Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters hearing protection

Can anyone give me some direction on good hearing protection? I'm interested in the electronic kind that allows for normal conversation but blocks gun fire.
Thank you.

I have found the electronic muffs from both Walker and Howard Leight to perform well. I have a set Walker neck-band earbuds that are marginal; they really amplify wind noise more than others and are a bit slow on the gunfire cutout function.
If I'm shooting rifles I'll usually double up with foam plugs under the muffs.

I enjoyed wearing them when I might go waslk the asndy roads of my old lease. I t magnified my footsteps and made me practice being quiet.

My gripe with them is that they do not dampen as well as I would prefer. I like 30db or better dampening- but at least 28db - and these don't come close., Range time next to a boomer with a muzzle brake will have you wishing for more.

I don't know what your price range is but the electronic ear plugs from ESP work really well. A lot of the folk shooting USPSA and IDPA are using them. They will not bother your cheek weld when using rifle or shotgun, they are waterproof and they are a lot more comfortable in hot weather than the muffs for extended wear. I wear hearing aids and I like these because they are tunable for the frequencies I can hear.

I use soundgear from starkey.....I love them. Custom molded and fit by a hearing aid professional. kenjs1 said....I used to hate wearing them while walking, because it magnified all my steps, but I do believe that it helped me be quieter and sneakier in the woods.

I also have Starkey in the ear canal plugs. Bought them on recommendation from an audiologist friend who hunts with her husband (birds, deer, waterfowl) and is clays shooter, and who also uses them. Great performamce, but a little pricey.

There was a recent thread on this in hunting optics. I bought the 3m 500 series Muffs after reading through. I like them, they do a good job of boosting voices while blocking gunfire. I use them turned off for quiet. The reduction on gunfire/loud noise is very good. Also, the Bluetooth works with my phone for music and calls.

I have a set of the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs. I've used them for pistol, rifle and shotgun and I don't find that they affect cheek weld for rifle shooting or mounting the gun when using a shotgun. The electronics are good for hearing range instructions, and you can turn the microphone off if you want to avoid distraction.

The nominal NRR is 22 dB. If you want more you could pop in a set of foam plugs as well, though that does rather defeat the purpose of the electronics.

FWIW I find them very comfortable and effective.

I finally bought a pair of Howard Leights.

Before i used foam ear plugs and an old pair of cheap Winchester branded muffs.

When shooting rifles with a brake or boss i use foam plugs and the muffs.

I was pleased with them after the first shot.