Okay, I alluded earlier in my Gunnie Christmas list that I was hoping to get new (read: improved) eye- and hearing- protection. I'd like to get both molded ear plugs and also decent electronic hearing protection (I have a $20 pair of electronic ear muffs. They work about as well as you would expect $20 electronic ear muffs to work). For eyes, well, I've got standard yellow-tint safety glasses in the range bag; I'd really like something with interchangeable lenses (dark for outside shooting, etc.
For electronic muffs, are the $300 muffs really 3X as good as $100 muffs? I have a hard enough time spending ~ 6 boxes of .45 ACP on a set of muffs, let alone the price of a case of 1,000. I've noticed a little more ringing in the ears when I leave the range (particularly the rifle range), and I know that once you lose hearing, it's gone forever - so getting high quality ear protection is pretty high on the list. Which brands do folks recommend? I see most of the Peltors and all of the Pro-Ears products getting high ranks at Midway - of course, there are also the priciest options.
For in-the-ear options, obviously a custom molded set would be the way to go, but I'm not certain that I'd need to get this sophisticated - most often, if I'm using in-the-ear plugs it's because I'm shooting indoors and I'll have my muffs on over the plugs. I'd like to get plugs that are a step up from the bulk orange plugs I keep in the range bag, though; something that's got a better noise reduction rating and doesn't rely quite as heavily on me jamming it into my ear. I might only use plugs if I'm shooting .22LR only out of rifles on the pistol range; that's about the only time I'd forgo the muffs.
For eye protection, the most expensive pairs available from Midway are Bob Allens or Wiley-X sets for $75 - $100; the remainder fall almost entirely under $25. I don't see the need for $100 shooting glasses, but $20 - $25 for a decent frame with multiple lenses for different shooting needs would be nice. Any suggestions on brands to look for (or avoid)? Anyone have a favorite eye-protection set-up? Problems with the interchangeable lenses? I've used $10 Winchester eye protection from WallyWorld for about as long as I can remember, and they've done well with keeping my eyes safe from flying brass and other schmutz on the range.
So what's your favorite set-up for safety when you go to the range?
That is all.
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16 comments:
Jay, a few things.
One - if you're hearing ringing in your ears, you're already damaging your hearing. Start double-plugging NOW!!! (Oh, and BTW, if you're not wearing ear plugs when you ride, you're kidding yourself. Start using them when you ride; wind noise WILL damage your hearing. It did mine... dammit.
Two - I use bulk ear plugs myself; they've got a 33NRR rating, which is the highest I've been able to find. Howard Leight Max-1 is the model, and they're disgustingly cheap at Amazon.com. (here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-MAX-1-plugs-Uncorded/dp/B0033YLEGO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1292326172&sr=8-2)
Properly applied, these things are better than any muffs you'll find. Now, I keep seeing people just stuffing them in and I have to grind my teeth to stop going into lecture mode. You roll them between your fingers into a narrow cylinder and slide the cylinder into your ear - and let it expand. You should NOT be seeing most of the damned plug sticking out of your ear or you're kidding yourself that you're getting protection. If you've done it right, people should have to darn near shout for you to hear them when you've got them in.
Three - muffs. I am NOT a fan of Peltor. Why? 'Cause they aren't very protective!!! Most of them are rated NRR 20 and 22, which, IMHO, is NOT effective enough, damn it. Especially if you're a recoil whore and shoot magnum calibers and heavy rifle loads (.308, anyone?) I deliberately looked for the highest rating electronic muffs I could find, which were rated at like 28 or 30, IIRC. They're made by Browning and were far cheaper than the Peltors, too - about $140, I think. I've had them for 15 years or more, which is why I don't remember details. Anyway, they're still going strong (although I need to get a new cushion for one ear as it's cracking now), and I never get ringing in my ears. Well... unless I'm stupid enough to shoot EddieCoyle's .500 Hellfire loads with only muffs, that is.
+1 to the double-bagging of the ears. I have been plugs+muffs at the rifle range for as long as I can remember.
