The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Gear and Accessories

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 25, 2007, 09:53 AM   #1
Jkwas
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 2005
Location: Mouth of the Rat, Florida
Posts: 1,778
Hearing Protectors

I've been looking at the Electronic hearing protectors in the gun catalogs. There are several for less than $30. I'm curious if they work and how convenient are they compared to ear plugs. Also any brand recomendations or ones to stay away from as well.
Thanks.
__________________
I grew up in New Jersey, but later moved to Florida and made a complete recovery.
Keltec: The BIC lighter of handguns
http://jkwasblog.blogspot.com/
Jkwas is offline  
Old March 25, 2007, 11:00 AM   #2
OJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 25, 1998
Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA
Posts: 1,570
I've used the Pro Ears for years and been happy with that choice - cost more than $30 but worth it. Batteries last a couple of years (used about 2 hours per week) if the on/off button isn't accidentally turned on in the range bag DAMHIK.

__________________
OJ -
SEMPER FI -
DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY
NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER

Last edited by OJ; March 25, 2007 at 03:53 PM.
OJ is offline  
Old March 25, 2007, 12:30 PM   #3
Double Naught Spy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
Posts: 12,715
If the $30 are the ones I think they are, they range in price from $19.95 on sale to $39.95. I have two pairs for guests. They work moderately well for hearing protection. They are mono, not stereo. Sound quality if nominal to poor in terms of tones. The noise abatement is absolute and fast enough, but the return to hearing is slow. For example, my Peltors will cut out the loud sound for the duration of the loud sound, but the cheap muffs have a delay that extends for about a half to one second after the sound. So they can make conversations a little more difficult. Also, they seem overly sensitive to sound and can cut out from somebody just speaking too loudly.

Given that I wear plugs with muffs, when the sound cuts out, it is difficult to hear any conversation with both plugs and muffs in place, so the delay is bothersome. Also, I think the stereo feature is a good thing. Being able to hear a sound and know what direction it originates is a good safety feature.

For the money, they aren't bad, but they aren't what I would want all the time.
Double Naught Spy is offline  
Old March 25, 2007, 01:07 PM   #4
skeeter1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 11, 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 3,403
I got a pair from Cabela's, and I think they were ~$30. They work well enough for me. Instant clamping with a gunshot, and sound recovery in about 1 second. They're only mono sound, but that doesn't bother me. I like them better than my passive earmuffs. Batteries (2xAA) are supposed to be good for 200hrs.
skeeter1 is offline  
Old March 26, 2007, 04:29 PM   #5
K96771
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 2006
Location: NJ Pinelands
Posts: 120
I just got the Caldwells that Midway has on sale through the end of the month. They were around 25-29. They work great.
__________________
Tom
K96771 is offline  
Old March 26, 2007, 06:08 PM   #6
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
I have an expenise pair of Pro Ears and I don't like them because they pick up way too much conversation and background noise, and it's distracting.

I've gone to custom ear plugs - where a person puts the rubber stuff into your ear for 10 min and then they harden into a set of ear plugs that fit snugly into your ears. They are by far the quitest sets of plugs I've ever used. Sometimes I'll double them up - wear the plugs - and put muffs on too to really keep the background noise / BS out.
BigJimP is offline  
Old March 26, 2007, 06:23 PM   #7
Psalm27
Member
 
Join Date: March 26, 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 22
Electronic Hearing Protectors

Hey Jkwas,

I have both electronic ($30 variety), non-electronic (Leightning) and ear plugs.

Differences:

- Electronic ones do work...they cut out at high decibel levels to work as regular hearing protection (this is especially funny when testing them at home and they cut out when my dog barks). So that's kind of cool. They also amplify high frequency noises.

- Unfortunately, the problem is that simply as noise reducing headphones, they don't reduce much noise. So, even if they work absolutely correctly, they are still loud.

- Since I want to hear my grandchildren talk to me (someday), I use both the Howard Leighning (NRR 31) AND disposable foam earplugs (NRR 30) at the same time. Now that I've practiced some, I can hear anything that anyone says on the pistol range...not sure how that works. Repetitive noise at firing range levels, unless everyone is using a .22 that day, is a "surefire" way to lose one's hearing, from what I've researched on hearing loss.

Hope that helps,
Mark
Psalm27 is offline  
Old March 27, 2007, 06:43 AM   #8
Jkwas
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 2005
Location: Mouth of the Rat, Florida
Posts: 1,778
Thanks guys,
I ordered two sets of the caldwells to try out. I'm taking some newbies to the range next week and thought they might come in handy. If not, Midway has a really good return policy.
__________________
I grew up in New Jersey, but later moved to Florida and made a complete recovery.
Keltec: The BIC lighter of handguns
http://jkwasblog.blogspot.com/
Jkwas is offline  
Old March 27, 2007, 10:24 PM   #9
Dave Haven
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 1, 2000
Location: near Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 790
I bought a pair of Caldwells from Midway just to see if they were any good. The sound quality isn't as good as Peltor Tactical 7S muffs, but for the price, they're quite good. I didn't return them.
Dave Haven is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04485 seconds with 8 queries