Author Topic: What is the Best Hearing Protection ? (Read 1460 times)

seacoastartillery · « **on:** November 19, 2011, 09:19:38 AM »

I believe this is the only elemental cannon shooting subject that we have not covered completely. It is one that I am now very interested in, after losing most of my high frequency hearing to the Army's 106mm Recoiless Rifle and a few years later to Super Blackhawk .44 Magnums. Cigarette butts are what we were told to use back then, while in training in ’68 and they even had a little pill bottle on a small chain so you could carry the 'just about worthless butts' to every different range you visited! Gunnery Sgt, R. Lee Ermey had better hearing protection in a recent episode involving machine gun shooting. He used empty .45 ACP cartridge cases! At least they would form a solid barrier, but certainly are not the best thing available today.

Currently, Mike and I use MAX foam plugs by Howard Leight rated at 33 NRR and 37 SNR. Purchased in quantities of 200, they cost 12.5 cents per pair. They have what we consider an acceptable noise abatement rating and they are very comfortable. They are simple to use also. We do exactly what the mfg. instructions say to do. Roll, Insert and Hold. For KABAR2, the instructions are: Rollen, Einfuhren und Festhalten!

What do you use and why? What Type: plug or muff? Fit? Comfort? Noise reduction rating? Cost?

Mike and Tracy

bilmac · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2011, 09:45:20 AM »

We used to have to take hearing tests for work. The techies who gave the test said that the foam plugs are better than muffs!!

GGaskill · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2011, 09:49:49 AM »

When I used to shoot pistol silhouette (15" barreled one hand "rifles" in calibers up to .308 W), I used the foam ear plugs and the Peltor over the head muffs so the muzzle blasts on either side wouldn't interrupt my concentration. It was kind of hard to hear the range commands over the PA but the gunfire didn't bother me.

Now shooting conventional rifles, I use the foam plugs with satisfaction.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2011, 10:03:49 AM »

Best protection is provided by BOTH plugs and muffs.

Tim

http://www.noisehelp.com/double-hearing-protection.html

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?id=2052

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2011, 10:19:15 AM »

Each device is rated.

The amount of reduction is in deciBells - 1/10 of a Bell - the standard unit of 'loudness'.
(the POWER doubles with every 3 dB.)

I wear earmuffs with 27 or so dB of quiting (after I take out my hearing aids). If I'm around a lot of shooting, I'll wear BOTH earplugs and ear muffs.

I do like the earmuffs that electronically amplify normal levels of sound (cancelling all above 85dB).

Of note - 4 rounds of 44 Mag without ear protection will give PERMANENT measurable hearing loss.

Artilleryman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2011, 11:29:12 AM »

I use foam ear plugs. The artillery noise that bothers me the most come from other guns rather than my own.

1Southpaw · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2011, 11:35:51 AM »

Huh? ,what did you say ?
Too late for me . but the foam ones work well to take the sharp crack off.
pulled the lanyard many a time on a 105 howie ,no protection issued . At least when I was a Tank commander we had head phones.

bilmac · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2011, 12:07:42 PM »

Worse to be a grunt trying to sleep 25-50 yds in front of these guns. The Army did issue a little pink earplug when I was in, I'll bet they were next to worthless.

Double D · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2011, 12:45:46 PM »

My hearing aids have a sound clamping feature...Foam plugs work fine. Shooting rifle I prefer to use regular ear muff. I have a couple pair that have the sound clamping feature also.

buzz36 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2011, 01:47:40 PM »

for me when shooting by myself or when the range is all but empty i use the foamy ones
i bought a bag and have yet used them all
if the range is busy i use my muffs coz it blocks most of the other shooters to an acceptible level
I like taking my cannon more now then my flintlocks nothing worse then shooting a flinter in a down poor of brass from others

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2011, 05:11:06 PM »

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2011, 05:42:11 PM »

Sounds like quite a few of you are as serious as we are about hearing protection. There is just one type that is unrepresented or unused so far. Has anyone had any experience with the ZEM Hearing Protector product? Here is a description and some info from Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Co.:

The ZEM protectors employ a remarkable sound attenuating technology, which effectively draws sound away from your ears and into the device’s lightweight tubular frame. Once there, the noise is reduced by up to 26 decibels, protecting your ears from the damaging effects of loud power tools.
Additional features:

Adjustable foam padded head band
Lightweight, durable and comfortable to wear
Folds compactly to fit in your pocket
Includes carrying case
Washable
Replacement foam ear pieces included
They look like this and sell for about $35.

I think we are sticking with our foam plugs. We can't forget them. They are in every jacket, the cars/trucks and shooting boxes!
Thanks for all the input and information,
Tracy

GGaskill · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2011, 06:14:21 PM »

Never heard of them but the NRR isn't real high and I would think that the frame would act more like an antenna than a radiator.

But what do I know?