+1 on double bagging, for eye protection, either ESS or Wiley are my choices. The cheapo glasses will protect against 'some' stuff, but I prefer the Wiley/ESS since I know they have stopped shrapnel in combat...
I have (and very much like) a set of Peltor Tactical Pros. I've used them about a year and have zero complaints. Passive NRR is 26dB, which is pretty good for over-the-ear muffs. I've found them sufficient for anything not containing the word "magnum". (Or standing next to a muzzle brake. That's just unpleasant.)
For extended range trips or when there will be multiple shooters on a line, I'll often double up. The amplification allows me to have normal conversations even through the plugs, and I can slip the muffs off without having to worry about some yahoo touching off a round before I get ears back on.
Eyes ... well, I have glasses. I've looked at prescription shooting glasses (wrap around), but haven't been able to swing it yet. I keep a couple pairs of generic safety glasses from Lowes or Home Depot in my range bag for other shooters, though.
Um. Glasses. Just realized I forgot to mention them.
I've been wearing glasses for 44 of the 50 years I've been on this earth. For the first 26 years I wore glasses I wore "safety glass" lenses. I discovered when I was 32 that "safety glass" is NOT shatterproof. It's not even particularly safe when it DOES break. I found this out at the Pennsic War, and thanks to a nameless ER doc at Butler County Memorial who knew his limits, I got sent to the amazingly skilled Dr Crist Balouris at Pittsburgh Eye & Ear and I still have the vision in my left eye (which is my dominant eye, I might add). Now that we've established that I have a VERY strong desire to NEVER have eye surgery ever again, let me just say this:
My every day glasses, both reading and bifocals, have polycarbonate lenses. This material is what they make "bullet-proof" windows out of. Will they stop a .44? Hell, no. Will they stop flying fragments of crap headed for my delicate peepers? You betcher sweet ass they will... and that is why I wear nothing else. Add some side safety shields and I'm good to go on the range.
Don't skimp on the eye protection, Jay. Trust me when I say that eye surgery sucks... and so does wondering if you just got a new nickname: Odin.
Zercool - if your glasses aren't polycarbonate, you're kidding yourself. Get polycarbonate lenses. Sure, they're more expensive than glass and plastic. Heck, they're even more expensive than an eye patch.
But you'll be a lot happier if you ever get a splash of lead headed toward your eyes at high velocity with the polycarbonate. And you likely won't need that eyepatch afterwards, either. Might need a change of underwear, though... ;-)
I LOVE my BriteEars. Got em molded custom at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot for $60.
I don't like ear muffs and I despise the little foam ones. I wear these. They pop right in and just work.
http://www.britears.com/
I wear prescription glasses so I tapped into the the HSA and got a set of prescription ones. Way less pain-in-my-ass than wraparounds over my regular specs.
Ok, I usually don't write comments, but I had too here.
After serving time in the U.S. Army, and, might I ad, not using the hearing protection they gave me unless it was mandated, I am now a 32yo man who has permanent hearing loss.
I'm begging you; take care of your ears NOW, you only get one set, and you don't want to be saying "what?" for the rest of your life or leaning close to hear what people are saying. Make ear protection the priority! That's my $0.02.
I have to echo Ross on proper application of earplugs. They have to go in deep and be retained by that ridge in your ear to be effective. I forget the specifics of the ones I use, but they are round nose and available at the pharmacy in a box of about 20 for perhaps $3.
If I am at an event, I'll usually double bag - muffs work in a different manner, by damping the bones around the ear. Recently I got a set of cheap electronic ones (NRR~20) but they work okay with plugs. I was too cheap to splurge on the NRR 30 electronics...
Eyes - well I wear glasses a lot, and my employer pays for prescriotion safety glasses with side shields. The old pair of glasses goes into the range bag and works well. Esp pistol shooting, it seems like some semis will always dribble one or two back at you. Which leads me to another safety gear suggestion - a damn baseball cap !
I wear Peltor Tactical Sport muffs over plugs, unless I'm shooting .22. The plugs are typically Howard Leight foam, though I tried (and liked) Peltor's new "Skull Screws" lately, and a set of Leight reusable flanged plugs which also worked well.
