Reddit mentions: The best hunting & shooting protection

A rifle: I personally suggest the Classic Army KM10, but the KM12, Delta 10/12, EC1/2, and ISSC MK22 are exactly the same internally. G&G Combat Machines, like a G&G CM18 are also very nice and popular starter guns.

Extra mags: My personal favorite are G&P High RPS. They're pretty tight in most guns but are well priced, look nice, and feed well. They fit well in Combat Machines, but I've never tested with Classic Army. Some others that fit in Combat Machines, and probably Classic Army, are Ares Ameobas and PTS EPMs. For mid-caps you'll need a speedloader. For high caps, it's not needed.

Battery: I'd suggest a 7.4v Lipo or 9.6v nimh. If you're going Lipo, buy from Hobbyking. They sell decent batteries for cheap. I'm not sure the exact dimensions of the stock each uses, but this 7.4v 2000mah 15-25c would probably fit in both and run them fine. It has a huge capacity so it'll last a while. For a charger, the Imax B6 will do everything you need it to (Charge, discharge, some other stuff) and the price isn't bad. I'd also suggest a Voltage checker for Lipos. The Classic Armys will come with a 9.6v nimh and a shitty charger. For those, just get a new smart charger. The G&Gs have a battery bundle that'll give you a 9.6v nimh and smart charger.

Head protection: For eyepro, I love Pyramex. Pyramex I-force are my personal favorite, and the V2G-XP are very good as well. They're also rebranded by Valken and are known as Valken Zulus and Sierras. The One Tigris mesh mask is by far the best lower face protection I've used. Hard cover where you need it (teeth, nose, lips) and still covers your cheeks. It's also very comfy and lets you get good cheek weld, so you can see down your sights easily. I also wear a hat and Howard Leight impact sports

Gloves: Hand shots hurt. A lot. Some nice gloves like Mechanix M-pacts are a god-send in game.

chest rig: If you want to carry extra mags, the Condor Rapid Assualt is a nice and cheap way to carry them. 6 M4 mag pouches and a lot of MOLLE to attach other pouches. It's also super adjustable and can fit almost every body type.

BBs: I almost exclusively use Elite Force .28g Bio. They're just the best BBs I've used and aren't crazy expensive. You'll have to find a weight that's best for you (Maybe buy a sample pack?) but .28s are generally best in stock guns.

Camo isn't that important, but I love my LBX Combat Uniform. The shirt uses a thin-ish material in the chest and back which is great if you're using a plate carrier or chest rig, while the arms, and pants, are made of a thick material that really takes away the sting of BBs, but still leaves enough that you can feel hits. I also like having an outfit specifically for airsoft. The pants also fit knee pad inserts. All that being said, jeans and a hoodie are perfectly fine.

Here's some of the things that are good to have on hand. A lot of it is newer since I'm replacing things I did not care for. Most, if not all, can be found on Amazon. Its a little list but hardly scratches the surface of crap that you can accumulate.

For shooting:

• Eye pro - Best to have a case and alternate lenses are nice for indoor and outdoor range time. The most basic of eyewear will run you $20+ at ranges so get it ahead of time.
  
  
• Indoor ear pro - Same as eye pro... These ran me $35+tax when I decided to double up on my outdoor ear pro at the range. Plenty comfortable!
  
  
• Outdoor ear pro - Muffs can be hot outside, especially in the middle of summer, but luckily you often won't need to same level of protection. It can also be nice if your muffs get in the way of a good cheek weld on a stock. I've tried regular ear plugs and the Surefire plugs but nothing beats something form-fitted to your ear especially for marathon shooting events. Couple with muffs for more protection. These are still pretty new to me but I'm happy with them so far. Easy to form and make a noticeable after a while.
  
  
• Targets - Splatter targets are amazing when youre working on marksmanship. You can easily see your hits from a distance and the contrast makes it easier for spotters to see your latest shot if you're looking through glass. These will also run you a significant premium if you buy at the range. Splatterburst targets are cheaper than Dirty Bird and, IMHO, more visible in indoor (darker) ranges. They're a great size up close for handguns and out to 70-100 yards for rifles. For plinking, just get the cheapest paper targets the range offers. You likely won't see your hits from a distance but, at that point, you probably don't really care.
  
  
  Cleaning:
  
  
• Some good solvent - You can spend a long time scraping carbon. Good solvent will let you wipe it off with a rag. Breakfree CLP, in my experience, leads to more of the former.
  
  
• Some lubricant - Opinions vary from person to person. I used to use Breakfree CLP as a lubricant all the time but there were certain sources indicating that it, like Frog-lube, is less than ideal in different ways. Slip won out among the bunches but I honestly couldn't tell you why. It was something regarding organic/synthetic compositions and temperatures coupled with anecdotal shit. Good one to Google if you're interested.
  
  
• Some brushes - Good for detail cleaning that a rag wont handle. White brush is also fantastic for clearing crap out of the seams of an XBox controller.
  
  
• Cleaning kit - I don't use it as much since I tried boresnakes but there are some good tools in here. Its compact since you use a cable to pull brushes but that means its no good for clearing jams. I'd get it again if I felt I needed a full kit but, again, I rarely use it.
  
  
• Boresnakes - I remember people hating these (again, don't remember why) so I ignored them for the longest time. They're compact and make cleaning your barrel a breeze... Epic-ly better than running a small patch down your barrel. Almost entirely replaced my cleaning kit for most post-range cleaning. They have a small wire brush portion which you can floss back and forth with shorter barrels, too. Coupled with a good solvent, these fucking rock.
  
  
• Nylon brushes - If you end up needing to run brushes down your barrel, it's probably good to not scratch the shit out of it. This was an impulsive buy but I don't regret giving Otis another $9 for their awesome products.
  
  
  Everything else:
  
  
• Thread locker - If you get a collection going, there's a good chance you'll be playing with screws quite a bit. Lock down scope rings, set screws on sights, etc.
  
  
• Anti-Seize - Completely necessary if you have multiple chokes for a shotgun and/or ever intend to use them.

Congratulations!

• Personally I would recommend either a Remington 700 over the 783. There's nothing wrong with the 783, but the 700's fit, finish as well as the overall quality is just superior and I'm a firm believer in the "buy once, cry once" philosophy, especially with firearms. If you buy the 783, my bet is that as you get a little more serious about shooting, you'll end up buying a 700.
  
  
• With all that said, if you're not hell bent on buying a Remington, I personally would go with a Tikka T3 (there are many, many models). Overall it's about the same as a Remington 700 in terms of quality, but the bolt action is just silky smooth and the trigger pull is wonderful. I'm biased because I'm a bit of a Tikka fan, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
  
  
• In regards to the .308 calibre, again I'm a bit biased because my rifle is in .308 but regardless, I think .308 is the way to go. It's easily found, and comes in a variety of weight from (approximately) 120gr to 200gr so you have a choice of choosing a lighter bullet for smaller game or a heavier bullet for larger game.
  
  
• To pass the time while your PAL/RPAL is being processed, I strongly suggest buying high quality safety equipment You don't have to break the bank, but don't skimp. Apart from that I'd say buy a good soft case, and later down the road you can buy a hard case (my personal favourite is the Pelican 1750). Here's a little list....
  
  
• Ear protection: Howard Leight Impact Sport and Howard Leight earplugs (Personally I use both-- you only get one pair of ears!)
  
  
• Eye protection: Smith Aegis Arc (DS Tactical is a great company to deal with)
  
  
• Hard case: Pelican 1750 (Production Case is a nice Canadian company with prices way better than anywhere else and great customer service)
  
  
• Bipod: Harris Engineering (widely considered the best bang for your buck product-- I use the 9-13 inch because I'm a bit taller, but most people like the 6-9)
  
  
• Soft case: Cabela's drag bag-- great product at a great price.
  
  
  
• Torque wrench: VERY important in my opinion, as I see way too many people over-torquing their gear (i.e. scope mount screws) and messing things up. Wheeler Torque Wrench-- this is what I use. It's reasonably priced and I use it all the time when I'm working on my rifle. I know plenty of people say they're not necessary, but they'll save you from major headaches in the future.
  
  
• Bonus: When you buy your scope, DO THIS to level it. I've tried all kinds of methods, but this by far the best (assuming your rifle is levelled first). It's so simple, but so effective.
  
  
  Anyway, I hope this helps. I'll check back in a little bit (studying for finals right now) if I think of anything else.
  

I'm just going to use this space to write a potential post and then copypasta it to the mods, see if they wanna use it.

Hello! This is sk8s's guide to the holidays!

You're probably here looking for gift ideas for the gun enthusiast in your life. Now, each individual person is unique and preferences, but here's a little launching pad to get you started.

Here is a list of stocking stuffers for the shooting enthusiast in your life, in no particular order.

• Ammo - Can't shoot a gun if you don't have ammo for it. Know what caliber (size) of ammo to get. If it's a handgun or a rifle, most guns won't be terribly picky about what brand it is. Depending on the caliber, the prices can vary greatly. A box of practice 9mm (50 rounds) will be in the $10-15 range, whereas a box of practice .45 ACP (50 rounds) will cost about $20-$25. Whether it's bulk practice ammo or a box of match grade ammo, it will be enjoyed immensely.
  
  
• Eye and ear protection - I have a pair of these in my bag as a loaner pair (and I use them frequently if I forget my nice pair). Lucky Gunner has a fairly comprehensive guide for eyepro. As for hearing protection, Gunnit recommends the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic earmuffs. I have them, I love them. A pack of regular foam earplugs is great as well for doubling up at an indoor range.
  
  
• Targets - Gotta have something to shoot at. A pack of paper targets makes a great, cheap stocking stuffer. I like the Shoot-n-see targets for when I'm shooting with friends, and these for when I'm trying to shoot the best I can. However, there can be something quite satisfying about hearing the ring of a bullet hitting steel. If the person has a .22LR, this is an incredibly fun target. My buddy and I have shot well over 2000 rounds at his, and it's just as fun every time. For a centerfire handgun or rifle, check out MOA targets for some great steel targets.
  
  
• Range bag - gotta take all the crap to the range in style! The most recommended range bag here is the Midway USA compact competition range bag. My favorite bag that I've seen (and will probably buy soon) is the GPS Range Bag, but that's because I'm anal about organizing my crap.
  
  
• Range membership - Range fees can be very expensive. A range pass or membership allows the shooter in your life to go whenever they want!
  
  
• Concealed weapons permit class - Has someone in your life been in a situation where they wished they had a gun to protect them? Is someone looking to have gun to prevent that situation from happening? Pay for them to go get their concealed weapons permit. They may or may not carry, but if the state allows it, it is never a bad idea to have such a permit. You know, just in case.
  
  Now, these are all just some generic questions and are not intended to be a one-size-fits-all solution (though I'm of the opinion that nobody will turn down ammo). Feel free to comment if you have any questions and we can help you out! Happy holidays!
  

Definitely do able sub $1k, but don't cheap out either. Buy stuff you'll actually wear. Bulky gear you leave at home does you no good in a slide. Here's an example of a potential rundown of gear (some I own, some I don't. This isn't an endorsement, unless stated. It's just giving you an idea). All new prices, so with sales and checking deals at your local shops it could be less. Some stuff like helmets I say ALWAYS buy new. Other things like jackets are okay lightly used (and I do mean lightly, don't buy someone's gear they've worn for the last 20 years. Sun and age can make it less protective).

Helmets

• HJC CL-17 - $125 Link
  
  
• Bell Qualifier - $110 Link
  
  
• Icon Alliance - $150 Link
  
  Make sure you go into a store and try it on. Wear it for a few minutes. Here's a good guide on fit for helmets. DOT rated at a minimum. SNELL suggested. Some people say the SNELL rating is overkill and causes the helmet to be too rigid being worse in a crash. I've never given it a second thought. I own the HJC helmet. One thing I will say with pretty much any budget helmet is it will be louder. In town I don't think that's a problem but on the highway, especially for longer rides you'll want to get ear plugs. I suggest these. They're cheap enough, comfortable, and come with a nice carrying case.
  
  Jackets
  
  Regardless what you buy, again go into the store and try them on. They should fit snugly. In the $150-250 range should get you a good jacket with shoulder and elbow armor. Back armor is sometimes sold separately. When it is, D30 is my go to. I bought the Klim CE level 2 - $50 armor but there is also the Icon CE level 1 - $25 version. How expensive the jacket is isn't the determining factor for if it includes a back protector either. And one's that don't usually include a foam filler. Don't let that fool you, it's not meant to protect you in a slide.
  
  
• Icon Overlord - $150 Link Back protector included
  
  
• REV'IT! Eclipse - $180 Link Back protector extra
  
  
• Firstgear Mesh Tex - $180 Link Back protector extra
  
  Pants
  
  A lot of this will depend on the weather and the dress code at work. If its more strict (business casual - no jeans) spend the money on the Rev'it. They are absolutely amazing, and the first pants I've found that have flexible knee armor I can actually comfortably walk around in and sit at my desk with.
  
