Author Topic: Ear Protection (Read 3129 times)

Leatherstocking · « **on:** March 16, 2007, 02:42:23 PM »

I put this in this forum because I am interested in ear muffs that I can also use while hunting. I have looked around a bit at some of the ones out there suitable for use while hunting and there seems to be quite a range in price. Anyone have any suggestions for good hunting ear muffs that won't break the bank? A friend of mine suggested the Tactical 6. I see them in Cabelas for only $69 and there are several others that are much more money. Are these a "ya get what ya pay for thing"? Or are those Tactical 6 good quality at a great price? Thanks.

corbanzo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2007, 02:54:30 PM »

Are you looking for something that is going to amplify sounds around you with a break circuit for the louder sounds? In a hunting situation, I would look into the plugs, just because muffs seem to get in my way if im turning my head quickly or going through thick terrain.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2007, 03:11:48 PM »

I don't care for the muffs for hunting either, I use SportEars, got mine on ebay for $300, Walmart has the best price I've seen on em lately. I can't put a price on my hearing and hunting with regular ear plugs leaves a lot to be desired. $:-\$

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4787045

I've used the Peltor Tactical at the range with ear plugs cuz they only have and NRR of 19, but for hunting, they might be a good choice, they're fairly low profile and can be had for about $70 or less.

Peltor

Tim

http://www.e-a-r.com/pdf/hearingcons/FAQshooting.pdf

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2007, 04:13:30 PM »

I use Walker Quad game muffs. And yes you get what you pay for.

Bullseye · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2007, 04:53:38 PM »

If sitting still I have been wearing a set of the Remington Electronic Muffs the last couple of years. I keep the volumn adjusted so that it is about the same as your normal hearing. I have no trouble picking up the direction of sounds. They also have a scalloped shape so that they do not hit the stock of a long gun as bad.

This past year I tried a set of Peltor Alerts. They have microphones plus a built in radio. I kept the radio turned down to its lowest volumn so I could barely hear it and turned the microphones to about the same as your normal hearing. With these I could not detect the direction of a sound as easy as the Remingtons and they seemed to have some slight electronic noise. These will probabaly stay in the woodshop next year which is mainly what I bought them for.

corbanzo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2007, 07:01:25 PM »

to me any type of radio sounds counter productive takes away from those little sounds you are looking for while hunting... especially your own...

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2007, 01:57:58 AM »

if im hunting out of a blind i take along a set of peltor electronics. Ive got a couple pairs of the generic copys of the walker game ear and they never impressed me. I guess i have weird ears as there very unconfortable to me for any length of time. My buddy uses the custom fitted walkers and likes them but there expensive!

Grumulkin · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2007, 02:46:28 AM »

At the Safari Club International convention in Reno this year, I was fitted for E.A.R., Inc. electronic hearing protectors. The price was such that they could break the bank but, I think, worth it. Even shooting a braked 500 S&W Magnum isn't painful with them and if I put ear muffs over them cuts the noise incredibly. The best part is that I can still hear rustling leaves when using them.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2007, 03:27:20 AM »

Thanks for all the input. I saw those Walker Quad game muffs that Redhawk mentioned. Seemed pricey, but I figured that you get what you pay for and I do not want to skimp on my hearing. A couple of guys mentioned plugs or those sport ears. I wondered about them, whether they were really effective. I always used plugs years ago while mowing my lawn and then switched to muffs and noticed that they were a lot more effective.

To answer Corbanzo, i don't necessarily need something to "amplify" sound but I want something I can wear that will not impede normal sounds while hunting. I have a pair of regular ear muffs, but they just shut out everything. I really want to hunt with the handgun more and now I am particularly sensitive because I recently developed tinnitus and don't want it to get worse - but I sure as heck ain't giving up shooting and hunting

!!!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2007, 04:34:53 AM »

With the Walker Game muffs, I keep them turned down to just hear like normal, I don't like to amplify the sound, it is more of a distraction in my opinion. I shoot a 500 and a 460 Mag and they are loud and the muffs work great keeping down the noise. Also they keep my ears worm.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2007, 02:25:59 PM »

Well, I tried out a pair of the Walker game muffs yesterday at Gander Mountain and discovered something that I hadn't thought about. I have tinnitus (it's kind of a hissing in my ears) and when I put on the ear muffs, the tinnitus was amplified so bad it was unbearable. Has anyone else experienced this? I am wondering if their are any other options that would work. Would I get the same effect with the Walker Game Ear insert?

