Hearing protection for shooting

CanadianAnvil

So what's everyone using for hearing protection at the range?  I've just finished all of my courses and getting into.this with a friend for some destressing time. 
From looking around I don't want anything too bulky, but comfortable to wear. Pretty set I think on a muff not an plug.........and go

Steve

Thomasc18

I use Howard Leight electronic earmuffs. Comfortable, plus has built in microphone. So you can hear people talk without having to remove them. Highly recommend. If I don’t have them I use Howard Leight foam ear plugs.  Main thing you want them to be comfortable. If using rifles not too bulky. 

Maxwell1331

I second the Howard Leight earmuffs. 

stlcharcoal

Maxwell1331 said:

I second the Howard Leight earmuffs. 

Same here.  The ones with the microphones and speakers.  Even if you don't shoot usually with someone else, go ahead and get them and just leave them turned off.  They're a life saver at the indoor range if you do need to speak with someone.

Brownella also makes a nice pair with same setup.  They're more comfortable for my noggin.

JohnH12

Different things for different guns.
I prefer plugs (I have some $50 custom molded to my ear canal) when shooting long guns because the muffs interfere with my cheek weld.
I prefer muffs for pistol shooting.

DoubleEgger

Plugs and muffs for higher caliber weapons 

northGAcock

What did he say?

MattBTI

I use a suppressor. 

leemschu

Let’s see how long this thread lasts... I use a suppressor when I can but I have the electronic earmuffs mentioned above in  but also use electronic ear plugs for precision competition.

CanadianAnvil

Suppressors are prohibited in Canada....

stlcharcoal

CanadianAnvil said:

Suppressors are prohibited in Canada....

That's BS.  Some of the European countries REQUIRE you have a suppressor for you firearm because of noise pollution.

As much as I love old movies, they made the suppressor into a scary "silencer".  Screw a cylinder the size of a hot dog onto any pistol and it will only this light "pewwww" sound.  Far from it.

I've shot some .30 Whisper (pre-300BLK) guns with all the buffers to quiet the action.  Pretty impressive, but they still as louder than .22 subsonics or CB's.

leemschu

CanadianAnvil said:

Suppressors are prohibited in Canada....

And I think our gun laws are oppressive.... my advice is move. But I understand you can’t do that especially for a hobby. The extra coin for electronic ear muffs or plugs are well worth the extra $30 - $250.

HeavyG

stlcharcoal said:

CanadianAnvil said:

Suppressors are prohibited in Canada....

That's BS.  Some of the European countries REQUIRE you have a suppressor for you firearm because of noise pollution.

As much as I love old movies, they made the suppressor into a scary "silencer".  Screw a cylinder the size of a hot dog onto any pistol and it will only this light "pewwww" sound.  Far from it.

I've shot some .30 Whisper (pre-300BLK) guns with all the buffers to quiet the action.  Pretty impressive, but they still as louder than .22 subsonics or CB's.

Which European countries REQUIRE the use of suppressors?

I know there are a few EU countries where there are no restrictions on the use/purchase of suppressors. Some just require a license. Some countries strictly prohibit them.

Just hadn't heard about any that require the use of them.

stlcharcoal

HeavyG said:

Which European countries REQUIRE the use of suppressors?

I know there are a few EU countries where there are no restrictions on the use/purchase of suppressors. Some just require a license. Some countries strictly prohibit them.

Just hadn't heard about any that require the use of them.

I don't remember.  It was in an article in one of the gun magazines long time ago.  It may have not been what we know as a federal requirement for ownership, but more of what we would call a conditional use maybe??  "Yeah you can put a gun our shoot on our public/government land, or get a permit for your range, but you have to use suppressors" kind of thing.  

CanadianAnvil

.30 and .32 Cal are prohibited in Canada aswell unless it is for a registered sport. 

Steve

stlcharcoal

CanadianAnvil said:

.30 and .32 Cal are prohibited in Canada aswell unless it is for a registered sport. 

Steve

Are .357 / 38 / 9mm allowed?

What about smaller..... .22, .25, etc?

Any particular reason they don't like those two calibers?