  
• REV'IT! Alpha RF Chinos - $200 Link
  
  
• AGV Sport Alloy Riding Jeans - $130 Link
  
  
  Gloves
  
  Can't forget gloves. I've found this is not a place to cheap out on. I have yet to find a sub $50 glove that is comfortable AND that I trust would protect me in a slide.
  
  
• Icon Pursuit - $75 Link
  
  
• REV'IT! Striker 2 - $90 Link
  
  
• REV'IT! Fly 2 - $90 Link
  
  Boots
  
  A lot of this comes down to personal preference and fit, but I really like the TCX boots.
  
  
• TCX X-Square - $100 Link
  
  
• Speed and Strength Black 9 - $100 Link
  
  
  
  Total
  
  So for in the area of $565 to $800 you have all the gear you need to get started. Also Revzilla has a rebates program so chances are you'd be able to save some money if you split it into two purchases.
  
  Hope this helps!

Most people will probably recommend an AR-15, a 12-guage pump shotgun, or a 9mm pistol; but I've actually been moving away from those types of guns after I started to learn more about how much permanent damage firearms do to your hearing. If you ever shoot an AR-15 or a shotgun indoors without hearing protection, you'll probably rupture your eardrums and hear an annoying ringing sound for the rest of your life. So, I'd prefer to avoid that if possible. That's why I recently bought a 9mm carbine (a 9mm rifle with a shoulder stock and a 16-inch barrel) as my new primary home defense weapon. Yeah, you lose out on some terminal performance (killing power), but 30-ish rounds of 147-grain 9mm Federal HST should be enough to deal with 99.999% of home invaders.

An AR-15 chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO will create about 167 decibels (anything above 140 decibels will permanently damage your hearing); a rifle chambered in .308 Winchester will create 170+ decibels; a 9mm pistol with a 4-inch barrel will create about 160 decibels; a 9mm carbine with a 10-inch barrel will create about 156 decibels; and a 9mm carbine with a 16-inch barrel will create about 152 decibels. I haven't been able to find reliable information about how many decibels a 12-gauge shotgun creates, but it's probably in the 160s.

152 decibels still isn't hearing safe; but the difference between 152 decibels and 167 decibels is huge since sound doubles in strength every 3 decibels. 152 decibels will still hurt your ears and cause permanent hearing damage if you hear it repeatedly; but it won't completely destroy your ears like a 5.56x45mm rifle or a 12-gauge shotgun will.

And the reason why I went with a 9mm carbine over a 9mm pistol is because carbines are much easier to aim, you get much quicker followup shots, you get a little bit more bullet velocity (and thus foot-pounds of energy and terminal performance), and there's still a large sound difference between 152 decibels and 160 decibels.

As to which specific 9mm carbines I recommend, I'll give you 3 different options to choose from.

The cheapest option: The Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 2 ($500-ish but hard to find). I'm personally not a fan of Kel-Tec quality standards and aesthetics, but the Kel-Tec Sub-2000 is one of the few firearms that Kel-Tec makes that the vast majority of people in the gun community agrees is a good gun. I'd get the version that accepts Glock magazines and stick a 33-round Glock magazine in it. Glock magazines are widely regarded as being the best magazines in the world; and the 33 rounders that they make are widely regarded as being reliable.

The mid-tier option: The CMMG Mk9LE ($900-ish). From the research that I did on AR-15s chambered in 9mm, the ones made by CMMG are highly regarded as being reliable. I recommend using the 32-round Uzi magazines from IWI. Based on your criteria, this would be my top recommendation for you.

The high-tier option: The KRISS Vector GEN II CRB ($1,300-ish). This is the option that I personally went with. I chose it because it's reliable and because it looks amazing.

I also want to go out of my way to rule out a popular option: The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 Carbine. The "pistol" version is wildly popular; but I've personally seen way too many horror stories about all-polymer magazines stretching and breaking their own feed lips after being stored loaded for a long period of time (which is what you'd be doing with a home defense weapon). So, until CZ upgrades their polymer magazines with steel-reinforced feed lips (like Glock does), I'd personally stay away from their products that use those types of magazines.

And I know that you said that you didn't want to add accessories, but a light is a mandatory accessory on a home defense firearm in my opinion (so that you can positively identify your target before you shoot and therefore hopefully avoid accidentally shooting a loved one). The Streamlight ProTac 2 and the INFORCE WMLx would be my top 2 recommended lights for long guns.

As to which bullets that I'd recommend, I already mentioned them: 147-grain 9mm Federal HST (standard pressure). The 124-grain 9mm Federal HST (standard pressure) is also extremely good. I wouldn't hesitate buying and using either of them for home defense. This website will help you find them in stock.

I also highly recommend this accessory in order to make loading your pistol magazines much, much easier.

As to bullet overpenetration, all major rounds will zip right through several of the kinds of walls that you'd find in a typical home. The only "safe" option is birdshot (used in shotguns), but birdshot doesn't penetrate deep enough into the human body (you want 12 to 18 inches of penetration according to FBI tests) to reliably stop a home invader (and therefore birdshot obviously shouldn't be an option for home defense in my opinion). Don't listen to the people that will tell you that the 5.56x45mm NATO round is safer to use because it tends to tumble and fragment when it hits a wall. It will still penetrate through several walls. You just have to be careful about how you angle your shots. That's really your only way to avoid hitting innocent people.

And if you're not as worried as I am about permanently damaging your own hearing while defending your home, then the Smith & Wesson M&P15 SPORT II would be my top rifle recommendation (I recommend pairing it up with 30-round magazines from Lancer); the Mossberg 500 series of shotguns would be my top shotgun recommendation; and the full-size Smith & Wesson M&P9 would be my top pistol recommendation. And I'd pair them up with this electronic hearing protection if I was you.

As to ammo recommendations for the 3 options that I listed above, I recommend Hornady 75-grain BTHP T2 TAP (8126N) or Hornady 5.56 NATO 75-grain BTHP Superformance Match (the .223 version that Hornady makes is also fine); this Managed-Recoil 8-pellet 00 buckshot from Remington (it patterns very tightly); and the 147-grain 9mm Federal HST that I already mentioned above, twice.

And if you go with a pistol, then I recommend the Streamlight TLR-1 as a mandatory accessory.

As to lubricant, you can't really go wrong with Break-Free CLP.

I think at 6'4" you may find a basic 10/22 to be on the smaller side for you. Doesn't mean you can't/shouldn't get it. Plus it's trivial to drop some $ on a better stock. At one point they made a 50th anniversary edition that had an upgraded stock and sights. I don't know if it's still sold, but if you can find one it's a very good option to go with. That edition was designed with appleseed in mind, so it should be exactly what you want from a rifle.

10/22s are pretty forgiving with ammo. Try different brands and see what works for you, but most stuff is fine. A few states don't allow online orders of ammo, but most do. You might find better prices online, or you might be better off with a local store. Depends on luck and location.

The gun generally comes with 1 10 round magazine. You may find better deals online, but they're relatively cheap anyway (some guns have very expensive mags). There's a large variety of magazine sizes and shapes available. I live in a ban state, so I don't have advice beyond the 10 rounders. I've got a thing that clamps 3 10 round mags together that I find very helpful, but not really relevant if you don't have that limitation.

Just buy the tech sights. The 10/22 sights are worthless (excluding the 50th edition).

The basic 10/22s don't have any sling attachments (50th does). If you did upgrade the stock, cause you're a larger guy, you could easily get an aftermarket one that would accept a sling easier.

If you're just getting started shooting, cheap ear muffs/plugs and eye pro are fine and perfectly safe. If you get more serious, there's lots of options to blow money on. I use (and am a big fan of) ESS Crossbow and Peltor Tactical Sport. Electronic ear muffs are especially nice in a competition or training context.

You'll definitely want a bag or case to carry the gun. For events like appleseed you'll also want a chamber flag (bright colored cheap plastic flag you stick in the gun to show empty). Unless your state has specific legal requirements, storage is up to you. I'm pretty sure 10/22s (all rugers I think) come with a action lock, if you want to use it.

Sorry for the giant text wall. Hope it helps.

If you can time it right and catch the 795 on sale, you can save a decent bit of money. I hadn't seen them on sale, so I bought my fiancee a 795 and spent about $175 on it. I recently got the tech sights for both her rifle and mine. For an appleseed event, you'll want two ten round magazines. Since they are hard to find in a brick and mortar location and I was going to be paying shipping anyway, I ordered two 10 rounders in addition to the one the rifle came with.

Costs as follows:
Rifle: $175
Tech Sights $ 69
2x Mags $ 28
GI Sling $ 10
Swivels $ 12

Total $294

That total does not include shipping charges, nor does it include any further equipment costs such as:

• Eye protection (I splurged and got my lady the Smith Ageis Arc because I like her eyes and it looks like they rated very well for the price in The Lucky Gunner Eye Pro Breakdown. Fortunately, I have some older glasses that offer sufficient protection but I will be buying myself some newer eye protection before we do our appleseed event at the end of the month.),
  
• Ear protection (you'll want to double up and get plugs of some sort and muffs, especially if you're shooting at an indoor range at times. I got us the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs which are pretty highly recommended) or,
  
• Ammo (if you can find 22lr at a reasonable price)
  
  You can go less expensive on the ear an eye protection. The first few times I took my lady shooting, we had good ear plugs and less expensive eye protection (at an outdoor range) and I saved up for a while to get the better stuff.
  
  I feel like it was worth it to get the extra stuff and rifle so that we can attend the appleseed event together. Much of the value in it, I think, comes from all the range time you get. If One of us were to go without the other then try to teach the other, it would probably take significantly longer to teach the second person unless you later dedicated an entire weekend to shooting. I think it's better to knock it out in on weekend, rather than spread out over weeks or months. You two can develop together as shooters.
  
  As I've been educating my fiancee and guiding her into being comfortable with guns, this is something I've given a good bit of thought to, and something I had and have been saving for for a few months. Buying shooting gear can be a large-ish initial outlay, but the headphones, eye protection, and firearms acquired are something that will serve us well for many years to come, so that is something to bear in mind as you weight the options, buy initial gear, and possibly later acquire replacement gear of higher quality.
  
  

>Do I need to get ear protection for a .22? If so, any suggestions?

Yes! .22 still produces noise loud enough to damage hearing, especially long term use. [These] ( http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O) are a great value for the money.

>What eye protection is the best? (What do y'all use/what's your favorite pair of goggles)?

Nothing fancy, as long as it's rated for shooting.

>How long should I wait before getting a scope?

Until you have a need for one. If you get into longer range shooting and you can't see the targets naturally.

>Should I store it vertically? (Corner of a closet)?This is my first gun, so I don't have a safe, would under my bed work? (I did get a case for it)

Vertically is fine, though you should find a way to lock it up. If you can't afford a safe right now look for a cabinet you can lock and bolt to the wall. It won't stop a determined thief, but it'll deter curious house guests, children, and smash and grabs.

>Can I plink in my backyard? (Harris county, Texas)(I'm pretty sure this one is a no, thought I'd ask anyway)

I don't know your local laws, but unless you have several acres and a solid backstop it's not safe regardless of whether it's forbidden or not.

>I'm a first generation gun owner in my family, I'd like to be responsible with firearms, if I missed anything important, please say, I'd love to hear suggestions on how I can be responsible with guns.

Look in to Appleseed shoots. They're an excellent way to improve your marksmanship.

>I don't know if it matters but I got 1 box of CCI .22lr and the Ruger BX-25 with it.

Your 10/22 will love CCIs. Other brands work, too, but CCI is usually consistent.

The Smith & Wesson M&P9 is the best overall pistol currently available in my opinion. It had zero gun-caused malfunctions in a 2010 ATF test. And yet it's still very reasonably priced at around $450. This website will help you shop for them online (if you order it online, you'll need to find a local FFL dealer for them to deliver it to and pay a transfer fee). Any Federal HST cartridge should perform well in it. Since that ammo is hard to find, this website will help you find it in stock online (and yes, ordering ammo over the internet and getting it shipped directly to your home is perfectly legal). Here's my favorite inside the waistband holster. And here's my favorite outside the waistband holster. I recommend buying this hearing protection and this hearing protection (yes, you should wear both at the same time. And yes, you'll still be able to hear everything perfectly fine if you put the volume on maximum). Here's the safety glasses that I recommend. And here's the lubrication that I recommend.

Open carry is legal in Virginia. You don't need a permit. You do need a permit to carry concealed.

I recently got my NC CCW and a Glock 19 with a vedder light tuck. I’ve been to the range to practice a few times but the ear pro they have for rent tends to be a hit or miss. As a result i’m looking to buy my own EarPro but and caught between the decision between Pro For Sho’s passive ear protection and Howard Leight’s Impact Sports electronic ear protection. If this would be better for /r/guns let me know.

