Electronic ear muffs

[Autorim]

Does anyone have experience with electronic hearing protection while hunting or just being in the field with a handgun? At age 68 with over 60 years of shooting and loud construction machinery exposure I don't need any more hearing loss. Carrying a handgun of larger caliber than a .22 with SV ammo is sometimes desirable, but a few shots without protection is damaging - even one.

Help!!!

Autorim

[handi270]

autorim,
I have been using a pair for pistol shooting and really like them.
Used them to shoot at my concealed carry class and with seven of us on the line shooting 22's, 380's 40's and 45's they really helped, it was easy to hear the instructors without having to remove them, then when the shooting started, most of the sound was blocked out.

In the outdoors they can actually enhance your hearing.

I think you would like them.

noel

[Lloyd Smale]

I have a few sets of electonic muffs. Buy peltors if you get a set there hands down the best ones out there. i dont think there very practical for hunting though.  I also have a pair of walker game ears i use sometimes. I dont wear them when bumming around the woods but have used them in dear season when actually hunting. the work great but its hard for me to get used to something in my ear. Only real downside to them is there EXPENSIVE!!

[mcwoodduck]

I just got a pair of the Howard Leight head sets and they really work well.  It not only allows you to hear but will amplify the surroundings and you can tell the difference between birds and furry critter.
Get some.  they are small and slim and do not get in the way of a rifle or shotgun.  I have a friend that has been hunting in his for years and can hear the wings of Ducks and Geese long before we see them at first light.

[rockbilly]

I too am well past the 68 year mark, have spent my life working on airplanes, operating heavy equipment, drag racing, and had the pleasure of shooting on both pistol and rifle teams while in the military.  I spent a lot of time in areas where the noise level could/would cause hearing loss.

I bought my first electronic muffs about eight months ago, I wear them MOST of the time.  The important issue here is to encourage everyone, especially the young folks,  to wear some tye of hearing protection when is high noise areas.  You will appreciate the time spent wearing protection when you get my age and can't hear the wife call when supper is ready..............

[onesonek]

I would argue a point with Lloyd,  and state the ProEars are best, But it would be a small arguement.
You can look up the differences and decided whats best for you.

Dave

[Ladobe]

I've had my Peltor Tac 6's for a dozen years now or longer.   Only 60 here, but with a permanent high freq hearing loss from the Vietnam days (another who flew and worked on aircraft), they sure make a difference for me and do a great job of protecting what hearing I have left.   It's a little hard to pinpoint direction with them sometimes, but I hear sounds I haven't heard for decades with them.   I'm mostly a predator and varmint hunter, and I regularly hear them coming in now where for decades I didn't.   And its amazing how far away.   Still remember when I first got them and was out on the desert alone doing a little target shooting.   Kept hearing this loud "crunching" noise I finally figured out was behind me, but when I'd turn around there was nothing I could see anywhere clear to the horizon.   Finally it got to me, I put down the pistola, grabbed my binos and eventually located a hiker walking down a dirt road at least 3/4 mile away.   Without them he probably could have almost walked right up behind me without me hearing him.

[AtlLaw]

a permanent high freq hearing loss from the Vietnam days (another who flew and worked on aircraft),... I hear sounds I haven't heard for decades with them.

Ladobe, I could have written that post!     Add to that firing rockets and having a door gunner firing his M60 with the muzzle next to your head and I guess I'm lucky I can hear at all!  Like you say, when I started wearing them I heard things I haven't heard in years!  But I still have a problem estimating the distance to a sound.  Direction is no problem!   

P.S.  Welcome home Brother!   

[Camba]

I purchased a pair of muffs for 2007 hunting season and they sure seem to work fine.  I have the ear game type (stereo).  The first time I used it was right after a 6" of snow storm.  I went to the field and sat in the blind.  Once things got quite, I tuned the volume until I can hear the snow flakes pounding the tree.  A little later, I heard the sound of an animal walking behind me and it sounded like if a herd of elephants were on their way.  Turned out to be a red fox that just pass by me to a distance of 6 feet.  I will be using it this 2008 season again.

