Custom fitted earplugs

K

kesserman

New member
Are they worth it? Are they better then the plugs you buy off the shelf? I'd love to hear from someone who owns a pair.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
 
I happen to like the silicon ones (not to be confused with foam). They fit right every time instead of constantly trying to work their way out of my ear like the foam ones do.
 
I have two pairs of molded-in-place earplugs. Guess I was a slow learner.
Neither is as quiet or as comfortable as cheap foam, or as effective as electronic muffs.
 
I have custom fitted earplugs and I love them. They're comfortable and work well. I wouldn't use anything else. I can't stand muffs, and although I'm satisfied with the performance of the disposable foamies, they're a hassle to deal with if I want to leave the firing line and step into the store for something. The custom fitted plugs pop right out with a flick of my finger and are easily re-inserted. I recommend them.
 
Is doubling up overkill?

Going to an outdoor range for the first time this week. I was planning to double up with plugs and muffs.

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm very concerened about hearing damage. I'm just starting to shoot, (this will be the first time I've actually fired a round) and if I can't keep my hearing safe, that could very well be a deal-breaker for me.

Thanks for the help.

(finger off trigger until ready to fire....finger off trigger until ready to fire)
 
I wouldn't say doubling up is overkill. Real protection comes with a product that has a good Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). You want protection with a NRR rating of about 30. All hearing protection is rated this way and will be displayed on the label or packaging. Just be careful of what you get. You can double up with products with a low NRR and have very poor protection obviously. But if you get good disposable foamies with an NRR of 30 along with good muffs with a similar rating you can't get any better than that. But personally I hate muffs as I already stated, so its the custom fit plugs with a NRR of 30 for me and I'm happy with that.
 
Hearing

I was worried about hearing loss too origionally, but I've found that anything NNR 30+ is great. I recomment a good ole pair of Silencio Magnum's - they're like $20-$30 and worth every dollar. I also have ear plungs that I double on if the guy in the lane next to me has a boomer, but so far, those muffs are great. I also have Silencio's electronic muff's that I was going to use while hunting since they have microphone gain's + they're very slim and comfortable.

Enjoy. :)
 
+1 on protecting your hearing, mine is affected and I have medium tinnitus in the right ear which can be a real pain.
I use ear muffs for practice and just messing around but for hunting they are a nuisance. So I went the full hog and bought a pair of Starkie nu-ear electronic hearing aid type ones, the price included having a hearing test .so they can tailor them to your hearing and molded to fit my ears. I have to say they have been great (4yrs now) and the volume is adjustable. I can hear everything, even mozzies and when you fire they shut off the dangerous part above 85db, but you still hear the rifle fire properly and they are comfortable all day. They cost me $650 altogether but what price the remaining part of my hearing, I couldn't imagine going hunting without being able to hear whats going on around you!
 
I use electronic muffs (NRR 20) and foam plugs (NRR 30). This allows me to insert the plugs and keep them in place on or off the line by using the volume control on the muffs to allow me to hear speech while shutting out the noise of the gunshot. This gives me an effective NRR of 20+30-5=45dB. (you subtract 5dB when 'stacking' protection)
 
I had an audiologist make these for me about 15 years ago. I've worn nothing else ever since. They cost me $30, and about 1 hour in the doc's office, and I left with my hearing protection. They're washable, light, and VERY effective. As you can see in the pic, there are holes in the tabs to string them together if you want to. After about three times at the range, I learned how to "break the seal" by moving my jaw a certain way, and I could hear normally. A slight touch on each one, gave me protection again. I'm getting another set this winter before shooting weather returns.

earplugs.jpg
 
Jayb's account of "breaking the seal" and how easy it is to re-seal is exactly why I love mine and one of the reasons why I prefer this protection method over others. Mine look very similar to Jayb's except they go a little further into the ear canal. I got them in different colors so I can grab them at a glance and know which one goes in what ear. They cost me $40 and 15 minutes in the chair at a gun show. Then the lady, who works in the hearing aid industry, sent them to me in the mail the next day after putting a protective finishing coat on them.
 
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