I've been doing that for so many years now, that I didn't realize how well it worked until last week during a range visit when I momentarily tried wearing the muffs alone.:freak: Soon as the guy next to me fired off a shot or two, it reminded me real quick why I wear the plugs in my ears in addition to the muffs.....in spite of that little annoying itch my plugs can cause. Whether it be a 9mm pistol down a bench or two from you, or a muzzle braked 30-06 rifle, the noise will be greatly reduced so you can concentrate better on your shooting and more enjoy your visit there.
Electronic Peltors & foamies, all the time. Learned about noise riding motorcycles in '80s, lesson learned. Still not deaf, nearly 40 yrs later (don't listen to my wife on this!).
Saw an audiologist a few years back due to the then recent onset of tinnitus. I was in a business suit at the time and this was before CC was available in the urban area where I live, so I was telegraphing zero visual cues. So it was a little surprising when his very first question was whether or not I shoot.
There must be more of us around these parts than I thought.
P.S. FWIW, on his orders I now also use foam plugs when using any power equipment - indoor or out. Has made a noticeable difference.
I double up especially indoors. I have always done my best to protect my ears. I have always had to deal with loud and unpredictable loud noises so given the opportunity why not save what you can.
Even though I mosst often use an outdoor range, those guys with compensators on their hunting rifles (I am one) and those guys with magnum pistols (I am one also) bring bone-rattling blasts which over time cause constant ringing in the ears (which I have all the time). I agree with redbrd, save what you can!
I did the same when I was a kid. We'd go into undeveloped areas (yes, they had those in S FL when I was a kid) and we'd shoot anything and everything. No ear protection at all. Fortunately it was all outdoors so the hearing damage wasn't as bad as it could have been with indoor shooting.
I spent the last two years of my Air Force career as a small arms instructor. The firing line was covered on three sides with sheet metal presumably to limit noise pollution on the base. The effect on those on the range was that the concussion and noise reverberated, punishing on our hearing. Most of the instructors had measurable hearing loss and were discharged with some level of disability. I religiously wore both plugs and muffs and completed that tour with my hearing in tact. 35 years later my hearing is not great, but I continue to protect what I have left wearing both forms of protection.
Always-- ears are way to sensitive. Have spent a fortune on the electronic in ear devices custom molds and found that bone conduction to my ear was sufficient to cause pain. With foam plugs and electronic muffs, it is just like baby bear's bed...just right.
I took a several-day training class during which I wore plugs under my electronic muffs. Unfortunately, I turned into "that guy" who had to ask the instructor to repeat whatever he said.
With plugs or passive earmuffs alone is fine. But when shooting a match where I need to hear the RO I use electronic earmuffs with earplugs to compensate for the decrease in protection that the electronic muffs provide.
Im on the range every weekend, mostly outdoors. As an SO, Its not just my 150 shots in a match but the 13-15 other guys, about 1800rds every weekend. Throw in Barricades & walls, it gets really loud. So i wear plugs & quality elec muffs. Just turn them up if you need to hear better. Protect your hearing, you wont know its gone till its gone.
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