Here’s a quick of comparison of each:

Pro For Sho
Price: $18
NRR: 34dB
Weight: less than half a pound

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Sho-34dB-Shooting-Protection/dp/B01FPWTJBI


Howard Leight Impact Sport
Price: $35
NRR: 22
Weight: slightly under a pound

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Amplification-Electronic-R-01526/dp/B001T7QJ9O


The Pro For Sho is lighter, about half the cost, and has a way higher NRR. I usually double up with foam ear plugs which would help make up for the Howard Leight’s lower NRR. The NRR difference isn’t the biggest concern, however, my existing opinion is that more is better. Indoor gun ranges can get loud. That being said if for whatever reason I forgot or ran out of foam earplugs I’d feel comfortable with the Pro For Shos but not the Howard Leights.

The biggest differentiator then would be the price and the electronic element of the Howards. Is the benefit offered by the electronic component really worth twice as much money and significantly less NRR? At a range the only time I’d really need to hear is when taking instruction in a class or talking with friends but if I’m by myself doing my own practice which is most of the time I feel like I wouldn’t need it. Yelling also works to account for higher NRR.

Another argument I’ve thought of is situational awareness being hindered by the passives; but the ranges in my area are all indoor with one or more rangemasters.

My biggest question to the community here is how worth it is the electronic hearing aid of the Howard Leights? I know that to some of you the price difference might be negligible but for me it matters.

On an unrelated note I stumbled across these: https://www.range365.com/sightline-replacement-pads-for-howard-leight-impact-sport-earmuffs

They look like a solid upgrade to the Howard pads. If I went with Howards I might get these later down the road when I have a bit more money to spend.


Thanks for taking the time to read through my long post!

Electronic hearing protection will not only amplify your surroundings so that you can hear your game better but it'll prevent hearing damage.

Howard Leights are great, you can get gel cups for them for more comfort and better sealing. The HL's often dip below $40, but even at $50 they're a great buy.

I personally use MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X's and 3M ComtacIII's depending on the occasion. They're both pretty great. The MSA's amplify a little more than the ComtacIII's, but they cut off all volume during gunfire. The ComtacIII's don't amplify as much, but have slightly better directional awareness and are perfect for communicating during gunfire since they reduce the volume instead of completely shutting it off.

I currently use the Peltor Sport Tactical 100 ($50) which does have a very basic compression circuit. At least from my personal experience, the noise suppression performance in that model is better and the sound more natural than the Howard Leight Impact Sports, though both pale in comparison to my employer-provided MSA Sordins.

If I was in the market for a new set, I'd probably be looking at:

• 3M Peltor Sport Tactical 300 ($100) - These have a far more sophisticated compression circuit than the 100s;
  
  
• 3M Peltor Sport Tactical 500 ($120) - Effectively the same thing as the 300s but adds Bluetooth capability. While Bluetooth is useless to me at the range, I also use frequently use my earpro for air travel including long international flights, so one less cable in my way would be nice for those situations.
  
  
• MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X ($260) - Newer version of my work-provided set, these do everything quite well but don't have Bluetooth.
  
  Of course, any set of Peltors I might buy would also get 3M camelback gel pads installed, which adds another $40. The difference in comfort with those pads is amazing; with the standard soft plastic pads the Peltors get uncomfortable for me after an hour or two, but with the gel pads I'm fine wearing them for the duration of 10+ hour international flights. The MSA Sordins come with similar gel pads installed, but overall they're $100 more than the Peltor 500 + gel pads.
  
  So yeah, if I were buying today, I would most likely spring for the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 + camelback gel pads for a total of $160. If Bluetooth is not useful for you, you could save $20 by dropping down to the Peltor Sport Tactical 300.
  
  Even just the $50 Peltor 100s should be a significant improvement over the Howard Leight Impact Sports or Peltor RangeGuards.

Bit late but I didn't see this full face 3m linked. I've had this for quite a while now with varying beard lengths, down to the middle of my chest, half way down my neck, and just short. It does suck a lot with a full beard (and it leaves a pretty hilarious outline imprint). It probably also doesn't 100% work because the hair leaves more air gaps than the rubber/skin contact would.

However, I'm often also extremely lazy about getting eye pro, ear pro, lung pro on every time. So being able to toss this thing on with these is really handy. I thankfully haven't had anything kick back into my face but it is generally nice to have all a lot of the dust and crap also filtered out pretty well from your eyes too (it isn't perfect but it's better than glasses or nothing).

The cartridges are also really easy to replace. They're also really confusing as to what filters you actually need to be using. Some are rated for dust, dust + fumes, dust + fumes + ebola, dust + fumes + ebola + nuclear fallout. I've also been admittedly a bit lazy about the filters as well. I'll typically replace them when I notice the flow is starting to get really bad, which also seems to fog up the mask a bit.

My only real gripe with it is that static / aerosol over spray (whatever, basically anything) can cause crap to cling to the mask. So I'll go to start working on something only to discover I need to go track down some windex and a clean rag. Not a huge deal. I just grabbed a rag and tossed it in a ziplock and put it on a shelf next to a small bottle of glass cleaner stuff.

And for the ear pro stuff, those are seriously amazing. I use them for shooting and have always loved them. One day I thought "huh, I wonder what a table saw sounds like while wearing these". Turns out pretty not bad. I normally end up just turning them on super low with earbuds in and they're comfy.

As others have mentioned, I use a Sena setup (one of the 10 series). Bit spendy, think it ran me around ~$150, but it's money well spent. Volume is pretty good w/o earplugs, but I almost always ride with these in, just with the little plug open, and it leaves me wanting just a little more volume when I'm going 70mph+ but for the most part am happy with it.

Microphone quality is outstanding. When I first got it my gf called me and I talked to her for 30m while riding and she thought I was at home just talking through the phone

Bonus of Sena too is a lot of people use it. Makes intercomming very easy

(I like the title change, thanks for taking my feedback!)

My review: I ordered three last time this was posted, received two very fast, the other was a preorder for the upcoming 3M replacement cups.

I definitely enjoy them. Like others have said, the glasses placement is kind of odd at first if you don't wear the ear pro the way Noisefighters recommend, but once you do, it makes a nice seal without glasses uncomfortably getting in the way.

While I personally prefer these with these over the Sightlines with the HL earpro (maybe my mind will be changed when the 3m ones come out!), as they create a seal on glasses very nicely even without the relief cuts, the Sightlines are still much cheaper and feels like the exact same comfortable gel material. The Sightlines are definitely worth the money, and light years ahead of the stock cups.

> But what else should I get her? Ammo, sure. How much ammo is enough to practice for a bit? I really have no idea.

For ammo you'll want two varieties: defensive ammo and training ammo. Quality defensive ammo usually comes in a 25-round box, priced around $15-$20. You'll probably want 2 boxes of this, one to practice with and another to keep loaded in the actual/ready magazine for defensive use. There's about a dozen excellent brands on the market, I like Critical Defense by Hornady, but all contemporary 9mm defensive ammo is pretty good.

For training ammo you can buy it online. Just look at gunbot.net and sort by price. There's 3 general types and they'll all work fine: steel case, reloaded/remanufactured, and bulk. You just gotta keep an eye out on the internet regularly and find whatever deal looks good - be aware of hidden fees in shipping rates. Generally ordering ammo online is cheaper than the store, but check with your local gun store as they might sell cheap stuff. There's some puritans out there who claim issues with different types of training ammo, especially steel case - this is because they're confused and think that modern steel case 9mm is corrosive like old WW2 bulk steel case ammo was corrosive. TulAmmo and BrownBear and Wolf should all run mostly fine in your wife's Glock.

Quantity is going to vary - but you certainly can't have too much. At least 200 rounds for the first outing is good. Have her start with the cheap ammo, then before the day is over switch to the defensive loads and fire a magazine or two - this is mostly to ensure if functions in her pistol, there's not a huge difference in how it handles.

If she goes to a class the instructor will recommend or sell the ammo.

> Does it require a case or anything? A cleaning kit?

Generally a "case" for a pistol is the holster. Your gun store will sell some cheap types of holsters, and just start her with a really cheap one. When she moves to concealed carry she'll probably upgrade to one that fits her preferences of how she wants to carry and where to carry.

For cleaning you'll just need a bore brush for cleaning the barrel and a general cleaner/lubricant. Your gun store will sell some, I'd recommend Break Free CLP; it's an all-in-one spray. You actually don't really need to clean Glocks until after ~500 rounds, that's when you'll have malfunctions due to a dirty gun.

> What else is absolutely essential to buy with this gun?

Hearing protection. These Howard Leight ear muffs are extremely popular - they'll work fine for training purposes - they also amplify quiet sounds, so if there is a thump in the night you can throw these on and hear someone breathing in the next room. I've never seen someone disappointed in these ear muffs. If she's spending a long day at the range she'll also want inner-ear plugs as well.

Welcome to one of the most expensive hobbies you'll ever get into. It's addictive. I recommend selling blood and semen. Mixed. Doesn't have to be your own. I'll answer your questions numerically.

1. When you go to pick up the gun you'll have to do a few things. Show ID to prove it belongs to you as well as fill out the 4473. The 4473 is the paperwork required for the NICS background check. It's easy to fill out and if you have ANY doubts or questions while filling it out, ASK QUESTIONS. Most gun stores would rather you ask questions than screw up the paperwork and have to use another copy. Hell, tell them it's your first time. Most places will help you.
   
   
2. The gun, if it's brand new (and sometimes used), will come in a box. You don't need a case for it. Depending on your state, they might require you to bring a lock, but more than likely, it'll come with one. Some states do not allow the factory lock because they're garbage and the state law is dumb. For most long guns though, you typically won't need it to take it home.
   
   
3. You can absolutely find low recoil slugs. There are other options, but that's just an example. Fiocchi does make good ammo.
   
   
4. If you're going to an indoor range, I HIGHLY recommend you double up on hearing protection. That means foam plugs properly seated into your ear canal AND over ear muffs. It's good to invest in a good set of electronic ones like these. They allow you to hear but when there's an audible noise above a threshold, they will muffle it. When putting in your foam plugs, make sure you roll them in your fingers then push them INTO your ear canal. Too many people just push them into their ear while they're puffed up and that does not create the seal required to protect your hearing.
   
   E. If you go to the range, do not be afraid to ask a range safety officer for tips or to help you. MOST RSO's are knowledgeable. Most.
   
   
5. You also want eye protection. Regular reading or sun glasses DO NOT COUNT. You want glasses rated for impact. If indoor, you don't want darkened lenses. I suggest regular ol' clear lenses. Affordable option.
   
   
6. ALWAYS obey the 4 rules of gun safety.

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.

>I'll order some locks from Home Depot

Good plan. I mean, if all you do is sit on your fanny all day while your wife does everything while you bitch about how she does it, that's about as lazy and unmotivated as you can get. The likelihood that he'll have the ooomf to drive 2 days or organize other transportation is remote. Unless of course his parents get sick of him and don't wish to finance his shitty lifestyle, he might come looking for what he thinks of as another meal ticket.

Also, if he decides to come banging on the door at 2 a.m., maybe some good hearing protection to help ignore him. I use these when I'm skeet shooting and let me tell you, they work great ;)

Honestly though, I just don't understand your (soon to be ex) husband. I like playing games occasionally, but almost always it's a social event in the same room with my two best friends. Like, there's always something to do. Stuff catches my eye and I do things - the other week I was cutting some wood in my back yard and there was a dead sapling, about 1 " diameter and pretty straight. A couple of days later I have a stained and varnished walking stick with a paracord handle. I can't imagine sitting on your butt 24/7 and not involving yourself in a variety of things, but that's just me.

I'm curious, were there signs of him becoming an entitled leech when you guys were dating or was it like a switch flipped when he got comfortable?

> I can't really recommend any cheap walkie talkies, but i can help with some of your other questions. The helmet rails are called ARC rails, and some things you may want for a helmet setup are any push to talk button with kenwood style pins for the baofeng, a set of hearing amplifiers/ comm headset like howard leight impact sports, and any 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable to connect the ptt to the howard leights so enemies can't hear your comms blaring out of the radio.

Thanks that helps a lot. I'm wondering though even without a license is anybody really going to care / would it even be a problem just using it for games every other weekend? Not like I'm gonna get a knock on the door from the cops about something like this am I? Won't other people in the games be using the same setup?

These helm attachments + Headset = yes? And just any radio really for example = all good to go?

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

Everyone can recommend you a bunch of items. How much are you wanting to spend?

He probably has hearing protection but if he just has buds, get some howard leight pros for $30. Also there are some generic bore snakes on amazon.

Howard Leights

.45 Pistol Boresnake

Shotgun Boresnake

and Midway has a really nice bag for a good price. They make different variations too if you want to look around.

That's all about $100 but it's a nice bag, ear protection, and some useful cleaning stuff but he'll still need patches and a cleaning kit. The shotgun would honestly be fine with just the bore snake especially if it's a pump at least for the time being unless he shoots a lot. Get something more pistol specific to keep that running nicely.

