I have seen several types of electronic hearing enhancement devices that are supposed to be effective against muzzle blasts.

If anyone has tried any of these devices, I would appreciate any input on how well the devices worked for you.

Woodland Whisper NRR unknown
Walker Game Ear NRR 29db
Walker Game Ear Power Muff NRR 24db
Magnum E.A.R NRR 27db
Custom in the ear NRR 18-26db
Game Finder MegaEars NRR unknown

Thanks

Have had to use double hearing protection (plugs and muffs together)since my navy days. Up until this year I always used a set of Peltor Tac 6 or 7 for my range work and while hunting. This spring I got a set of Walker Power Muffs. They all work well and the only reason I got the Walkers is because they fit better when I'm shooting my rim fire rifles. They surely let you hear everything that is going on in the woods. You can suffer overload if you turn them up to much as it really increases the breeze/wind sounds through the trees.

I've got a pair of the Walker muffs and absolutely love them. They are light-weight, and slim -- they don't seem to get in the way as much as other muffs when shooting rifles. My brother has the Howard Leights. His offer better noise reduction (29dB), but much less amplification. In both cases, I've been very impressed with how long the batteries last.

I've got Peltor muffs, and I wouldn't go into the woods without them. When I crank up the volume, I can hear the deer coming. Totally changes your perspective on the noise you make, and what animals can hear, but that's another story.

I can't talk about the different brands, but the idea is sound (bad pun).

Pertinax

Too many years as a firearms instructor and too much shooting have left me about half deaf. I use a set of the Dillon electronic muffs now. After two years of use, they seem to work just fine.
IMHO the amplified hearing protection is some of the best "hi-tech" to come around in a long time.

FN in MT

I'm interested in this subject too, but I need "in the ear" type as I hunt in cold weather.

I have two pair, Silencio stereo and Peltor Stereo. Both work great but the Peltors are much smaller, lighter, and fit under a stretch pull-over hat while hunting. Won't shoot without them, range or woods.

Good day,
I've got a pair of Silencio electronic muffs and love them. I havn't used them in extreme cold because I don't use muffs for hunting. I know I should because one ear is already half deaf. I bought them mainly for shooting my 375JDJ and they're great for that. They are a little on the bulky side but I like them more than my buddys Remington electronic muffs. They are alot quieter than his, as for sound amplification I think they are pretty close. It's hard to tell because his seem to let in so much unamplified sound.
Mike

I have the Peltor electronic muffs (sold in the US by Dillon under their name).

They are excellent. Only muff I can wear for hours with confort. Turn them up while you are hunting and and hear a mouse fart at 30 paces! At the range, put plugs underneath, then crank up the amplification and still hear normal converstation, but with extremely good hearing protection.

Expensive. Worth it. I wish I had invested in them years ago!

jpb

Does anyone know of a head to head test to see which muffs work "best". I know everyone has a preference as to what they own, but I was just wondering. I to am just about half deaf from running a range for several years. I have hearing aids,both ears, but can't use them with anything over my ears, they get feedback and squeel. Can't use them with anything over my ears, like a hood, and can't stand frozen ears.

As I said before, both the Peltor Stereo and Silencio Stero work about the same. I think there is a little bit more background "hiss" in the Peltors when turned all the way up, but not enough to be objectionalbe. What I really like about the Peltors is that you can pull on one of those stretch tobogans over your head and muffs. The muffs alone do a pretty good job of keeping the ears warm, but the hat really helps keep the rest of the noggin warm. I've used them in temps down to 10 degrees with no problems and usually the batteries last an entire season here, which is 16 days. Still, if hunting daylight to dark every day, change them every three days just to make sure they don't fail at the most inoportune time. Same for the Silencios as to battery longevity. The Peltors also fit very well under a hood. I've used them both for years, but when I need a hat, the Peltors are my choice, but if it's "hat optional," either will do the job, and do it very well.

Thanks for all of your input.
I too have hearing damage from jet engine noise while in the Navy, and from exposure to target shooting.
I also double up with muffs and ear plugs while target shooting.
Wearing ear plugs and the electronic muffs at the range also crossed my mind.

I was considering the muff style for the overall comfort and extra warmth during cold weather hunts. Wearing a hat with the ear protection is part of my criteria.

It seems that if you can hear a mouse fart at 30 paces, chipmonks and squirrels may sound like they are wearing snow shoes, I may get neck strain until I get used to the new hunting "requirement".

Yes, it would be nice if someone did have a head to head test that compared all the available products in this category of hunting accessories.

Thanks again

Marshall

Don't mean to rain on the parade, but my audiologist told me the circuity is not fast enough to protect your hearing or what's left of it. I would sure like to hear from a professional who has tested these things. Or even knows of any testing that has been done. The theory is great.

bsekf, I suspect what your Doc is refering to is the mechanical hearing protection products 1st introduced a couple decades ago. They were ear plugs w/mechanical baffles that allowed some normal hearing and closed up when loud sounds hit them. They have been proven not to be fast enough to keep out all of the damaging sound, they're not fast enough. The electronic ones are fine.

I use the Walker game ear and absolutely love it. I can wear glasses, a hat, and get right down on the stock with zero interference from muffs. Also, when it shuts off it is much quieter than muffs because they use ear plugs which have a higher noise reduction value than muffs typically. I also like the lightweight when in the field. I have to say this one of my better purchases over the last few years.

Yeah, the mechanical ones must be what he was talking about. The electronic ones are true attenuating muffs. All you hear is what comes through the electronics. Even if they didn't mute quickly enough, they won't generate the same SPL inside as outside. But they do mute quickly enough. You never really hear the gun shoot. But you can hear everything else (brass ricochetting around, for example).

I don't know how people get along without these things. One of my best purchases ever.

Pertinax

I bought "Sound Scopes". Fit in the ear like hearing aids . Expensive, but work well for me. Got them from the audiologist at my E-N-T doctor's office. She had to take impressions of the ear canal and send them off. 2 weeks later I had them.

I use ESP in the ear aids. www.espamerica.com .
They work great--I can hear everything and muzzle reports are muffled....

I'm an audioprosthologist and strongly recommend that all my patients who shoot wear protection of some sort. I see too many new patients who have damage attributable, in part, to shooting without protection. And ya don't have to be an old fart to need one, either, as I am treating patients in their late 30's and 40's. I cringe everytime I go to the outdoor range and see all the young bucks without muffs, etc.

As an aside:

Mike338, why are you wearing hearing aids while shooting with protection on? Unless you have specific circuit types which allow for extreme sound compression options you would seem to be defeating the purpose.

Check out this link. My wife and I both have a pair and really like them. This brand is an unsung hero that is, I believe advanced technically and priced lower than most brands.

http://members.aol.com/TheEarShot/