Best ear muffs...period. What do would you buy??

[joseywales]

Never play football with a migraine.  I did, with a helmet, and my ear has been ringing for over 20 years.  Tinnitis (sp). 

I have the molded plugs, which are custom fit to the ear and they work very well.  Outdoor shoting is not hardly a problem.  But indoors, they are not getting it done.  In fact, I have placed ear protection muff over these plugs and it still bothers me.  I say "it", because I believe it's actually the vibration and NOT the noise that's getting me.  Honestly, one day, before shooting, I dropped the wooden broom and the handle hitting the floormade my ear ring worse for weeks and I'm not certain it ever returned to tbe previous annoying level.

I am at the point where a motor cycle helmet might be the best way to prevent additional damage (my hearing is above average still, BTW).  for handgun, I would have no problem wearing a helmet.  I'd wear a clown outfit if I thought it would protect my hearing.  But for rifle, it could be an issue.

I would like possible getting an electronic set of muffs, but let me know what you think.  I'll spend the money, if the product is worth it.

I have seen Pro Ears, on hennigshoots web site...I don't know.   

[jameslovesjammie]

If you're thinking electronic, don't waste your money on anything less than $50.  I am using the Howard Leight Impact.  They are a slim profile and work fine for rifle use.  If you watched Top Shot on the history channel, there were ALOT of guys who used these muffs.

I also "double plug" with both earplugs and earmuffs at our indoor range.  I have no issues hearing RO's and even general conversation with them.  At both outdoor ranges I shoot at, we are underneath a steel roof, which can be nasty for sound reverberation.  I shoot a high pressure rifle round (130 grain bullet at 3,450 fps) and don't have any issues with sound.  The concussion wave gets quite noticeable when you take away the sound, though.

[czkali]

The Howard Leight Impact Sport NRR spec is 22 while the Leightning L0F (which I have ) is 23. Is the advantage of the Impact Sport that it shuts down noise at 82 dB?  Is that it or are there other benefits of the electronic variety?

[justaute]

I use MSA Sordin Supreme Pro & Gel-filled ear pads.  They are expensive (>$200), but worth the money to me.  I'm a bit of an audiophile and want to protect every bit of my hearing.

FWIW... based on my research, Pro-Ears Promag Gold is purportedly very good, as well.

[armoredman]

I lost hearing in the Navy, next to a 3"50 cannon with sound powered phones in place of hearing protection. The breech block was about 1 foot and a half from the right side of my head. Loud little sucker.
I use Midway muffs, 29dB reduction, all I can afford right now. I have some roll up foam plugs I can stick in too, but since I usually don't shoot cannons, the muffs are just fine, especially since there is only the one outdoor range.

[2chuckles]

I use MSA Sordin Supreme Pro & Gel-filled ear pads.  They are expensive (>$200), but worth the money to me.  I'm a bit of an audiophile and want to protect every bit of my hearing.

FWIW... based on my research, Pro-Ears Promag Gold is purportedly very good, as well.

My suggestion also. I have both Pro-Ears Gold and the Sordin Pro. The Sordins and Pro-Ears have very similar sound control but the Sordins are a smaller profile for use with rifles.

[jameslovesjammie]

The Howard Leight Impact Sport NRR spec is 22 while the Leightning L0F (which I have ) is 23. Is the advantage of the Impact Sport that it shuts down noise at 82 dB?  Is that it or are there other benefits of the electronic variety?

The noise reduction rating difference of 1 is unnoticeable.  What is noticeable is that the Impact muffs electronically cancel the noise out. 

Some of the old style electronic muffs (Silencio) used to allow you to hear what was going on around you until a gunshot was heard, then they would shut off and you only had the protection of the muff's NRR for your ears.  Then there was a period of a couple seconds where they would stay off and then fade back on so you could hear what was going on around you again.

The new generation of electronic muffs use what is called noise cancellation.  Instead of turning off the sound amplifiers, they instead produce the opposite sound waves, so you just don't hear them.  You still hear everything going on around you.  For example, when I shoot at the farm I can hear my father and grandfather talking, cars coming on the highway, cattle mooing, birds chirping...but I don't hear the gunshot.  There is no period of transition from them "being on" and "being off" after a gunshot.  If you turn them off, it is just like using a regular pair of muffs.  But with them on the noise cancellation system SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the sound pulse.

It is hard to explain unless you have used a set of noise cancellation muffs.

I've heard alot of good things about the Pro-Ears...I just can't justify spending $2-300 on a set of muffs.

Whatever set you decide to purchase, get it from a place where you can try them out and if you don't like them take them back.  And try them at an indoor range AND outdoor.  You may find a set that is great indoor but outdoor gets alot of wind noise.