I frequently rely on things to adjust my hearing. Noise bothers the shit out of me.

I have a wireless bluetooth stereo headset. It connects to my phone. I can listen to music, or talk on the phone. Damn thing is awesome. Standing in line in a bank and the incessant babbling from other customers getting to you? No problem! Pop in the headphones, play Rage Against the Machine on the phone, and you are in your own little world. There is nothing like playing "This is the End" by the Doors over and over and over while shopping at Costco. It really changes the dynamic of the experience.

Or you can just shove them in your ears without music as a quick buffer against inane prattling from other humans/noisy machines.

---

I've got little foam earplugs. Each is a small foam cylinder/hot dog shape. You squeeze it in your fingers, shove in ear. It expands and really blocks the sound. You might need to get used to them, but once you do they are awesome for sleeping.

You can buy bags of these cheap - like a couple of bucks. They are semi-disposable. There apparently are different grades too - I once got a hold of some industrial ones with super-sound-suppression abilities that made me feel like I was deaf. It was a little freaky at first.

Some aren't foam - they are rubber. Some people like these better I guess.

Look in health and beauty isles, tool isles, or hunters/shooters use them too.

---

Speaking of shooters... I also have a few pairs of "headphone" sound suppressors. They come in all kinds of sizes and options and are a little easier to deal with than earplugs.

---

There is a new generation of devices available, and more to come. They play sound BUT they have tiny microphones near your ears that pick up ambient sound. That soundwave is sent to processors that instantly invert the wave and play it back on the earbuds. This is noise cancellation.

I don't own any of these, but I've had my eye on them for some time. There are a few kickstarter ones that I may buy at some point. My hope is they would allow me to control sound with my phone. For example - I could be in a noisy restaurant and adjust the headphones to play the sound from the person I am talking to, but block out all the other noisy shit in the room. Man that would kick ass.

If I'm going to work, I roll up my hi-vis vest and stuff it into my helmet with my gloves and put it in a locker at work. Out in public, I lock my helmet to my passenger peg with a pistol bore lock. Forgot what video I watched that someone used it, but it's been a life changer not having to carry a helmet around or leaving it unsecured on the bike. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJ2Z322/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YW2BzbK65F9WK

Also, I'd recommend some earplugs if you don't want to listen to music or if you're making a short trip somewhere. These are what I use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V2SS9G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pV2BzbM5W9MEA

If you do want to listen to music, a pair of Shure 215's are great if you don't want a communicator. They're considered monitors, so they have passive noise canceling and foam eartips to block outside noise. Plus they sound amazing, so when you're not on the bike, you have some quality headphones to listen to music with. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PNZFZ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_602BzbPVGC44Q

Those three things have made riding and commuting more enjoyable. And, they all fit in a small 5.11 pouch I have attached to my battery cover. Hope all this helps.

I know you don't want disposables, but these are my go to ear plug. I wear them pretty much every day and they're comfortable and not too expensive, and they're pretty great as far as NRR goes too. The reusable plugs I've had in the past tend to get really uncomfortable, and don't seem to block as much noise as these.

If you're looking for a muff recommendation, I really like my Peltor electronic ones for shooting, but I've never tried them in the shop. The NRR isn't as high as the Hearos disposables I like, but I prefer my muffs when shooting because they're electronic and still let you hear normal volume sounds before the protection circuitry kicks in and shuts the sound off.

I use the MSA Sordin supreme pro-X with gel-cups, but they're a bit pricey. https://www.amazon.com/MSA-Sordin-Supreme-Pro-Electronic/dp/B00QV33ZRK

Others swear by something like these: https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Amplification-Electronic-Earmuff-R-01902/dp/B007BGSI5U

Peltor got some as well: https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Tactical-Sport-Earmuff/dp/B000Q04MRG

I like the Sordin because A) They're comfortable, B) the profile makes them not be too much in the way for a proper cheekweld, and C) I think they have pretty damn good sound compared to the Peltor that I tried (it's easier to distinguish sound direction I think).

What's your budget?

You can ever go wrong with ammo. A package of some good defense ammo like Federal HST or Speer Gold Dots makes a good stocking stuffer.

Since he'll need to go to the range for practice (I sure hope so), get a good pair of ear protection like the Howard Leights.


A cheap range bag to carry ammo, gun, and ear/eye protection is a good gift too. Walmart has them for cheap.


Upgrades like night sights from Trijicon would be good on a carry gun. A good holsters and a proper gun belt are essentials as well.

I use "3M Peltor X-Series Over-the-Head Earmuffs". They work great, they're comfy, and $30.

• When I shoot outdoors, I use the X4A (Chartreuse, 27dB).
  
• When I shoot indoors, I use the X5 (Black, 31dB) or X4A with 3M Classic Earplugs, medium size.
  
• When I'm working on turbine engines, I use the foamy ear plugs and/or MSA HPE Cap Mounted Earmuff. (In case you want a hard hat mounted option.)
  
  ​
  
  I've tried a bunch of different earpro options. The most important thing is that the muffs seal around your ears... as best they can while wearing safety glasses. I always wear a baseball cap and Smith & Wessson Magnum 3G safety glasses. (Hot .22 brass inside your glasses really sucks.) For ear plugs, most people like the long skinny kind that you roll and stuff into your ear canal. They really bother me, so the only ones I like are the 3M classics. I even had some custom ear plugs made and they did not work at all. (And it's only a matter of time before you lose them.) Also make sure to clean reusable plugs between uses.
  
  ​
  
  I'm not a fan of electronic ear muffs, especially Howard Leight Low Profile. The speakers inside the muffs stand on my ears and they don't seal for crap. One of my buddies was using these and had a terrible flinch. I gave him the X4's his flinch was gone. I haven't tried any of the mid-range electronic ear muffs. The high end MSA Sordins are very nice and pretty effective, but I haven't got around to picking some up yet. The only time you really want electronic muffs is when you're doing a shooting class, and you need to listen to the instructor. (Or for hunting, I suppose.) For general BS'ing during shooting or listening to the Range Safety Officer, I can hear just fine.
  
  ​
  
  Another point about PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), don't take it off! Leave your ear plugs in and your glasses on so you don't lose or damage them. Ear muffs are easy to take off during cease fires.

Sorry for the long wait but here it is

Right strap yourself in this is probably going to be long one. It will help if you have some electronics knowledge and soldering skills. But don't worry if you don't, most of this it very basic, but a bit fiddly.

Also to note this is going to be based around the Kenwood style connector, this is what you find on most BeoFeng radios. If your radio uses a different type then you'll have to do some reverse engineering to find the pin out of that, you may find getting a speaker mic that useful for this, as they normal have a PCB inside thats labelled.

​

Parts list:

- Howard Light Impact Sports

- Antlion modmic 4 without mute

- 3.5mm audio Aux cable (length dependent on your setup, also get one with rubber insulation rather than a braided sleeve,it will only give you more problems later on)

- Wire strain reliefs (the correct size for your Aux cable & Kenwood Cable, I belive that I use 4mm)

- Zip ties

- Belt spring clip + screws and nuts to mount (Just M3 pan head screws & nuts will do, the included poppers are crap)

- Momentary on button

- Small electronics box

- Speaker mic or anything that has a compatible connector for your radio (I used a BaoFeng speaker mic as the kenwood connector is used on my rectervis radios).

- Breadboard

- wire

​

This will come to about £100 so it's defiantly cheaper to go with a reproduction unit, but I had a lot of these parts already and its a fun project.

First take a set of Howard Lights and pop off the black plastic piece that holds the foam padding over the driver on the side that has the 3.5mm aux socket.

Next cut a notch in the main body for the mic to sit in and and not block the black plastic piece. cut the wire on the mic down to size so that would reach the 3.5mm Aux socket but so you could still move it about to make soldering easier .

Then strip the insulation to expose the wires on the mic, these are excessive thin and have a coating on them that you will need to strip. I advise that you practice on the off cut so that you get a feel for it a few times as you don't want to find your mic wire being too short.

On the Aux socket you'll have 3 wires attached to that, ground(black), left audio & right audio(red & white, I never bothered to figure out which was which) . Desolder one of the audio wires and solder it on to the other. This means that any audio from the Aux socket will play through both ears but will only be a mono signal, which for this will be fine for us as the audio from the radio is mono anyway,and this won't affect the sound pass through of the headset.

​

**you're going to need a multi meter for this bit**

If you didn't know already audio jacks are normal spilt in to 3 or 4 sections these are called TRS & TRRS respectively, we should be dealing with the 3 sections kind, they are spilt up in to the Sleeve(S), Ring(R ) & Tip(T), inventive right.

A Kenwood connector is made up of 2 TRS jacks 1 3.5mm & 1 2.5mm. Fortunately I've done the hard work of figuring out how the pins are wired:

​

||2.5mm|3.5mm|
|:-|:-|:-|
|T|Speaker||
|R||Mic|
|S|Ground|Push To Talk|

You will need to check how you've wired your Aux port to know what wires need to go were, just plug in your Aux cable and do a continuity check for the tip and ring and the sleeve will be ground. For me I had the Mic wired to the Ring and the Speaker wired to the Tip.

Here is what my wiring layout looked like.

You want to strip down the insulation on the Kenwood cable and reveal the wires and find out what colour wires are which. You also want to measure out how long you need to leave your 3.5mm Aux wire and not cut it down to size leaving enough slack for your head to move and enough length of wire to solder and strip back the insulation and test to find out which wires are linked to which.

Now once you have figure out what colour wires are which you want to cut down a section of breadboard to the right size, if your a bit of a novice with a soldering iron, you will probably want to cut a larger section as it will make things easier for you. Then just solder all the wires on to the correct place, just to note it doesn't matter which way round the push button is soldered on. and you'll end up with something that looks a bit like this

Now you can just zip tie the ends of the wires inside of the box to stop them from popping out and move the point of stress to the insulation of the wire rather than on the solder joints.

I would suggest doing a continuity test from jack to jack to ensure that nothing is shorting (wrong point to point) and that everything is connected to were it should be.

We should be good now to plug it all together and give it a test, it should all be working, you should be receiving audio in both ears of the head set, and when the push button is depressed you should be transmitting from the microphone.

Once your happy with that and only when, cover all your solder joints with a bit of hot glue to again stop anything from bouncing around and causing a short on it, in particular on the Aux port on the head set and the breadboard. we also want to fix the microphone in place with some hot glue and make sure the hole is filled so no water can get in. I also added some foam to the headset just it increase the noise deadening effect.

all done, you should have something that looks a bit like this also I have seen a video on youtube that shows you how to add rail mounts to them so you can mount them on a helmet which I haven't tried yet but will be soon hopefully

Full Album Of Reference Photos

Protip: If you're not ready to invest in proper molds (you really should), these mold them at home earplugs are the best thing I found as an interim solution.

I bought a bunch of them for our junior staff and management and they really are great, as long as you mold them properly.

You drop them in hot water to soften them up, mold them, then let them harden. If you screw it up, you can just put them in hot water again.

There is a cheaper version as well, but it has a different insert that cuts with a curved response, so isn't as good for audio, but still way better than "fits all" earplugs, or nothing.

Seriously, I'm a 40+ year old audio guy as well and I can tell you that, as I get older, I'm super happy that we have accessible analyzer tools now, because my ears certainly aren't what they used to be.

Did you notice the part where they have microphones that amplify all the sounds that aren't gunshots? Howard Leight makes a set like that, but they're fifty bucks. The set you linked aren't really comparable.

That said, the $50 HL set are pretty good. I'd recommend some foam ear plugs and cranking the amplification all the way up. You can hear people talk and feel pretty safe about your hearing.

Are those skull candy in-ear headphones?...sonic defenders are pretty great but normal foamie ear pods work better, whichever generic flavor you prefer (on a sound decibel level that is, but not for reuse) personally I love the impact sports ear muffs as they can let you hear range commands/whats going on around you while providing protection. Im sure you already know that though/for those looking into improving ear pro its something often over looked

I highly recommend these ear plugs.

They don't muffle sounds and only lower the volume once it gets to harmful volume levels. You can hear safe volumes about 90% as clearly as normal.

They're reusable and come with a case. They're very easy to put in. They fit great under a helmet. And they're inexpensive especially when compared to custom molded earplugs.

I wear them while riding and at music concerts. They work great.

Haven't used them with big guns, but the Howard Leight Impact Sports are pretty good.

Just got them, and in the past two times I've gone they're okay. I like doubling up with my in-ears in and the muffs overtop.

Just remember, your hearing isn't going to get any better, so going overkill on protection isn't a terrible thing.

In-ear plugs (foam) work great but only if you insert them correctly. Pinch and roll them between your fingers (not twist, just compress) and insert them while using your opposite side hand to pull upwards on your ear (ie for your right ear use your right hand to insert the plug while using your left hand to pull upwards on the tip of your ear). This opens your ear more and allows for a more effective seal.

