Double up! I recently went to an audiologist to get fitted for some of the custom inner-ear protection that was just blanks and not the fancy digital stuff involved ( http://www.westone.com/defendear/ind...d=5&Itemid=108 ) so it only cost $120. I wanted an easy in-out alternative to disposable foam plugs. I haven't shot with them yet, and I may take them back to the audiologist to see if they can tinker with the fit, because it *feels* like they will not give a good seal/protection. Since they're flush with the ear anyways, I plan on putting muffs over them. I'm going to be pretty disappointed if they do not provide as much noise protection as $0.25 foam plugs.
I started with a pair of Peltor 6S ( http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Tact...ords=peltor+6s ) but one of the AAA batteries leaked and busted one ear, and it's a total PITA to change the batteries anyways (2 AAA's per ear-cup). However, they fit my head the best and had very little noise-intrusion.
I went to a pair of Howard Leights, and like how easy it is to access the batteries and change them out (2 AAA). However, I'm not alone in that it's tough to get a good seal and not have noise popping right in. I was at an indoor range and some guy in the next booth had his super-duper horizontal-cannon muzzle brake on and I had ringing in my ears despite both foam plugs and the howard leight's. I had to press the cups to my head to get a good seal and just waited until he'd finish his mindless blasting.
ETA: A week after that episode, I was at a small 3-gun competition and fiddled with the placement of them on my ears, and discovered that they sealed much better if I pushed them much lower on my ears and tilted them towards the back, low-rider style. So it's quite an improvement over wearing them as you'd normally think they should be worn.
If you really want to nerd out about it: http://www.westone.com/defendear/dow...hite_Paper.pdf
