Ear Protection
- Thread starter TA Smith
- Start date
Scott Bell
Active member
http://www.westone.com/
I've used ear plugs from these folks for quite a while. I still can't hear wings with them in, but we can talk at a normal conversational tone. The set I have is custom fit and only a small bit of the plug is outside of the ear canal. I use them when mowing, shooting, with no problems.
Scott
I've used ear plugs from these folks for quite a while. I still can't hear wings with them in, but we can talk at a normal conversational tone. The set I have is custom fit and only a small bit of the plug is outside of the ear canal. I use them when mowing, shooting, with no problems.
Scott
David Robinson
Well-known member
I'm using the Radians ProwlEars from Cabelas. They look and fuction like hearing aids but cut off muzzle blasts. They only cost about $70. The mics are not as good as Walker's Game Ears (you get what you pay for) but I can hear wings whistling when the ducks go overhead. I'm going to upgrade the silicone mushroom-shape plugs that came with the units to Walker's foam plugs. It should make them more comfortable and reduce the muzzle blasts considerably.
Let me underscore how important it is to wear hearing protection. Last week I was hunting with my friend who is new to duck hunting this year. We were in a blind - side by side - I was on the left and he was on my right. We both swing on an incoming duck that went to the left. I lean out to get a bead on it and say "Don't shoot, I got it." He hears "shoot" and lets his 12 gauge rip - right beside my head! If I wasn't wearing hearing protection, I would be deaf in my right ear. Believe me, we had a very serious talk about shooting zones. But you don't need to go to these extremes to sustain hearing damage. Muzzle blasts are over 100 db's and damage starts at 85-90 db's. Get hearing protection and wear it! Also, educate new hunters
Let me underscore how important it is to wear hearing protection. Last week I was hunting with my friend who is new to duck hunting this year. We were in a blind - side by side - I was on the left and he was on my right. We both swing on an incoming duck that went to the left. I lean out to get a bead on it and say "Don't shoot, I got it." He hears "shoot" and lets his 12 gauge rip - right beside my head! If I wasn't wearing hearing protection, I would be deaf in my right ear. Believe me, we had a very serious talk about shooting zones. But you don't need to go to these extremes to sustain hearing damage. Muzzle blasts are over 100 db's and damage starts at 85-90 db's. Get hearing protection and wear it! Also, educate new hunters
Scott what did you pay for your Westone ear plugs? Thanks, Dave
Ed Askew
Well-known member
I use something just like this, a cheap ear plug not molded with a baffle in it that closes with really loud noise. You can get these or some other brand just like it at Walmart. You do get a slight decrease in normal level sounds, but it's not too bad. If I remember correctly, the noise reduction rating is only 6 db, but it's better than nothing. Thats more than 50% reduction in loud noises. I've thought about custom molded plugs as well, but nowhere will anyone say what the noise reduction rating is; I think that's because it is also 6 db. These plugs are probably not as comfortable as custom molded plugs but the price is right and I've lost several pairs of them with no heartburn. Electronic earmuffs get into the high 20's in noise reduction and some of them are less than $25, but the problem with them is that although you can hear everything just fine, you can't tell where the sound is coming from. The ones I use for deer hunting aren't very comfortable. Again, the price is right and when they quit working or I break them I'll get another pair with minimal heartburn.
Ed.
Ed.
Chuck J
Well-known member
I have these:
Sorry about the photo quality, it isn't easy to take a good, close up photo of your own ear, but I think you can get the idea.
I don't remember the brand, very similar to the company in Scott's link. I wear them at work and in the shop. I haven't worn them hunting yet, but there are no ducks here.
I was out hunting and had a guy shoot over my shoulder, similar situation to Dave, muzzle was no more than a foot from my ear. The blast just about knocked me over. I still have a ringing in my ear...20 years later!
Chuck
Sorry about the photo quality, it isn't easy to take a good, close up photo of your own ear, but I think you can get the idea.
I don't remember the brand, very similar to the company in Scott's link. I wear them at work and in the shop. I haven't worn them hunting yet, but there are no ducks here.