For over the ear hearing pro (non-aviation headset) I like the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 (link below). They're electronic so you can still easily ear nearby voices but they filter out loud noises. If the batteries die they still work as they block noise via passive noise reduction. I use them in indoor shooting ranges.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W56YRWJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Might be the best age to take them, IMO. Their memories from it should be of the big loud trucks. My dad always took me to the races on the weekend, Stock Cars and Motocross. At 3, those were some great memories. Later on, kind of pros/cons. Racing culture is not the most family friendly in my area and trouble was easy to find.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Junior-Earmuff-Blue/dp/B0015UX2EK

I bought the above ear protection for my son when he was a new born, they still fit great. I think he should be able to use them until he is between 6 and 8?

For shooting I recommend these two hear protection options. You don't need both but with both you cover pretty much every situation. From very loud, to a guest shooter to indoor and shooting prone with a rifle.

Over the ear with low level noise amplification | Howard Leight Impact Sport | $47.97 | Amazon

and

In the ear comfortable and cheap | SureFire EarPro EP6 | $13.99 Prime | Amazon

Although maybe not quiet BIFL they are pretty darn close. Both come very very highly rated. Both are loads better than the foam hearing protection.

I use helmet speakers and SureFire EP4 earplugs. Can't wear headphones in both ears in CA, so I opted for speakers.

Sound quality is pretty good, but obviously not as good as headphones. I'm satisfied with it though, it allows me to hear everything around me as long as the plugs are out.

I use them in a rf-1200 and they fit perfectly.

iASUS XSound 3 High Definition Helmet Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MV2ZLHC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_q9uaAb7NVVWW1

SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus filtered Earplugs, triple flanged design, reusable, Black, Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DH0YOS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E-uaAb7ANJXBB

I have [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NAG4WX2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) they're great. They're infinitely more comfortable than the home depot specials (which I own many of). The great thing is you can actually understand an R/O at crowded indoor range.

Edit to Add: The Howard Leight's that everyone else is talking about in the thread are a great option as well.

They cost more ($44 right now on Amazon), but the Peltor Rangeguard have been more comfortable, for me. The first review on that page does a great job of comparing the two.

If anyone has an issues with the seal or comfort of the Impact Sports, I'd suggest giving the Rangeguards a try.

Always double up. Electronic muffs over earplugs.

Not only do you get better protection, but crank the muff volume up and you can hear basically normally and enjoy how funny everyone else sounds talking with earplugs in.

Howard Leight Impact Sports are only $36 at Amazon

Buy foam plugs in bulk they're less than $0.10 a pair.

You'd have to be a super mega cheapskate to blow your hearing over saving the cost of 1 box of ammo.

Find something that's heavy at the end, heavier than your rifle, and shoulder it a bunch of times just like you would your rifle. Do this for a few weeks and you'll increase your strength.

As to hearing protection, I recommend doubling up with equipment like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DH65RI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You'll still be able to hear perfectly without doing damage to your ears.

>Are the 250+ dollar ones worth it to a casual shooter?

I am not a casual shooter and they aren't even worth it to me.

Howard Leight Impact Pro is what I use most of the time.

If I'm at an indoor range then I'll double up using In Ear Plugs under my muffs.

The Howard Leights can make cheek welds a bit weird, generally, this doesn't affect me much but if I'm doing some bench shooting and I need to hold a great weld for a long time then I'll just use my in earplugs and forgo any muffs.

99% of the time though I use the muffs.

Also, if your muffs don't have gel cups - get some. They make a HUGE difference and are 500% worth the $30-50 you'll spend. Currently I'm using Noisefighter's Sightlines - these have a shelf cut for glasses. Very happy with them.

I started wearing [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417815860&sr=8-1&keywords=howard+leight+impact+sport) last year and love them.

They have volume control so I don't have to worry about being able to communicate with other hunters and they allow you to actually increase your hearing volume if necessary (can hear passing birds better with them on). As soon as you shoot, they limit the sound to 82 dB. Really a great option and they are not bulking. Added benefit is that they help keep your ears warm on cold days.

>Do I need to get ear protection for a .22? If so, any suggestions?

Yes absolutely. .22 will wreck your hearing. Howard Leight Impact Sports (and ear plugs underneath if you want) are awesome,snd worth every penny of $40. Plus unless you're out inda woods, you're likely going to have other people shooting near you.

>What eye protection is the best? (What do y'all use/what's your favorite pair of goggles)?

I wear $10 Remington's I bought at Cabelas. Just make sure the ear loop thing is flat so it slips under muffs without breaking the seal.

>How long should I wait before getting a scope?

Depends on preference and what you're doing with it. Scopes are not all that necessary on .22's if you have good iron sights like Tech Sights.

>Should I store it vertically? (Corner of a closet)?This is my first gun, so I don't have a safe, would under my bed work? (I did get a case for it)

Doesn't matter. Careful storing guns in cases, the foam can trap moisture and rust the gun over time.

>I'm a first generation gun owner in my family, I'd like to be responsible with firearms, if I missed anything important, please say, I'd love to hear suggestions on how I can be responsible with guns.

Haunt Wikiarms and Gunbot for cheap ammo, set a text alert if necessary.

Tech Sights, Uncle Mikes quick detach sling studs and swivels (you need the 1.25" set of swivels), USGI sling, 3 ten round mags.

Attend an Appleseed event to learn to shoot.

Good earmuffs will have 20-25dB reduction. Most handguns and shotguns go "bang" in the 160dB region, while 140dB is the general threshold for permanent damage. Note that you can stack hearing protection (wearing -22dB earmuffs over -25dB earplugs will be about -47dB reduction edit it's not additive, but it helps). For general indoor shooting sessions, a single set of -20dB ear pro should be sufficient, you can add more at your option.

The favorite recommendation around here is the Howard Leight Impact Sport. They're compact and slim, have excellent noise reduction, can amplify outside noise while blocking gunshots, and let you pipe in audio using a headphone jack. They're also like $50, which is great since most earmuffs this good cost $300+.

Skinny, slight dip out near the bottom. Looks like a peltor design, maybe these? The ones in the link look a bit too thick to be the same ones in the photo but it does look like they're a peltor design. I personally own a pair of the shotgunner muffs, they're pretty awesome.

Look, best your gonna get for ear buds. Slick design where you can't even see them in your ears, optional cable if you want, optional plug on them either full 26db hearing protection or unplugged and it filters noise past 85db which is the form I use for shows. I'm on my third pair of these. Trust me, you will love them. Way better than the other posted here (tried those)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001V2SS9G/ref=mp_s_a_1_23?qid=1464727411&sr=8-23&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Ear+plugs

Taking an introductory gun safety/technique course like the NRA First Steps Pistol course would definitely be a huge help to you. Look for one in your area.

Answers to your questions:

1. There is no danger to simply loading the magazines. The rounds will not go off unless you put a loaded magazine in the gun, rack the slide, and pull the trigger. I do not recommend putting a loaded magazine in the gun until you are more familiar with gun safety and handling.
   
   
2. Having an unloaded gun/magazines in a case with the ammo stored separately is legally the "safest" way to transport a firearm to the range. Keeping everything empty and the ammo separate will avoid any potential hassle, though your local laws may allow you to transport a loaded mag/gun.
   
   
3. Keep everything cased until you're at your port. It's likely a rule at the range and if it isn't, it's just good safety practice.
   
   
4. I suggest you invest in quality eye protection that meets MIL-PRF-31013 standards for ballistic protection. Eye protection that meets this standard will do a MUCH better job of protecting your eyes than ANSI Z87/regular eyeglasses will. This test sums it up pretty well. The TLDR is that the commonly seen ANSI Z87+ standard that most inexpensive eye protection is tested to isn't very relevant to the kinds of projectiles and velocities shooters deal with, and will have a much greater chance of failing when you need it the most. I like the Smith Aegis Echo because they fit extremely well under my favorite earmuffs.
   
   
5. Observe the rules of gun safety at ALL times. Bring/buy at least twice as much ammo as you think you'll need. Have fun.

The foam ones are great. I found it a little disorienting at first but it didn't take long to get used to it. If you want to go a little fancier I've had good luck with these or these

Also, check your local laws. Here in California there's a specific exemption for earplugs, but that may not be the case everywhere. Not that you should let that compromise your safety.

Remember that a big part of Disneyland magic is how you're feeling and not what you're doing. So if you spend 2 blissful hours on Tom's Island and miss the parade, that's a win.

My two year old got a lot of magic out of seeing TV characters in real life. So we'd watch Mr. Toad then go on the ride. He calls it MATCH UP.

Christmas happens on Nov 12 and last night I noticed snow on the castle, Mansion is holiday-themed, and Candy Palace had pumpkin fudge.

For lines, try to keep him engaged. Talk to people near you, complement strangers and talk with them. Hearing protection can help on rides, shows, and with overstimulation.

I'd suggest Disneyland on Friday and DCA on Saturday. Use Mousewait App today and tomorrow and each Friday and Saturday for the next few weeks to see what crowds are like on each day.

My fiance has Misophonia. She sits at the table with me now. Growing up, her family would eat in one room and she would eat alone. I didn't enjoy that.


Things your partner can do:

• Wear ear plugs - this by far has worked the best for us. She can still hear me talk through them.
  
• Meal plan- Have your partner put together a list of food to eat for dinner during the week. You may not know all the foods that irritate him, but he does.
  
  If this doesn't sound realistic, you can just have him make a list of foods that especially irritate him, then avoid making them. Things like Potato Chips are banned from our meal plan.
  
  
  Things you can do:
  
  
• Play Background noise - If you don't enjoy music, maybe get a white noise app on your phone or a machine. We have a google home that we tell to play music whenever we eat.
  
• Sit next to each other, not across: This way they will not see you chewing, and will irritate them less
  
• Don't get upset - Possibly the most important one. They can't control their response to the stimuli. It's a neurological disorder much like autism and the best strategy to deal with it is to remain calm and react patiently. They can't control their anger but we can control our response.
  
  Hope that helps!

I like Decibullz. 25 bucks from Amazon for a really high level of protection (says 31dB). They work kind of like a mouthguard, where you put them in hot water and then press them into your ear and leave them there for a few minutes to harden. Mine are super comfortable, I've tried a lot of brands and find myself fucking around with them constantly, where the Decibullz I can put in and they stay in place perfectly.

for the ear pro, get some electronic ones for the outer layer, and you can crank up the volume so you can still hear somewhat. I have these, and they're excellent

if the gun is in mint condition and you want to keep it that way, I'd say get a cheap hard case. I have some cheap ones and some expensive ones, and I'd say there's not much benefit to an expensive case unless you're protecting a delicate optic

as far as I know, any type of gun oil should be sufficient for any rifle.

I removed cosmo from my milsurps by soaking the metal bits in windex, but there are plenty of effective methods. I didn't bother with the wood though so can't help you there

tipton makes excellent cleaning products, I have their .30 cal carbon fiber rod and am satisfied

to avoid rusting during storage, give all the metal parts a light coat of oil before storage, and inspect it every week or two. I've been told that the foam in a hard case will attract moisture, so maybe store it outside the case

I use these. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NAG4WX2/
I've had the Howard Leights as well. These are smaller and lower profile. I find them more comfortable, too. The electronics work great. I play CQB and Thunder B's are hella loud in there. This works great for that.
Use them for real guns and using my miter and table saws, too. 10/10 would buy again.

Well. Lets start on gear.

Gun - something basic to learn with.
Glock 17 - $499, lets call it $550 with transfer and shipping. These can also be gamed out with trigger kits and slides and barrels and titanium sex aides.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_43/products_id/13704/Glock+G17+G3+17%2B1+9mm+4.48%22

Mags - Going to want to get 4 extra of these to shoot production.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/930445055/glock-magazine-gen-4-glock-17-34-9mm-luger-polymer-black


Holster - No point in buying a holster twice.

Very good production holster. Can remove the drop for IDPA.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1387193018/blade-tech-doh-dropped-and-offset-belt-holster-glock-17-22-31-asr-loop-kydex-black

Mag Pouches - Basic but can be upgraded. 5 of these

http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4116.php

Eye / Hearing Protection - Basic, wear earplugs + these when shooting indoors. The linked page has decent eye protection recommended at the bottom.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687702&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001E8PPM0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RVZCWMEQWMC71GH34YG

Belt/Clothing - Shoot what you have or buy what you will eventually want.

http://www.crspeed.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SUPERHITORQUEBELT

(FOR IDPA, PICK ONE) http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=idpa+vest&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=40067038687&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13085732033880745886&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1ckj1d00h9_b


Now, for where to start.

Find a local club google something along the lines of USPSA (city name). Or use the USPSA's tool.

http://www.uspsa.org/locate-uspsa-clubs.php

You didn't mention your shooting experience, but if you have never shot a pistol before don't go expecting to shoot your first time. Your going to need to learn to shoot safely and relatively accurately first. Your also going to want to spend some time dry firing (practicing with your pistol and gear with no ammo) before going to shoot a match. People at a match are very friendly with rookies and would be happy to help, buy you are expected to have a solid understanding of your pistol and be able to shoot somewhat accurately.

