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My girls, ages 4 and 6, got Cricket .22LR's for Christmas this year. I tried, but can't seem to get foam ear plugs to fit into their ears. I think muffs will make it hard for them to get their cheeks down low on the stock, what should I use? I did a quick search for "Youth ear plugs" online and can find plugs for keeping water out, but not sound. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Adrian

For $10-12 you can get custom ear plug kits at Sportsman's Warehouse, and probably other places. You mold plugs that exactly fit each kid's ears. Of course, at the rate they grow, you may need to replace them every year.

Cool, and those are for hearing protection and not for swimming?

$10-$12 is cheap to protect thier hearing, even if for only a year.

-Adrian

If you can't get a fit, CB shorts are your friend.

Yup. Found them one day when looking for something else. Didn't pay too much attention, but they were right in with the shooting earmuffs. Thinking about some for my granddaughter, for the same reason. You end up with two different color plugs on a cord.

kinda like these

I notice that users have rated them 2 to 2 1/2 stars though, which might be a worry.

Rocky Raab is the world's expert on this. Drop him a PM and he will steer you straight.

Denton,
Sounds good, I'll see if I can find a Sportsman's Warehouse somewhere close by.

Toltecgriz,
I have CCI CB longs that are quiet, but they are fairly inaccurate in all of my guns. I wouldn't mind using them, but I'd like something that's fairly accurate. I'm hoping to push the girls out to 25 yards or so and have them shoot clay targets. We'll see.

-Adrian

I'll shoot Rocky a PM too. Thans for the Midway link.

-Adrian

I'm sure you ave a good plan, but I like to have frangible targets close enough for a hit 4 out of 5 times (or more) and I'm not in a hurry to push it out. Confidencs, especially with a 4 year old keeps them shooting.

I have good luck with the CB shorts in a CZ and a Henry. Might be worth a try. The longs are kinda funky.

Regardless, I'm glad you have the kids out there shooting.

Their attention span is pretty short, so I'll have to keep it interesting. Even as small as the rifles are, they're still too big for both kids. That being said, I'll have them shooting off a bench for a little while. That should make hitting whatever pretty easy, but if not, we'll move the targets closer. I'm really psyched about getting my girls out shooting with me. They shot a dirt pile at Granny and Grandaddy's house yesterday.

-Adrian

Custom plugs would be best, but be VERY careful with any DIY kit. It is SOOOOO easy to push just the least bit too hard and have the trapped air in the child's canal burst his eardrum.

Every company that has sold DIY earplug kits to date has foundered under the weight of lawsuits for ear damage. That might serve as a red flag to the cautious. Such kits can be used safely, but only with a lot of practice. First-time use is almost guaranteed to result in (at best) a poorly fitted plug or (at worst) injury to the ear.

A TRAINED custom plug maker can fit your kids easily. It won't be as cheap as a DIY kit, but the extra cost is for the training and practice required to prevent problems. Most ear doctors, hearing aid fitters or plug providers can and will offer kid discounts. I did. See if there is a provider near you by calling my old company E.A.R Inc at 800-525-2690.

Thanks for the warning, Rocky. I'd rather not take any chances with my kids' ears.

-Adrian