Can you recommend some electronic hearing protection for long gun shooting?

[SunnySlopes]

I've got some Howard Leight low profile electronic muffs I use but they don't let me get a decent cheek weld for long guns.

If I'm at the range, I can use my Winchester foam plugs w/NRR of 31. Assuming damage occurs instantaneously at 140 dB, I assume I'm ok with my long guns. They're all rated at about 156 dB except my turkey/HD shotgun. It's around 160 dB. That means w/the foam plugs the noise is down to 130 dB, more or less, when it hits my ears. That's supposed to be an acceptable level for instantaneous noise.

But in the field, I need something that lets me hear surrounding sounds while at the same time giving me a decent cheek weld on a long gun.

What about these? Walkers WGE-XGE1B Digital HD Elite Hunting Hearing Aid with Noise Protection.

http://www.earplugstore.com/wa...-ear-digital-hd.html

I'm thinking a foam plug in my left ear (the ear that contacts the stock) and the Walker in the other ear?

Do any of you use a similar set up?

thanx

Also, none of my rifles have a muzzle brake, so the noise isn't directed toward the shooter. Several have flash suppressors, but not muzzle brakes.

 

[Patocazador]

From what I've read, foam plugs are not as effective as people think. I molded some plugs to my ears from a kit I bought from Cabela's? I think. The name began with an "R". They are NOT electronic and you can't hear anything much when they're in place but they really stop the noise without the bulkiness of muffs.
I've never tried a Walker's .. I'm too cheap.

 

[Blue68f100]

Any noise in the 70-80db will hurt your ears and you will not realize it. So you need hearing protection to get you below 70 dB to be safe. I double plug when at the range, foam plugs (30NNR) and my ProEars Gold (33 NNR, the only electronic that clamp below 70db) which are probably too large for your need.

Protect your hearing, once it's gone it's gone.

Some of the high end digital hearing aids to an excellent job at killing noise above a certain level. My brother has had to wear hearing aides since the age of 6. With his latest hearing aids over the last 15 yrs he had not had to turn them off when shooting.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Any noise in the 70-80db will hurt your ears

No, that's not true. I got these figures off the U of Va Health System's chart. This thread has to do with gunshots. Instantaneous noise. Anything instantaneous at 140 dB or above will damage your hearing.

Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.

Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.

Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.

At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.

You might want to check this thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=713022

Let's say I'm shooting a 12 guage shotgun with 26 inch barrel. It's going to produce 156.10 dB. I only need hearing protection to get it below 140 dB. Winchester foam plugs are rated at NRR 31. That brings the dB down to 125 for instantaneous exposure. That's well within acceptable limits.

Now, some people say that with handguns you're dealing with two separate frequencies. They say that the plugs reduce one frequency and muffs reduce the other. At the range, I double up anyway with long guns or with handguns. But in the field I need to be able to hear the surrounding noise, hance the plugs in the picture.

 

[jak67429]

The game ears work very well. I do suggest having custom ear mold made, and 1 in each ear if you are hunting. I have been using them for several years when hunting with my 44mag.

 

[SunnySlopes]

The game ears work very well. I do suggest having custom ear mold made

The Game Ears have the custom mold option?

Are you talking about these?

http://www.earplugstore.com/pro-ears-pro-fit-hunting-hearing-aid.html

Cause, $800 per earpiece is out of my price range. I'm thinking maybe $300 for two.

 

[NelsErik]

I was given a set of the Soundgear Electronic Ear Plugs from a girlfriend. I like them because they go deep into my ear and don't let sound get around them. The only real problem is that when they are in I am constantly yelling at people. They are always listed for $500, but you can regularly find them for half price.

 

[natman]

I've had very good luck with these:

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Tactical-Hearing-Protector/dp/B00009363P

They are very slim and don't come close to interfering with the stock.

 

[Blue68f100]

My numbers came from OSHA. Worked in a noise environment for years. Their your ears do what you want but 5 yrs from now when you have hearing loss you will know why. Sharp explosive noise will damage your hearing quicker and instantly in some cases. But substain levels in the 70-80 will too.