Like mentioned earlier, if you can find steel challenge in your area, start there. No movement and you can get some practice drawing and shooting under time constraints.

Once you get really good and start winning, do not expect any payoffs 0.001 percent of shooters can make a career out of this.

Respond to my post if you have any questions and I can try to answer.

I bought the Peltor sport tactical and I really like them. They are very comfortable for me and the sound amplification is really clear and much better than the howard light impacts. (Then again they are ~$80 more) They also have a 26 NRR as opposed to the 22 of the impacts. The bluetooth worked just find out of the box and was easy to setup.

+1 on the Peltor ComTac 3's.

If you have the money, i'd definitely recommend the ComTac's (no mic version).

My first pair of electronic ear pro were Howard Leights, and my second pair were MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X's.

Out of all of them, the Sordin's and ComTac's were the comfiest, they both had gel cups, so that was a major factor. Besides being super comfy, gel ear cups also do a much better job of sealing around your ears, and around the frame of your eye pro.

I'd say start out with a set of Howard Leight's, and if you shoot indoors, double up with some foam ear plugs under them. I never shoot indoors, so i usually don't double up, unless i know i'll be shooting a lot unsuppressed.

Oooh, have fun at your course! That sounds interesting! I only just figured out how to "copy and paste" in photoshop.

These earplug things because I can't study with lots of noise around

Less needed:

Han Solo Decal to scare off potential intruders

Cow Abduction Calendar - Because it's awesome

This book because I hope to do an after-degree in statistics and it seems useful

This movie because Halloween is coming!

Thanks for hosting this contest! <3

Ammo: I buy Federal white box FMJs for pistols and shit-tier Tula steel-cased for my AR-15. If you don't want to debase your rifle with the steel shit, American Frontier makes some cheap brass-cased ammo.

Gun safe: Here's a primer. I'm getting a cheap locking cabinet from Gander over the weekend - I just want something to keep my kids outta my guns, and the old 'hide it in a locked box on a high shelf' thing doesn't make me comfortable.

Extra mags: Yes. Buy from the pistol's manufacturer, or for AR-15s, I like PMags.

Reloader tool: Looking for like a magazine loader? They're good to have. I've never had a problem manually loading mags tho.

Range bag: yes. Bigger is better.

Holster: Safariland makes best-in-class holsters for all occasions.

Safety gear: I double up my hearing protection (muffs AND plugs). I use these for muffs, and whatever is cheap for plugs. I use my eye glasses as eye pro.

Also - you will want a soft bag for your pistol/rifle for transport to and from the range.

Does it matter if the headset has an integrated microphone for radio broadcast? If not, here's my setup:

Baofeng UV-5R > Retevis PTT Shoulder Mic > 3.5mm Male-to-Male headphone cable (that comes with the headset) > Howard Leight Impact Sport headset

Audio goes into the headset (which is electronically amplified so you can hear perfectly fine while wearing them) and I use the PTT to talk to whoever. Works pretty well, just need to get myself a better antenna so I can get more range out of my radio. Lots of trees and hills at my field that limit my range.

Sure thing!

CZ P-07 (obviously) with 5 magazines

The Wilderness Frequent Flyer Belt 5-stitch 1-1/2" (looks a bit more casual than the usual instructor belt people wear, plus it's a bit cheaper)

Bladetech IDPA Competition Shooters Pack(Pretty good deal for a holster and mag pouch. I own a Bladetech Nano as well sometimes substitute that if I feel like practicing IWB. Most of Bladetech's products are available for CZ's, which is a nice change from other companies who tend to ignore them)

Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic earpro(Almost everyone wears these, basically the standard)

Columbia Royce Peak Cargo Pants(Most comfortable pants I've ever owned. I use them for both work and shooting)

Casio W-214HC-4AVCF(You probably don't care, just being thorough!)

Ah, good to know. I have heard good things about the Razor Slim (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AAH8CMA), and these look like the same earmuffs but with bluetooth. So if you still wanted slimmer earmuffs, the Razor Slim is probably the best.

I haven't had any issue getting the Impact Pros to seal, but like I said they are big and bulky.

I'd recommend getting some spare magazines. Will make range sessions a lot more productive if you're not constantly stopping to reload your empty magazines.

Downside is Ruger is pretty proud of their SR series magazines, though you can often find the 2 packs on sale somewhere.

Also, get some good shooting glasses and hearing protection. Something with active hearing like the Howard Leight Impact Sports or something along those lines. It attenuates the noise of gunfire, but allows you to hear range commands and converse with instructors or other people on the range.

And you'll need a good range bag to carry the gun, ears, eyes, magazines, ammo, staple gun (for outdoor ranges that don't have retractable target holders) , gun wipes, UpLula magazine loader - trust me on this one, your thumbs will thank you.

I'd get the range bag first, at the very least, if money's a bit tight after the holiday spendathon. You can fill it with the other goodies later.

NRR of 22 is very low, IMHO.

For slightly more, here are NRR 30's:
Howard Leight R-01902 Impact Pro Electronic Shooting Earmuffs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007BGSI5U/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_tVLJub19BQAXD

My go to is the Peltor Ultimate 10 - a $16 NRR 30 non-electronic muff. On the electronic side, I've been using Pro Ears with an NRR of 30 but I think I'm going to pick up the HL's above.

Maybe it is just my experience, but with 22's I have had to wear foams underneath.
Foams are cheap and easy to find at >NRR 30, so that is what I set as my baseline for muffs. I won't sacrifice my long term hearing (or what's left of it, what?) for convenience. I love Peltor, I just wish they would step up to 30 on the electronic side.

I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NAG4WX2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Peltor Sport Tactical 100. They're really comfortable, have an auto-shutoff and active noise cancelling that can be adjusted for different levels of sensitivity, say if you're at an indoor range vs outdoor. I tested them for home defense by setting a youtube video to play in my living room while I was in a different part of the house. Picked up the sound just fine, like I wasn't even wearing them. I'd recommend 'em.

First layer of protection: ear plugs. I use these.

Second layer of protection: electronic ear muffs, either the Howard Leight Impact Sports or the 3M Peltor Sport Tactical. Both work fine and choice is determined by which fit your head better. I tried the Impact Sports and they wouldn't seal right around my ears so I got the Peltors instead and they're perfect.

Don't forget eye protection too...

Modern ear plugs can work just as well or even better than large muffs/cans.

I use Surefire EP4s on the range, and even my Ar-15 is attenuated to a safe and comfortable level, and they're very unobtrusive.
Would recommend.

SureFire Sonic Defenders are my go-to ear plugs as an audio engineer and person who spends a lot of time in loud situations. They aren't your average foam plugs, which actually do muffle the sound a lot. These babies just turn everything down by almost 30db. And they're much more comfortable than some of the other brands I've tried; they're made of silicone so they're very flexible. They're also pretty stylish, and most of their models have color options for different skin tones (though not as much variety as I would like) Looking at their website, they're marketed towards people who hunt or spend a lot of time at the gun range, but they obviously will work in every loud setting. I'm seeing several of their models on Amazon for less than $20, which is great considering one pair will last you at least half a year if you don't let them get too caked up with wax.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V2SS9G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_42nXAbQ254YF5

I'm looking for a nicer pair of ear pro as a gift for my best man, I'll probably be looking to buy for cyber monday unless there is a solid deal beforehand. Looking for something in the 40-80 range, I'm considering these at the $45 range but would love to hear any thoughts.

Great! Here’s the ones I use. Just takes some AA batteries to run, and they don’t really chew through them that quick. I hope they help, please let me know if they do!

Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff, Black (R-02524) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G8POKMY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TM2ZAb98W36QR

Yes, you can buy a pair on amazon for like $35. being able to hear conversations next to you while remaining hearing-safe is a great safety feature. they block sound 100% of the time and have battery microphones that pick up sound so even if they dont have power they still protect you.

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Amplification-Electronic-R-01526/dp/B001T7QJ9O

$32.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CS1A6M6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_frkCzbG7NZE4K

Super comfortable, two levels of protection and won't come out. I got them for tunnel use but now I take them to the sky as well. I keep the plug open so I can still hear if anyone were to yell during canopy flight. Keeping the plug open probably also helps with pressure while still providing adequate protection.

For the price, I'd recommend anyone try them and see how they feel about it.

I second the electronic earmuff recommendation. I personally use this pair and have been very happy with it for about five years now. I always turn the "mic volume" knob all the way to max but also wear a pair of (properly seated) ear plugs underneath, which makes for a perfect amount of gunshot dampening while also letting me hear speech around me. I don't use the 3.5mm jack to listen to anything, but I imagine playing sounds from a phone would get OP the desired effect they're looking for. Earmuffs also shouldn't be a regulated product anywhere so OP could buy them at home and travel in and out of the states with them without hassle.

Peltors/Liberators are absolutely top notch if you can snag an issued pair, but they are prohibitively expensive if you're to buy your own. Unless you need to interface with a radio just get a pair of Howard Leights off amazon (you can still use with a hand mic though), they are about $50 and fit under an ACH just fine. https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Amplification-Electronic-R-01526/dp/B001T7QJ9O/


Otherwise just run some cheapo foam earplugs, buy a 40 pack or whatever and change them out as needed.

what are the best passive noise cancelling over-ear headphones? I'm honestly considering getting these for being able to study and stuff in loud areas. I've tried on the Skullcandy crushers as well and they seem to do a good job of muffling outdoor sound although I know their sound quality isn't the best. My Audio Technicas just don't block out sound and I can't afford ~$300 Bose ANC headphones and I can't wear IEMs

I guess that's kind of my point. Any earplug with a 32db rating is is what I use. I'm most interested in protecting my hearing and don't care if they show. I've used

3M 92059-80025T Disposable Earplugs, 80-Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I7LH8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e4gMyb75D28FZ

EarPlugs 50 Pair Orange Soft Foam Value Individually NRR 32DB Sleep Travel Noise https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0QAL99/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_T5gMybC6DYPPY

Hearos Ultimate Softness Bulk Pack Ear Plugs 20-Pairs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006BZ1KKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_c7gMybTMNGQPG

With excellent success.

I snagged these on sale for under $40. One of the best hunting related purchases I've ever made. They have a pick up mic on both sides, so you can determine direction of sounds. The electronics actually work like a hearing aid. You could hear a mouse fart in the next room.

Most importantly, they are super low profile so they don't need with your cheekweld.

Amazon Link

Do these look good? My friend had us use them, but we also added foam earplugs under them when firing his AR-15. Is that what you mean by foamies?


Do I need some kind of special brush or tool with the CLP cleaner? Thanks for all the help!

I love the relatively inexpensive howard leight folding muffs. Me and three other guys I go to the range with all use them and its wonderful to be able to talk to each other and still protect our hearing.

<$50 and we have not had any problems after over a year of use
http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289789726&sr=8-1

I love the Surefire brand in the ear plugs. The ones with the triple flange ear piece. I wear them under Peltor brand electronic earmuffs and my wife and I can still talk while at the range. I’ve also owned Howard Leights and they are good to go too as long as you don’t leave them out in the rain haha.


https://www.amazon.com/SureFire-Defenders-filtered-Earplugs-reusable/dp/B004DH65RI/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=surefire+ear+plugs&qid=1574204691&sr=8-4

Keep an eye on tacswap. I found my dual comm online at a pawn shop for $235 shipped. Mint.

For value the 3M Sport T-100 is a good value, I have a set. Way better than Howard Leights, IMO. I’ve seen them as low as $39 from time to time.


Peltor Sport Tactical 100 Electronic Hearing Protector, Ear Protection, NRR 22 dB, Ideal for Shooting and Hunting
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAG4WX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FtpnDb4QGRCX1

>Electronic muffs are fine no matter what.

Uh, no. Most electronic muffs on the market have a lower NRR than their non-electronic counterparts, meaning they provide less noise reduction and therefore less hearing protection. That fact alone means there are situations where electronic muffs will be the inferior choice.

A popular electronic muffs like Howard Leight Impact Sports only have a NRR of 22db compared to passive muffs like these from Decibel Defense with an NRR of 37db. Since decibel scales are logarithmic, a difference of 12db is a big deal. An increase of 3db means a doubling of noise intensity, so the 12db difference between the two represents an over tenfold increase in intensity. That's a significant difference.