Here is a thread discussing them at THR. I was looking for a technical evaluation and couldn't find any independent ones so opinion may be the best we can get.

A few more reviews:

noisehelp.com
NIOSH on the 26 dB version (a 31 dB version is also available)
David's Performance and Training Corner
Woodworkers Guild of America

These may be more effective than I thought.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2011, 07:01:33 PM »

Thanks for finding that George. I think I read something very similar the other day during my net search about the equipment, but it may have been an extraction or probably a synopsis of their research results. An NRR of 31 may make this type a player.

Tracy

Pic/comment removed by TK

Victor3 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2011, 09:38:00 PM »

I wear plugs at work when on the shop floor. I use these (but probably would use something else if I had to pay for them)...

http://www.fbgear.com/custom-earplug-p-55379.html

Only have a NRR of 33 but I think that's conservative. Seem to block out much more noise than foam plugs rated the same. Main benefit for me is they don't put pressure on my ear canal like other types, which give me a headache after a few hours.

EHS people at work say over 50% of people using plugs insert them incorrectly, mainly to decrease the discomfort of having them in far enough to be effective.

I've had pretty severe tinitis in both ears since I was a teenager. Never wore any ear protection while shooting until I was in my mid 20's.

Soot · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2011, 12:07:38 AM »

You can make your own custom plugs for $15.00.
http://www.earplugstore.com/best-custom-molded-ear-plugs.html

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:17:49 AM »

Quote from: GGaskill on November 19, 2011, 09:49:49 AM

When I used to shoot pistol silhouette (15" barreled one hand "rifles" in calibers up to .308 W), I used the foam ear plugs and the Peltor over the head muffs so the muzzle blasts on either side wouldn't interrupt my concentration. It was kind of hard to hear the range commands over the PA but the gunfire didn't bother me.

Now shooting conventional rifles, I use the foam plugs with satisfaction.

I did the same thing. I also read where no hearing protection is 100% as the vibration picked up in your body also can cause hearing loss . We are told to hold our mouth open when facred with a high noise or concusion so our ear drums can equalize . Should we hold our mouth shut while fireing and using hearing protection ? That may be counter productive to holding ones mouth JUST RIGHT to hit the target

Artilleryman · « **Reply #17 on:** November 21, 2011, 06:04:16 AM »

Interesting that so many of the posts in other topics talk about how to get a louder report from an artillery piece, and this one is about how to protect your hearing.

shred · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2011, 09:41:20 AM »

I do a lot of pistol competition, and the ZEMs are somewhat popular amongst the folks that shoot 'ordinary' 9mm, .40, .45 & such. They don't work well enough when faced with louder pistols such as compensated .38 Supers.

Double D · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2011, 01:07:20 PM »

Quote from: Artilleryman on November 21, 2011, 06:04:16 AM

Interesting that so many of the posts in other topics talk about how to get a louder report from an artillery piece, and this one is about how to protect your hearing.

Touche!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:21:34 PM »

Quote from: Artilleryman on November 21, 2011, 06:04:16 AM

Interesting that so many of the posts in other topics talk about how to get a louder report from an artillery piece, and this one is about how to protect your hearing.

Indeed interesting.

It is to be able to (without incurring hearing loss) to experience the shock wave passing through your whole body in a life-changing experience - when you encounter a LARGE BORE cannon or mortar for the first time.

It's part of the addiction

Artilleryman · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:52:28 PM »

Agreed. Nothing like feeling a 12 pdr Napoleon going off through the bottom of your feet.

flagman1776 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:59:52 PM »

gunsonwheels · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2011, 06:33:00 PM »

I think it was Bob Millet of Guns and Ammo that said there was a side advantage of hearing protection (aside from saving your hearing). Touching the trigger of bottle-neck handguns and big bore magnum handguns (especially with short barrels) means PAIN and that pain will inevitably affect a shooter's accuracy. I too used to both plug and muff when shooting sihlouette as the .308 next to me was more unbearable than my own 7mm IHMSA-X. The Ruger Hawkeye (.256 Win. Magnum) before I started religiously plugging destroyed my high frequency hearing and it really shows up when trying to hear conversations over any interferring or background noise. Plug up people... don't do stupid like I did!!!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #24 on:** November 22, 2011, 07:02:57 AM »

Quote from: flagman1776 on November 21, 2011, 03:59:52 PM

The best hearing protection is distance from the BANG!! I use Muffs... pretty generic... plugs if necessary. Black powder seems much easier on my ears than smokeless pistols.

Exactly - the power diminishes exponentially. Twice the distance = 1/4 the energy.

subdjoe · « **Reply #25 on:** November 22, 2011, 03:19:22 PM »

I usually use just foam plugs. And cup my hand to help direct the concussion around my head. Sometimes, especially shooting modern firearms, double up with plugs and muffs. Or, just muffs for modern. I've noticed that the muffs, because they cover some of the bone outside the ear, make the concussion, or crack, easier to take.