Reddit reviews 3M Peltor Combat Arms Earplugs

i also heard the earplugs are kinda high tech (if that's what you'd call it) because they block out loud noises like gunfire, etc. and let quiet noises like talking come through. but i also heard they don't wear them anyway because they're annoying and don't work that well.

edit: link to earplugs

edit 2: link to manufacturer's site, just in case: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3M-Defense-US/Defense/Products/?N=4294942266+5419565&Nr=AND(hrcy_id%3AG8H3GSXHBSgs_FBZBM9W57N_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d

> How could I hear a warning shout or some sound of impending disaster?

pretty easily actually. Ear pro reduces noise levels, not eliminates them. So if your hearing isn't completely fucked you'll still hear mostly everything

also nowadays there are fancy ear pro solutions that block out loud droning noises while letting everything else in. Soldiers are actually wearing hearing protection more and more. They use special earplugs that block out reports but allow radio comms + other sounds in https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Combat-Arms-Earplugs/dp/B000W2CPCC

So this is a Smith and Wesson Model 27, made in 1960 (per the serial number), .357 Magnum (also .38 special). I received it as a gift and it is my first gun ever! Super stoked to own it now, and I'll probably join the prolonged slide of gun ownership that I see in this sub time to time. My next purchase is likely a smaller concealed carry weapon.

The giant ammo tin is vintage, I'm guessing vietnam era, but no idea, I could be full of shit. It's stacked with hundreds of .357 FMJs. 1 box of .357 hollow points, and 2 boxes of Shotshell snake charmers.

I'm pleased as punch with this gun. I've just purchased a bunch of accessories on amazon, I'll post them below, maybe you can tell me if these are good products or not for range shooting. (No referral links or any of that bs)

Plano Protector 4 pistol case

MTM 38/357 Cal 100 Round Flip-Top Ammo Box

Remington T-72 Shooting Glasses

3M Peltor Combat Arms Earplugs

Hoppe's Universal Gun Cleaning Accessory Kit

I was issued these in basic and they have since been my favorite. And in combat there are theoretically tons of different earplugs that are readily available or provided, including ear-muff type radio headsets and such, but......

They aren't always worn religiously, and even outside of combat the daily work around loud engines (generators, large diesel trucks), tools, and blasting your headphones (if allowed/not caught) while driving trucks (because driving a HMMWV is loud as fuck) will kill your hearing over time too.

I was a soldier.

>You do know soldiers at war do not wear hearing protection in combat?

Not true. A lot of guys use these with the yellow ends: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W2CPCC/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=32158462890&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2392967472722787510&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_3ubkjvacyg_b#

>You will not be senseless.

Try shooting a gun in a hallway, especially a rifle. It WILL permanently damage your hearing.

>And I know people in the artillery

How the fuck is that relevant?

EDIT: also... "I have fired firearms in indoor rangers" Yeah, handguns or probably small caliber rifles like .22s. Shoot something in 5.56 indoors sometime and tell me how that goes. Not to mention, an indoor range isn't an enclosed space.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Combat-Arms-Earplugs/dp/B000W2CPCC

These are what I use. Put the yellow end in when you're near the front, put the green in end at other times.

They come apart so you don't have to have the other end sticking out of your ear unless you want to, so don't worry about that.
The good thing is you can sleep in them (green side). Started using them in Afghanistan, where the green side was enough to filter out all the other dudes snoring and farting but you could still hear the alarms when they came on.
Also, at least for me, they go in quick and stay in, unlike foamies.

Look into the ear protection designed for the military. They filter out loud noise but still allow communication.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Combat-Arms-Earplugs/dp/B000W2CPCC

These are the best earplugs I've ever owned. One end lets softer sounds like voices through, but blocks high db sounds like gunfire. The other end is sealed for shooting indoors for example. And they come in a nice little pocket sized plastic carrying case.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Combat-Arms-Earplugs/dp/B000W2CPCC

These.

They are cheap and effective. Having the yellow end in makes it so that I can mostly hear conversations and background noises and stuff. The olive end acts just like foam earplugs.

for eye protection, I just use standard wrap around safety glasses. I actually bought them at the range I frequent and then found the exact same ones at Harbor Freight...

Anyways, for ear protection, I use Peltor Combat Arms Earplugs and I'll throw on a pair of muffs if I'm indoors using louder weapons.

