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The familiar dilemma, in the field we use all our senses to max. ability; yet the unrestricted report of the rifle is neither pleasant nor condusive to best accuracey. I carry ear plugs in my pocket and get to put them in my ears about 30% of the time immediately prior to firing! Any tips to up that percentage appreciated. | ||
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Any attempt at preventing hearing loss is to be applauded but I have to worn you that those sonic ear plugs are very poor over the whole frequency range of a rifle shot and some damage will still occur. I use electronic plugs which are the price of a good scope - they really are worth it in the long run. EMTECs are good too and at �85 much cheaper. I would suggest a pair of these worn so that they are loosely inserted. When the opportunity of a shot arises you just press them in further. Even if you don't have the chance you will still be protecting your ears to the same extent as the sonics. | |||
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I have also such electronic plugs. But to be honest I do not wear it all the time on hunting. I am not used to, so I try to avoid, which is not so good. There are two different I know here. Telcom Avionics and Peltor. Both about 200 - 250€ B. R. | |||
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quote:1894, this EMTEc business sounds interesting, any more information?? Website?? Anything?? - mike | |||
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I use Peltor when shooting with shotgun during hunting or earplugs. When I hunt with rifle I can�t use the Peltor hearing protection because the recoil makes them jump around on my head. I have yeasterday orderd a new kind of electronic earplug that costs in Sweden 760 EUR. I will use these when I shoot with my rifles (.375 H&H and .585 Nyati). Hearing protection limits your hunting experience to some extend, but I think that I rather miss some animals now, insted of being deaf when I�m older and miss even more animals then. JanG | |||
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I use a pair of Peltor Soundtrap. They have worked fine in over five years! I can't aford to loose anymore of my hearing it's worth gold to be able to hear! If I bought new ear defenders now I would bought Peltor Comtac because I think they are the best in the field! | |||
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I use a pair of Peltor Soundtrap. They have worked fine in over five years! I can't aford to loose anymore of my hearing it's worth gold to be able to hear! If I bought new ear defenders now I would bought Peltor Comtac because I think they are the best in the field! [ 04-12-2003, 00:03: Message edited by: Jamt ] | |||
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quote:Mike, Emtec can be reached on 0044 1743 709480. You will have to get moulds taken of your ears at (for example) your local hospital and send them to EMTEC with a cheque. They will send you your plugs in a box and keep your moulds should you use them. They work pretty well. Fully inserted you can hear fairly well but not perfectly. The sound of leaves under your feet will be muted for example. If you insert them partialy you will hear better and still be protected to an extent should you not have a chance to push them in fully before the shot. The shot is quite well muffled - you wouldn't want to wear them on a range day but you shouldn't get ringing ears. | |||
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1894 why should one type of hearing protection not work very well compared with another? If I shoot with sonic valves or muffs the "bang" is reduced approx 80% by muffs and 65% by sonic valves to my way of hearing. Surely claiming �150 muffs ok while a �5 pair are inferior is marketing hype? Does one wear these electronic muffs in the field continuously during a stalking session? Can you hear your surroundings as well or amplified or not so well as with a naked ear? I appreciate everyones input! | |||
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1894, thanks for the EMTEC pointer. Will look into this. Sounds like a good idea - at least from a health perspective. - mike | |||
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At times (when on a deer stand and not stalking, or in the duck blind), I have used my Peltor Tactical 7 electronic muffs. If you turn them up, you can hear considerably better than with nothing, and of course your hearing is protected. The muffs don't work well on windy days because of the wind roaring in the microphones, and I would not try them in the rain. Other than that, (and the geek appearance!), I have no complaints. I wish I had bought these things years before! jpb | |||
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quote:The trouble with the off the shelf sonic plugs is fit. They are made in a couple of sizes fit all and generaly allow a significant amount of 'leakage' add to that the fact that the sonic valve may have problems handling some of the frequencies and you have a less than ideal solution. The fit of a muff ![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon} is generally much better, the electronics a much much better filter of damaging noise and so effectiveness is much greater.The best of all worlds is an electronic plug worn in the ear like a hearing aid. As it's custom moulded fit is excellent, the electronics give great protection, they are practicaly invisible and comfortable for 3 hours or so even in the height of summer (where muffs are torture) The cost is steep (eg Swarovski variable) but over 3 years it works out about 50pence per field shot - something I'm quite willing to pay to protect my hearing. | |||
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Transpond. Option two, Use a moderator on your stalking rifle. With the advent of models that only add a few inches to OAL, they are now a very valid consideration. I have used a moderator for the last six years - unfortunately having to chop the length of the barrel to get a rifle that was not too cumbersome for stalking. Another problem solved by the newer models - apart from the barrel being threaded (usually 1/2" UNF) no other changes need be made to your beloved rifle! This proves useful if travelling to countries where use of a mod is not permitted, or somewhere where it may be frowned upon. A day on the hill is not quite the same when kitted with 'star wars' technology! I have found that in addition to reducing the report of a .270win to that approximating a .22WMR, recoil has been cut by about half. Accuracy has improved - due I guess to the extra weight in the barrel. Potential problems for consideration: a) Zero will change with Mod on/off the barrel b) Condensation can easily form in the barrel - neglect cleaning and prepare to see rust! I'm sold on the idea - Electronic muffs being too affected by wind to be easily used when stalking IMHO. rgds Ian | |||
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quote:Ian, I wholeheartedly agree about the benefits you mention (allthough weight and bulk are drawbacks) but I have to tell you that the electronic plugs I have are totaly unaffected by wind. 22WMR will damage your high frequency hearing over a period of time, a longer period of time perhaps but the damage is still there. | |||
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| <Made in Sweden> |
I use the Peltor Soundtrap, but I have found that they are a bit sensitive when it comes to sweat and moisture... I have had to replace mine because something inside them got affected by water. A better option would be the Peltor ComTac, wich is waterproof, but from what I have heard, they don�t transmit sounds as naturally sounding as the soundtrap. And in all honesty, I can�t walk around with the earmuffs on all the time, it gets way too varm!! | ||
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Seems like a lot of Swedes here with Peltor SoundTraps or ComTacs, I use a SoundTrap when I can anticipate lots of shooting (bird hunting, or shooting at the range). A cute thing with the peltors are that you can plug them into the radio (155 or 31 MHz standard hunting radios) which is quite cool when hunting crows. Just being able to assist your companions with ("you have incoming crows from my position") is not very sportsmanlike, but effective indeed The Soundtrap is so good I forget I'm wearing it. Regards, //HerrBerg | |||
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