Question about hearing protection.
Posted by Candid-Ad-8470@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 22 comments
I’ve always used foam plugs, and they work fine but as I shoot more often with others, I find conversing with foam in my ears to be a slight annoyance. I started looking at some electronic ear muffs like walkers and an old memory popped up. I may have heard it wrong or it may no longer be an issue, but is there a momentary split second when the gun fires that the electronic ears can’t shut off fast enough and you still get some ear damage? Maybe this was never an issue, maybe it was with the early versions of electronic ear protection but before I made a purchase, I figured I’d put this rumor to bed or validate it. Thanks for the assistance and clarification.
PuzzleheadedRegion87@reddit
I would recommend using foams WITH electronic ear pro if you’re shooting indoors. It just works better and the mic in muffs picks up everything and you’re fine.
As for outdoor you’re fine.
I suppose, to answer your question, it could happen. But with current technology it shouldn’t! And if it does it’s probably the brand rather than the tech as a whole.
Candid-Ad-8470@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the reply. I rarely shoot indoors. The only brand I know is walker, are their any other brands like savior mentioned above that you’d suggest?
Edwardteech@reddit
I use 3m tac sport 500s and run foamies under them.
Works really well and is the best i can find for hearing and hearing protection at the same time.
PuzzleheadedRegion87@reddit
Walkers are good. Howard Leights are a staple of ear pro and usually a bit slimmer (depending on which model you get) they also have directional mics (think turtle beach’s in COD lol).
Peltor may be a good brand as well, but I run the HL’s and the work great. Again, I usually am at an indoor with doubled up ear pro but I don’t have an issue!
TheBeatlesSuckDong@reddit
HL is the tits.
Unicorn187@reddit
I wear both. Electronic muffs with the volume turned up, over foam.
GSDTippyTappies@reddit
I'm usually shooting suppressed so I like the Surefire EP3 plugs for general use. If I'm indoor at my LGS and get stuck between two unsuppressed FRT users or nasty brakes then I double up with the Razor Slims.
Important-Nobody-228@reddit
I got the cheap 3M electronic muffs and they are superior to my Howard Leights.
UsernameO123456789@reddit
I double up regardless of indoor or outdoor. Foam plugs plus sordin over ears
Arconomach@reddit
I’ve not had any damage to my ears while shooting. As best as I can tell with the auto earmuffs all the retort of the shot does is turn off the speakers.
They’re fast enough to turn off and I don’t think the speakers in the muffs can get loud enough to damage your ears.
I am much more concerned about having a poor earmuffs seal while cheek welded to a stock. So I do as many others have said, and wear in the ear plugs as well as muffs, with the muffs cranked up enough to hear normally.
notoriousbpg@reddit
Foam plugs AND Razor Slim with gel cups - turn them up and you can still have a conversation, even with foam plugs in.
Look after your eeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEears
B1893@reddit
Use the foam plugs, wear electronic earpro over them.
I use Walker Razors. They amplify the quiet noises and cancel the loud ones...
So, if you can’t hear the conversation, simply turn up the volume - and they still canel put the gunfire.
A downside to the Razors is they're mono, so you can't tell direction while using them...
Howard Leight has electronic muffs that are stereo, and don't cost much more. I haven't got a set yet, but, being stereo, you will at least know if you need to turn your head to the left or right.
Ach3r0n-@reddit
I have the Walker EXCEL 500BT andnjave been happy with them. Midway has them on sale often for ~$75. I have a pair of 3Ms also, but they become incredibly uncomfortable after 30 min or so. I double up with foam plugs when shooting indoors.
joelfarris@reddit
As a live sound reinforcement engineer with decades of touring experience and also a lifelong shooter, may I recommend not only a set of 'the foamies', but also the Peltors (or the Pro Ears, if you're into that sort of thing), and also as many inches of suppressor screwed onto that barrel as you can afford and can hold up with your supporting hand.
I once cued up a snare drum accidentally and incorrectly into my left ear, and for a couple of beats, I thought I'd been shot and gone to heaven. Turns out that JBL actually knows what they're doing with those speakers.
Little bit later in life, a so called friend fired off a .308 just outside my right shoulder, for no good reason. We don't see eye to eye anymore.
There's music out there that I've personally mixed and amplified and enjoyed in real time, that I can't hear the same way. I know what it's supposed to sound like in my head, but it just doesn't sound like that anymore.
Earplugs are a ~15-20 dB reduction. Same with a set of cans. Same with a suppressor. Stack all three of those up, and you're at a worst case scenario of a -45dB reduction. Gunshots can hit 150-165 dB, and at 150, permanent hearing damage can occur with even a single shot, but we're talking about hundreds of them, because it's not just you shooting, is it?
Please do everything you can to layer the protection for your ears. That "slight annoyance in conversation" is nothing compared to what you might face in the future.
PuzzleheadedRegion87@reddit
Can confirm, unprotected .308 fire is an absolute dickwad move. (I did it to myself)
BluesFan43@reddit
I use Sordin SFA'S. Equal protection to plain muffs thanks to an extra layer, turned on, i hear brass underfoot.
GunnCelt@reddit
Disclaimer: I suffer tinnitus and hearing loss from the Army.
I got ear muffs from savior equipment after having walkers and prefer them more because I hear in stereo and gel ear cups. Both are awesome. I’ve had no issues with them.
Candid-Ad-8470@reddit (OP)
I looked them up and they look good. How do they do in humid summer weather? Thanks for the reply.
GunnCelt@reddit
Better than the walker’s, imo. Either way, you’re going to sweat
Candid-Ad-8470@reddit (OP)
Fair enough. Thanks!
TheBeatlesSuckDong@reddit
The howard leight ones from Honeywell have done me good. Also much better than the walkers I've tried, and similar in price. The cups are a slimmer profile, which helps a lot if you have issues with your cheekweld pushing then around on rifles.
bowtie_k@reddit