Hearing protection problems

[inletman]

I use Peltor sport ULTIMATE 10 ear protection which I've had about a yr. Shot 120 rds today,--range fairly crowded and when I came out, could hardly hear...like both ears stuffed with cotton. This happened once before - when I came out of range realized somehow ears weren't completely covered.

the range owner said my "ears" were ok...just pull head band forward, and I have seemed to be ok until today. when got home, got wife to look, and she said tip of ears showed. I believe I pulled head band too far forward...when I pulled it just a little forward nothing showed.

Any advice, please in being sure my "ears" are completely sealed. Hope my hearing completely clears.

[George16]

I always use double hearing protection, a pair of inserts and ear muffs over them. It?s just an old habit I got used to working around engines before I retired from the Navy.

For every new ear muffs I?m going to use, I always test fit in front of the mirror to see if it fully covers my ears. By doing it in front of the mirror, I can see if they?re on properly and try to ?memorize? how it feels when I have them correctly. I also check how the band is positioned and how it feels on my head.

 I try to find the most comfortable and most effective position and always make sure I do the same thing every time I put them on.

[Earl Keese]

Same here, I double up. Foam plugs under electronic muffs. Turn up the volume on the muffs so you can hear conversation & range commands. I haven't shot indoors in over a year. Too loud, smoky, and dusty for me.

[Sigm4]

Same as the other two posters. If I?m indoors (which is almost never) I?ll use foam plugs and muffs.

[PushPuller]

Foam plugs and muffs only!  Within a short distance of me my only options are to shoot indoors so 90% of my shooting has been indoors for the last year or so.   

Iv found that often my muffs shift placement and can sometimes leak a little bit.  Its never enough to notice while on the range, but the second you step out and take your muffs off you'll know! After a couple mistakes trusting high quality muffs to work perfectly I just started to opt for the safety and use the orange foam plugs underneath the muffs.

A lot of electronic hearing protection tries to maintian a slimline, and less cumbersome design that I think misses the mark on safety.

[M1A4ME]

Big ears?  Not joking/picking.  Asking.  There's some reason the ear muffs are "on your ears" instead of "around/over your ears."

I seldom wear ear muffs (hard to get snugged up on a rifle stock with ear muffs on) but when I do (for chainsaw work) I start with the inside of the ear muff seal/pad above my ear and against my head.  Then I pull the muff downwards to curl/bend the upper part of my ear down and then let the springs move the bottom of the ear muff against my head below the ear lobe.  then I move the muffs around/upwards (while still against my head) till my ears feel comfortable.

Reminds me of another reason I don't wear ear muffs - in the summer time the sweat can build up inside till it tickles/gets in my ear and really starts to bother me as I roll from one side to the other getting in position with the rifle/sling or getting down on the shooting mat or up off the shooting mat.

[2bfree]

I must admit I am having a hard time understanding how one goes about shooting enough rounds without recognizing your muffs are off. ?