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Any gun enthusiast that has ever tried to take friends shooting knows how hard it is to get people to wear earplugs correctly, especially the foam ones. I'd sa

Any gun enthusiast that has ever tried to take friends shooting knows how hard it is to get people to wear earplugs correctly, especially the foam ones. I'd say about 75% of guys do it wrong but will fix it if you show them how. Basically 100% of women I have taken shooting hate ear plugs and it's almost a relationship argument trying to get them to install them correctly.

crazygringo 3y ago
Now I'm curious, can you point to what most people are doing wrong, and what leads people to hate doing it right? (Does it cause pain or something? What's the resistance?) Even if just a link or a video.
- rascul 3y ago
  Here is how to properly use the inexpensive soft foam ear plugs: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/content/earplug.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/content/earplug.html What I often see people do is skip all that and just stuff it in the ear until it doesn't fall out. This does not get a proper seal. It might still be better than nothing but I doubt it protects much when used incorrectly.
- Rebelgecko 3y ago
  The basic steps to doing it properly are 1. Roll the earplug to compress it (similar to if you've ever made a snake out of play-dough). Most people do this properly but some people just immediately try to jam the earplugs in while they're flaccid, which prevents them from inserting very far. 2. While inserting the earplug, use your opposite hand to pull on your ear (eg use your left hand over your head to yank your right ear up a bit). This helps line up your ear canal. Most people don't do this 3. Hold the earplug in place for 10-30 seconds, so that the foam you compressed in step 1 has time to reexpand and lock in. I don't think I've ever seen someone actually do this step. IMO the move for new shooters (especially indoors, where IMO it's a good idea for everyone) is to double up on ear pro. Use ear plugs in addition to muffs (bonus points for ANC muffs with amplification, so you don't have to shout). It'll reduce the sensory overload and physical discomfort that some people experience.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- talldatethrow 3y ago
  Most people aren't squeezing it enough. They aren't putting it into their ear deep enough. And they aren't doing it fast enough, which causes it to be too big by the time they try to put it in deep enough. With guys I can tell them that what they've done isn't good enough, and show them again on mine, explain why each step is important again, and they'll do it right. With women I've found that they're annoyed I'm nitpicking their work or something. I go about it nicely, and eventually get them to do it better but still not really correctly. I'm at a sample size of atleast 6-7 women, atleast 10 men. Either I'm picking dating partners really poorly, or there's is a real problem with women not being able to take ANY criticism these days.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
Alupis 3y ago
Bring a spare set or two of over the head ear muffs. Really hard to get those wrong... At the range with friends I'll usually loan out my old pairs. I have a couple various quality/tier electric ear muffs, and some old school regular ear muffs. The electric ones, even the cheap ones, usually get people interested in getting a pair. Being able to hear conversations, but still dampen gunfire is really nice.

crazygringo 3y ago

Now I'm curious, can you point to what most people are doing wrong, and what leads people to hate doing it right? (Does it cause pain or something? What's the resistance?) Even if just a link or a video.

rascul 3y ago
Here is how to properly use the inexpensive soft foam ear plugs: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/content/earplug.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/content/earplug.html What I often see people do is skip all that and just stuff it in the ear until it doesn't fall out. This does not get a proper seal. It might still be better than nothing but I doubt it protects much when used incorrectly.
Rebelgecko 3y ago
The basic steps to doing it properly are 1. Roll the earplug to compress it (similar to if you've ever made a snake out of play-dough). Most people do this properly but some people just immediately try to jam the earplugs in while they're flaccid, which prevents them from inserting very far. 2. While inserting the earplug, use your opposite hand to pull on your ear (eg use your left hand over your head to yank your right ear up a bit). This helps line up your ear canal. Most people don't do this 3. Hold the earplug in place for 10-30 seconds, so that the foam you compressed in step 1 has time to reexpand and lock in. I don't think I've ever seen someone actually do this step. IMO the move for new shooters (especially indoors, where IMO it's a good idea for everyone) is to double up on ear pro. Use ear plugs in addition to muffs (bonus points for ANC muffs with amplification, so you don't have to shout). It'll reduce the sensory overload and physical discomfort that some people experience.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
talldatethrow 3y ago
Most people aren't squeezing it enough. They aren't putting it into their ear deep enough. And they aren't doing it fast enough, which causes it to be too big by the time they try to put it in deep enough. With guys I can tell them that what they've done isn't good enough, and show them again on mine, explain why each step is important again, and they'll do it right. With women I've found that they're annoyed I'm nitpicking their work or something. I go about it nicely, and eventually get them to do it better but still not really correctly. I'm at a sample size of atleast 6-7 women, atleast 10 men. Either I'm picking dating partners really poorly, or there's is a real problem with women not being able to take ANY criticism these days.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]

Alupis 3y ago

Bring a spare set or two of over the head ear muffs. Really hard to get those wrong... At the range with friends I'll usually loan out my old pairs. I have a couple various quality/tier electric ear muffs, and some old school regular ear muffs. The electric ones, even the cheap ones, usually get people interested in getting a pair. Being able to hear conversations, but still dampen gunfire is really nice.