This is my fifth year as a Range Safety Officer and I have encountered some really strange things. Last week, I checked several folks to assure that they had membership cards or guest passes and returned to my vehicle to do some paperwork. Everything was fine and I was reading a book when a member came to me with a pair of needle nosed pliers in his hand. He appeared to be calm and casual. My first thought was that he had found the pliers on one of the shooting benches and was turning them in to "lost and found". He asked me if I could remove an ear plug that was stuck in his right ear canal. I said I would try and used the pliers to easily remove it without difficulty. The fellow said his ear plugs were very cold when inserted, but apparently expanded as they warmed up. I like a story with a happy ending. All the best...
Gil

so we can call you Dr Gil now mate? Those foam ear plugs are great...but don’t push them in too far. The big thing out here is the silicone Earmold plugs. They poke a bit of cotton wool into your ear canal, then fill your ear with a silicone goo and let it set. They are apparently very good, but expensive...about AUD$80.

I bought myself a set of electronic muffs...they are awesome.

,

Interesting this would happen just when 3M is being sued for their military ear plugs failing and even becoming lodged in ear cabals.

only one thing to say about that.....
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

Electronic ear muffs are way superior. Foam plugs only provide a limited amount of attenuation.

It's also really hard to get ear muffs stuck in your ears too.

It depends what you prefer. At the range, I use ear plugs and ear muffs because plugs are not that effective and muffs may push away from the stock of a firearm. During Youth Field Day we require young shooters to use safety glasses for eye protection and ear protection which means ear plugs and ear muffs. All the best...
Gil

Gil, how do they hit anything with muffs over their eyes?

Vince wrote:

:lol3: so we can call you Dr Gil now mate? Those foam ear plugs are great...but don’t push them in too far. The big thing out here is the silicone Earmold plugs. They poke a bit of cotton wool into your ear canal, then fill your ear with a silicone goo and let it set. They are apparently very good, but expensive...about AUD$80. I bought myself a set of electronic muffs...they are awesome.

I have the electronic muffs too but find they're not enough when in enclosed spaces such as a shoot house, or if the range being used has a back wall or solid roof without padding.
In the latter cases, I shove some plugs in too (never had to 'fish' for one...).

If you use the foam plugs properly they aren’t too bad. I roll one end of the plug between my fingers to form a point. I then put this pointed end into my ear canal and hold it in place, without pushing it any deeper, until it swells up to block off the ear canal. Done properly, they totally block the ear canal from excessive noise.

Vince,

I use Winchester plastic ear plugs and standard ear muffs when shooting at the range. Sometimes when mounting a shotgun or rifle, the stock pushes the muffs slightly away from my ear and then they are not so effective. The ear plugs reduce the noise level. All the best...

Gil

Yes mate, and that is probably the smartest and best use of the foam plugs.