Eyes and Ears
Pretty run-of-the-mill stuff. I'm by no means a dedicated shooter (as much as I would like that to be the case) and as such might only get to the range once every other week, so my gear isn't high end by any means. Additionally, I shoot mainly at an outdoor range, which means that the noise level is greatly reduced naturally as opposed to indoor shooting with typically will have nice hard concrete walls for the sound to bounce off and hit you a second time. When I shoot indoors I will "double plug" - put the purple (not a word, it's BabyGirl G.'s favorite color) in-the-ear plugs in place then put the muffs on over them.
The glasses are $5 WalMart safety glasses; I have a backup pair that come with me (the ones still in the package) as well as two or three other pairs kicking around the house for new shooters or when we have a group expedition (someone *always* forgets either eyes or ears - hence the big multi-pack pf plugs). The two muffs are a AOSafety (standard safety equipment) and a Caldwell noise-canceling pair; the Caldwells work, sorta, when you remember fresh batteries (but even without batteries they reduce noise significantly.
Over fifteen years of shooting and this set-up has worked for me. Eventually, as TheBoy and BabyGirl G. come shooting with me (meaning I get to go more often), I'd like to upgrade my gear. I've heard molded ear plugs are the way to go, offering greater comfort (you don't have these giant plastic Mickey Mouse ears hanging off your head in the summertime) and superior noise reduction as well. For the glasses, I'm not certain upgrades offer more in the way of protection, but it would be nice to have something a step above "got it off the Clearance rack at Wally World"...
What's your safety gear setup like?
That is all.
7 comments:
I have a pair of the Caldwells, very cheap from Midway, and they do work , though poorly as electronic muffs. I have a pair of Peltors that were 10X the cost, and they work fine. Plus I have several non amplified muffs for lending. Get the good stuff.
I have some house-brand electronic ears from Dick's Sporting Goods for me and the Missus. The thing about electronic muffs is that they fail "safe" - if the electronics die they're still earmuffs.
Anyway, a couple cheap pairs of electronic ears and some spare batteries should be an investment for anyone who expects to take newbies to the range - not having to yell at each other really reduces the stress level and increases the enjoyment factor for the person who'se getting their first taste of recoil therapy
http://www.britears.com/
Best $60 I ever spent. They had a booth set up at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot. Had my plugs that day. No mashing and twisting with the foam plugs, no mickey mouse ears from the muffs. They clip on to my belt and I have zero excuses for not using them.
I use the same eyewear.
I use MSA behind the head electronic muffs. Very comfortable and durable. They are set up for use with a radio and may be made by Peltor.
Gerry
I love my SureFire Sonic Defenders. They are relatively cheap, completely passive so you don't need to worry about batteries, and reduce noise more effectively as your environment gets noisier. Therefore, I am able to hear people talking on the range, similar to electronic earmuffs, and I still get good protection from the sound of shots being fired.
I use custom plugs with acoustic filters. They let quieter sounds through, but block loud stuff. It's like an electronic muff, but purely mechanical. These were the best money I ever spent on shooting. I bought them while working the 2009 New England Regional IDPA, so I got a staff discount. Not sure what the regular price is, but I think it's a bit under $100.
For eye protection, I wear Rudy Project Ekynox SX with photochromic clear lenses. The lenses self darken in the sun and lighten as it gets darker. I can use one pair of lenses for all of my shooting, no matter the light conditions. They were expensive, but they have a lifetime no questions asked $20 lens replacement guarantee. Rudy does a ton to support the shooting sports, and they have a 35% discount for shooters.
I use cheapo Winchester muffs on the benchrest, same on the pistol range[ outdoor], nothing at the trap range. WHAT?
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