My new brittany pup managed to get into my shop a few weeks ago, and wreak havoc. I must of not quite shut the shop door, and the pup had access all day while I was at work. When I got home he had spread stuff all over the yard. I finally got all the reloading brass cleaned up in the yard, my hunting boots weren't chewed up too badly, he hadn't even chewed my wading boots for some reason. But...BEHOLD.... he did a number on my Caldwell electronic shooting muffs. May they RIP. These were excellent shooting muffs I've had and used for years. I also used them in my wood shop when running my power machines milling lumber. These muffs performed amazingly for what I paid for them. In fact I'd put these muffs against any other at ANY price. They got the job done. A replacement set of Caldwell muffs is going to be about $25.00 plus shipping from Midway. There are electronic muffs that range in price up to $300.00 and more. As I said, I was completely satisfied with my Caldwells, regardless of price, they performed extremely well. In the rare case I really needed more hearing protection, I added ear plugs to the equation. Shooting HOT .44 mag loads inside an indoor range from a 4" barrel will push any hearing protection gear to the limit!
My question is: What feature or usage would justify paying significantly more money for the much more expensive ear muffs??? What does everybody else use? From what I see at the range, most people seem happy with the foam plugs, I seldom see ear muffs in use...but having used them for years now, I wouldn't be without my electronic muffs that allow me to hear normal conversation, yet completely squelch loud gunshots before the sound can damage my ears.
Jeff