Ear and Eye Protection

[Sir Henry]

What kind of ear and eye protection do you use and where do you use them?

I most often will have a couple foam ear plugs in my pocket no matter where I go. If I'm at Home Depot and the forklift is near or a saw is going I will put them in. Anywhere there is load noise or prolonged quieter noise. Remember they aren't just for the range.

In addition to the foam ear plugs I will also double up on over the head muffs. This is true if I am next to someone shooting a centerfire or mowing the lawn or using the leaf blower or any electrical item such as saws and even the vacuum.

As for eye protection I normally wear glasses. I have an indoor pair that are great for computer work, night time driving or anytime I want clear vision. The image is in focus from center to edge and I could have gotten to Henrys for the same price. But I also have an outdoor pair which uses safety glass. They will take a hard hit and might break but not allow anything to pass through. They are sharp in the center but like most glasses give distortion the further from the center you go. Great for eye protection but don't make the best range wear. I have another polaroid pair just like them. They have the Ray-Ban New Wayfapher frames.

[CT_Shooter]

At the range, I use an over the ear cup type for ear protection. I also use it to mow the lawn and whenever using any loud yard equipment. For eyes, I bought a pair of sports glasses that have an adjustable focus for each lens, so I can dial one eye in to see the target off in the distance, and the other to see the front sight. But, I really don't know how affective it might be against a hard hit.

[daytime dave]

I have electronic ear protection. They are pretty good. The brand is Peltor. I only wear them on the range. At Lowe's or Home Depot, can't remember exactly, I picked up a pair of hearing protection that have a jack for headphone's. I use them with my phone when on a tractor or lawn tractor. They reduce the noise and help pass the time with music.

I recently got prescription eye glasses. I have a pair of Ray Ban aviator's with no line bifocal lenses. They are great. My other pair have large lenses that I picked out just for shooting. They are no line bifocals as well. They distort a bit, but I'm getting the hang of them. If I'm operating a weedeater, I put on a pair of goggles over the glasses.

[clovishound]

I wear muffs at the indoor range shooting the Henrys or the handguns. When I shoot skeet, or should I say attempt to shoot skeet, I use foam earplugs. I can't seem to get a good check weld on the shotgun wearing muffs.

[Deadwood Dutch]

I wear bifocals and use these Remington M31 type ear muffs at the range.

[RetiredSeabee]

I wear foam plugs and ear muffs at the range. Ear muffs alone when mowing. I wear hearing aids as well so when I am out and in a noisy environment I turn them off and it helps muffle the noise.
My eyewear is a pair of progressive lenses that work pretty well for me. I do tend to tilt my head back or down a little when shooting looking for the sweet spot for whatever I am shooting.

[Squatch]

I used to mix sound for a living. I learned a long time ago to take care of the ears. I have a couple of pairs of over the ear style muffs in the garage for doing anything loud. I just moved up to a set of electronic muffs for shooting.

Same with the eyes. both my indoor and outdoor prescription glasses are polycarbonite. They pretty much qualify as safety's. If needed I add safety goggles. At the range I also take clear safety glasses.

[White Squirrel]

Use the Howard Leight electronic muffs for shooting. For mowing, running the chainsaw, trimmer, blower, etc. I usually just use foam plugs. Tried over the ear muffs, but I just sweat too much and they are uncomfortable for those kind of activities.

I just got rid of bifocals. My distance vision at my last checkup was 20/20 after almost 40 years of wearing bifocals. So, I picked up several pair of regular and tinted safety glasses. Also, picked up some good over-the-counter sunglasses. So, I don't have the vision excuse for my bad shooting skills anymore.

[Travlin]

I use the corded ear plugs when I use saws, routers etc. I started using them when shooting many years ago and I decided that they would work for power tools too. That has kept my hearing very good @ 68 years old. For the eyes a pair of safety specs.

[RanchRoper]

I'm using the foam plugs right now and safety glasses. But I think better hearing protection is coming up soon. I wear the headphone type for the lawn tractor.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I just wear simple Ear Plugs when necessary, but I wish I started many years ago. I have some hearing damage and my ears ring all the time. I love sound, lol, and always had loud cars, trucks and motorcycles (although just about always wore a helmet). I also love music, but never listened to it real loud and have visited very few clubs and concerts. I believe the main damage I got was running a saw at the lumber yard I worked at. This was just before the OSHA days. I wanted to use ear plugs, but my back was towards the forklift running back and forth behind me and I always worried about not hearing it, if I had to jump out of the way. The old driver was known to bump into things. Occupational hazard (and lousy luck) as they say.

[Catherine]

I wear Rx safety eyeglasses. Plain black frames. (I have worn Rx eyeglasses since I was 5 years old.)

I use ear plugs and ear gun muffs too. Leightning brand - black in color and bought back east from my former gun store.

My husband and I plan on getting new ear muffs or the newer electronic ones.

I always use ear plugs on a string or disposable foam ones UNDER MY MUFFS.

I always, always USE and have used good EYE and EAR protection.

I should have used ear protection years ago when I used various push lawn mowers and with my former tractors - back east.

I always used GOOD safety glasses (Rx) and sometimes an additional pair of regular BIGGER safety glasses OVER my Rx eyeglasses for some jobs that I did outside in yard work.

I always carry new and EXTRA ear plugs - foam or on a string in my gun bag too. For myself and for new shooters that I and/or we may bring into the sport. Plus I have another military ear muff set that belonged to my late husband for a back up. It has a HIGH rating for ear protection. NOT from his USN - Nam and around the world era time but one from the Air NG Fighter Wing.

Cate

[Sir Henry]

I'm glad everyone is using protection. I always get on my neighbor for not wearing hearing protection whenever he runs a lawn mower or blower but he never listens.

[Travlin]

Sir Henry, Maybe it's not that he isn't listening, He just can't hear you.

[Sir Henry]

Sir Henry, Maybe it's not that he isn't listening, He just can't hear you.

Next time I see him I'm going to talk to him but just move my lips.