Ear plugs plus headphones...
“Ear plugs plus headphones...”
Yep. Ear plugs and muffs. I did this to tune out the world when studying in college.
They have safety plugs with Bluetooth. I’ve seen them run about $300+
Some are even custom molded for your ears.
Here’s some that a guy who runs a shooting range that I know uses, and loves:
https://www.walkersgameear.com/silencer-bluetooth-rechargeable-in-the-ear-pair/
Yeah I always double up.
Been around too many jet engines and have been very careful to keep hearing
You know it!
This. Look for "closed cell urethane" ear plugs. You can get them cheaper if you buy online and in bulk. Those yellow open cell foam plugs the military uses are crap.
And inexpensive non-electronic cups are the best value. The chi-chi electronic cups tend not to have as much noise attenuation.
The reason for cups and plugs is not about hearing protection but about preventing flinching. Either one alone probably will be adequate for protecting you from the noise of your own shot, but you can anticipate that and you're not so prone to flinch from it.
Most of my long guns I always shoot suppressed, so either one is more than enough, but I can't anticipate when the people around me will be shooting. Wearing both cups and plugs prevents the shooters around me from breaking my concentration. Especially helpful if the shooter next to you has an effective muzzle brake, which blasts noise and shock wave out sideways.