Dondgc

Electronic muffs for duck hunting. I add plugs for any indoor shooting. 

nolaegghead

Howard Leight R-01526.  $40 on Amazon Prime

CPFC1905

3M Peltor SportTac.
Whatever you do choose needs to be comfortable and allow full range of head movement.  an option is to mix and match, if you find a light over-ear type that feels good but the noise is still loud, foam buds will do the trick.  
How many times have I heard / said "eyes and ears on the range - watch your front, watch and react".....
Also, have you caught an ejected casing down the back of your shirt yet?  Hilarious if its someone else.

DoubleEgger

CPFC1905 said:

Also, have you caught an ejected casing down the back of your shirt yet?  Hilarious if its someone else.

I’m a lefty shooter. Casings in the face is a way of life. 

Corvus

I'm a "belt and suspenders" kind of guy.  I use moulded ear plugs and ear muffs.  I shoot sporting clays weekly with two squads of 4 each, that's 800 -12 gauge reports per round.  YMMV.... but don't skimp on your eye or ear protection.

Roadpuke0

Just get some custom plugs done correctly and they will work fine for the range if your on a budget. High cal you’ll want some good muffs but I hate them.

Paul B.

I spoke with a girl that was a hearing specialist and she said something along the lines that there are two sound waves emitted from guns and utilizing foam or molded ears block one type and muffs block the other and that is best way to go.  I may be butchering it but she thought both was best if you are concerned about really protecting your hearing.

bucky925

I always got my hearing protection from work.  They always said take "safety" home with you  .  In any case I'm running low after retirement. I never knew how much $ good protection costs. 

GregW

I have a couple of pairs of the 3M Peltor Sport Tactical 500 Electronic Hearing Protectors.
They work really well with the added bonus of Bluetooth integration. They work well for mowing the grass and listing to music.

littlerascal56

Had custom molded earplugs made at a hearing specialist.  30 minute process that cost $40, and they work!  Shot Trap and Sporting with them. Much more comfortable than muffs, and you get a proper cheekweld to stock.  Not so much with muffs, which work better for pistol shooters!

Ozzie_Isaac

This is my favorite hearing protection:

CanadianAnvil

stlcharcoal said: 

CanadianAnvil said:

.30 and .32 Cal are prohibited in Canada aswell unless it is for a registered sport. 

Steve

Are .357 / 38 / 9mm allowed?

Yes, 40 and 45acp are fine as well  

What about smaller..... .22, .25, etc? 

These are fine too

Any particular reason they don't like those two calibers?

The way I was told it was that those Cal were always in.small pistols that were easy to hide. So instead of the government saying certain models were prohibited they classified the size. 

Steve

CanadianAnvil

Ozzie_Isaac said:r

This is my favorite hearing protection:

I shoot a pse Mohave.
 Fire arms just seem to be the next step. And with Canadian gun.laws and the way the clubs work I can't stand on the line or even touch a friend's firearm while at the range. 

Ozzie_Isaac

CanadianAnvil said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:r

This is my favorite hearing protection:

I shoot a pse Mohave.
 Fire arms just seem to be the next step. And with Canadian gun.laws and the way the clubs work I can't stand on the line or even touch a friend's firearm while at the range. 

Been there done that.  Lived in Illinois, which has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the US (needed a FOID card just to touch a gun).  Now I'm back home in Arizona and much happier.  One good thing about IL was it got me involved in archery.

Fred19Flintstone

When I visited @Little Steven at his home out side  Toronto for supper a few years back, we noticed "missing" posters for dogs & cats on telephone poles in his neighborhood.  Steve lives in a rural area in a development of very nice homes.  I asked him about the posters and he said the little dogs and cats were already coyote prey.  He said the coyotes were huge near him and they were dangerous.  One of his dogs was almost taken if it weren't for his other dog's heroism.  I said it sounded like there was a 12 gauge solution.  He said something like, "Hey cowboy, where do you think you are?"  

That's as near as I can recall of the conversation because we was drinkin'. 

I like visiting Canada very much because it's a great country, but I feel a bit naked being unarmed.