I would like to know what all is available out there, for hearing protection choices, in the way of “earplug” type equiptment, which will NOT interfere with my shooting/cheek weld/stock/etc???
I have never owned anything other than the standard cheapish $25-$50 ear muffs/headset type protection devices, so I do not know if there are any out there which would NOT interfere by hitting my stock when shooting.
However, EVERY pair of ear muffs that I’ve ever owned, would come in contact with my rifle/carbines stock, and prevented me from getting the cheekweld I needed. I simply HATE that, and it makes shooting NO FUN at all.
Is there some SUPER LOW PROFILE set of earmuffs that will not contact my stock, or do I need some earplug type device, which simply cannot interfere with my stock while shooting?
What all is available? I have used standard foam earplugs before, and they work great, but I’m not sure if they would work in a class, where I would have to hear an instructor talk?
What about those electronic earplug devices that let low level sound in, but block high decible noise/sound? Are there any that are somewhat affordable? I know “affordable” can vary greatly with everyone having their own opinion of what it means, but I can’t be justifying $150 on a set of earplugs just yet. Sure, I could afford em, but I just don’t use them enough, and they would only be real valuable in a carbine class.
What do you guys think?
Thanks guys.
you can spend tons and I have a few different things… What I enjoy most and interfears the least are these…
They come in different sizes, they are inexpensive so you don’t feel like shooting others when you lose them, no batteries, no strings. I don’t mind always wearing them. They block sound effectively even with the port open so that you can hear lower noises. For extra noise protection close the little port and get more quiet. For me these things are a big win.
I use foam ear plugs with Pro-Ears or MSA/Sordins.
I wear Peltor Shotgunner Folding Earmuffs, as they are the most low-pro earmuffs I’ve found and they do not cause the problem you are describing. At least for me they don’t. As a bonus, they are inexpensive. 
For plugs (which I use when it’s too damn hot for earmuffs) I like the Peltor Combat Arms EarPlugs. For me they’re more comfortable than the disposable foam plugs.
When things get really loud (like at the Knob Creek shoot when there’s two dozen machine guns being fired simultaneously) I wear the plugs under the muffs. I’ve had them on for hours at time like that and it’s not uncomfortable at all.
Hope that helps.
Derek
I use a combination of Surefire ear plugs with MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X’s. I have found that the Pro-X’s give me the best cheek weld of any electronic ears I have used to date.
I use Peltor In-ears…
http://www.bowerstactical.com/store/peltor-indooroutdoor-range-ear-plug-p-92.html
Similar to these, but only one side. They are great. They stop loud noises like gunfire but allow normal conversation with minimal muffling.
I use and love these:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3WE32
Good reduction like the roll up plugs, but they pull in and out easily and you don’t have to wait for them to expand. The cords pull off really easy if you want to put them under muffs, too.
I’ve used the AO Indoor/Outdoor (aka Combat Arms) Plugs before and been pretty happy with them, though I usually used them in conjunction with muffs of some kind.
(image from The Ear Plug Store)
Currently I use the custom molded ear plugs you can find for sale at most big gun shows. I’m on my second pair. The first was molded very badly and caused significant discomfort so I threw them away. The second pair, which were made for me while I was at last year’s IDPA Nationals, fit great even under muffs.
I also came across these just now while looking for a pic of the AO plugs, they sound interesting (pardon the pun):
Alpine MusicSafe Natural Sound Professional Musician’s Ear Plugs
Guys,
Do the Surefire EP3/EP4’s not work by themselves? I realize they are nice to use under earmuffs when shooting at Knob Creek like events, but for regular gun range type shooting, with a number of shooters just shooting handguns and M4’s/etc, would the Surefires work ok by themselves?
I think they advertised about an 18db drop? Or something like that.
I highly recomend them, I use the surefire’s for indoor shooting pistol and outdoor shooting my M4 and pistol. They are welll worth the money and reduce the sound to a managible level. I run them with the filter plugs in and I am still able to talk on the cell phone with them still in my ear. I have been told that you should buy a new pair every six months or so, that seems to be the only draw back but at $9.95 a pair its nothing to get bent out of shape about.
-DM-
My experience closely follows DM’s. I am quite comfortable with just the Surefire’s and am still able to use my cell when I get a call (seems invariable when I am at the range).
Previously I used both foam plugs and conventional muffs to keep the noise level comfortable.
Buckaroo
The wife and I had some custom molded earpieces made several years ago and they work very well. Seal better than most conventional ear plugs.
Indoors we usually use muffs over these but outdoors they work just fine on there own.
Here is a set I had made locally. Can be made in different colors.
Just buy a silencer. My cheekweld is great! 
I’ve been using the Surefire EarPro Plus (triple lange). It’s very comfortable as well as effective. Plus, you can actually ear regular conversation with it in. YMMV.
I’ve used the Surefire Earpros with .22, .45, 16" .308 FAL , 7.62 AK, 12 gauge, and they are awsome, can talk to my kids and still keep shooting. I don’t know how I got along without them for the last 20 some yrs. That said I do have a suppressor coming for the .30 cal. guns…
Just curious about the SureFire EarPros. When wearing them for an extended period of time, does it cause any “swelling” or irritation of said ears, whereupon you would want to rip it off?
I did the same thing and I use muff’s on top of them.
I believe I read it “officially” in Mech magazine, from the Naval Safety Center, the same guys who put out Approach mag: Plain old roll-up-and-stick-in foamies are very possibly the most effective earpro of all, and definitely the cheapest. I use them all the time and I only occasionally have to say “what was that, sonny?” No really, just use new plugs every few shooting sessions, give them ten seconds to expand and you’ll be all right. For very quiet running, put earmuffs on too. You can also use foamies for muzzle plugs when in the field, unless you have a .17 or BB gun.
Oh yeah, a few months ago I was getting frustrated with my girlfriend for calling too often, and calling when I was shooting so I would have to unplug. One day on the range when the phone vibrated one too many times, I said I’ll just leave the earplug in. Amazingly, if you put the phone right on the end of the plug, you can hear it perfectly. I was a little less frustrated after that. She’s still my ex-GF, though.
I use ZEM’s. Kind of a hybrid. You can get them through the NRA or at PistolGear.com. I’m sure lot’s of others places carry them as well.