Electonic ear protection?

[Gary O]

I see that the prices are coming down on electronic ear muffs. Are you folks shooting with this style of ear protection? What say you?

[gorenut]

I think they're preferable, but do not skimp and get some cheap brand. I made that mistake and I remember when I tested the earmuffs at home, it was fine. Once I took em to the range, both me and my friend's was barely filtering out gunshots. Not pleasant.

[sevensix2x51]

I've come to like them. I double up indoors, so its nice to be able to actually amplify the regular sounds, so you can hear them through the plugs.

[OneSevenDeuce]

They are fine outdoors. I love my Peltors. Indoors you should probably be doubling up so they are less useful. They are really good for outdoor combat courses where you might have to listen to commands.

[HighLander51]

The Peltor Tac 6's can be found as low as $59, but the best of the bunch are the Sordin Supreme Pro X for $300. And yes, there is a very noticeable difference with these ears. Inner ear electronic ones are available if you have $1,700.

http://www.msa-sordin.com/en/produkter.asp?rId=201&mId=104

http://www.earinc.com/p1-electronic-hunting.php

[Casual_Shooter]

I have the MSA Sordins. Indoor, doubling up with foam would be a good idea. They worked well at a carbine class. Saw a wide variety of ear protection on the participants. I think the instructor was using Howard Leights- which he kept tossing on the ground for some reason whenever he took them off.

One thing I don't understand (maybe I'm missing something) is why they made changing the batteries on the Sordins so difficult.

[Bullwinkle]

Find another electronic muff that comes near that noise rating.

Define "near". The Radians Maximus is NRR 29... and they're over $200 less expensive than the ProMag Plus Dimension 2.

Haven't used them, though, so don't know how they work in the real world. I use Tac-7s (NRR 24). Love 'em, in spite of the "low" NRR. [Tac 6s, by comparison, are only NRR 19.]

Foamies, when I use them... E-A-R Soft Yellow Neon Blasts (NRR 33). Gotta love a flourescent yellow plug with an orange flame on it.

[Sheepdog1968]

I wear them (Peltors) when hunting. I like them.

[i1800collect]

I sport these with the muffs switched around so mic's face the rear..

Why?

[i1800collect]

focuses lower volume desired sounds like range commands more readily that are usually behind you..

noise canceling unaffected..

Ah ok, I know the noise canceling would most likely be unaffected, so I was wondering why you'd want to focus on noises coming from behind you.

[LHC30]

With respect to NNR ratings...remember that each 3db increase in sound level DOUBLES the actual noise!!!

SO, if you use a Howard-Leight with a 30db reduction as a standard, and look at ear protection that "only" reduces by 19db....well, for me that's important.

You can't buy your hearing back - ask me how I know...

[DaveFJ80]

I've been using the Howard Leights Impact Sport electronic muffs for over a year now and they work great. I paid $50 shipped for them, but you can find them anywhere from $45 shipped to $60 shipped. They are slim so I can rest my cheek on a rifle stock just fine without the muffs hitting them (like my Peltor H10A's do).

They are very sensative, meaning they amplify the sound a lot. I always wear foam plugs with them, even when I'm outdoors and in a class or shooting through a course with instructions. I can hear just fine with the foam plugs in, and to me it's just more comfortable to my ears with the extra protection. Otherwise, the muffs alone amply people talking around you pretty loud so you would probably turn them down when you're outside. At an indoor range, with foam plugs in, it's funny when you hear hear your neighbors in the lanes next to you (or down a few from you) talking to each other loudly with their regular muffs on.

[NSR500]

Electonic ear protection is good. I use Howard Leight Impact Sports and have been very happy with them. Indoors I use them in conjunction with ear plugs. Outdoors they are used alone.

[scarville]

I have the Peltor T6 (NRR 19 dB) I use where weight or comfort is important -- like hunting. I use the Pro Ears Gold (NRR 33) everywhere else.

With respect to NNR ratings...remember that each 3db increase in sound level DOUBLES the actual noise!!!

The scale is logarithmic which is why NRR 33 + NRR 33 = NRR 36.

[FUBAR]

I bought those cheapo Caldwells from Turners for $20 and they actually work fine for me. Great for range days with the rangemaster.