I have a pair of non-electronic hearing protector muffs, that are rated a 33 db reduction. If I double up with plugs, sometimes that's not quite enough.

Does anyone make any external muff hearing protection that has more then 33 db of noise reduction ? If not, is there any way I could modify the ones I have to be even quieter ? Like replacing the open cell foam on the interior with closed cell foam, or something along those lines ?

I hope I'm asking the right question, I'm not up on sound physics, except I know that the decibel metric is logarithmic in nature.

I think I remember reading that 33 was (or was about) the theoretical max.

34db is about the highest rating for muffs

There are plugs that get into the 39db range

However if you are doubled up with good products and say it still is not enough, I have to believe the issue is not with the actual sound, but the concussion that is effecting you

Along those lines, Who makes a good electronic muff that is reasonable in price and not need the ear plugs with them.

Are you using the plugs correctly? I often see people using ear plugs who do not know how to properly prep and insert them into the ear canal.

If I may, I'll leave this here for any whom it might help.
https://youtu.be/8vHP8K3BsrA

quote:

Originally posted by dsiets:
Are you using the plugs correctly? I often see people using ear plugs who do not know how to properly prep and insert them into the ear canal.

If I may, I'll leave this here for any whom it might help.
https://youtu.be/8vHP8K3BsrA

Wow, dsiets, thanks for that!

This is like the shoelace tying thing I discovered a few years ago: All this time I've been doing it wrongly.

This is timely, because I just ordered a pair of Walker Silencer Electronic Ear Plugs. That "how to" may mean the difference between success and failure.

To the OP:

I'm going to agree with a previous poster. If you're doubling-up, and assuming the muffs are at least passably good and you're getting at least some additional reduction from the plugs, I'd say sound level on your eardrums might not be the problem.

That being said: Here are URLs to three recent threads on the subject of electronic ears:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/7450089824
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...660031124#9660031124
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...350094814#5350094814

Pretty much recognized as "the best" is the MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X. Any of the MSA Sordins are probably superior.

Probably next rung down on the ladder is Peltor and Pro Ears? I have a pair of Peltor TacticalPros and they work pretty well. Inside, if anybody's shooting anything BIG: Not enough. I have to double-plug. And they don't work at all with long guns. (Interfere with cheek weld.)

Economy low-pro muffs that work "ok" are the Howard Leight Impact Sport. With those, though, I almost always have to double-plug, even outdoors. And they still interfere with my cheek weld.

I'm going to give a pair of those Walker's I mentioned above a try for long gun. Should be here Tuesday and I'm going to try to get some trigger time in next week. (Been retired a month and still haven't found time for the range? What's up with that?)

I don't know what the OP should do. If 30+ dB muffs over 30+ dB plugs is not good enough, there is not much more to do short of wearing a helmet.

Electronic ear protection for SHOOTING is not noise cancelling. All it does is let you hear conversation with the sound transmission cutting off automatically as the impulsive noise goes above 85 dB. Then you get the listed protection, but no more. Some of the cheap ones are a little slow on the uptake. Half a gunshot sounds odd.

I see a lot of references to the Sordin Pro X. I do not consider their 18 dB NRR adequate for high volume shooting, even though it may be a good compromise for the "Operator". I am well aware of the post by Trevor whereby he cherry picks frequency ranges to get a higher number that he says is more applicable to gunshots. OK, he can massage the Pro X to get a value of 38.7. If I apply the same formula to my 30 dB NRR Peltors, I get a Trevor Rating of 45. More is better no matter how you arrive at it.

I have a pair of Howard Leight Pro electronics. They are quieter than the usual Sport model but not very comfortable to wear.

Usually I just wear good passive muffs and/or foam plugs. I have heard it all anyhow, and can just concentrate on shooting.

Are you using a muzzle brake? Try switching to a flash hider? Shooting indoors? Switch to outside. Shooting outside under an enclosure? Shoot in the open air.
Other than that: are suppressors legal, in your area? Try one but put aside about a grand beforehand because you will not ever want to shoot without one, after.

Bruce

No none of that. This problem is not for ME shooting, it's for all the other young fellas shooting their tacttcool rifles in the booth next to me at an indoor range. I have to wait till someone is reloading their high power rifle before I can shoot my little 9mm pistol groups. I would say I have the same problem with other guys shooting their big bore and magnum revolvers as well. But, a previous poster mentioned concussion waves. That might be the problem right there. Will those waves still damage your hearing, even if they're bothering you still doubled up ?

quote:

Originally posted by dsiets:

...If I may, I'll leave this here for any whom it might help.
https://youtu.be/8vHP8K3BsrA

This was VERY helpful!

I just bought a cheap pair of electronic ear muffs at Harbor Freight and am impressed. I paid $20.00 for them and they work really good. You still hear a low thump noise but the "bang" sound is nil. My son wore them and a guy 2 lanes over, in an indoor range, was shooting a 308 rifle and my son said he could barely hear it.

I shoot a .300 win mag with a Holland muzzle brake. I use the Leight with some foam ear plugs when I check my zero and it does a great job. I have noticed that my safety glasses cause an issue with the seal and I get some sonic leakage so to speak. I also like the sure fire plugs when I am hunting.

I have these Howard Leight mufflers from Amazon and with rubber ear plugs I bought for .58 C each from Amazon together they block out a lot of the noise

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-...ywords=howard+leight

Fit is possibly more important than NR rating. I bought a non electric set of muffs off a chainsaw display rack and they clamp down giving me a complete seal. You will often find muffs that leave a slight gap where the muff brushes up to your jaw hinge. That effectively negates the rating. When I have these muffs on you have to either tap me on the shoulder or make eye contact.

I wish I had looked into this years ago. The tinnitus is deafening.