Electronic muffs can be fine in many situations when used properly, but they're definitely not fine "no matter what". There are absolutely situations where there are better choices and shooting indoors with a lot of other people that you don't need to communicate with is one of them.

comtac IIs are discontinued

nm try the Peltor tac sports. The military/police Peltors are going to be way outside of your budget and you dont need prc153 hookups anyways. Your best bet is still to just double up with plugs and muffs, electronic muffs were designed to be used along with plugs if need be. If you get the peltors get the gel ear seals. They conform a lot better than foam seals and are a lot more comfortable to boot.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q04MRG/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p469_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=1PAE3HYQQX7VAGAFYQN7&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1935655082&pf_rd_i=desktop

Are you married to .45 as a caliber? .45s tend to be more expensive and larger. I'm not saying it's a bad caliber, and you can get a quality .45 within your budget, but it's gonna be really, really tough to get a quality .45 and a belt and a holster and classes and ear protection.

Let's break down the costs a little bit:

XDS .45 for $399 - not sure what your transfer fees and shipping will be, but we can assume it'll be probably $50

Alien Gear holster - some people will complain about these, but for a $45 holster, they can't be beat.

Their belt is $60 and I've heard good things about that as well. A lot of people like Beltman here but those are almost twice as expensive. These are leather (on the outside), if you'd rather have tactical looking bullshit it's about the same price.

Electronic hearing protection for $40 - these things are really popular and for good reason. You could just use normal earplugs or cheapo ear protection instead but you'll probably end up buying these eventually anyway.

You're up to $594 and we haven't even bought ammunition, spare magazines, or any classes yet. You could skimp on ear protection but $40 is about 150 rounds of .45, and probably not enough for a class.

Personally I think it's better to buy once, cry once. If you've got $600 set aside now, it might be better to get the gun that you really want and some ammo, and practice at the range with it. Then see how much you've got next month, and if you're doing alright, grab a holster and belt, or just a holster, and the month after that you can get some training. That sort of thing.

Yep, Howard Leight Impact Sport muffs. They work great and have been worth every penny.

They've also survived some pretty nasty weather for me - rain, snow, etc. without any problems.

http://www.amazon.com/Surefire-Sonic-Defender-1-Pair-Medium/dp/B004DH65RI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417546652&sr=8-1&keywords=surefire+earplugs

Love these!! work great! reusable, can still talk to others, can still hear ducks, you are able to tell where the sound is coming from (electronic ones dont let you detect directions of sounds), and they don't hit your gun when you mount it. I carry several when i go out.

I use these SureFire ones https://www.amazon.com/SureFire-Defenders-Filtered-Earplugs-Reusable/dp/B011B34AUU (they actually have a couple of different models). I find them to not make everything as muffled as the disposable foam ones, but work pretty decently when shooting. Especially with the relatively low number of shots you'll be taking while upland hunting, they might be a good option for you. I would like a pair of electronic earbuds myself, though, just don't want to fork over the dough.

I use these http://amzn.com/B0006968YM 3M Peltor SV Tactical Pro Hearing Protector, they are expensive, but work a lot better than the Howard Leight electronic ones.

I also use them with this http://amzn.com/B004DH65RI Ear Pro By Surefire 4 Sonic Defender Ear Plugs.

This is for an indoor range, great protection for AR fire, but shotguns are still a little rough, though we don't get too many at my range.

Your number one priority should be to buy a GOOD pair of glasses (ANSI or ballistic Vo rated) and a GOOD pair of earmuff/plugs.

I'd look for Elvex Avion or Go-Specs II and Howard Leight Impact Sport earmuffs for something good and inexpensive.

Electronic ear muffs are great. It's hard to beat the Howard Leight Impact Sport for the money, but they gave me a headache after wearing them all day at matches. I use custom molded plugs and a set of MSA Sordin's now and they're well worth the $$$ for me.

As far as eye pro, it really depends on what kind of shooting you do. A decent set of glasses with 3-5 interchangeable lenses is really nice to have.

I use Howard Leight electronic shooting muffs. They're super low profile and when you turn them on full blast, you can hear people talking and walking through the brush super far away. Or you can tune the volume to normal hearing level and you won't even remember you're wearing them. Two AAA batteries and they've lasted me playing six days of playing for six to eight hours at a time as well as going out shooting about a dozen times for a couple hours at a time.

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O

Foam disposables are great and all, but I just got a pair of these and they are fucking amazing. No problems with your helmet pulling them out, they seal off perfectly, and are comfortable for long rides. Oh, and no more pinching and rolling.

Neat. But where... that's just an imgur link...

ninja edit: I gotcha, OP. Just checked Amazon/camelcamelcamel for shitsngiggles. Not the lowest ever, but $39 is pretty good.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

ninja ninja edit: The teal ones are $37

This is pretty much my current kit. I was testing out the look and fit in the pic so forgive the lack of morale patches and stuff. Helmet is just a OneTigis bump helmet. It does what I need it to do and is fairly comfy with room for ear protection if I want to run it. I use the quick-release clips in the helmet for my facemask which I cut the straps on to integrate onto the helmet. I've also since gotten some swivel goggle clips and attached a pair of tan Lancer Tactical goggles to it so everything is all hooked into the helmet but you can just wear Goggles over the helmet without any issues. I often wear a balaclava underneath the facemask for comfort and warmth. I picked up a GoPro NVG mount too in case I want to run my GoPro at a game.

Agreed. You need to be very careful not to damage your ears by trying to drown out your mower. It's very easy to play something too loud doing this.
I am not an expert but it looks like there is sound protection earmuffs that also serve as earphones. This would probably be safer. Not sure if this a perfect solution as I have not used these but they are on my list.
Search amazon for "electronic earmuff".

Here is one highly rated example

If you have access to electronic ear muffs as well, those are AMAZING for first timers. (and, i mean, awesome in general, I find).

Whats nice is that they can still hear you relatively fine, but the shots are muffled.

I got a pair of these and it really, really reduces the "What did you say??" usually accompanied by starting to turn around while holding a loaded firearm.

Highly recommended.

One option is earplugs PLUS earmuffs like these. First put in the earplugs, then the earmuffs over the top. That's like 60-70 decibels of reduced incoming sounds. Add some white noise from an app on top of that if you really want to go for it. Really does help me to focus inwardly.

Or you know, you could just go to the library and meditate there.

https://www.amazon.com/SureFire-Defenders-filtered-Earplugs-reusable/dp/B004DH65RI/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=surefire+ep4&qid=1573408353&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-4


Sorry, Surefire, not Shure.

They have different sizes, I got medium. There's better options out there I'm sure, but again, on solo hunts I can hear ducks whistle behind me, quack from a fair distance, and I've gotten used to calling with them in. For $15 it's a good option.

I use these a few times a month in competitions and love them. Have had good luck with Howard Leight.

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

You're getting excellent "first gun" advice, but I'd like to offer a slightly different answer based on your specific question. In order, I'd say:

• A Smith & Wesson M&P Sport, the most basic entry-level good quality AR.
  
  
• A box of foam earplugs and a set of Howard Leights (you'll be doubling-up on hearing protection).
  
  
• A whole mess of 30-round Magpul P-Mags
  
  
• A bulk order of inexpensive .223 / 5.56mm ammo from an online store like SGAmmo.
  
  A .22 is a really good starter rifle because of light recoil and low ammo cost. But if you're concerned about politics and want to get a proper carbine squared away, an AR is actually also a really decent starter rifle. The recoil is very light, and with doubled-up ear protection the blast isn't bad; and the ammo is the cheapest you'll get in a non-.22 rifle. Get what you want, get some skin in the game before AWBs become a fight in your state, and you'll do fine. If you later decide it's more blast and money than you want to shoot regularly, 10/22s aren't going anywhere.

I always recommend Decibullz. I've been using them for a year now and they are a life saver. The best part is that they are custom molded. I have a big problem with earplugs staying tight and comfortable in my ear, so decibullz really help with that. I also recommend buying the lanyard to connect the two plugs together to avoid losing them!

https://www.amazon.com/Decibullz-Earplugs-Comfortable-Protection-Shooting/dp/B00WIXL6IM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526505064&sr=8-3&keywords=decibullz

Rifle vs. Handgun?

Rifle indoors, you should almost always double up. Plugs and muff.

Either way, I highly recommend electronic muffs. These seem to be the most popular, and I can highly recommend them: http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/

Just make sure you throw a backup pair of AAA's in your range bag.

For ears, I like my Howard's for pistol shooting, since that's usually at an indoor range and it's nice to be able to keep an ear out for what's going on around me. If there are a lot of shooters or myself or someone else is firing a rifle, I slap some cheap earplugs in under my ear muffs. At full volume I can still hear people to some degree and feel safer about potential damage. I was really surprised at how well the Howard's work. They're not perfect, but it makes it much, much easier when showing a new shooter the ropes or whatnot.

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O

For eyes, I use inexpensive clear plastic glasses indoors, and yellow or tinted outdoors depending on light, but haven't purchased anything expensive and haven't seemed to have any issues with basic shooting glasses.

I use some. Surefire ear plugs when I go to the shooting range. They are fantastic and I'll be bringing them to Coachella this year. They have a plug on the outside that you can open up and close to change how much is sound is blocked. Way more comfortable than foam plugs. Have worn them for 5+ hours on multiple occasions. SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus filtered Earplugs, triple flanged design, reusable, Clear, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V2SS9G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oFM6ybPT1G51D

You should try these Surefire ear plugs:

SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus filtered Earplugs, triple flanged design, reusable, Clear, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V2SS9G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_z4IPBb8R141DG

I use them for the gun range and they work amazingly well. Plus there are filter caps that allow you to hear safe sound levels.

I've owned a set for a little over a year now. I really like both the look and sound of them, and have gotten plenty of positive comments about the sound of the pipes when playing with bandmates.

They're a little louder than regular smallpipes, but not by too much. The decibel meter on my phone has them at 80dB, vs. the 100 dB for my pipe chanter, and ~70-75 dB for my acoustic guitar. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but that should give you an idea.

I don't wear hearing protection with them - although they're probably borderline whether I need to or not. These are what I wear when practicing highland pipes at home. What I like about them is that I can hear just fine for normal conversation, but they'll shut off the microphone for when I'm actually playing, although I'm looking for some musician grade plugs that I can wear to band practice/performances instead of foamies.

The Pro version is also on sale.

Just to head off some comments that will definitely probably happen judging from all the times this was posted before:

The sports don't fit everyone well, they're very head shape dependent. If they don't seal properly they won't work as well.

They don't work at indoor ranges as well as the pros or many other over-the-ear hearing protection because they're only 22 NRR, and again, they may not fit everyone well. (I feel like everyone should at least consider doubling up with inserts and earmuffs for most shooting anyway, in which case your insert is what matters more as far as protection goes, but live however you want).

Turning up the background noise amplification will let you hear conversation pretty well even with foam inserts in.

People really like noisefighter ear pad replacements despite them costing more than the actual earmuffs. That may not be the best link or price, I just linked the first one I found.

You should consider Frequency reduction values table. I made a little research on this theme, asking vendor for the frequency tables. Here is the table for ~$20-30 earplugs for musicians:

Vendor \ Average reduction Value | 125 HZ | 250 HZ | 500 HZ | 1000HZ | 2000HZ | 4000HZ | 8000HZ
---------|----------|----------|---------|--------|--------|---------|---------
Crioxen Earplugs | 15.1 | 15.4 | 17.1 | 19.9 | 26.9 | 17.7 | 29.9
ER20XS Earplugs | 14.5 | 14.2 | 17.1 | 21.1 | 25.3 | 20.5 | 23.3
Eargasm Earplugs | 14.7 | 14.8 | 16.8 | 20.3 | 24.3 | 21.4 | 25.7
Reverbs Earplugs | 14.1 | 13.9 | 15.2 | 18.7 | 22.2 | 18.3 | 22.1
LiveMus!c Earplugs | 13.5 | 13.5| 14.5 | 17.9 | 23.1 | 18.2 | 20.1
Surefire Defenders | 12.7 | 12.9 | 13.2 | 16.8 | 19.9 | 19.2 | 19.1

It can help to prevent .
You can find some other comparison for earplugs for gigs.

Just FYI, Howard leight are great because they protect your hearing while also amplifying non damaging sounds (ie talking). So you can still enjoy all the sounds without any tinnitus!

What muffs are you using? Are they the big, blown out kind? If they are then there's your main issue, big muffs that over cover your ears down to your cheeks will always make shooting uncomfortable. Like I said, get some different ear pro and try shooting then. There are various types of plugs that have very good hearing protection so you don't have to worry about going deaf; we use these at work and I'll swipe a couple pairs to shoot with, you really can't hear a thing with them properly inserted and work awesome when oper8ing.
https://www.amazon.com/Safety-Works-10087625-Orange-80-Pairs/dp/B0018MU2EI

I also use the Howard-Leight slim muffs and don't have any issues with them being bulky. They have volume control, an aux port and when turned off work like any other muffs, plus they're affordable.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001T7QJ9O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506493691&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=howard+leight+earmuffs&dpPl=1&dpID=41Ax4oZwZmL&ref=plSrch

Ok so here is a rundown on what is included and I’m going to try to do this from the top down for House Items and Personal. Roughly speaking House items are on the tile (left) and personal is on the carpet (right). The clothing is mostly from random online shopping or things I had around anyways. Tupac & Gucci Mane shirts from urban outfitters.