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2007, 02:40:53 PM »

I have never paid attention to electronic ear muffs.
Then
I was in Wally world and found a pair of Remington R2000 for $20, they did not work, I talked the kid into putting a new set of batteries in them and they have worked fine ever since!

coop2564 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2007, 03:55:35 AM »

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_57274_400004010_400000000_400004000_400-4-10#reviews

I've been using these. They use triple A batteries. While turkey hunting the other day had 2 deer walk by at 70yds it sounded like they were only 20yds. Love em! I've used them with my 41 mag so much better than using plugs while hunting.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2007, 06:49:41 AM »

Cabelas has the Radians Hardwoods on sale for $80, FWIW.

Tim

Radians

Brandon Odell · « **Reply #14 on:** April 05, 2007, 07:56:20 AM »

I have a pair of pro ears stalker's. They really help tame a 454 casull. The pro ears come with a 5 year warranty.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2007, 04:01:28 AM »

I am sure any of these decent quality muffs that folks have mentioned are good. But I would think that any of the muffs or inserts that amplify as well as muffle sound would cause me the same problem with the tinnitus amplification. Does anyone have tinnitus that has found a muff or insert that does not produce that effect?

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2007, 08:54:40 AM »

Quote from: Leatherstocking on April 06, 2007, 04:01:28 AM

I am sure any of these decent quality muffs that folks have mentioned are good. But I would think that any of the muffs or inserts that amplify as well as muffle sound would cause me the same problem with the tinnitus amplification. Does anyone have tinnitus that has found a muff or insert that does not produce that effect?

I have been using a set of Peltor Tac 7's in my job as a police firearms instructor. At the time they were the best that money could buy. In my opinion they are the best. I have tried other less inexpensive types and they can't even come close. My thing was what was the recovery time between shots and when could I hear surrounding noises or talking.

Now as to the tinnitus. I have a touch of it. It comes and goes at times. Can't remember when I had it and were using my muffs. That tinnitus is a pain in my a$$ at times. Sometimes it is very low and other times it is very loud. I guess it is something we will have to live with.

Now back to the Tac 7's from Peltor. As I said the were very pricey. But the quality was better then all the others I tried. Was very suprised when the Major let me buy a half dozen for my crew. I like the radians and will check them out for hunting. What about the Remingtons? They any good?

rockbilly · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2007, 09:58:11 AM »

I spent about 50 years of my life in the aircraft industry. As a young man, I didn't place too much importance in ear protection, also, during this period I shot on several military and civilian pistol teams, still not giving much thought to ear protection. Today I wish I had.

It is funny, an individual will spend big bucks for a weapon, buy top dollar scopes, pay the price for tons of ammo, and buy the cheapest ear protection they can find. I have even seen some folks so hard up that they were picking up USED cigarette filters and stuffing them in their ears while they push several hundred rounds of ammo through their new high dollar big bore auto. Don't make sense to me.

This is a piece of advice from an old man that has a hard time hearing his wife speak to him (sometimes that ain't all bad), can not carry on a conversation in a crowded room where other people are talking, can't hear in a restaurant due to the background noise, has a hard time hearing the TV because the ceiling fan interferes:

Spend the money, get the best hearing protection you can find, and use it

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2007, 10:16:46 AM »

I just got a new pair of muffs for range work that should work fine for hunting and they aren't too expensive compared to the alternatives that cost most, but provide less protection. With an NRR of 29, they're hard to beat for the price. I thoroughly tested them last Wednesday, wearing them from 11am-5pm at the range while shooting 8 rifles, they worked well, even when shooting a few stations down from a shooter with a braked rifle. They're very comfortable and the amplification worked well even when I wore plugs too, I could carry on conversations with other shooter while wearing both. They run on AA batteries which last longer than those that use AAA.

Tim

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/noduelgunmu.html

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2007, 01:11:54 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on April 07, 2007, 10:16:46 AM

I just got a new pair of muffs for range work that should work fine for hunting and they aren't too expensive compared to the alternatives that cost most, but provide less protection. With an NRR of 29, they're hard to beat for the price. I thoroughly tested them last Wednesday, wearing them from 11am-5pm at the range while shooting 8 rifles, they worked well, even when shooting a few stations down from a shooter with a braked rifle. They're very comfortable and the amplification worked well even when I wore plugs too, I could carry on conversations with other shooter while wearing both. They run on AA batteries which last longer than those that use AAA.

Tim

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/noduelgunmu.html

Hey Tim,
One question. How was the recovery time? In other words did it take long before you could hear people again or conversation after a gun shot noise? My Peltor Tac & recovery time was almost immediate. That seems to be a good standard to measure these muffs by. I had a set of muffs that the gun club gave to their range offices and they were horrible. A gun would go off and it seem like forever before you could hear any conversation again.

