I have been T/E'ing "AOSafety Combat Arms Indoor/Outdoor E-A-R Plugs" for just over a year now - and here are the results.
Here is what they look like:
Don't be mislead by thier simplicity - keep reading...
First off - in my opinion - hearing protection is a MUST. We need to safeguard the senses God gave us - and for our chosen profession/hobby - that means HEARING (and eye) protection.
The problems with other "hearing protection devices" are these:
1. If they are "plug type" (in the ear) - you can't hear ANYTHING while wearing these - which means everyone is yelling at each other (best case) - or you can't hear things that would help you (worst case).
A different "plug type" that supposed to allow normal hearing is the SONIC II - they have a small "cylinder" attached to the ear plug ("SONIC II") that is supposed to let normal sounds through but block loud ones. They are don't even come close to working as good as the "AOSafety Combat Arms" plugs do - at least for me there was a huge difference.) Here is a picture of the SONIC II's.
2. If they are "ear-muff type" (over the ear) - the same problems with the "plug type" above - but also add "bulky and HOT" to the list. (Muffs can interfere when shooting long arms.)
3. Electronic type hearing protection (either plug or muff type) do allow one to hear - and even applify sound - while still protecting hearing - but they are:
a. EXPENSIVE (in the ear electronic hearing protection are even more expensive than the muffs!)
b. Take "odd" batteries
c. still HOT to wear (muff type)
So - what I have typically done in the past is to wear "electronic muffs" when the temps were low (they are too hot to wear in the summer) - and wearing "custom" fitted plugs for warm weather wear and just yelling or pulling them out to talk.
HOWEVER - these "new" plugs are GREAT! They require NO batteries, they DO allow normal conversation (hearing) - while "blocking" loud noises!
I wear them almost ALL the time now - as they don't have the bulk associated with muffs. (If the temps are really cold - I will wear the electronic muffs mainly to keep my ears warm!)
When shooting INDOORS - I do "double up" - and wear these plugs in addition to my electronic muffs - as the muzzle blast from a short barrel AR can literally be deafening indoors. The main reason I wear the muffs is I can crank up the volume to hear things that I wouldn't be able to if I wore plugs alone.
Another cool thing about these plugs is the cost - LESS THAN $10.00 A PAIR!!!!
Here is a link:
http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/t...&M5.ctx=26156&M2_DESC.ctx=Gun Safety- Hearing
These puppies are LIGHT YEARS ahead of anything else out there - especially for the price!
Hope this helps,
cheers
tire iron
Here is what they look like:
Don't be mislead by thier simplicity - keep reading...
First off - in my opinion - hearing protection is a MUST. We need to safeguard the senses God gave us - and for our chosen profession/hobby - that means HEARING (and eye) protection.
The problems with other "hearing protection devices" are these:
1. If they are "plug type" (in the ear) - you can't hear ANYTHING while wearing these - which means everyone is yelling at each other (best case) - or you can't hear things that would help you (worst case).
A different "plug type" that supposed to allow normal hearing is the SONIC II - they have a small "cylinder" attached to the ear plug ("SONIC II") that is supposed to let normal sounds through but block loud ones. They are don't even come close to working as good as the "AOSafety Combat Arms" plugs do - at least for me there was a huge difference.) Here is a picture of the SONIC II's.
2. If they are "ear-muff type" (over the ear) - the same problems with the "plug type" above - but also add "bulky and HOT" to the list. (Muffs can interfere when shooting long arms.)
3. Electronic type hearing protection (either plug or muff type) do allow one to hear - and even applify sound - while still protecting hearing - but they are:
a. EXPENSIVE (in the ear electronic hearing protection are even more expensive than the muffs!)
b. Take "odd" batteries
c. still HOT to wear (muff type)
So - what I have typically done in the past is to wear "electronic muffs" when the temps were low (they are too hot to wear in the summer) - and wearing "custom" fitted plugs for warm weather wear and just yelling or pulling them out to talk.
HOWEVER - these "new" plugs are GREAT! They require NO batteries, they DO allow normal conversation (hearing) - while "blocking" loud noises!
I wear them almost ALL the time now - as they don't have the bulk associated with muffs. (If the temps are really cold - I will wear the electronic muffs mainly to keep my ears warm!)
When shooting INDOORS - I do "double up" - and wear these plugs in addition to my electronic muffs - as the muzzle blast from a short barrel AR can literally be deafening indoors. The main reason I wear the muffs is I can crank up the volume to hear things that I wouldn't be able to if I wore plugs alone.
Another cool thing about these plugs is the cost - LESS THAN $10.00 A PAIR!!!!
Here is a link:
http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/t...&M5.ctx=26156&M2_DESC.ctx=Gun Safety- Hearing
These puppies are LIGHT YEARS ahead of anything else out there - especially for the price!
Hope this helps,
cheers
tire iron