 

[Patocazador]

Years ago I saw a PBS show about hearing. It seems chinchillas' and human' ears are very similar. They took a chinchilla and put it in a cage on top of a piano. Then they hit the key for middle C a couple of dozen times. They sacrificed the animal, dissected it's internal ear, and examined the columnar cells under a microscope. The cilia (hairs) on the top of the the cells look like a rectangle with a crew-cut haircut. The cells that received the sound of middle C were almost destroyed in the center and the ones on the edges had deformed tops and destroyed cilia.

Hearing loss is real and permanent!

 

[SunnySlopes]

My numbers came from OSHA. Worked in a noise environment for years. Their your ears do what you want but 5 yrs from now when you have hearing loss you will know why. Sharp explosive noise will damage your hearing quicker and instantly in some cases. But substain levels in the 70-80 will too.

Wow. You're just so wrong on so many levels.

First, your numbers did not come from OSHA.

From, OSHA Decibel Levels - Hearing Protection

employees may be exposed to a noise level of 90 dB for 8 hours per day (unless they experience a Standard Threshold Shift) before hearing protection is required

Also,

Noises are considered continuous if the interval between occurrences of the maximum noise level is one second or less. Noises not meeting this definition are considered impact or impulse noises (loud momentary explosions of sound) and exposures to this type of noise must not exceed 140 dB.

http://www.oshax.org/info/articles/decibel-levels

This website:

http://oshanoise.com/

....says,

A hearing conservation program must be implemented when employees are exposed to 85 dB or more in an
8-hour day.

Next, it's "they're", not "their." Also, it's "sustained"; not "substain."

Finally, we're not talking about continuous noise levels, are we? The thread is talking about gun shots. That would be the "impulse" dB level of 140 dB or greater.

 

[Blue68f100]

Those are requirements for mandatory hearing protection program, substained. But we are taking about 2 different things in a way. Sustain vs percussion. With percussion be the quicker way to get perminate hearing loss.

My question to you is do you shoot alone, uncovered? Once you add a cover and multiple shooters you start getting reverbs and sustained levels. These can cause you problems as the level does not completely drop off. The only sure way to know is set up some fast recording equipment to see what is actually going on.

I shoot at a indoor range. In it you should double plug for levels exceed 140dB with sustained running in the 90-100 range and this is a pistol range. Now of course this varies as to number of shooters and who's shooting a Mag next to you. If I shoot in a fully open range (no cover) the noise is 20-30dB lower. I can only imagine what a rifle range would be like.

Like I said once you damage your ears is normally permanent.

Take all the necessary precautions to protect them.

 

[TNboy]

Go to an audiologist and get a set of ear plugs made containing a sonic valve. I have a pair that I wear at work and they are very effective and comfortable to wear all day. They work great for shooting as well. The valve allows you to carry on a conversation but when there is a loud noise the valve closes for the duration of the noise. They are absolutely ideal for being able to talk to your buddies while you are out shooting. Mine cost $150 which I didn't think was bad at all considering some of the more expensive electronic alternatives, plus there are no electronics and fancy stuff to break or go bad.

 

[Grumulkin]

I have custom E.A.R., Inc. electronic hearing protectors that work well even with a braked 460 S&W Magnum handgun. They're pricey but worth it. As for foam ear plugs, I use them under ear muffs for shooting off the bench and have found the ones made by E.A.R., Inc. To be the best.

 

[Loc n Load]

Ear protection

Having instructed firearms and tactical operaters professionally since the 70's, I have found the best set up for seriously protecting your hearing is the Peltor Tactical 7 muffs(they also make a model for rifle shooters - so that the mounted rifle does not "crack" the seal on the muff), coupled with the sonic ear valves.....I started using this combo in 92/93 and if I had had them prior to that I wouldn't have the hearing loss and constant ringing in both ears 24/7 that I have now. I shoot a lot of big bore rifles, 50 BMG, 338's etc . I work inside shooting houses where flash bangs are fired off in the same room and been exposed to thousands of reports from SMG's, SGN's, rifles and hgn's in an enclosed area.....I put in the ear valves, slap on the Peltors and crank up the gain on the mic's until I can hear everything....they work really well, sound attenuation is instantaneous and effective.