Ear protection for muzzle brakes while hunting

[nakneker]

I’ve always just put ear protection on before the shot, it’s works fine for most of the hunting we do which is long range glassing and shooting, we have to hike in quite a ways to most of our areas and I always just wear ear plugs while walking if I’m in an area where I might get a shot, which sucks because we all know how valuable hearing is while still hunting. So I wanted to try something like a walkers game ear this year, something that enhances your hearing but protects your hearing against muzzle blast with a brake. Most of my hunting is done with a 7 Saum and a terminator brake but I also have a 338 Lapua with a T3 that is a pussycat to shoot but its brutal on unprotected ears or improperly protected ears.

Anyways, we have a bunch of tags this year and I need to get something pretty soon. I’d love to hear what you like and what you don’t like. Budget isn’t an issue, I don’t mind paying if it’s quality and it works.

 

[dantiff2]

I wear a set of Howard Leights all day in the stand and even when i'm not shooting my rifle with a brake on it. I like how they allow me to hear things that i can't otherwise hear without them. The only drawback is if the wind is blowing, I'll leave them off and up on my hat for easy action if needed because they amplify the wind too much for my liking.

Dan

 

[Bluenose]

I've yet to find a good solution to this. I just pulled my brake off as a result. I've tried a few different electronic muffs and none of them are quite right for me but that's what I'm going to try if I decide to put the brake back on. I couldn't hike around with earplugs in, that would drive me nuts. I have a couple sets of surefire earplugs that are supposed to passively filter loud sounds but let low volume through. They sort of work but I think they still block too much to be practical for hunting. I'm interested in hearing some suggestions here

 

[wedgy]

A buddy wore something similar as described that boosts low sounds and cuts the loud stuff over a certain threshold, they really help his hearing but I could see them having issues in the wind. Might post this in another section other than varmint hunting. I carry plugs tethered to my hat and put them in before I shoot, hoping I have time.

 

[markT]

It’s too bad suppressors are controlled the way they are in USA. If one watches hunting videos from “over seas” they all have cans.

 

[Siko12]

Two six years ago was the first time I rifle hunted with hearing protection around my neck. intending to put them on when needed. Well, I saw a coyote moving around a bottom area and ranged him and then lined him up through my scope on my 7 mag.......and pulled the trigger. Ya, it hurt my right ear pretty badly. I don't remember having that problem when shooting elk or deer without ear protection. maybe the adrenaline makes a difference?

 

[nakneker]

It’s too bad suppressors are controlled the way they are in USA. If one watches hunting videos from “over seas” they all have cans.

We went to South Africa, my wife and me 4 years ago. That was the first time we used suppressors. Such a great tool. We took 42 animals all with suppressors and mid sized mags, we were hooked. I actually have one now, it’s legal to hunt here in Arizona with them but I don’t have one for my 338 Lapua and still want some kind of a solution for hearing protection.

Thanks for the input, if this would fit better in another place here on the forum point me the direction.

 

[Oso]

Suppressors are the answer. I made mistake of taking a friend and his son on nighttime hog hunt. I set them up with my guns and gear, which meant no suppressor on my backup SBR. A hog was wounded and I rushed over to dispatch it. My routine was blown - I didn't put my plugs in and a couple quick shot later realized no suppressor on the SBR. My guess is 50% loss in left ear and 25% in right ear. It really hurt... enough that I would have left my gear and immediately driven the 3 hours to get to major hospital if it could have helped.... Never Again!!! No more guests without their own gear. No more shooting rifles without suppressors. Quality of life choice...

Aside from suppressor the next best solution is to use a longer barrel with no muzzle break, which pushes the blast forward and further away. Muzzle breaks help with recoil, but they make it louder by redirecting some of the blast in directions other than away from shooter.

 

[Ackman]

Electronic muffs work really well. I've had a couple sets. Current are Dillon from the 90's made by Peltor. They have foam baffles to eliminate wind noise. With sound turned up even moderately you can hear the ground crunching underfoot and animal sounds much more intensely. I've heard prairie dogs in a field several 100yds away sound like they're right behind. We started using electronic muffs in the 80's and they worked great for 2 people shooting pd's out of a hatch in the top of a camper. But not good at a range where they'll be constantly shutting off, too distracting. All my rifles are braked.

 

[PRR1957]

Has anyone considered, tried, or have this from Surefire ? I have watched a few Youtube video reviews, but they were informal tests and I couldn’t tell how well it works do to the videos were shot with cell phones I believe. I would think that Surefire wouldn’t market something like this if it didn’t work as advertised.

