I don't think anybody's brought up a discussion about hearing protection here, so I would like to start one. For my entire working career (39 years as a control systems contractor in industrial factories), I was exposed to dangerous noise levels. I always used hearing protection in the noisy environments.
In my career, I had the opportunity to try out a variety of hearing protection equipment. In recent years, I've found that the Peltor (now 3M) headphone/muff style protectors block more noise than any other muff style protectors that I had available in the old days. Some of the foam ear plugs, particularly the Pura-Fit 6900 by Moldex, worked well in industrial environments but I've found that even these plugs are not truly adequate, by themselves, for shooting situations.
The absolute best hearing protector that I've ever had the opportunity to use is the 3M Peltor SV Tactical hearing protector. Many less expensive electronic hearing protectors do not block as much of the loud sound as this one does due to either the design of the sound-blocking material or the timing of the electronics shutdown when a firearm is fired. This one allows me - with my older ears - to hear ambient sounds actually better than with my naked ears while blocking the loud sounds as well as the best non-electronic hearing protectors that I have found. I use mine in my shop as well as on the range.
Combining the SV Tactical hearing protector with the Pura-Fit foam plugs is the best combination and is what I usually use on the range these days.
For a lower cost solution than the SV Tactical, I highly recommend the 3M Peltor Optime 105 muff. These are available for as low as $20 or so in local stores. Of course, this does not have the electronic system to enable better hearing of ambient sounds but it's superb for protection against ear- damaging noise levels.
Price should be no barrier to getting the best protection possible. Performance should be the only consideration when choosing hearing protection. The performance is so critically important.
In my career, I had the opportunity to try out a variety of hearing protection equipment. In recent years, I've found that the Peltor (now 3M) headphone/muff style protectors block more noise than any other muff style protectors that I had available in the old days. Some of the foam ear plugs, particularly the Pura-Fit 6900 by Moldex, worked well in industrial environments but I've found that even these plugs are not truly adequate, by themselves, for shooting situations.
The absolute best hearing protector that I've ever had the opportunity to use is the 3M Peltor SV Tactical hearing protector. Many less expensive electronic hearing protectors do not block as much of the loud sound as this one does due to either the design of the sound-blocking material or the timing of the electronics shutdown when a firearm is fired. This one allows me - with my older ears - to hear ambient sounds actually better than with my naked ears while blocking the loud sounds as well as the best non-electronic hearing protectors that I have found. I use mine in my shop as well as on the range.
Combining the SV Tactical hearing protector with the Pura-Fit foam plugs is the best combination and is what I usually use on the range these days.
For a lower cost solution than the SV Tactical, I highly recommend the 3M Peltor Optime 105 muff. These are available for as low as $20 or so in local stores. Of course, this does not have the electronic system to enable better hearing of ambient sounds but it's superb for protection against ear- damaging noise levels.
Price should be no barrier to getting the best protection possible. Performance should be the only consideration when choosing hearing protection. The performance is so critically important.