Hearing Protection

[PawPaw]

I was looking at my hearing protection today and realized it's been about five years since I bought new ears.

I'm wearing an old pair of Silencio Lo-Pro 2000 muffs, but they're about worn out. It's time to upgrade.

Who makes good muffs these days? Lots of choices out there, and I'm not sure if I want to upgrade to electronic muffs or stay with the old non-electronic muffs.

[Erik]

Around here it's Peltor or MSA Sordin. I believe both make electronic as well as non-electronic muffs.

I have a pair of electronic muffs myself, I prefer to be able to keep them on constantly and be able to talk quietly and still hear. And they're easy to shut off if I want them to work as non-electronics.

[HTRN]

I couldn't tell you about electonic ear muffs, but I'm a big fan of Silencio Magnums - 29db noise reduction rating.

[cu74]

I was looking at my hearing protection today and realized it's been about five years since I bought new ears.

I'm wearing an old pair of Silencio Lo-Pro 2000 muffs, but they're about worn out. It's time to upgrade.

Who makes good muffs these days? Lots of choices out there, and I'm not sure if I want to upgrade to electronic muffs or stay with the old non-electronic muffs.

Do you have the option of borrowing a pair of decent electronic muffs to try them out? A lot of folks balk at the price and never try them out. Back when my wife was taking firearms classes, her instructor had a pair of Peltor muffs and he let her try them. We both have Peltor's now and like them so well that I bought a pair for my youngest son for is birthday. I like being able to have a conversation with the folks I'm shooting with while still having loud noise protection.

[Aglifter]

I had an OLD pair of peltors - my HLs were an improvement, but that could just be due to modern tech.

If you have the money, most guys go for Sordins or... I think they're called Pro ears, or Gold ears - really big things.

Now, I have some custom ear plugs made by Westone (bought through my audiologist), which I really like. They have filters, which work well enough for normal guns at the range, and work well under muffs for open. I run HLs for my muffs - not really too great, plenty of clipping, etc, but they're cheap.

For either the Sordins for the Gold/Pro ears an important option was gel cups.

[blackeagle603]

Speaking as a flightline guy.... (13+ years) who can barely function now without hearing aides due to nearly 50dB loss through the middle of the spectrum...

There's no replacement for actual good fitting muffs.

The best ear plugs don't cover the bone behind/around the ear. Much of my loss is prolly hereditary but much is certainly from unprotected hearing on the range when I was young and later on flightline, flightdeck, as aircrew in a poorly insulated turboprop AEW plane. I was hardcore about doubling up with plugs and earmuffs but still many times I relied on earplugs alone. Hey, the Indian Ocean is a miserable hot humid place to wear a cranial.

Amplified muffs are no use to me until I get at least up to the $100 range. Low end muffs don't have enough gain. I have to remove my hearing aides to wear them because I get feedback/whistling when they cover the aides.

Buy best fitting/sealing, highest attenuation you can budget/manage. Cheapest hearing aides start at $700/ea, only last a year or two if you're lucky and will make you happy to spend $1500/ea on the replacement..

[Denis]

The Sordins are $250 even on max internet discount.

And worth every penny, if you want to use them for hunting. You're not just paying for the hearing protection, you're also paying for the quality of the amplification of the ambient sounds. I consider them "bionic ears". When you can hear the deer coming through the undergrowth, it gives you that fraction more of a second to make your shot.

I also have the Howard Leight electronic muffs - they are fine for general range shooting, but the amplification is not in the same league as the Sordins. I also bought some of the Midway US$19.95 electronic muffs when they were on special offer to use as loaners when I teach new shooters, since I need them to hear my instructions on the range. I wouldn't want to use them as my primary muffs though - there is a lot of clipping.

You could always try the Chinese version of the Sordin muffs from DealExtreme. If CC's theory of Chinese manufacturing overruns is correct, they may even be the real thing at a bargain price.

[blackeagle603]

Apropos of this, at the top of today's Brownell's e-mail sales flyer...

BROWNELLS PRO SERIES HEARING PROTECTION
Mfr:BROWNELLS, INCPrice:$139.99Status:In Stock

Made In The U.S.A.
Products marked with the Stars and Stripes are proudly made in the U.S.A.
Many customers have asked us to show which products are made in America, and we’ve begun working with our vendors to identify them. This information, however, is not available for all items nor does it imply that foreign merchandise is of lesser quality. We will continue to gather this information to assist our customers in making informed buying decisions, and will keep our website current with the latest information.

•Brownells Pro Series Hearing Protection feature DLSC technology that protects hearing while letting you hear softer sounds
•Fast "attack time" reacts/recovers in less than 5.5 milliseconds
•Stereo for true directional sound detection
•Multi-directional microphones provide 360 degrees of hearing
•Independent volume controls
•Replaceable proform leather ear seals
•Comfortable, adjustable, padded headband
•Modular design for easy care
•Slim, contoured cup design
•200 hours minimum battery life
•Uses common "N" size alkaline batteries
•Batteries included
•Made in the USA
•3 year warranty

link

No mention of attenutation. Any experience here with these?

Looks like these might be private labeled version of the Pro Ears P300. If so, NRR = 26 and Brownell's is a good price on them There are couple favorable reviews at Optics Planet for those. link

[Flintlock Tom]

I have been using the Howard Leight set that Amazon.com sells for less than $50. For outdoor use they excel, but in indoor ranges I find them inadequate. I usually double up with foam plugs now when I shoot indoors.
I have not noticed any "clipping", in fact I don't notice the change from blocking to not. I even bought a second pair for when I take a friend along.
When I took my daughter and her friend out, they wore the two pairs of HL and I used some Peltor valves. My daughter kept asking me why I was yelling.

[Aglifter]

You could always try the Chinese version of the Sordin muffs from DealExtreme. If CC's theory of Chinese manufacturing overruns is correct, they may even be the real thing at a bargain price.

I ordered a set, I'll see how they work, and comment afterwards.