As an avid shooter who has unfortunately never used a suppressor (they are expensive to own in the U.S.), my understanding is that very few firearms are actually "hearing-safe" when suppressed. This is because hearing damage is a function of exposure time and noise intensity: even an instantaneous noise like a gunshot that registers above 120 dB will cause permanent hearing damage to unprotected ears.

However, reducing an AK-pattern rifle, for example, from its typical intensity of about 150 dB to perhaps 135 makes a huge difference to an unprotected shooter because the the decibel scale works on a logarithmic curve, not a linear one. That means that sound intensity increases by orders of magnitude as decibels increase, rather than linearly. Even a decrease of 15 dB will be much less damaging to the ears than an unsuppressed AK's 150 dB.

I can't speak to the effects of gunfire-induced hearing loss because I'd never go near it without adequate hearing protection. Watch how PKM Man has his eardrum blown out by Comrade AK-74's muzzle blast, who has happily protected his own ears with kleenex.

The U.S. military is aware of the problem and has issued earplugs in the past, but my understanding is that troops generally don't wear them in order not to impair their ability to hear commands and to maintain their situational awareness. 3M's Combat Arms Earplugs, developed for the military, purport to allow in safe sounds while blocking noise-damaging impulses like gunfire. I have a pair and they appear to work well with clapping and would likely be great for combat, but I don't think I'll trust my hearing to them at the range.

I'd buy:

Breakfree CLP syringe

Larger bottle of breakfre

Boresnake

Those and a box of q-tips plus a toothbrush and maybe some rags make a great cleaning kit. For a light, you'll want to get a streamlight tlr-1 or tlr-3, but they are both closer to $100. You might also want to get a little safe for her, a mini gunvault would work well. And ammo... must have the ammo!

You might also want a range bag to keep your hearing/eye protection, ammo, and pistol in.

Gunmate bag

And sometimes I find that muff aren't enough which I saw you bought. I like to wear these sometimes by themselves or under muffs.

Peltor ear plugs

I take out the yellow end and they make really nice, compact, and effective hearing protection. And they're reusable of course.

You're a cheapass - you only have limited eyes and ears, so you should do your best to protect them... but you can still be a cheapass and do that; I know this because I'm Mr. Safety, but my middle name is cheapass.

Buy these $9.92 Peltor Combat Arms reusable plugs with indoor/outdoor sides:

http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-97079-Combat-Arms-Earplugs/dp/B000W2CPCC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1323708791&sr=8-15

Buy these $8.76 T-72 Remingtons (actually made by Radians), basic safety glasses:

http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Shooting-Glasses-Clear-Anti-Fog/dp/B000F7RSFI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323708803&sr=8-3

Then keep on being a cheapass.

Alternately, you can get these Radians Adrenalines for $13.99; they have an aluminum frame and they look super bad-ass (like awesome sunglasses), the downside is that they only come with tinted lenses, so they aren't as good as clear lenses indoors (but still work). They come with an awesome hard case and a nerdy-ass neckband (which I wear because I'M COOL):

http://www.amazon.com/Radians-Adrenaline-Aluminum-Alloy-Silver/dp/B001F0KGZ8/ref=sr_1_39?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1323708938&sr=1-39

I'm also a new shooter for about a year now. I try to go at least once a month to the nearest outdoor place for rifle and hand guns shooting. So far, many of the other replies have done a great job so i'll just chime in with my recommendation for the ears protection. Right now, i'm using these 3M Peltor Combat ARms Earplugs. They're working well for me ever since I got them as a gift from a friend. I bought 3 more just so I have backups. I have one on me at all time, one in my range bag, and one in my car. Before that, I also use the Howard Leight R-01526. The Howard Leight earmuff are also great for its price. However, I don't like it for long session because of my big head that get squished too tightly if they're on for 20min or longer. It also gets in the way when i'm aiming down the iron sights. Other than comfort wise, the Howard's are fantastic in its operational purposed. If you can, try them both then decide which system works better for you. I have them both and most prefer the 3M more because it's has less profile while in use.

These are the kind of ear protection issued to us in the U.S. Army. You insert the yellow end "in sector," for protection against sharp noises, and the olive drab end on a range or operating loud equipment.

I can wear these Peltors all day

Purchase some 3M Combat Arms ear plugs.
2 types available:

• one is double ended so you need to take out and switch ends around which is annoying.
  
  
• Type i use has rocker switch to enable or disable protection.
  
  Protip: rotate your head around a few times before and after using the helmet to get those neck muscles loose. Makes a huge difference to my tinnitus.