Are ear plugs as good as ear muffs?

[calsibley]

I've always used ear muffs at the range. My present set is a pair of Peltors with a rating of 29. That's about maximum, and I'm quite happy with them. However, lately I've come to notice some scratchs on my stocks from the contact. These scratchs appear on quite a few different rifles. I'm thinking of switching to a good pair of ear plugs, but have never used them before. Will they give me as good a hearing protection as the muffs, and what's the best brand I can get? I see a few shooters using them at the range but can never remember to ask about them. What do you suggest? Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Purebred Redneck]

calsibley said:

What do you suggest?

I say buy a case of 500 of the little yellow ones

[jimh]

MAN i use both at the same time sometimes. i have had problems with those yellow jobbers getting a little loose on me. i do see these guys with a ear plug type that has a spingloaded band that helps keep it in. if a guy in the stall next to me is shooting a decent size hand gun (anything above a .38) or any rifle with a muzzle break on it i use both.

[Bill]

There isn't much in the line of foam earplugs that will do the job as well as the muffs Cal. If your worried about the stock get something to slip over it and protect it. One of those slip on cartrige carriers would work I would think. Just move it from gun to gun. Don't want to cover up all the pretty wood do we. :-)

[klsm54]

It's hard to beat a good pair of muffs for hearing protection. Plus they are easier to take off and on between firing strings, at least I always thought so.

If you want to try plugs here is a set on a band with a NRR of 27.... www.howardleight.com/products/products2.asp?id=15

Here are disposables with a NRR 33 rating.. www.howardleight.com/products/products2.asp?id=4

The trouble I have with plugs is that while any dummy (me) can put on a set of muffs and get the full NRR value from them, plugs need to be put in properly, and KEPT in properly to get that protection. Plugs always seem to loosen up in my ears, especially when you're shooting something with stiff recoil.

[sebastian]

"Are ear plugs as good as muffs?"....well, i don't think so.
Cal, regardless of type of stock/comb/height of sight you use, i guess you still can use an ear muff, and it's better, imo. Yes high comb, low height of sight etc can make your muff touch the stock when shooting, especially for positions shooting (prone/sitting etc), but it (still) can work. Just make/set the muff a bit higher position but still cover the ears.
I use ear muff when shooting, btw. I don't really care (sometimes just because i forgot) to use ear muff etc if just watching other shooters shoot, especially in an open area/space.
With ear muff i can also more focus with my shooting (wether it's a benchrest or positions shooting). I also noticed that it can improve the result a bit.....Anyway, i still remember that i should have some times "to habit?" with an ear muff. (i used ear plug before, but it was). In the beginning (for positions shooting) "my balance?" (i mean things about ear/bone inside our head...dunno to describe it in english?) wasn't work well. But after some times, that's not a problem again.
Some peoples use double protections, i.e. ear plugs and muffs, as i know. But i don't (maybe just because i'm lazy for that). I also more prefer to use "standard" ear muff now. (not as like the tactical with "shut off feature"). It's more "constant" sound to me. (The shut off feature of a tactical muff makes a bit "confusing sound" to me).
I don't know how to decribe that thing in english, but that's just my own experience.