electronic muffs

NHSHOOTER · January 24, 2014, 05:43 AM

Anyone ever try those electronic shooting muffs that help you hear better in the woods and muffle muzzleblast? My hearing isnt the best and cant always hear deer walking up behind my tree stand, do these gizmo's really work?

Double Naught Spy · January 24, 2014, 07:19 AM

Absolutely, but not so much if you buy the $20-30 variety. Buy some by a quality manufacturer such as Peltor, Howard Leight, Walker, etc. As a minimum, you will spend a bit more and potentially a lot more if you get the high end versions.

The downsides to using electronic muffs are numerous, however. On a windy day, wind noise is amplified very loud. Small sounds can sound like you are being approached by an unseen several hundred pound monster until you realize that it is the muffs making the noise of a small critter sound really huge. Distant sounds will see much more close and give you a false sense of proximity. Plus, the muffs (versus the plugs) can be warm and potentially uncomfortable in warm weather (though this doesn't bother me as I wearing shooting muffs for shooting in any weather).

Finally, because of the auditory cutoff and turn-on that occurs with the shot, you can experience a radical amount of sound change that will obscure the sound of the impact on the animal.

The advantages are that you can often hear more. Your hearing is protected during firing, whether it be your gun or your buddy's. The muffs can keep your ears warm in the winter and keep bugs out of your ears in the summer.

Auto5 · January 24, 2014, 07:26 AM

Maybe if you get a quality pair. I bought a cheap pair from Menard's. If I turn the volume up, I get static. If I lower the volume until it is static free, I don't notice any increase in hearing.

Jim243 · January 24, 2014, 07:55 AM

They work very well. While the better pairs have two mics on them, they are not as directional as your own ears, you might turn your head too fast while wearing them to see where the sound is coming from, move slowly but do use them they will help a lot. Some of the expensive ones have four mics on them. Here is an example that is not all that expensive.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Walke...h-All+Products

Jim

Same ones at a better price

http://www.opticsplanet.com/walkers-...-nxt-camo.html

wogpotter · January 24, 2014, 08:25 AM

I have a set of the Peltors & I like them.
They aren't perfect, changing batteries is a huge pain but its worth it as you don't change them often.

There are 2 types of unit, the less expensive just shuts down completely, just like regular muffs when its sound sensing gets a sound above the preset cutoff point.

The better (yeah, more expensive too) reduces the levels to below the cutoff, but doesn't muffle them.

They are quite directional so if you're looking forward they're less sensitive to the sides & rear, but still better than non electronic muffs. You can adjust the sensitivity with the Peltors so they "feel natural", deaden sound a bit, or amplify. I bought the slimline thinking they'd have less chance of contacting the stock, but it doesn't work that way they still contact the stock plus the foam actually contacts the ear making them a little uncomfortable. Go for full sized if you go that way.

NHSHOOTER · January 24, 2014, 04:25 PM

Jim243 The pair you posted are the same ones that got me interested, they had some in the bargain cave. This past season I was hunting and a 4 pointer came by between my friend and I and he said he could hear it grunting, I never could and being 57 and around construction equipment and guns my whole life I do have a fair amount of hearing loss. I will give a pair of those a try for the upcoming season, thanks again everyone for the feedback, I can always count on TFL for answers.

January 24, 2014, 05:43 AM	#1
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	electronic muffs Anyone ever try those electronic shooting muffs that help you hear better in the woods and muffle muzzleblast? My hearing isnt the best and cant always hear deer walking up behind my tree stand, do these gizmo's really work?

January 24, 2014, 07:19 AM	#2
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	Absolutely, but not so much if you buy the $20-30 variety. Buy some by a quality manufacturer such as Peltor, Howard Leight, Walker, etc. As a minimum, you will spend a bit more and potentially a lot more if you get the high end versions. The downsides to using electronic muffs are numerous, however. On a windy day, wind noise is amplified very loud. Small sounds can sound like you are being approached by an unseen several hundred pound monster until you realize that it is the muffs making the noise of a small critter sound really huge. Distant sounds will see much more close and give you a false sense of proximity. Plus, the muffs (versus the plugs) can be warm and potentially uncomfortable in warm weather (though this doesn't bother me as I wearing shooting muffs for shooting in any weather). Finally, because of the auditory cutoff and turn-on that occurs with the shot, you can experience a radical amount of sound change that will obscure the sound of the impact on the animal. The advantages are that you can often hear more. Your hearing is protected during firing, whether it be your gun or your buddy's. The muffs can keep your ears warm in the winter and keep bugs out of your ears in the summer. __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

January 24, 2014, 07:26 AM	#3
Auto5 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 662	Maybe if you get a quality pair. I bought a cheap pair from Menard's. If I turn the volume up, I get static. If I lower the volume until it is static free, I don't notice any increase in hearing. __________________ At the young age of five, a bear told me that I was the only person who could prevent forest fires. Why I was chosen, I'll never know.

January 24, 2014, 07:55 AM	#4
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	They work very well. While the better pairs have two mics on them, they are not as directional as your own ears, you might turn your head too fast while wearing them to see where the sound is coming from, move slowly but do use them they will help a lot. Some of the expensive ones have four mics on them. Here is an example that is not all that expensive. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Walke...h-All+Products Jim Same ones at a better price http://www.opticsplanet.com/walkers-...-nxt-camo.html __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum Last edited by Jim243; January 24, 2014 at 08:15 AM.

January 24, 2014, 08:25 AM	#5
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I have a set of the Peltors & I like them. They aren't perfect, changing batteries is a huge pain but its worth it as you don't change them often. There are 2 types of unit, the less expensive just shuts down completely, just like regular muffs when its sound sensing gets a sound above the preset cutoff point. The better (yeah, more expensive too) reduces the levels to below the cutoff, but doesn't muffle them. They are quite directional so if you're looking forward they're less sensitive to the sides & rear, but still better than non electronic muffs. You can adjust the sensitivity with the Peltors so they "feel natural", deaden sound a bit, or amplify. I bought the slimline thinking they'd have less chance of contacting the stock, but it doesn't work that way they still contact the stock plus the foam actually contacts the ear making them a little uncomfortable. Go for full sized if you go that way. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

January 24, 2014, 04:25 PM	#6
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	Jim243 The pair you posted are the same ones that got me interested, they had some in the bargain cave. This past season I was hunting and a 4 pointer came by between my friend and I and he said he could hear it grunting, I never could and being 57 and around construction equipment and guns my whole life I do have a fair amount of hearing loss. I will give a pair of those a try for the upcoming season, thanks again everyone for the feedback, I can always count on TFL for answers.