Behind amplification is recovery time for me.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2007, 01:35:59 PM »

There is no recovery time, they compress the sound of the shot, don't cut sound off completely, you can still carry on a conversation, the shot can be heard, but at a safe level. The first time I heard a shot, I thought they weren't working cuz I could still hear everything, there was no cut off and instant deafness for a moment like regular electronic sound suppression muffs.

Tim

Quote

The Dual Electronic Gun Muffler from North Safety boasts a very high 29 NRR, superior amplification and sound compression rather than the outdated dead-stop electronic style volume limiter and the ultimately cool look of Mossy-Oak Cammo. These features, together with the low price, make the Dual Electronic Gun Muffler Tactical Shooter's Muffs high on our list of favorite products in the category.

The Dual Electronic Gun Muffler uses a built-in tactical amplifier that lets you hear better with the muffs on than without, until a dangerously loud noise such as the muzzle blast from your rifle or handgun occurs. In the presence of any dangerously loud noise the amplifier automatically and instantly acts to suppress the volume to 85 dB or less so that you can still hear, but at a safe volume level.

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/noduelgunmu.html

http://www.northpersonalsafety.com/nsman/publish/article_10.shtml

http://www.northpersonalsafety.com/product_info.php?products_id=136&osCsid=4387d6e041b43cef8f122c23c41fcdcd

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2007, 02:35:29 PM »

All good advice and Rockbilly I agree 100% and don't plan to skimp on ear protection, but it seems to me that no matter what you spend, if you have tinnitus, it will be amplified therefore making the tinnitus worse. When I tried on the Walker muffs in the store, I could barely hear the guy talking to me because of the overbearing "static" which I think was simply my tinnitus amplified. Is there a product that will block out the tinnitus?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** April 08, 2007, 02:47:57 PM »

I have tinnitus too, hearing aids allow you to hear sounds you want to hear over the tinnitus snow or static. It may depend on the level of tinnitus too. My hearing is bad enough that I need to wear headphones at home watching TV, if I turn the volume up to a level that I can understand voices well, my wife complains it's way too loud. $:-\$ Tinnitus covers the little sounds in the woods like small animals moving in dry leaves, amplified hearing allows me to hear that again, it doesn't amplify the tinnitus static.

Tim

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #23 on:** April 08, 2007, 03:55:10 PM »

Tim - are you talking about a regular hearing aid to filter out the tinnitus static? What about the ITC (In The Canal) type devices? Would they work better than muffs at eliminating the tinnitus, allowing normal hearing, and protecting from gun blast?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** April 08, 2007, 04:22:39 PM »

I've used BlueBird disposable hearing aids, but they're the only regular one I've used, they've since discontinued them. The SportEars are in-canal sporting hearing protection and amplifiers, they work very well, but aren't cheap. There's a Walmart version that I posted earlier in this thread.

Tim

http://www.sportearx.com/testimonials.html

hrminer92 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 15, 2007, 06:13:37 PM »

Anyone know how well these work?

http://www.earinc.com/p1-filtered-sonicvalve.php

oldandslow · « **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2007, 03:46:53 PM »

I have used the generic ear valve. Noise reduction is pretty good and I can still hear pretty well with them The drawback is they become uncomfortable after awhile.

no guns here · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2007, 10:00:13 PM »

Rockbilly,
You just described my life... 'cept I ain't old yet... hitting 40 this summer, that ain't old is it?

"This is a piece of advice from an old man that has a hard time hearing his wife speak to him (sometimes that ain't all bad), can not carry on a conversation in a crowded room where other people are talking, can't hear in a restaurant due to the background noise, has a hard time hearing the TV because the ceiling fan interferes:"

I do double up with plugs and muffs except when hunting. I need to get a pair of electronic muffs but just haven't yet. I have four kids and there is ALWAYS a TV or radio on and the range where my hearing loss is right in the range where women's voices are according to the Army audiologist I last went to see. My wife doesn't believe me about that though. I always hear her but don't understand her words sometimes. It takes a second or two to process what she said and put it together. I'm thinking "what did she say? Oh... she didn't say what I think she said, she said she wants a 'new TRUCK' ". Gets confusing sometimes... Danged tinnitus...

ngh

nickE10mm · « **Reply #28 on:** June 06, 2007, 07:50:55 PM »

Excellent thread, people! I've gotten lots of good tips so far... i share a lot of the same situations here, as well. Thanks!

blhof · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2007, 04:45:17 AM »

Hey no guns- thank god, I thought that I was the only one who was wife deaf. My many years of shooting as a teen in the 60's without hearing protection has left me with a loss in the higher ranges and a 30 year battle with the wife; she swears that I only listen when I want to. I have instilled in my children the absolute necessity of hearing protection with all loud noises.