ear protection

[Rockhopper]

Army surplus Peltors. Think I've got three pairs in the cupboard.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324822146483 ... Swx89iFr1n

[Pippin89]

I use custom fit guards with a passive valve. They are custom moulded in ear jobs. I got passive valves because they were a quarter of the cost of the active ones and I didn't have to worry about batteries or anything.
They work perfectly find for clays and fullbore shooting. I have a general conversation without problem but they offer great protection. The only time I don't use them is smallbore competition shooting where I prefer not to be able to hear conversations and other noises around me so I use total block ones for that.

[Blackstuff]

Army surplus Peltors. Think I've got three pairs in the cupboard.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324822146483 ... Swx89iFr1n

These are a great budget option, I used them for years with full bore rifles and shotguns. Nice and slim fit so they don't interfere with mount and fold away small so they don't take up loads of room in your kit bag.

[Shpagin]

Army surplus Peltors. Think I've got three pairs in the cupboard.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324822146483 ... Swx89iFr1n

These are a great budget option, I used them for years with full bore rifles and shotguns. Nice and slim fit so they don't interfere with mount and fold away small so they don't take up loads of room in your kit bag.

Thank you both for your recommendations. I have bought some on the strength of them. Cheers

[Mattnall]

I am new to shooting, so would value the advice of those of you with lots of experience. What sort of ear protection do you use?

I have only recently realised that electronic sets existed (when I went online), but am I right in saying that they do not protect your ears any more than passive sets? Is it simply that electronic ones let more benign sound through so that you can hear chat etc? I think when I am shooting I just want to concentrate on the shooting itself, so my inclination is to save my cash and just get passive earphones. Is that ok?

Are passive earphones all pretty much equal?

I use Peltors and have found they are great (and M3 have a very fast and efficient repair service should you need it).

But whatever make you use, they are not just for hearing chat and other ambient noise, they make it easier to hear range commands especially on a busy firing point.
Also, as an RO (it is part of my day job) I find I can often hear when a firer or firearm hasn't performed as expected even when there are several on the firingpoint, like misfires or even operating a bolt with an empty magazine. For me this is the main reason for using them.

[Shpagin]

Thanks for the advice, Mattnall. It never occurred to me about hearing misfires. I see what you mean, and obviously in your professional capacity it makes an awful lot of sense to have a more sophisticated set.

[Shpagin]

My army surplus Peltors have arrived and first impressions are good. Snug without being tight, noise-dulling, compact and neat folding. Tomorrow at my safety course we will know for sure how effective they are, but thanks Rockhopper. I am pleased.

[Fenix1]

I always carry a spare pair of electronic ear defenders on the range, much easier for new shooters to be safe with them. My main pair are peltor electronics and are excellent.

[Rockhopper]

No worries! My first pair came free so I just hung on to them. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with three pairs though….
I’m no fan of the electronic ones for target shooting as I don’t want to be able to hear people talking whilst I’m shooting. For clay or game shooting they are good though.

[bradaz11]

No worries! My first pair came free so I just hung on to them. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with three pairs though….
I’m no fan of the electronic ones for target shooting as I don’t want to be able to hear people talking whilst I’m shooting. For clay or game shooting they are good though.

you can turn them off though...

I find electronic defenders, or even amiebt cancelling in ear plugs are much better than the basic though, as when I want to talk, I can, and if someone shoots, well I may miss a word using the ambient plugs, but my hearing is always protected. unlike using basic muffs where I might cock an ear off to hear something then i'm leaving myself exposed.