Hearing Protection! What Did He Say?

Q

Quarter Round

New member
I was reading another post and hearing protection was mentioned and thought it would be a good topic for discussion. I use ear plugs when target shooting and would like to go with something for hunting that will allow me to hear, but protect me from the gun blast. Don't have a clue /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif what really works as good hunting ear protection. So what do you guys use?
 
I had a set of Peltors, they were ok until I broke the external microphone carrying it in my shooting bag with my pistols. I just bought a set of Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuffs which are probably about the same as the Peltors, but the microphones are set inside the muff, so it can't be broken off.

I shot my 357 a couple of weeks ago indoors, it worked well.

I met Bob Walker who makes Walker's Game Ears a couple of years ago. He claimed his products were 10x better than the Peltor's, but they start at about 3x the price.
 
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I just bought a set of Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuffs which are probably about the same as the Peltors, but the microphones are set inside the muff, so it can't be broken off.



I have been wondering about hearing protection while hunting too. Those look pretty nice. I have their "leightning" non-electronic muffs, and they work really well.

Is there a low setting that doesn't magnify sound much. I don't want to drive myself nuts while calling. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
The Peltors are adjustable for volume in each ear.. but gunshots stay muffled. The adjustment is for the speakers that are selective. A friend has the HL's and he likes them also.
 
Sorry, could you repeat that.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Yotekllr, Those electronic muffs may be the ticket. I picked up a new rifle with a muzzle brake and really like shooting it. Hearing protection is a must with brakes and should have been something I did years ago. Paying for it now. Good to see others are interested in protecting their hearing. It is a real pita when you can hear game coming in and don't know what direction.
 
WHAT? YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP!! Seriously, I like the small banded ear plugs for plinking and hunting. If you can move a little it only takes a second to pop them in. The electronic ones would be nice, but I'm too poor right now.
 
I have a question for those who have used the Walker's or Howard Leights. The noise reduction rating on the Leights is 23. You can get better than that simply with cheap foam earplugs at 34. I must be missing something here - can you help me understand why the foam seems better?
 
Because foam ear plugs seal inside your ear and create a vaccum lock. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
A noise surpression device rated at 20db is more than good enough to save your ears, at least while shooting.JMO
 
I usually double up on the protection. I find that my ears have a slight ringing the next day if I just wear foam earplugs, sometimes they even hurt, depending on which gun I shoot. I will put foam plugs in, then earmuffs, that works for the most part. Not the most comfortable, though.

I don't wear any ear protection while I am duck hunting, or big game hunting. I know that's a stupid thing to do. It really bugs me to wear earplugs while duck hunting, because the duck call sounds weird and I think I'm not blowing it right. Then I get caught offgaurd because a rearward flank, ducks coming from my backside. I can usually hear wings wistling and drakes quacking, to alert me. But not with plugs.

I have been thinking about electronic hearing protection, but I don't know if I will like them, until I try.
 
I use peltor tac sports. They are digital, cheap and work well. I use them for all shooting and hunting outings now. $99 at cabelas. On a couple night calling hunts last winter I heard a coyote approaching before I saw it on the snow. Very little "hiss". For $99 I think they would be tough to beat. My ears thank me on every shot.
 

The Peltor Sport TACs are my next purchase. I got a set
for a birthday present for my brother, and he really likes
them. They are quiet(little hiss), amplify wildlife noise,
are narrow profile, so they don't conflict with cheek weld,
on rifle stocks, and they use standard batteries. And they
do suppress muzzle blast noise, and they do not break the
bank. As soon as I have an extra $100 in my pocket, I
am getting a set. I think my ears are still ringing from
setting off a Savage Striker, in 308 Win, in a box blind
last deer hunting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Squeeze
 
I went to wearing hearing protection just because I got a rifle with a muzzle brake too. I tried the cheap route for a while using ear plugs, which means you can't hear when you need too. Then I went to the ear plugs with the built-in baffle so you can "mostly" hear until you shoot. They work ok, but they are as uncomfortable as hell. I spent a lot of time on stand fiddling with them, just making my ears sore.

Then I found the Peltors on sale at Cabelas. It's just different level of protection and comfort. Way above using the plugs. True, they can get uncomfortable when it's hot and you can't always wear your favorite hat with them. But they work pretty dang well. I have the Howard Leight's now and I like them better than the Peltors, but to each his own.

24db is plenty of reduction for me, even with wearing eye glasses. I don't get any ringing in my ears, pain or soreness. Doesn't matter whether I'm in an indoor range or outdoor range. You'll still feel the concussion in your chest when you fire or the guy next to you fires (it's like someone throwing bricks against the wall), but my ears are fine.
 
I've used a few kinds - the orange plugs with the valves in them are ok, and very convenient in the field, but I don't think they are enuff at a covered range with guys shooting next to you.

I had Peltor 7s, and they are probably the best in noise suppression, but bulky as hell, and it was hard to get down on the stock - great for pistol shooters.

When they got stole, I bought a pair of Peltor 6s... more usable for rifle and shotgun shooters, and tough (they have bounced around in the back of my truck for ~12 years), but changing the batteries is a pain in the tail.

But get something... ANYTHING!!

I've been shooting a long time, and I have a constant ringing in both ears 24/7/365.


.
 
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I had Peltor 7s, and they are probably the best in noise suppression, but bulky as hell, and it was hard to get down on the stock - great for pistol shooters.



Rats. I just sent for the Peltor 7s, based on some reviews that said they were good for hunting. I need something for hunting. Which of these $100 or so earmuffs allow you to shoot a rifle or shotgun easily?
 

I have a pair of the Peltor 6s tacticals that I've been trying for a few months. I tried to wear them pheasant hunting but couldn't get that too work well for me, they get pretty hot even when its cold out. However the times I used them while calling they seemed to work well and I always use them at the range really like them for that.
 
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