May I ask a question of our FR shooters re hearing protection?

[LouAvul]

I've damaged my hearing from unprotected shooting. Now, everything I've read insists I wear both earplugs and muffs while shooting.

I also read that people are using electronic muffs for hunting so they can hear game movement.

If muffs and plugs are necessary to protect our hearing, how is it that electronic muffs, alone, are sufficient?

Thanks.

Also, I have a pair of Howard Leight Impact Sports muffs and wore them yesterday for coyote hunting.

I discharged my 223 and must not have had a good "weld" on my left ear because there was a slight "ringing" after the shot that didn't last long.

I say it didn't last long because it blended in real well with the nonstop "ringing" (tinnitis) I have anyway.

[LouAvul]

Here‘s their web page and description.

They say they don't allow noise above 82 decibals but it doesn't say how loudly they amplify. They're only about $60. Maybe you could buy some and experiment. Good luck.

[buffaloguy]

I used some earbuds one time with my computer and I noticed an immediate fall off of sensitvity to noise after I took them off, so I stopped using them.

I later talked to a sound engineer and he said that earbuds are never worn by sound engineers because they can do a lot of damage over the years. All sound engineers use full ear muffs.

[WildHighlander57]

Lou,

Many thanks for the link; I just now called them with my question about amount of amplification for hearing impaired folks :)

[LouAvul]

If you wouldn’t mind, would you get back to me with the results of your research? I’d like to know what the dB of amplification is with these. I had them on full and when I thumbed the safety off my AR15 it sounded like someone hit a car wheel with a hammer.