• 2x Glowsticks (100 count): $9.99 LINK
  
  
• Beer Pong Raft: $14.99 LINK
  
  
• 2x Flamingo Floaty (only 1 in pic): $15.99 LINK
  
  
• Unicorn Floaty: $39.96 LINK
  
  
• Inflatable Mattress + Pump: $49.99 LINK
  
  
• 50 Total of Morning Recovery: $99 (purchased off Instagram Bo-Go Deal) LINK
  
  
• 8x Walkie Talkie: $70 Total LINK
  
  
• 12x Bandanas: $10.88 LINK
  
  
• 4x Collapsible Water Bottles: $24.99 LINK
  
  
• 2x Waist Running Fanny Pack: $9.87 each LINK
  
  
• 12x Safety Glasses: $13.99 LINK
  
  
• 2x High Fidelity Ear Plugs: $13.46 each LINK
  
  
• Bottles: Kids Multivitamins, Ibuprofen, Imodium, Tums, Zantac 75, Sunscreen, Baby Powder, Cheap Foam Ear Plugs
  
  
• Other Items: Band-Aids (Fabric and blister specific), Blow Dryer (someone will forget), playing cards, glasses repair kit, playing cards, stick massage roller
  
  

What also funny is that in real life, this is not actually a problem. Soldiers and civilians alike have electronic hearing protection that deadens all noise and then amplifies sounds within a certain frequency and decibel range to allow you to function. In fact, some models are so good that when I turned the sensitivity all the way up, I can hear much better than a normal person. You can get a decent pair for $35

Love these Howards for pistol but they are impossible to wear and get a great cheek weld when doing rifle stuff, especially bench with my AR10. I switched to these and the size and cutback makes them never get in the way....

Peltor Sport RangeGuard

They are Howard Leight Electronic ear pro. I love them, they switch off momentarily at a certain decibel for and the rest of the time you can hear better than with a naked ear.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1

> Sony MDRV6

Wearing those on your head long term will make you want to off yourself.

I recommend what the people above say. Custom silicon molded ear plugs. Or just go with the standard in ear hearing protection (ex: Howard Leight).

If you want over ears, you can check out actual hearing protection used for heavy equipment and guns as well.

I use these Howard Leight Impact Pro + Howard Leight Generic in ear tips when I go out to shoot. You dont need those Impact Pro as they are electronic and are used to amplify day to day speech, cheaper $20 non electronic ones will do as well.

For normal day to day, this will effectively mute your world. With custom fitted in ear protection, it will make everything silent. As an audiophile and someone that likes to hit the range, even those + in ear (double ear pro) is not even close to the level of attenuation I would like.

Exactly what I use. Great muffs for a great price. Right now they are $47.97

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T7QJ9O

They are great for shooting too, altho you will still need to double up if shooting big caliber / short barrel rifles or at indoor ranges. From experience. Have 2 pairs, they are great and basically the standard for inexpensive earpro for shooting.

Howard Leight Impact Sports work great for me. You can actually amplify sound louder than usual, and still get great hearing protection.

Thanks for the input guys, just purchased myself a pair. For ear protection I also apparently had one of these laying around which should be perfect. http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O

I can hear everything around me, yet still protects my ears!

1. Have some guns in mind, but don't get too hung up on the what. Find a range that rents and try a number of guns out. The one you shoot the most accurately and consistently is your gun. Everything else is secondary. If you ask me the G26 isn't small enough as compared to the G19, which is why I sold mine. If you're looking at the G19 / P320, give the Walther PPQ a try too.
   
   
2. Necessary? No. Practice the fundamentals. A light is a reasonable thing for a home defense gun, but it's added weight which speaks to your question 6.
   
   
3. Unfortunately don't have too much in the way of recommendations here. If you're going to carry though keep it on you... putting it in a bag or purse is a very bad idea.
   
   
4. Same as #3 unfortunately.
   
   
5. Not necessary, but always a good idea. When all you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail. Situational awareness training, confrontation deescalation techniques, and hand to hand are all valuable.
   
   
6. No tricks. Only way you're going to make weight differences is with a smaller gun. A good carry system (belt, holster, etc) makes all the difference though.
   
   
7. Recommend doubling up. Foam plugs plus over-ears. Don't forget eye protection.
   
   
8. Deal the best you can. Oftentimes better to keep mum until it becomes a real issue, especially at work.

I've got a pair of these, they're not too bad. I do like the [ear plugs ](http://www.SureFire.com/ EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus filtered Earplugs, triple flanged design, reusable, Clear, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V2SS9G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_s8Wryb0BHRPV0) better though.

It's amazon so it should be fine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W56YRWJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They came in today. They're badass. Even has bluetooth. I tested them out by random various loud noises with varying objects. Works great.

A muzzle brake which reduces muzzle climb and recoil will make it louder pretty much no matter what. Ones with ports or baffles which are slanted backwards tend to be a bit louder than brakes which vent straight out the side. Doesn't matter what muzzle device you use, make sure you have excellent ear protection. These are fantastic.

Our Hex Brake might suit your needs.

This is a little pricey but in my experience has improved the overall shooting experience: https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Impact-Electric-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=pd_sbs_328_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001T7QJ9O&pd_rd_r=Z9PXQBD9V8ZN875W7BNV&pd_rd_w=S6qwk&pd_rd_wg=ryX7Y&psc=1&refRID=Z9PXQBD9V8ZN875W7BNV

'electric' earmuffs block the sonic blast of firearms but still allows that person to clearly hear questions and orders which is extremely important to new shooters during their first visit to the range. They're going to be out of their element, unsure of exactly what to do or how to act. Wearing earplugs or regular muffs that muffle all sound won't help. If they double up on hearing protection, they may not flinch every time a firearm discharges but everyone will be trying to communicate by yelling or performing pantomime which will ratchet up the stress level. Being able to talk & hear a conversation at normal speaking volume will go a long way to everyone staying safe and enjoying the trip.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UAM0MFG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I much prefer these to my Howards, granted I use my Sordins most of the time, but my Peltor set has noticeably better audio clarity than my Howard set. My Peltor set is my backup, and the Howard is basically a loaner at this point.

I have my ears from the range right now, but the speakers in them are junk, and I can't really do ear buds comfortably for long periods of time. Thanks for the suggestion!

Let's see. I'm young, and attempting to care more about PPE in the shop (with varying success) so I'll do my best. I've got three systems I use somewhat regularly. An old pair of Stihl chainsaw muffs, some SureFire Ear Defenders, and one finger in my ear with the other pressed into my shoulder. I like and hate both of the products for a plethora of reasons, so here goes.


Stihl-
Effective when worn with limited protection. Put on some glasses and a respirator, and the noise very easily starts to get through some gaps. They're durable as all get out. The pads have held up well, there's no cracks, and these things haven't had an easy life. They're alright, but they're bulky and temperamental, resulting in me largely choosing glasses or a face shield over the discomfort of the muffs.


SureFire-
They're fantastic at blocking sound, wonderfully comfortable, and don't interfere with other protective gear. I've used them for shooting, sanding, driving nails in a confined space, and other things, with no complaints in terms of noise. Here's the thing. They're pretty easy to lose, and freaking nasty. There's probably a good way to clean them, but I don't know it. One use, and they certainly don't look appealing. Better pray you don't drop them, because then you're dealing with shoving sawdust or dirt right up your ear, in you don't spend a few minutes trying to clean them, first.

One thing I will say, and this was said well by Alec Steele, a blacksmith over on the youtube, is to Stop It With The Colors! I don't care if they're blue, green, pink, yellow, red, white, or any other color for that matter. They won't be that color for long. They'll start looking dirty, and as minor as it may be, sometimes it's hard to put on a dirty set of PPE. Granted, it's mostly a problem if it's a loaner or lesson set of ear protectors, but still. Also, no white foam on the inside. Sweat and dirt make that stuff super unappealing.

Don't really need to bring cleaning supplies to the range IMHO. I like the Howard Leighton electronic ear pro.

Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Earmuff, Classic Green (R-01526) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1JTBybE95PQGA

If you don't want electronic ones then any ear pro for shooting from 3m, peltor, and Howard Leight is a good call.


As far as a range bag goes, of its just the one gun then I would think too hard about it. Most range bags are overpriced tactical fashion accessories. I've spent money on nice ones for 2 and 3 gun competitions because the extra organization and protection is nice. When I'm taking just my Glock 19 to the range I chuck it in a tool bag.


If you really want a purpose built one that isn't too expensive I'd recommend this one:

BlackHawk Pistol Range Bag SPORTSTER Bag Black Nylon 74RB02BK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LZPNWS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qQTByb4XVAB2A

muffs

foamies

I use the above double up when shooting indoors.

edit: missed the non-electronic part, sorry OP. but the foamies are pretty darn good.

Amazon has the Howard Leights in OD green for $38. Have no personal experience with them but have heard great things about them on this sub, for what it's worth.

Electronic muffs. Google for reviews. These are said to be, while not the absolute best, very good and amazing value for the money:

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/189-6166717-6906043

The best cheap hearing protection you can buy. Worth every penny. I own 3 sets and my brother in law and father have multiple sets after I showed them mine. They are actually capable of amplifying your hearing, then go silent when they hear a gunshot.

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Impact-Electric-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457453995&sr=8-1&keywords=howard+leight+impact+sport

I would get something like this:

Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff, Classic Green (R-01526) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.jm4CbAN1AG9T

Real noise reduction, has speakers inside and can be connected to a phone so you can say they are technically headphones. Good luck!

I picked these up and I have to say they're pretty good. I plug up the gun side ear and leave my non-shooting ear open and it works great.

Ear pro = ear protection. It's whatever you use, not a particular type.

You should look at electronic earplugs. They're hilariously expensive (expect to pay $400), but your hearing is worth it. If that's too steep, this Surefire item looks very interesting. They appear to be mechanical instead of electronic; look at some reviews and maybe give them a try.

Robin mentioned using his friend’s earmuffs while shooting - they might have been something like the ones I linked below.

Really cool concept that amplifies lower decibel sounds while blocking sounds above 82dB (e.g. gunshots). I’ve used them hunting and they truly do amplify quieter sounds like twigs snapping, etc. I’d highly recommend.

Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff, Classic Green (R-01526) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_blGXBbZ2T3Q9Z

This is pretty much the best earpro you can get for shooting.

Amazon Link

I would recommend Impact Sport electronic. They are very compact for electronic earmuffs and have an audio jack to plug in your iPod. I wear mine at the range, working with power tools, etc.

EDIT Bonus for hunting, they enhance all the sound around you so you will hear those deer really well from afar.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001T7QJ9O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498087178&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=howard+leight&psc=1

There is currently noise canceling ear protection. You turn the volume up enough that they project noise just as if you weren't wearing them. They have mics that pick up ambient noise. When a noise is above a certain threshold, like a gun shot, they actively cancel that noise out.

Not sure what you are trying to describe but unless your solution is simpler, better performing, or cheaper, then you don't have a very large market.

Howard Leight Impact Sports. I've been using mine for several years now and they work great.

They have adjustable sound amplification for low-dB noises (speech, game, environment) and automatically dampen high-dB hoises (gunshots). I've been very, very impressed with them and even use them when doing yardwork and such, too.

Also, they're about $40. That's hard to beat.

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Amplification-Electronic-R-01526/dp/B001T7QJ9O

I'm a big fan of the Howard Leight muffs. Turn the volume up enough and you can hear better than you normally can. (I heard my phone vibrate in my pocket like it was right next to my ear) I used to hate wearing muffs because it made it difficult to hear people but with these I hear everything.

If you want extra protection, I'd recommend doubling up, muffs plus some little foam earplugs like these or these. In fact I always have a few of those foam types around just in case.

Something like this?

It's great they provide hearing protection now!

These are the most common ear-pro I see around: Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff. They're running about $50 right now, but I'm pretty sure I paid closer to $40 for each pair I have.

I usually double-up with foam plugs and the electronic earmuffs.

Good muffs, I like mine. Use them for yard work as well as shooting. Picked them up in black, in June of last year for much less though.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Walkers-Razor-Slim-Electronic-Black/product/B01AAH8CMA

They were under $26 from amazon.

Howard Leight Impact Sport are pretty well regarded.

And on a good sale.

Surefire EP4s - they are like $12-15 and excellent ear plugs.

https://amzn.com/B004DH65RI

Yeah, $38 on Amazon currently. I have 3 pairs of them, love them.

https://www.amazon.com/RangeGuard-Electronic-Hearing-Protector-RG-OTH-4/dp/B00UAM0MFG

Not OP but I have been flying my son since he was 4 months old. He had the light blue pair of Baby Benz earmuffs, but at about a year old they were tight. He is 19 months now and wears the Junior Peltors. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015UX2EK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope this helps. My son keeps them on all the time and he will wear these until he's ready to be able to talk to me with a real headset.