Camba

[Autorim]

Thanks for the input, cost is not really obstacle. I prefer quality. Hell, I spent $3,800.00 on hearing aids. I am an architect and they really send me reaching to pull them out on a construction site with loud machinery and lots of wind. Any particular model of Pro Ear or Peltor?

[onesonek]

Thanks for the input, cost is not really obstacle. I prefer quality. Hell, I spent $3,800.00 on hearing aids. I am an architect and they really send me reaching to pull them out on a construction site with loud machinery and lots of wind. Any particular model of Pro Ear or Peltor?

With the comments about the construction sites, then I think you'll be best served with the ProEars pro-mag dpm-1p model. The reason being, as compared to the peltors I have had on, against my PE's,,,is that peltors shut off noise, whereas PE shutout noise. With the PE'will mute the loud noise while allowing normal conversation at the same time. Example as explained  to me,,,you can go into a closet with a boom-box on full blast, yet have a normal conversation. (I havent tried though) The peltors will clip out part of the conversation.

Dave

[torpedoman]

The ones from harbor freight for 20 bucks or less work just as well as the ones costing a lot more.

[nilescoyote]

Buy peltors if you get a set there hands down the best ones out there.

I have a set of peltors that I use for shooting and hunting. It does take a few minutes to get your bearings to tell exactly where noise is coming from when you first put them on in the hunting field. For my area they also offer great ear warmers as most days during deer season are cold with plenty of wind.

As to amplifying sound, they do wonders. Many times I thought a large creature was moving about only to find it was only a field mouse moving through the dried leaves.

Last year I had a interesting thing happen while on my way out to the deer stand. I decided to wear the muffs on my walk out to the stand. Because of this I took great care to walk as quietly as possible as I could hear every thing I was walking on x10. I took my time and ended up less than 5 yards away from two sleeping doe. I paused once I saw them resting (it was well before shooting hours and near total darkness at 1 hour before sun up) after about 2 to3 minutes they knew something was not right and got up from their bed. I believe their nose detected me but they where not very alarmed as they walked off  away from me. I believe the only reason I was able to get in so close was do to the muff and my conscious effort to be as quiet as possible.

As far as shooting with them, they do a fine job! The peltors I have are about 10 year old and still working great. I have the slim model with a behind the neck strap.  They allow my to shoot with a rifle with out the constent bumping into the stock that some of the other larger muff do.

[Graybeard]

For me they seem to work OK on the shooting range but are way unwelcome when hunting. They magnify every noise I make and the sound of my beard or hair on my neck touching my shirt and jacket just seem to drown out everything else. If worn while walking the sound is almost deafening.

I've not tried a lot of different brands but what I did try were for me less than useless for hunting.

[xphunter]

Thanks for the input, cost is not really obstacle. I prefer quality. Hell, I spent $3,800.00 on hearing aids. I am an architect and they really send me reaching to pull them out on a construction site with loud machinery and lots of wind. Any particular model of Pro Ear or Peltor?

With the comments about the construction sites, then I think you'll be best served with the ProEars pro-mag dpm-1p model. The reason being, as compared to the peltors I have had on, against my PE's,,,is that peltors shut off noise, whereas PE shutout noise. With the PE'will mute the loud noise while allowing normal conversation at the same time. Example as explained  to me,,,you can go into a closet with a boom-box on full blast, yet have a normal conversation. (I havent tried though) The peltors will clip out part of the conversation.
Dave

Dave thanks for your comments on these muffs.

[nodlenor]

I have a set of Action Ears that I have had for several years. They work great but are very bulky. I agree with Greybeard in that they are better for the range than for hunting as they tend to magnify too many noises. They work ok if you are hunting from a blind or stand if you don't move much but they magnify the sounds of your movements.