 

[KY_Windage]

Howard Leights, but yeah, a suppressor is really the way to go if you can.

I have had both the electronic ear plugs and the electronic muffs for many years. The plugs start to hurt if you try to wear them all day, plus, while they enhance sounds, you can't tell where the sound is coming from, other than "left side" or "right side." The muffs get tiresome after a few hours, too, and are miserable on a hot day.

I can shoot all day long with a suppressor and a pair of cheap foam plugs pushed just barely into my ear canals. I can still hear game, etc., well enough, too.

 

[NC308]

Nothing like the sound on a break on a rifle on a cold frosty morning!! I carry ear plugs but sometimes don’t have time to use them. When they are chasing not much time in the shooting lanes! I should try a set of the electronic muffs.

 

[338 dude]

It’s too bad suppressors are controlled the way they are in USA. If one watches hunting videos from “over seas” they all have cans.

In the UK it is considered rude not to have a suppressor at the range I wish we would adopt that mentality here

 

[338 dude]

I use the walker game ear muffs amplifying sounds is great but it’s the wind Noise that is undesirable

 

[people]

I just keep an ear plug in my right ear. I am left handed. I do not do drives so I have time. If I did drives I would just put the other in.

A can is really the way to go. Right now form 1 paperwork is just over a month. If you are even a little handy they are super easy to make. You can send it off for marking or you can do it your self. I have seen many that were done with a dremel. The coolest one they did with balloon letters. It worked very well with how they did the cammo on the can.

I hunt with a can all the time. I still use an ear plug in my right ear.

 

[hogpatrol]

Silencers are illegal in the People's Socialist Democratic State of Delaware. Same for full auto and modifications that simulate the same. From what I understand there are more states that ban than allow them.

 

[nakneker]

Well after watching a bunch reviews and reading on the subject I’m gonna try a pair of these Otto’s. The sound direction sounds better on them, battery life is far better than most and they make quite a few products for the military which I hope helps with the quality of this product, link below. You can get 20 16 hour charges off the case and they have two setting, normal and enhanced.
I also went down to the where I bought my first suppressor, and bought another brake for my 338L. I really only need hearing protection walking in 3-5 miles depending where we go and most of that walk won’t have any game on it. Once were glassing we have plenty of time setting up for the shot. The last third or so is where the game starts. Thanks for the comments, much appreciated.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/otto-engineering-noizebarrier-micro.html

 

[Oso]

Has anyone considered, tried, or have this from Surefire ? I have watched a few Youtube video reviews, but they were informal tests and I couldn’t tell how well it works do to the videos were shot with cell phones I believe. I would think that Surefire wouldn’t market something like this if it didn’t work as advertised.
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I have a Noveske Flaming Pig (forward directing break), which is same concept. It is useful on shorter barrel rifles that otherwise would put ut large multi-directional blast, such as AR15. Helps on short barrels that are less than 16". Not nearly as much benefit on normal length barrels.

 

[OmegaRed]

I’ve always just put ear protection on before the shot, it’s works fine for most of the hunting we do which is long range glassing and shooting, we have to hike in quite a ways to most of our areas and I always just wear ear plugs while walking if I’m in an area where I might get a shot, which sucks because we all know how valuable hearing is while still hunting. So I wanted to try something like a walkers game ear this year, something that enhances your hearing but protects your hearing against muzzle blast with a brake. Most of my hunting is done with a 7 Saum and a terminator brake but I also have a 338 Lapua with a T3 that is a pussycat to shoot but its brutal on unprotected ears or improperly protected ears.

Anyways, we have a bunch of tags this year and I need to get something pretty soon. I’d love to hear what you like and what you don’t like. Budget isn’t an issue, I don’t mind paying if it’s quality and it works.

I can't really report on much yet because I literally picked them up this week, but I recently got custom audiologist shooters plugs that are digital. I have been hem hawing back and forth for the past few years and finally pulled the trigger on them.
The audiologist put a few different sound profiles on them to try out, as I told him a major complaint (other than not being able to properly mount a gun) with over the ear digital muffs were over-amplification of wind noise, walking through brush, etc. They are fine for shooting at a range, but hunting leaves a lot to be desired. I also hunt in cold weather a lot, so battery life was a concern.

I've worn them around the house and will say that the sound quality is a big improvement over the $100 or so over the earmuffs. We'll see how they hold up and perform now that our hunting season opens up next month.

 

[markT]

In the UK it is considered rude not to have a suppressor at the range I wish we would adopt that mentality here

Too much money to be made to make them available. Both for aee t fff and manufactures.