The thread about the Air Pods reminded me of my curiosity on this topic, but I want to not hijack that thread.

Looking at hearing protection options beyond my usual in-the-ear plugs and over-the-head muffs, I was reading the packages on some electronic muffs the other day, and the NRR numbers were, well, disappointing. I'm accustomed to plugs with NRR of 32, and am fortunate to be comfortable wearing them (I realize that some don't have that good fortune). We also have passive muffs, with NRR of (if memory serves) somewhere in the upper twenties.

I also have an old pair of Flight Deck muffs, although they need new foam inserts before I would consider them useful, and even then I would want more protection than the advertised NRR of 27.

But the electronic muffs I see at price points below $150 share a NRR of 24 or less.

Is the intent to wear plugs AND such muffs? Or only wear such muffs when outdoors? Or are the extra "points" in the NRR overkill?

I bought some in-ear plugs that connect across the back of the neck like those seen in the Hickok45 videos… rated at 24 dB reduction one shot was all it took for me to realize that they aren’t enough for me! At the same time, muffs rated at 23-24 dB reduction seem adequate to me for outdoor 9mm shooting. When I started shooting 5.56 and x39 I upgraded to 27 dB muffs combined with in ear foam (32 db) and eventually in ear Walkers. The combination works for me—I experience zero discomfort. I definitely question the adequacy of in-ear systems rated at 24 dB and am always surprised when I see people using these except for rimfire.

I’m also increasingly convinced that suppressors are the way.

Northern wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 7:31 am

I’m also increasingly convinced that suppressors are the way.

I'm wondering about those, too. It would only do so much good, though, if I am at an indoor range and the person in the next stall is shooting big ammo.

I wear hearing aids, not shooting-related, and always used to take them out and leave them in the car when I got to the range. Then I discovered I could mute them through my phone, so I leave them in as an extra layer under the 29NRR muffs. Works beautifully.

Regarding suppressors — my first one — best for 9mm and .300 BLK subs— is in “jail” but my FFL has a range where I can use it until my form 4 is approved. I’ve discovered that it is quiet enough that I’ll be very comfortable using only in ear when using it when I’m alone at an outdoor range.

I’m saving up for more suppressors and hoping the changes at ATF lead to faster turnaround times.

I bought a pair with an NRR of 32 or 34 at Harbor Freight, construction workers wear them too not just shooters.

highdesert wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 12:57 pm I bought a pair with an NRR of 32 or 34 at Harbor Freight, construction workers wear them too not just shooters.

Muffs?

Cool. I'll have to look.

I started wearing hearing protection when I was working near airplanes (loading/unloading UPS planes, fueling them, and so on). I have done some construction work, and made sure to keep some with me when we were going to be doing loud work.

If you are interested in protecting your hearing and the hearing of those around you, here are a couple of links to alternative ideas.

viewtopic.php?t=48150

viewtopic.php?p=657668#p657668