As for glasses, I have a pair of Rudy Rydons (not the whole set pictured here, just polarized brown for daily wear and ImpactX photochromic red for range wear). I love 'em, but they do cost a bit more than WileyX and what have you, and the "performance" difference is certainly debatable at best.
I've seen more Peltor Tac Sports and Tac 7's at the USPSA matches than anything else, although the high-budget guys often ran Dillon or Pro-Ear.
I use the ESS Crossbow safety glasses; I looked at their ICE system, but I preferred to get a set with a full frame, rather than relying on the lens for structural integrity. It's not that the lens isn't strong enough, but sometimes my manual dexterity isn't up to the task of fiddling with several pieces at once. $32 for a single pair of ICE, and you have the option of getting a prescription insert. If you see pricing for $70+, it's probably a kit with multiple frames / lenses.
Ear protection, I use the Peltor Tac Pro's, and have the option of doubling up with NRR33 bulk earplugs (I motorcycle, and use those for riding). I'm getting a lower NRR set of earplugs (20ish)to double up at the range. The Peltor's are tough and well built. The EarPro stuff looks better on paper (NRR33), but there's a lot of feedback about lower build quality.
The custom molded plugs are definitely worth the cost. I think mine are the best shooting accessory money I've ever spent. They're quick and easy to take in and out, no rolling necessary like with foamies. They're also far more comfortable. I've had mine for 16 months and they show no sign of wear.
For glasses, I wear Rudy Project Ekynox SX with impactX photochromic clear lenses. I love them. You can get a hefty discount with the 2ALPHA discount code. Last I looked, it was 40% off and free shipping. Objectively, they're probably not worth the price, but I like them. It's great being able to go inside to outside without changing lenses.
Paul, sorry to hear you're like me. I am, reluctantly, thinking of making an appointment with a different audiologist to see about hearing aids. Just too many times saying "what?" and having to hit the 7 second rewind on the TiVo 'cause I can't understand what they said on the boob tube.
Jay, those Howard Leight Max1s are available at CVS (by the eye care sign - they put the ear stuff in the same place) for a few bucks, or, if you want to try a few pair, I'd be happy to meet up with you some time and give you a few - I bought a hundred box a few months back. (and they work real well if your wife snores, too!)
And here's a pair of ear protectors similar to what I have: http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/accessories/detail.asp?value=007J&cat_id=126&type_id=44303&content=midas-electronic-hearing-protector-shooting-accessories
Ross
I've got two pair Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs and I've been very happy with them. NRR 22 seems fine to me. It might not be good enough for a 300 Win Mag with a muzzle brake, but I've shot a 16" 308 plenty of times without issue, and 3" hot 44 Magnums as well. I shoot alone, outside only, though. Maybe at a range next to other shooters, or inside, you'll want more protection. I'd definitely use plugs too if I was shooting inside.
As far as eyepro, I need glasses and can't stand contacts so I just had a pair of prescription yellow lens polycarbonate wraparound sunglasses made a few years ago.
- weambulance
The REASON that you need to wear ear muffs, is that there is a sound conduction path from the skull to the tiny bones in the ear.
Normally this is not noticed, but people with some types of hearing loss (like my Mom) can occasionally hear something via this path that they wouldn't normally hear, so it doesn't take something as loud as a gunshot to be "heard" via this path.
Gunshots will damage your hearing via this path even if you are wearing the most expensive plugs you can buy, unless you are wearing ear muffs.
Therefore, for really loud days at the range, double protection is a good idea. If you are only shooting a 22LR rifle or something, then muffs alone are enough. I wouldn't recommend plugs alone for anything loud. That means muffs for a 22 pistol, or anything louder.
As to which plugs to get, if you can tolerate the foam plugs, use them. The most expensive custom plugs you can buy don't work any better than the cheap ones.
"The most expensive custom plugs you can buy don't work any better than the cheap ones."
That's only true if you use the cheap foamies *perfectly*. It's effortless to get a good seal with custom plugs.
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