Ear protection

[ds92]

Hi everybody,
I know im making a nuisance of myself around here but i've got lots of questions (hoping to go hunting asap!) but being young and with relatively undamaged ears, is there any way to get good ear protection without totally muffling your hearing and paying less than $300? I was hoping for some sort of in-ear protection rather than headphones, but anything's good.

i found these (http://www.surefire.com/EP3-Sonic-Defenders) but i wasnt sure how good they are. i read a review in G&A recently about surefire's new ear protection but when i checked online they were $980!! waaay out of my budget.

But i digress, does anybody use any sort of hearing protection or do you guys just put up with the sound (12 gauge will be my primary hunting tool)

Thanks!

 

[cbrgator]

You should definitely wear some type of ear protection. Even if you get those little 50 cent spongy things you roll up and push into your ear to expand is better than nothing. I don't know about the Surefires but definitely get yourself something.

 

[ds92]

Yeah i usually double up and wear both plugs and muffs at the range but i was hoping for something that i could hear with and that would muffle damaging sounds. last time i went hunting with anything other than a .22 i used a 20 gauge hunting pigeons with my uncle, which, didnt require hearing so much so i did without it.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I think what you want are electronic ear-muffs. I can't reccomend a good pair, though.

 

[Skoghund]

In the 60s in England i used to shoot a lot of wood pigeons. Sometimes i would shoot a case of 200 12 bore in a day without hearing protection.
Now I'm a deaf old git. So wear hearing protection for all shooting. I use Peltor Sport Tac for all my shooting-hunting and because we use hunting radio's these connect strait into the ear muffs and they keep your ears warm like today as it was -6c when we were hunting.

 

[WardenWolf]

I recommend the Howard Leight electronic hearing protectors. They have microphones that let you hear everything around you, about as well as if you weren't wearing anything, and automatically cut out anything over 90 decibels or so. They're also fairly inexpensive, around $60. They're good quality, compact, and very comfortable, and many people have said they're better than $200+ models. They also have non-electronic models for around $25, which are still way better than the cheap cans you usually see.

Cabela's has them HERE.

 

[cbrgator]

Does anybody have experience with those Surefire's he asked about? I am curious about them too.

 

[WardenWolf]

I'll be frank, most of the stuff Surefire puts out is overpriced and underperforming, and you can usually get superior performance at half the cost if you're willing to look. I don't have experience with this particular model, but at that price for hearing protection I guarantee you can find something comparable for less.

 

[highorder]

I use the SF earpro and it is GREAT!

It's comfortable, and easy to use. I leave the noise filter open when shooting outdoors, but I could see closing them for worrking around constant loud noise. For hunting, I would give the SF earpro a chance. I use a medium pair of EP4's
From another thread I responded to:

I have been wearing Peltor "shotgunner" muffs for a while and I like them. On the recommendation of a friend who just joined the DSS, I bought a pair of Surefire EP4's.

I got them here:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/surefire-earpro-ep4-sonic-defender-plus.html

Surefire earpro is wonderful! You really can hear conversations with them, but my AR is comfortable to shoot as well. The Hocks filter is an interesting concept that works.

 

[cbrgator]

I'll be frank, most of the stuff Surefire puts out is overpriced and underperforming, and you can usually get superior performance at half the cost if you're willing to look. I don't have experience with this particular model, but at that price for hearing protection I guarantee you can find something comparable for less.

$14?

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd look again. I think the $14 was just for replacement parts for the actual system.

 

[.38 Special]

In-ear, affordable, effective. Choose any two. Ha ha.

Custom made in-ear protectors are very effective, very comfortable, and double as amplifiers while you are hunting. The ground floor for decent quality is about $500, though. You can get in-ear electronic protection for less, but you will find they are not comfortable for long periods, are not especially secure in your ears, and may not block out gunshots adequately.

You may look into behind-the-ear setups. These are still pretty convenient and comfortable, though still not as secure as a custom in-the-ear instrument. They are a lot less expensive, though; I have seen them for less than $20.

The only other option I am aware of are the baffle-type plugs that contain a small valve. These leave the ear open except when a loud impulse sound triggers the valve, which then reduces the sound pressure level until the noise ceases. These have worked passably well for me, but others here have had poor results. Fit is critical -- they need to be tight to be effective, but too tight is uncomfortable. And the NRR tends to be low: around 10 dB or less. They are cheap, however.

HTH!

 

[35 Whelen]

I try to always wear hearing protection when bird hunting. I use the little cheap foams ones. You're wise for protecting your hearing. If I'd have done that 30 years ago, "Huh?" wouldn't be the most frequently used word in my vocabulary.
35W

 

[HB]

I always double up when target shooting/plinking regardless of caliber but usually don't wear plugs while hunting except dove. Dove shooting=high volume and a good chance for damage. Most everything else (except deer hunting from a box blind) I just bear with it. Most days I only get a handful of shots on quail, rabbits, pheasant etc, and I wouldn't get those shots if I didn't hear brush rustling or wings beating.

 

[cbrgator]

No, its $14 for the actual ear plugs

 

[Funderb]

just throw some muffs around your neck and put them on when you go to shoot. It isn't combat, it is hunting.

 

[highorder]

Folks, the SF earpro is only $14.00 for nice, in ear protection that allows for regular conversation, with attenuation for gunfire.

SF also makes electronic earpro for significantly more money. Tey also make radio mic compatible items.

We are talking about simple, cheap, nice silicone ear protection.

Surefire haters should perhaps try them before passing judgment.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I wore a set of Walker Power Muffs for the first time this year. Absolutely excellent in my opinion. Could hear better than without them on and muffled the shots very well. They were $149 at Cabelas.

 

[cbrgator]

Folks, the SF earpro is only $14.00 for nice, in ear protection that allows for regular conversation, with attenuation for gunfire.

Yea I knew it was 14, I dont know what that guy is talking about. Do you have experience with them? are they effective?

 

[highorder]

see my post #9 above, or PM with questions.

I love them.

 

[gristle head]

The Surefire EarPro's are excellent. I wear them indoors (with the plugs in) and outdoors. I have not found any ohter non-electronic hearing protector to be as good.

They can be found for $10-14 and are certainly not overpriced and I've yet to have any Surefire product underperform and I own many.

 

[bang_bang]

When I target practice, I wear protection. But when I hunt, I try to listen to as many noises as I can to detect where the deer will appear. Whenever I shoot a deer, I almost never feel the recoil of hear the shot.

I know I know, my ears are receiving damage. A shot here and there won't hurt you.

 

[Rolando]

for 12 ga bird hunting I use foam in ear plugs and keep em in all time. If you'll be taking them in and out then the ones with the little stick in them make it easier to push them in and the string connecting them to hang around your neck.

For deer I use some cheapo Silencio brand muffs from Wally World and keep them around by head like a headband with the ear part on the back of my skull. When the deer comes into view and isn't looking I slip the muffs on my ears. Don't kid yourself about rifle or magnum pistol shots. You may not notice the shot with your adrenaline going but you're ears will be damaged. Hearing damage is cumulative and PERMANENT!!

 

[ds92]

Yeah, thats what i have been doing till now. I was wondering if there was an easier way though, Ordered the earpro's will give you a field review when i get a chance to use them.

 

[.38 Special]

A shot here and there won't hurt you.

As a hearing aid salesman, I'd just like to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. Baby needs a new pair of shoes!