[gstewart44]

I can't say which are best as I have only owned The Walker Game Ear Power Muffs Quad.   For my use they are excellent. I am only 51 but my hearing is mud due to many years of sound abuse starting in 1977....an M-60 and a 12 guage going off on either side of my head (no protection),  20 years of riding motocycles with modified (read "loud") exhausts, 25 years of dental drills shrieking at 300k rpms, and 30 years of playing the electric guitar in a band way too loud.   Nowadays I have a loud chorus of crickets chirping on both sides of my head 24/7 and cannot hear anything at the top or bottom of the spectrum.   

With the Power Muffs I can adjust the volume to where everything is crystal clear.   I have experienced the sounds that GB has mentioned and found it annoying initially but after playing with the volumes settings I found what works for me.   

I agree they are more handy on the firing line but I never go into the field these days without them.  Direction and distance are things I can now determine with the Ear Muffs. 

Downside: bulky, costly, battery life can be short if the switch is accidentally clicked on.
Upside:  I can hear again....footsteps, twigs cracking, hogs snorting, birds singing.

[Cottonwood]

A couple of years ago, I picked up these battery operated ear plugs that also second as a game ear from Wal-Mart.  I just can't remember the name of them for the life of me and neeed to replace the batteries.

Any help would be appreachiated.....

[quickdtoo]

I have the original SportEar that I picked up on ebay several years ago, they work excellent for hunting, I've tried a couple muffs, but they're just too hot and they can't be worn with a full brimmed hat, but they work great at the range. 

Tim

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

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4787047

[AtlLaw]

they can't be worn with a full brimmed hat,

How sadly true, I had to switch to ball caps but still prefer my Stetsons!
I can't hear a turkey gobble withour mine.

 

[Autorim]

Thanks for all of the accounts of first hand experience. I am looking hard at the Pro Ears Sporting Clays model. I understand about the wide brim hat. I don't have a Stetson, but do have two custom felts and one Akubra felt. I usually wear them more while fly fishing though. The sun damage issue is another story.

Thanks,

Autorim

[quickdtoo]

They may offer a behind the head model, never tried them, but it's an option. Those that I've read up on had a lower NRR when worn behind the head tho.

Tim

[Ladobe]

The Peltor Tac 6 has a behind the head model that won't get in the way of the sun bonnets.

[xphunter]

They may offer a behind the head model, never tried them, but it's an option. Those that I've read up on had a lower NRR when worn behind the head tho.Tim

True

[Autorim]

I have used the behind-the-head models with standard protectors before and somehow they never did feel right. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to them.

[Lloyd Smale]

I think they were called whisper ears or something like that. I had a set but they hummed constantly and i couldnt stand it.

A couple of years ago, I picked up these battery operated ear plugs that also second as a game ear from Wal-Mart.  I just can't remember the name of them for the life of me and neeed to replace the batteries.

Any help would be appreachiated.....

[Cottonwood]

I think they were called whisper ears or something like that. I had a set but they hummed constantly and i couldnt stand it.

I don't know, these are all black with a clear plug for the ear canal and take a large hearing aid battery..... only trouble is there are several that could fit, but I am trying to find the right size.  My Starkey hearing aids are shot because of water corrosion on the receivers and have to be totally re-done at about $220 each...... talk about sticker shock.

Well I will have to just go down and see what will fit and work I guess.

[Lloyd Smale]

im sure youd be happy with walkers other then your wallet will be much thinner.

I think they were called whisper ears or something like that. I had a set but they hummed constantly and i couldnt stand it.

I don't know, these are all black with a clear plug for the ear canal and take a large hearing aid battery..... only trouble is there are several that could fit, but I am trying to find the right size.  My Starkey hearing aids are shot because of water corrosion on the receivers and have to be totally re-done at about $220 each...... talk about sticker shock.

Well I will have to just go down and see what will fit and work I guess.

[Cottonwood]

Yep Lloyd I would be... but I just don't have that right now as the Walkers are not affordable.

[GradyL41]

I always use them -- at all times -- they are never a bother