Electronic hearing protection

[JSH]

What is everyone using now?

I have a good set of muffs that work great,Walker. But there are more times than not they are a PITA shooting rifles or trap.

I have used various styles of plugs for years and keep a pile on hand. Problem is putting them in and taking them out to talk or hear conversations is a hassle.

I see several of the electronic buds have no provision for a lanyard. Probably good if your selling them, not so much if your buying.

 

[Dub]

I started using the Otto noise barrier HD. Pricey but work perfectly for all my shooting sports.
otto-noizebarrier-high-definition-electronic-earplugs

 

[Bisson1990]

I have fitted SoundGear for pheasant/grouse hunting and prone shooting. Use muffs at the range standing or off bench. Why two options? I can't stand muffs in the field hunting and they hit me wrong when shooting prone. But muffs fit me fine at the range and give a little extra noise reduction for the higher noise level and volume of shooting at the range.

 

[quest450]

I've been using MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X for three years now
Build to last and the gel comfort earseals are a perfect fit

 

[divingin]

I've got the Etymotic Gunsport Pro's. I modify the eartips by contact cementing a pair of Moldex Softies ear plugs through which a hole has been punched. The protectors work fine, but they were not comfortable enough for all-day use with the supplied types of plugs, hence the retrofit. The downside is that they use hearing aid batteries (which last about 3 weeks for all-weekend use) - newer types (from other manufacturers) are rechargeable.

About $300 for the protectors, and $25ish for a box of 100 sets of plugs. Batteries run about $17 for a pack of 60.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I use the Walkers in ear occasionally but every time I want to use them the batteries are dead. The result is that I use the 30 cent plugs connected by a string most of the time. I do like the Walkers when they have fresh batteries though.

 

[shoobe01]

I've been using MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X for three years now
Build to last and the gel comfort earseals are a perfect fit

I happen to have the dual comm Sordins for other reasons, but love the sound quality and comfort I suggest any of them highly. I use mine (being too cheap to buy a non-commo set) as my shooting muffs. The Dillon and Radians I used to use are on the shelf for kids and friends.

DO get the gel ear seals, and replace them every few years. If you get over the head (they also make helmet mount and behind head models) look for aftermarket top band covers. Memory foam ones also help with comfort that little extra bit.

These guys do repair work once they are out of warranty, very well, nicely and very cheap. After >10 years mine needed work and it was replacing the battery bay and main electronics: $150 and had them back in not much over a week, yes, including shipping. https://srstactical.com/

 

[fx77]

ESP works well for me, but costly

https://www.espamerica.com/

 

[JSH]

I use the Walkers in ear occasionally but every time I want to use them the batteries are dead. The result is that I use the 30 cent plugs connected by a string most of the time. I do like the Walkers when they have fresh batteries though.

How long do the batteries last when fully charged? I see mixed reviews from 2 hours to 8 or more.

 

[BenPerfected]

I've been using MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X for three years now
They are built to last and the gel comfort earseals are a perfect fit

 

[OmegaRed]

I recently started looking into this. A local audiologist does custom pour in's. Ranges from about 400-600 depending on whether or not you need hear aid amplification built in, and if you need digital vs analog for different sounds. I'm going to buy a pair before duck season this year.

 

[ronsatspokane]

How long do the batteries last when fully charged? I see mixed reviews from 2 hours to 8 or more.

They are not rechargeable. They use hearing aid batteries. One in each side. Not sure how long they will last in constant use but the trouble appears to be that they discharge while turned off. Others have reported similar issue. If you take the batteries out when you are done, they work when you put them back in. I always forget to take them out.

 

[Daddymac]

Soundgear for hunting and courses of fire that require instruction.

 

[skeeljc]

I like Pro Ears Predator Gold electronic muffs for pistol, trap and skeet. I use David Clark muffs with gel filled cushions for rifle (usually with foam plugs too).

 

[Rsadams]

Peltor 300 from Amazon....

 

[rammac]

I started using the Otto noise barrier HD. Pricey but work perfectly for all my shooting sports.
otto-noizebarrier-high-definition-electronic-earplugs

I use the same earbuds and they are the best sound protectors I've ever used.

 

[divingin]

They are not rechargeable. They use hearing aid batteries. One in each side. Not sure how long they will last in constant use but the trouble appears to be that they discharge while turned off. Others have reported similar issue. If you take the batteries out when you are done, they work when you put them back in. I always forget to take them out.

Do the Walkers have the little flip out battery doors? If so, open them up when not in use. The Zinc-Air hearing aid batteries last a few weeks when unsealed (the plastic tab) and not in use, so breaking the electrical connection should help quite a bit (assuming the units don't have an on/off switch - the Etymotics don't.) Protecting the batteries from heat and humidity will also help with longevity.

 

[BenPerfected]

I've been using MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X for three years now
Build to last and the gel comfort earseals are a perfect fit

If you talk to an acoustic pro, he would say that for the best ear protection use both foam plugs & Electronic muffs. If you could only use one, use the foam plugs....best is both.
Ben

Just spent an hour trying to find Norm Matzen. Norm is/was an audiologist that used to post on AS. It was Norm’s recommendation that soft plugs be put deep in the ear canals with adjustable acoustic muffs covering the entire ear & a bone. It was my understanding from Norm that if you do damage to your hearing, it never comes back. This was all I could find on Norm, I expect that Norm may have left the range.
Be safe,
Ben

Norman Matzen
Age 72yrs
Simi Valley, CA

 

[quest450]

If you talk to an acoustic pro, he would say that for the best ear protection use both foam plugs & Electronic muffs. If you could only use one, use the foam plugs....best is both.
Ben

that's interesting, I do double up when shooting heavier cal with more recoil

 

[normmatzen]

Ben,

I'm still here!
You all know that I use Etymotic and OTTO hearing protection. And, I am prejudiced as I designed both the Etymotic and OTTO amplifier so I lean towards them.
First, the "experts" say you should double up on protection such as muffs over plugs. That is hard to argue with as most folks use muffs that are comfortable for shooting and these yield usually less than an NRR of 26 dB so added foam which when inserted correctly offer up to 38 dB (Not NRR, actual attenuation.) So, with the muff over them you are protected to almost the bone conduction limit of 40-50 dB. The two devices add, but you cannot get more than the bone conduction limit. Even if you use the small, light weight muffs that are comfortable to shoot with ( which in some cases drop down to 10-12 dB) the added 38 dB for properly inserted foamies still get you to the bone conduction limit.

Unfortunately, most of the "Experts" who deal with OSHA requirements are working with industrial noise which is a totally different type of noise. Gun shot noise is more of an impulse where industrial noise is similar to white noise in that it is broad band where impulse noise is way more energy in the low frequencies and the low frequency can actually cause your muff to lift off the ear and let noise in!

I do have many peer reviewed articles on protecting soldiers from explosive noises, ask me and I can send you a pdf file.

Personally, if I used muffs, I would get a pair with a compressor amplifier built in so conversational levels go right into the ear but higher level sound is attenuated till about 117 dB where it is limited. Then, I would use ER-20 or ETY PLUGS under them as they maintain good fidelity and still offer an additional 20 dB attenuation.
And Ben, I can be reached on PM.