IPSC ear protection?

Onagoth said:
personally I use custom molded ear plugs with a NRR of 27 I think. When there is open shooters I double up with a pair of Peltors.
Click to expand...

Id be willing to try a pair of custom fitted ear plugs, but I have never been able to get used to generic ear plugs. Just never got used to having something jammed inside my ears, they were never comfortable enough off the shelf

Funny thing is I have a higher end Turtle Beach headset I use to listen to music and cut out the noise of my CNC machine while at work via bluetooh, and they are so comfortable! Wonder if anyone would notice if I wore those LOL They have the comfort Im looking for in a shooting ear muff
 
The thing to remember about the custom ear plugs is that they don't work for everyone; some people don't have a ear shape that will hold them that well.
(Me!!! - tried them a couple times)

Also, if you gain or lose weight, the fit changes.

I've got a friend that loves them, but they only work after he puts them in his mouth and wets them first. Ick. Wet Willie every time he goes to the range...
 
I have had custom moulded ear plugs done by several different professionals and they all loose their seal if I flex my ear. So they don't work for me. I would be willing to try one of the newer electronic ear plugs with foam or screw tips but have read too many mixed reviews to drop 4-500.00 and not be able to return them. I will definitely try the decibullz. That is not a terrible investment even if they don't work for me.
 
The Decibullz have foam and silicone interchangeable tips in addition to the moldable part. I always have trouble keeping in disposable foam plugs, no matter how far I shove them in my ears. The Decibullz are actually a bit tough to remove and that's great for me.
 
I had custom ear plugs made and they just didn't work for the reasons Sean outlined, Because I SO/RO a lot I have the audio feature on a set of MSA Sordin. They are excellent but pricey. When I practice, and I do a lot of shooting, I use a pair of inexpensive ear muffs from Canadian Tire ($28, IIRC). They actually have a higher rating than the Pro Ears but don't have the audio I want when SOing. The cheap ones are not as cool as some of the more expensive muffs but they certainly will work for most if funds are an issue.

Incidentally, I had a pair of Princess Auto audio muffs that were just junk. So you do have to be careful with the less expensive sets.

Take Care

Bob
 
Last edited:
Personally I'm still searching for the right answer for me.
What I know so far:
-cheap muffs are just that, cheap. The electronics don't last or they cut out or the ear pockets are too small.
-plugs don't work (I RO) because I'm always putting them in or taking them out and the ranges are always dusty so they have to be replaced often, I feel like I'm messing with them non stop...
-gel muff pads are incredible, I have to have them now, they are all day comfortable.
-I find the Peltor brand has a nice large ear cup, I have not tried all of the other big name brands but I'm very happy with the cup size on theirs, they only use the one part number for gel cushions (that I saw) so the fit is the same on all of them IMO.
-I bought the cheaper Tactical muffs and I wish I spent more. Not bad, but the controls and amplification is not as good as their other muffs.
-SRS is great to deal with.
-I would really like to try out the electronic in the ear plugs ( Peltor TEP-100 or Sport Ears Ghost Strike) but at the cost I'm skeptical that they would last or provide all day comfort.
 
wasrupzuk if you RO, you need audio. You give up a little ear protection at least in one ear. You can always doubler plug the ear closest to the gun. As mentioned above I went with Sordin's and prefer the gel cups vs the standard cup they come with as well. The gel cuip provides a much better seal which is important wjen wearing shooting glasses.

There is no inexpensive alternative. You can get by with a little less but you won't be happy. Been there done that. Look upon it as a life long purchase. Your hearing 30 years from now will thank you for it. I have Slavex to thank for putting in the tight direction.

For practice sessions by myself I just load up. Plugs and a good pair of 30+NRR rated muffs.

Hearing once lost is gone forever so spend the bucks now so you can listen to your grand children later in life.

Take Care

Bob
 
Trinimon said:
Are those just for the MSA or Peltor or they work with the Howard Leight ones as well? If so, damn, I'm ordering a set of gel pads too! :)
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in this answer too. Obviously they brand will match brand but this question is asking if they generally got other models too?
 
Canuck44 said:
...you do have to be careful with the less expensive sets...
Click to expand...

A guy I know used to wear a set of amplified Caldwells. He said he purchased them because were inexpensive. When he used to wear them, he'd swear loudly every time another person shot. "G@#$%^&*#!" Every time. For the rest of us, it was hilarious; for him, not so much. He said that was a perceptible time lag between the gunshot and the noise suppression that - in short order - would give him a headache.
 
Wendell said:
A guy I know used to wear a set of amplified Caldwells. He said he purchased them because were inexpensive. When he used to wear them, he'd swear loudly every time another person shot. "G@#$%^&*#!" Every time. For the rest of us, it was hilarious; for him, not so much. He said that was a perceptible time lag between the gunshot and the noise suppression that - in short order - would give him a headache.
Click to expand...

My Princess Auto muffs simply fell apart. The inexpensive muffs I got from Cdn Tire are the ones that allow you to wear a brimmed hat. They have been excellent and at $28 work great for general range use. I prefer my Sordins for SOing and competition because of their excellent audio systems and the way they are virtually rain proof. The Sordins have a lower NRR rating so I go with the less expensive set when I am shooting alone.

You bring up a good point though. I personally would not buy a set with audio if I were not SOing. I would only worry about the NRR rating and I would also double up with plugs. At 72 the horse for the most part has left the barn and I already have lost some hearing due to doing a lot of duck hunting years ago and shooting .22LR indoors unprotected.

Take Care

Bob
 
The over-the-head type are fine with a ballcap - provided that the ballcap doesn't have any button on the top - but they just don't work with a real hat. Waterproof muffs don't do you much good when the water is running off your cap and down your neck. On any outdoor range, raingear is a must. I don't know what I was thinking.
If I was buying Sordins again, I'd choose the neckband version (Supreme Pro-X, gel-cupped).
 
Wendell I think the waterproof muffs (Sordin), refers to the fact the electric components are waterproof. I can say they are considering I spent 8 hours in a monsoon shooting the WA State match two years ago in Seattle. I have a hood on my rain jacket that solves the water running down my neck.

The neck band do have the advantage in that you can wear a wide brim hat which is a real benefit on rainy days as well as very hot sunny days.

Take Care

Bob
 
Not IPSC specific, but I'm looking to get new ear pro. I thought about getting the Sordins but the NRR 18 rating seems a bit low and I don't need an electronic muffs. What do you gents suggest for a passive muff with a high rating? A plus would be if the muffs were slim so that it's easier to get a cheek weld. Cheers!
 
Don't get hung up on the ratings. Get the Sordins, and get gel cups, and you won't regret it.

And, like I said, if I had it to do over again, I'd get the neckband version.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom