Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Hunting in general, or with a suppressor.

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Libertarian_Geek
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Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Libertarian_Geek »

I'm hunting suppressed, but there are multiple shooters at multiple hogs and it's all supersonic semi-auto center-fire. I'm guessing that some electronic ear protection would be a good fit, but there's lots of crap out there (I've bought some).

I'd like to preserve my hearing since music is an important part of my life.

For those of you that wear hearing protection while hunting, what are you wearing? (sounds kinda' dirty)
Do you like it?
Can you hear low conversation?
Will it fit under a helmet (skateboard helmet)?
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ick
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by ick »

Works great and is very convenient for me.

http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?p ... 95&tabid=1

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Same problems as foam ear plugs... but a lot more convenient.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Libertarian_Geek »

Can you hear conversation with them in? We generally do a somewhat quiet "3...2...1..." count after walking in and establishing the shooting line.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by ick »

Had no problems at the range, of course all of us had ear protection and were talking loud accordingly. Taking them in and out of my ear and pressing the handy button to retract the plug up into the hat worked well.

They do have these.....
http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?p ... 63&tabid=1

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Could put that up under your helmet.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Bendersquint »

Check out the Surefire EP7(I think that what they call it), its an in ear 26-28dB reduction that you can still hear conversations just fine.

I think the technology is that the channel collapses under pressure to eliminate too loud sounds from making it in your canal.

I have use the EP5's in the past while deployed and they are awesome and like 25$ delivered a pair!
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by doubloon »

Libertarian_Geek wrote:Can you hear conversation with them in? We generally do a somewhat quiet "3...2...1..." count after walking in and establishing the shooting line.
ETA: I've looked at things like the EP7 and been sceptical but I may just have to order some based on the recommendation from -B-


Sounds like you might be looking for something electronic, possibly amplified.

I don't have anything myself but I keep looking at the ear plug style protection.

These claim 29 dB NRR if you got $200

Google Walker's Game Ear
https://www.google.com/search?num=100&h ... g7jothbp-k

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win912
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by win912 »

Try these people

I married an ear doctor...so I am lucky :D

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CDcQ9QEwCA
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by icebug »

Best thing since sliced bread!
I'm using it and I love it.
Excellent for driven hunts and high seat, especially during the winter when your ears are cold.

https://srstactical.com/communications/ ... 302*x.html
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Libertarian_Geek »

Bendersquint wrote:Check out the Surefire EP7(I think that what they call it), its an in ear 26-28dB reduction that you can still hear conversations just fine.

I think the technology is that the channel collapses under pressure to eliminate too loud sounds from making it in your canal.

I have use the EP5's in the past while deployed and they are awesome and like 25$ delivered a pair!
I just bought a pair of EP7s and will be giving them a test run sometime.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by doubloon »

The way I read it EP7 provides 28dB protection with the stoppers in place.

Do the stoppers have to be out to hear normal conversation? If so what's the NRR with stoppers out?

Says it uses the patented "Noise Braker" technology ... http://noisebrakers.com/noise_braker%C2%AE
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Tobi
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Tobi »

I am wearing MSA SORDIN Supreme Pro neckband
i.e.
http://www.srstactical.com/communicatio ... 76302.html
Your are able to hear a mouse in the grass 5yd away, while your hearing is protected.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Libertarian_Geek »

Update.

I got a pair of EP7's and while they are slightly better at hearing conversation than $.25 plugs, they still require loud enough speaking to spook animals (hogs and especially coyotes). I'm not sure they were worth the price. I will continue to use them on the rifle bench.

I'm thinking electronic is the way to go.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by Sleeper362 »

MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X

You can here someone's thoughts with them turned up high. They won't fit under a skateboard helmet but they store pretty easily and they are very comfy, especially with the gel surrounds. If you are in an extremely loud environment you can put ear plugs in your ears, turn the sordins all the way up so you can hear normal levels of conversation and still have double hearing protection when you need it. They are expensive but cheaper than hearing aids.
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Re: Hunting Hearing Protection (recommendations?)

Post by doubloon »

I talked to somone I noticed wearing EP7s at a range last week, his overall assessment was fair to middlin performance with the center plugs in place and virtually useless as actual hearing protection without the center plugs. From what i've been able to find w/r/t NRR rattings for the EP style plugs I think he gave a fair and accurate assessment.

Foam plugs loosely set in the ear are probably just as good as EPs with the center plug removed and foam plugs fully in place are better than EPs with the center plug.

I'm convinced that anyone wanting the best of both worlds is going to have to go with something like the Walker Game ear.

One thing I'm curious about but haven't tested is I noticed I can find the Walker's hearing enhancers in two-packs for <$40 :arrow: Walker's Ultra Ear® BTE 2-Pack – Camo

And I can find replacement sound tubes for $5 a pair :arrow: Walkers Hearing Enhancer Sound Tube With Earplug (NRR 29)

So what I'm thinking is I can splice my own pair of redneck game ears together for <$50 instead of $130 each :arrow: Walker Game Ear High Definition

They wouldn't be exactly the same quality as the higher end model but for $50 instead of $260 I might not care.
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