I was out hunting and had a guy shoot over my shoulder, similar situation to Dave, muzzle was no more than a foot from my ear. The blast just about knocked me over. I still have a ringing in my ear...20 years later!
Chuck
Chuck J
Well-known member
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that any place that sells hearing aids should be able to sell these, or a similar model of whatever brand they sell. They actually fill your ears with an expanding 2 part foam, let it harden, pull it out and send it to the company to mold it to fit your ears. I think it took 10 or so days to get them back. They fit great, but when I get a bad head cold in the winter, they are a little tight with the sinus swelling. I can hear a whisper in a quiet room, but they filter out the loud noises. In the past, if I wore regular foam plugs, I would pull them out to talk to people normally, but not get them back in. In my job I am in and out of extremely noisy environments all day. Whatever hearing protection I have doesnt' help if I don't wear it. These are comfortable enough, and allow for normal conversation, that allows me to wear them all day.
Chuck
Chuck
I went years without any and now have constant buzzing or ringing and high frequency hearing loss. I had some custom ear plugs made but I can't hear my own calling or other marsh sounds. So I bought some Pro-Ears. They are great, no problem shooting or hearing sounds I haven't heard in 15 years and they keep my ears warm.
Tom Scholberg
Well-known member
I personally don't wear any hearing protection when hunting but am VERY CAREFULL about where my head is when the shooting starts if I am with someone else. But I am such an ornry cuss that I very seldom have anyone with me besides the dog. I have passed every hearing test ever taken and at 58 years old I must be doing something right. After a lifetime of working around loud engines and target shooting of all kinds it amazes me but nobody whispers behind my back ;-) and gets away with it. I always wear protection when target shooting any time, usually just the foam roll up plugs or muffs.
Scott Bell
Active member
Dave,
I got them about 5 years ago and it seems like they were in the $50 range, but I don't remember. I know that I had to go through an ear/nose/throat clinic to get them.
I got them about 5 years ago and it seems like they were in the $50 range, but I don't remember. I know that I had to go through an ear/nose/throat clinic to get them.
I use the Sonics ,like Ed uses to hunt with.They hurt my left ear if they are in for a couple hours,so I had a pair of molded ones made that have the same valve that the sonics have,and I can wear them as long as I want.If hearing isn't too important,I would just use the disposible yellow spounge plugs.They work best and are cheap.Muffs are the pitts.
harry whitley
Well-known member
I too have tinitus,
Think I got it in the Army while driving supercharged vehicles without ear protection. I have been told there is nothing that can be done to fix it. I use a small fan every night to give me enough "white" noise to drown out the rigning in my ears. I have been told that it has been so severe in some folks that it drove them to suicide. I use a unit that closes the ear canal when any short high decibel sound (like a gunshot)happens close to my ears when shooting or hunting.
Good luck,
Harry
Think I got it in the Army while driving supercharged vehicles without ear protection. I have been told there is nothing that can be done to fix it. I use a small fan every night to give me enough "white" noise to drown out the rigning in my ears. I have been told that it has been so severe in some folks that it drove them to suicide. I use a unit that closes the ear canal when any short high decibel sound (like a gunshot)happens close to my ears when shooting or hunting.
Good luck,
Harry
I highly recommend wearing electronic muffs while hunting.I've lost a big chunk of my hearing before I got my pair.I have had my Peltor 7-s muffs for about ten years now and have had very good luck with them.They return my hearing to a superhuman level.The sound reduction lets me concentrate on my shooting,I sincerely believe that i shoot better with them on.They use standard 9 volt batteries, so if they go dead a replacement can be found at most any gas station or convience store. I see that caldwells sells a very affordable pair for less than $30 . I don't know about them but they would make for a good loaner pair.As far as interfering with my hat, I wear a jones style hat and have never had any difficulty. Baseball style hats also fit easily under them. I always take them out in the duck boat,and at the range in the off season. For a broader brimmed hat style you might want to try a set with a behind the neck style headband.