Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Electronic ear protection

I may be too late to the game, but I’m considering purchasing a pair of digital electronic ear protection for hunting that are made from a custom ear mold. Had a time or two shooting a 300 WM with a muzzlebrake and didn’t have time to get my ear protection in place. They are expensive but I’m hoping to wear them while hunting and be able to hear sounds as natural as possible. It’s important for me to be able to hear the direction of a turkey gobble, elk bugle, or a deer walking. Not sure if that’s a reasonable expectation but for the price I sure hope it is. I’m looking at Sound Gear and Electronic Shooting Protection of America. Anybody with any first hand experience?

I just recently purchased a set of EAR Inc. electronic ear protection. I have only used them twice at the range and they canceled the rifle shots superbly. Was able to carry on conversation with other shooters as well. I am happy with them.

We just bought two (2) sets of AXIL GS Extreme Ear Buds. From our limited experience.....pretty impressed!

You could have custom molded earplugs made for them! memtb

I have a set of the Walker R600 and they suck. Worked the first range trip but not after.

I’ve been using a pair of Howard-Leights muffs for several years and have been happy with them.

That is what I use and my feelings as well

Mine lasted almost a year, no warning just flat out died.

`I have been using pro ears for about 5 years

This model https://proears.com/product/predator-gold/ No issues and they really cut out the noise .

About 20 plus years ago I bought a set of Starkey Sonic Scope molded in the ear (with volume control) from a local Hearing Aid company. (Hearing and Balance in Germantown Tn).

Digital had just came out but the doctor recommended the cheaper Analog version because I didn't have very much hearing loss then the total cost about $350 to $400. I believe now Starkey only offers Digital and last I checked they were over $1000.

Starkey then was one of the major hearing aid manufactures in the USA

I would definitely buy them from a local Hearing Aid company. After 20+ years mine still work prefect. They have repaired mine locally free of charge within hours several times.....mostly the battery door.

It pays to shop local prices.

Agreed....................long range sessions with rifles with brakes (like AR's) overpower them & you will have hearing damage.

Pistols, not so much unless its short barreled magnums.

MM

Or....a ported S&W 460 or 500! I can guarantee...THEY ARE LOUD! memtb

Same.

I recommended them to a co-worker yesterday.

You can get a good pair of electronic muffs for well under $100. That's a lot less than you'd gladly pay to get rid of tinnitus. If you could, which you can't.



I've been using Peltor 6s since the mid 90s and have hundreds of hours of experience with them. The trick is not to try to enhance your hearing by turning the volume up. If you do that, it makes it hard to judge how far away the sound is and if you can't do that you can't place the direction either. The trick is to match the volume of the muffs to match the ambient level. This takes me about 5 seconds with the Peltors. Then you can judge direction just fine. They do a great job and reducing my 20" barreled shotgun's BOOM into a faint, faraway boom.

Pro tip. You can thank me later. Go on Amazon (yeah I know..,) and buy a set of gel replacement ear cups! Much more comfortable and they seal out the noise much better. Something like $15 or so but worth way more for what they do.

Thanks for the heads up Godogs57, just ordered a pair of the gel cups. That was about my only negative on my Howard Leights muffs was after an hour or so, they get uncomfortable.

Thanks.

Got my gel cups in yesterday, will most likely put them on this weekend.

Westone is one of the oldest hearing aid companies….. they make “defended ear” which is an hearing aid that goes in your ear with formed inserts ….

It will NOT crank so high it can hear your hearing (yes walkers can hurt your hearing if you crank them up- it’s why they aren’t sanctioned by the medical groups).
And they flat out work…
They make your hearing fairly normal, you can hear a tad bit better than no hearing aid (I wear a hearing aid), so it’s more natural of a hunt but you still get the protection.
I wore walkers for about 8 years before going this way.

+1 on the Howard-Leights, been using min for several years now. Found a set on sale @ Cabela's for <$50.00, been very well pleased with them.

Another vote for Howard-Leight muffs. Work great and have lasted several years w/no issues.
Jeff