the molded plugs per research by noted Otologist..... your ear canals change daily in dimensions.

suppressor

Gunny456 said:

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If the NRR 33 plugs are inserted correctly they will offer better protection than the molded plugs per research by noted Otologist..... your ear canals change daily in dimensions.

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Well, you learn something new everyday. I've always based my decision for the custom molds I wear on the information I received while participating in the study being done while I was in college. They were studying the effectiveness of non custom (disposable) earplugs vs "at home" custom ear plug kits vs professionally molded custom ear plugs. They were trying to collect enough information and data to support legislation that would require companies selling "at home" custom ear plug kits to add more detailed warnings on their packaging about the perceived effectiveness of the "at home" custom ear plug kits.

I made a set of my own custom ear plugs, and an audiologist made a second pair. Both were sent off and made into custom molded plugs. I then went and sat in an audio controlled studio space and was given 3 pair of plugs (my custom molded ones, the audiologist custom molded ones, and a pair of disposable) and they ran a series of tests to determine each set's effectiveness. The audiologist's set was the clear winner.

But, I understand and appreciate the data you shared from the Otologist. I had never considered the other factors that go into sound mitigation. I will need to look into that. I've been considering getting a new set of custom molds made, since its been a few years since I had mine made, and I'm sure my ears aren't the same as they were then.

Gunny, what do you wear when you shoot?

I wear the Howard Leight 33 NRR rated plug.
It's the one that has a larger end on it. Not the standard taper.
In addition I wear the Howard Leight NRR 33 Muff.
I wear them both at the same time when shooting non suppressed over a .22.
Pain in the butt. I make sure the muffs cover as much of the mastoid bone as possible.
Supposedly somebody is making a amplified muff that has a 32NRR rating. At least I could maybe wear those with plugs and still hear something.
I was very surprised on what the Doc told me. He showed me his published research and his data and it made sense.
I had a set of customs made. Cost me $200 but I can definitely hear a difference between the customs and the NRR 33 plugs.
The key is inserting them correctly. Most people don't do it right.
Good shooting to you sir.

Gunny is dead right and his info should be considered - amazing the wealth of knowledge around here...

For me the custom molded turned out to be the best answer for me. I found them so much more convenient and comfortable that they spent more time in my ears than the disposable, which I believe results in more overall protection..... Just my 2 cents.

If you are in Houston area and looking for custom molded I used this guy - Darrin with Sound Guard Custom Hearing Protection. No web site uses Facebook just search by Sound Guard name. He will come to you to do the molds etc.

W.C. Griffin '09 said:

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I like Walker Razors.

https://www.walkersgameear.com/razor-slim-electronic-ear-muff/

You can find them cheaper at Academy

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This. Got a pair recently and love them. Can hear everything until you squeeze the trigger

AgTech88 said:

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If you are in Houston area and looking for custom molded I used this guy - Darrin with Sound Guard Custom Hearing Protection. No web site uses Facebook just search by Sound Guard name. He will come to you to do the molds etc.

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also recommend. He travels all over to attend various shoots so you can catch him closer to you at some point.

I believe he did my last set, traveled to CS.

I have a custom set of Soundgears. They are spendy but worth it.
https://www.soundgearhearing.com/?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=SG_AW_S_SoundGear-Brand&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Brand&discount=GETOUTSIDE2020&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk8b7BRCaARIsAARRTL6EBOXLHObnjJnXj-_ydy4syeU76YxZPFEaTaMsYN_nXkhx7MbVUiMaAureEALw_wcB

Gunny, thanks for the info. Much appreciate it. AgTech, I had Darren make me a couple pair of his Sound Guards when he was in College Station. Been several years ago. Would recommend him. Thanks guys for all of your responses and especially to Gunny for the 33NRR counsel.

I second the Walker Razors. Work very well.

Gunny, is it the SNR rating or the NRR rating Thai should look at?

We had a safety video on how to properly insert disposable ear plugs. Now, I use the 3M screw in ones. Much easier to insert

The only time I really hear shooting noise when my custom molded plugs are in, is when someone in close proximity is shooting a large caliber rifle and I am within a few bays. In that case, I put the muffs on. Otherwise, my custom molded work just fine for me.

BCO07 said:

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W.C. Griffin '09 said:

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I like Walker Razors.

https://www.walkersgameear.com/razor-slim-electronic-ear-muff/

You can find them cheaper at Academy

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This. Got a pair recently and love them. Can hear everything until you squeeze the trigger

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Heck, I hear better with them

I have tinnitus - too many concerts and live music bars with no hearing protection. I double up with in-ear foam and over-the-ear muffs.

Yeah my old ears are so bad, I keep a pair of electronic muffs next to my nightstand pistol. If I think I hear something during the night I can put them on and listen. If I have to fire my pistol, I'm ready. Last time I shot a gun without them years ago, it was really really bad.