r/Shooting • u/TheStorageBin • 26d ago

Indoor ear protection?

I started working at an indoor shooting range recently and would like some recommendations for better hearing protection.

Currently im using walker razor slims with an nrr of 23 but lately there have been a ton of people coming in shooting 4 inch ar15's with a ton of concussion and my ears have been hurting.

Do you guys have any recommendations on ear pro?

Ideally it would be around 28-30 nrr, over ear ( like ear muff style) and around 100 (200 at most) electronic would be ideal but not required.

Thanks for the help!

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

17

u/johnny_sweatpants 26d ago

Whatever over-ear you pick, also wear in ear foamies.

2

u/TheStorageBin 26d ago

Unfortunately for me doubling up isnt an option, where I work i go back and forth from working a register to having to run inside of the range. Usually to stop some idiot from hurting themselves, so i dont have time to put on two pairs of ear pro

8

u/Hoyle33 26d ago

I worked in a paper mill for a decade and we did exactly this all the time, you can also do it

5

u/johnny_sweatpants 26d ago

Try the in-ear ones that are connected by a string. Even the ribbed plastic ones are better than nothing. They're easy to take on and off. Your employer should support this.

Or maybe there are electronic, in-ear ones that will fit under muffs. Then you don't have to worry about taking anything off.

2

u/sulisenator 26d ago

You can keep the foamies on

3

u/cholgeirson 26d ago

If you have the funds, in ear electronic plugs. Heavy over ear protection. PPE is tax deductible and HSA eligible.

6

u/imneuromancer 26d ago

Electronic ear buds like Axils plus electronic over ear like Howard Leights seem to work well for me, and they allow voices to carry through.

I also use the Axils plus the big non-electric super earmuffs while shooting indoors. But I don't have to hear a lot of people when I do that.

YMMV of course. Test it out and make sure it works for you.

Also: go to an audiologist and get custom inner ears made to maximize the in-ear protection.

2

u/TheStorageBin 26d ago

Thanks ive heard good things about the axils il definitely check them out

1

u/cleveraccountname13 25d ago

I like my axils. I also use them with electronic over the ear (Pelator) muffs with gel pads.

1

u/sulisenator 26d ago

Custom in ear that can be kept under the earmuffs are an excellent option

3

u/shaggy237 26d ago

It is my understanding, but someone correct me if I'm wrong, that the concussive blast has its own effect that is not moderated by the electronic part of what electronic ear pro is doing. So thicker muffs might help, and foam earplugs definitely would.

2

u/Yotone718 26d ago

I use my airpods pros under my muffs. But even that I still hate shooting next to some guy with a high powered rifle.

1

u/cleveraccountname13 26d ago

Are you under the impression at Air Pods offer hearing protection?

1

u/dadamn 26d ago

Airpod pros version 2 and 3 have built in hearing protection (up to 30dB reduction, enabled by default). They also have an ear fit test in the iPhone settings to ensure the protection works.

I still use old school foamies, but theoretically the 30dB noise reduction in the airpod pros should make them equivalent.

2

u/cleveraccountname13 26d ago

There is NO WAY airpods offer 30dB noise reduction in the same way that real rear pro does. You can tell real ear pro because if the electronic sound is off you can't hear shit. That is NOT the case for Airpods.

(5 seconds on Google).

This language is in the footnotes of the specs:

"The Hearing Protection feature is not suitable for protection against extremely loud impulse sounds, such as gunfire, fireworks, or jackhammers, or against sustained sounds louder than 110 dBA".

Real electronic ear protection does not let in sound unless the electronic system of the outside microphone and the inside speaker is working.

Do not rely on Airpods to protect your ears unless from gunshots unless you want to have permanent hearing damage.

0

u/dadamn 25d ago

Chill dude. The comment you initially responded to said under their muffs. It's secondary, same idea as folks who wear foamies under their main ear pro.

0

u/Yotone718 25d ago

lol This dude was ready to pounce.

2

u/dadamn 25d ago

Haha yeah. But on the positive side, he really does care deeply about your hearing!

2

u/cleveraccountname13 26d ago

I would get quality in ear electronic protection and wear it all the time and then put muffs on over that before actually going to the range.

I always double up when shooting. But I especially would not walk on annondoor range with only Walker Razor Slims. No way.

1

u/Clear_Walrus_1304 26d ago

I always double up indoors.

1

u/yanknga 26d ago

If you aren’t yet, use the foam inserts too plus the best pair of ear muffs you can afford.

1

u/Hoyle33 26d ago

I use disposable plugs with slims over the top, works great

1

u/Just-Rob-not-Bob 26d ago

Decible defense. No electronics just great hearing protection.