Ear pro rubbing on AR15 stock

[crater33]

For some reason I can't create a new thread, so I figured I'd ask it here:

I've noticed a problem where my ear protection (3M Peltor Tactical 6S) rubs up against the stock my rifle (BCM Mod 0) when I'm in the prone position, and the noise is really very distracting.

Does anybody else have this problem? My Peltor ear protection has the neck strap, not the head strap. And my BCM stock is the "wide" version, not the normal version. But I'd rather not buy any new equipment right now.

[mmirate]

I've noticed a problem where my ear protection (3M Peltor Tactical 6S) rubs up against the stock my rifle (BCM Mod 0) when I'm in the prone position, and the noise is really very distracting.

Egads! "Very distracting" is an understatement - if I'm understanding correctly that the earmuff is pushed out of position and the noise is gunfire which is bypassing the out-of-position earmuff, then you are damaging your hearing! Permanently! Unless you want to have premature deafness in your right ear, you must cease and desist from any action that dislodges your hearing protection during live fire.

Does anybody else have this problem? My Peltor ear protection has the neck strap, not the head strap. And my BCM stock is the "wide" version, not the normal version. But I'd rather not buy any new equipment right now.

Yes, I have this problem with my MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X earmuffs. Thus, whenever I shoot, I do one of two things:

1. If it's a lot of shooting: substitute the earmuffs for Otto Noizebarriers or Walker's Silencers - these are both electronic earbuds, which means they're less comfortable to use than the Sordins and they don't take interference from the cheek weld.

2. If it's not a lot of shooting: move my cheek so as to place some cheek muscle between my cheekbone and the rifle stock. Not enough to fully convert the cheekweld into a "chin-weld", rather I'm about perhaps 1/3- to 1/2-way there compared to a textbook cheekweld. This makes my groups just a bit bigger, but safety has priority.

[crater33]

Egads! "Very distracting" is an understatement - if I'm understanding correctly that the earmuff is pushed out of position and the noise is gunfire which is bypassing the out-of-position earmuff, then you are damaging your hearing! Permanently! Unless you want to have premature deafness in your right ear, you must cease and desist from any action that dislodges your hearing protection during live fire.

No, the earmuff isn't being pushed out of position. Rather the sound of the outside of the earmuff (or possibly the neckband) scraping against the stock just reverberates inside the cavity. Am I correct that "thin" or "slim" or "shotgun" earmuffs are designed so that they shuldn't touch the stock, even with a proper cheekweld? If so, it might simply be that my stock is too wide. Its one of those "enhanced cheekweld" stocks, but all its really enhancing is noise!

Yes, I have this problem with my MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X earmuffs. Thus, whenever I shoot, I do one of two things:

1. If it's a lot of shooting: substitute the earmuffs for Otto Noizebarriers or Walker's Silencers - these are both electronic earbuds, which means they're less comfortable to use than the Sordins and they don't take interference from the cheek weld.

2. If it's not a lot of shooting: move my cheek so as to place some cheek muscle between my cheekbone and the rifle stock. Not enough to fully convert the cheekweld into a "chin-weld", rather I'm about perhaps 1/3- to 1/2-way there compared to a textbook cheekweld. This makes my groups just a bit bigger, but safety has priority.

Really?! Even with a "thin" profile earmuff like the Sordin Supreme Pro-X? I really hate putting anything inside my ear canal (even things like AirPods) so earplug are gonna be a no-go for me.

I've heard about doing a "chinweld" instead of a cheekweld. This is kind of the technique options I alluded to in my original question. But when I try to do a "chinweld" I can't see through my iron sights. In fact, I think I'd even have difficulty seeing through a 1.93" inch optic my head is so high up off the stock.

I was looking for an "intermediate" position last night but couldn't find one that both (a) kept my earmuffs off my stock, and (b) allowed me to see through the iron sights.

[crater33]

So, last weekend I did the first 3 of 7 AQT's with my earmuffs + thin stock, then I did #4 & 5 with earplugs + thin stock, then I did #6 & 7 with earplugs + thick stock. Oh my god its so much easier to get a proper sight picture with earplugs!!

Well, damn. It looks like I'm probably going to gave to sell my Peltors and switch to some sort of in-ear protection. I hate putting things inside my ear, though ...

... reminds me of Wrath of Khan

[12 Gage]

Keep the earmuffs if you go to indoor ranges, so you'll have something to double up with.

I don't have problems with my Peltors while in any shooting position, but I think a lot of this is just the geometry of your particular body, rifle and how flexible you are.

[crater33]

Is there a Mod in this thread, btw? For some reason I can't create a new thread in the "Skill Sets of Shooting" board! I can create a new thread in the Texas board, tho