Trap/Skeet/Sporting Clay: ear protection?

J

JasonWilliam

Moderator
Been doing some research on electronic muffs and I've come to like Peltor's TacticalSport model.

I've looked at many others, but I like these from a protection standpoint (NRR of 20, but they cutout at anything over 90db I believe. Isn't a shotgun report at around 150db?

I also like them because they fold up for compact storage (unlike the 6s or 7s), and they're around $100 (not $500 like some I've seen).

Thoughts? Are these appropriate for the clay sports? Is there a better choice? I'm still a fairly young guy and I'd love to protect my hearing for the long haul.

Thanks all.
 
In my area, few shot-gunners use external muffs. Most of the comp shooters use custom-molded in the ear units. At many clubs and larger shoots there is usually a vendor who'll do 'em, or Cabelas will make you a pair for $15. They may take a little getting used because they attenuate so much more sound than you're probably used to with conventional plugs.
 
Lots of us have trouble keeping muffs on during the firing stroke.

I use custom poured silicone plugs with a 29 Db attenuation factor.

The cheap foam plugs almost equal that because they expand to fill the ear canal.

Do protect your hearing. I'm 62 and with a severe hearing loss. I miss my music.
 
Thanks z13. I see a lot of guys at my club wearing externals. The foamies I have now work ok, but after a few hours I'm hearing a ringing. I want to stop that here and now.

Unfortunately there's no Cabela's close (4 hours away). But there's the Westerns coming to Stocken in July. Maybe I'll get a set done while I'm there...
 
Only used the cheapies here, but I have had some nice earbuds, non-custom, but made of silicone and I'm quite surprised to hear that the foam inserts could stand up to fitted silicone plugs.

But to the original question, have you considered doing both? Foam + earmuffs will give you a step up in noise reduction, and what I'd like to try is the custom silicone plugs with earmuffs over those. That would probably get the job done nicely.
 
If you're totally comfortable with cans (I use them only with hand guns -- too distracting with a shotgun), you could double up -- some folks do. I think Dave will agree, you can't be over protected.
 
I guess I'm the only one that uses my IPOD and listens to music while shooting trap. It's not so loud that I can't hear what's going on around me but hides the shots enough to not bother me.
 
you'll need to try different foamies, I use moldex sparkplugs, they are rated at nrr33. but i notice that they don't tend to seat well after a long day. I guess that's why there are disposable. when shooting in competitions, i wear the push in type. they are comfortable, and seem to last for a long time. the nrr might be lower, but i don't notice. I find that the muffs don't work well with shooting glasses and shotgun stocks.
 
I used the throw away foam ear plugs for years. They generally worked satisfactorily. Then I decided to 'invest' in custom moulded ones when a vendor was at the local club during a tournament. I find them much better since they 'stay put' once inserved in the ear. To me they were a great investement.
 
I wear the custom molded earplugs for shotgunning / all of the ear muffs get in the way of the stock for me.

I use electronic earmuffs for handguns / and in my woodshop.

But protecting your hearing is a big deal / we used to be really careless about all that stuff...
 
I went from custom plugs to the cheap foam plugs to the heavy duty non-battery Peltor foam muffs. One thing I learned is that you also have to protect not just your ear canal, but also the bones that surround your ears, which plugs do not. My tinnitus provides me with a constant, lovely snare drum hissing all the time. db protection at 29 or greater is essential, IMO.
 
One thing I learned is that you also have to protect not just your ear canal, but also the bones that surround your ears, which plugs do not.
Click to expand...

huh? are you thinking about the bones inside your ear? (which plugs do protect, obviously) the bones outside your ear make up your skull... unless you're wearing a spaceman style helmet, you won't protect your skull from acoustic vibrations.
 
I use the same model you are referring to, i.e. Peltor Tacital Sport. On shotgun sports they work well. Another added benefit is the battery life. I have had mine about 3 years and have only had to put about 3 or 4 sets of batteries in them. My biggest complaint is not that they get in my way (that doesn't bother me), but that in Texas in August, they are just too darned hot!.

I have a set of the molded silicon plugs, but I don't use them when shooting shotgun, because the cord on them seems to pull the right one out about every other time I shoot.

For an indoor pistol range, or a high powered rifle range the Peltor unit is really inadequate. There I use them over the cheapie roll up plugs.

Summer at the shotgun range, I just use the foam roll up plugs. I buy them 50 pair at a time from CVS for $9.99, and toss them after each use.

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/s...36&productId=317536&navAction=jump&navCount=3
 
>>You can order the custom molded plugs from Cabela’s online and mold them yourself.<<

However, the reviews aren't all that great.
 
That’s true as well…RUT, but If you take your time and mold them right. The plugs turn out just fine. Don’t forget you would be purchasing a $15 set of plugs though.

If you want a really nice set and don’t mind paying more $ there’s always other options as well. I’m not sure what most of the pros use... I'm new to a lot of this myself.
 
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oneounceload said:
I was referring to the bones just on the outside, the temporal:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=21685

see the diagram. personally, I have noticed more sound reduction using muffs; when I shoot rifle or pistol, I use both plugs and muffs
Click to expand...

The temporal bone is one of the large bones that is part of your skull. Again, wearing muffs will make no difference in vibration transferred through the skull, you'd need something like a bubble helmet.

skull1.JPG
 
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