Electronic ear muffs

One thing to think about are the arms on your safety glasses. Some designs are not done well for under ear protection.
These ESS arms are completely flat. They don’t stay on my big head very well without ear pro on, but that’s the only time I wear them. So for that they are perfect.
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One thing to think about are the arms on your safety glasses. Some designs are not done well for under ear protection.

That’s why I like my molded in ear protection. When shooting outdoors that’s usually all I need. I have doubled up with muffs indoors. Especially with people shooting ported 45-70’s or larger calibers with brakes.
 
I had the HL for a short time. My son bought me some other kind from FGG Christmas before last. Ended up giving the HL away. I’ll see what kind they are in a minute. I used foam plus in addition to either pair. I have sensitive ears:)
 
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I have a set of the Walker's Razor and they do work but I always wear a set of custom ear plugs that I had made at a gun show. On some rifles, I can not get on the scope with the Walker's.
 
I have a set of the Walker's Razor and they do work but I always wear a set of custom ear plugs that I had made at a gun show. On some rifles, I can not get on the scope with the Walker's.

Do you have suggestions for active muffs that you can get on the scope with ? (I assume this would mean they're even thinner at the bottom than Walker's Razor). That would be something I'd like to find. Especially if they had bluetooth. :)
 
For electronic ear pro - I have Howard Leights and cheap Peltors, I also have Comtac 3 Tactical and Sordin Supreme Pro X. There are basically two types of of sound protection - clipping and compression. Anything under 200 bucks is clipping. Comtacs and Sordins do compresssion. Basically clipping cuts off the electronic sound when a loud noise is detected, compression takes the loud sounds and compresses the loud sound ONLY. So you can hear other things during and around gunfire. If you don't want to spend the money on compression technology then get the HL's with gel cups. Gel cups make a HUGE difference in the seal and comfort. If you want the most comfortable and all around best over the ear.... the Sordin Supreme Pro X are the best. They are about 260 bucks (i think.) I wear them all day during a training class and i literally forget i have them on. They are very light, the sound quality is excellent, they allow you to hear speech during shooting, they are super tough and made for daily wear. Indoors i still wear foamies with ear pro. Outdoors i like the Sordins better than the Comtacs. I think the circuitry is better in the Sordins. I have used the Sordins and Comtacs in pouring rain for hours. I have seen cheaper pairs fail. It always amazes me people spend outrageous amounts on guns and don't buy good gear to protect their hearing. The absolute cat's pajamas are in the ear compression electronics. I will get these next. The are a lot more than over the ears but have a huge benefit of being tiny.
 
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For electronic ear pro - I have Howard Leights and cheap Peltors, I also have Comtac 3 Tactical and Sordin Supreme Pro X. There are basically two types of of sound protection - clipping and compression. Anything under 200 bucks is clipping. Comtacs and Sordins do compresssion. Basically clipping cuts off the electronic sound when a loud noise is detected, compression takes the loud sounds and compresses the loud sound ONLY. So you can hear other things during and around gunfire. If you don't want to spend the money on compression technology then get the HL's with gel cups. Gel cups make a HUGE difference in the seal and comfort. If you want the most comfortable and all around best over the ear.... the Sordin Supreme Pro X are the best. They are about 260 bucks (i think.) I wear them all day during a training class and i literally forget i have them on. They are very light, the sound quality is excellent, they allow you to hear speech during shooting, they are super tough and made for daily wear. Indoors i still wear foamies with ear pro. Outdoors i like the Sordins better than the Comtacs. I think the circuitry is better in the Sordins. I have used the Sordins and Comtacs in pouring rain for hours. I have seen cheaper pairs fail. It always amazes me people spend outrageous amounts on guns and don't buy good gear to protect their hearing. The absolute cat's pajamas are in the ear compression electronics. I will get these next. The are a lot more than over the ears but have a huge benefit of being tiny.

I have been wanting a set of the Sordins for years. Just haven't bit the bullet. Never been happy with my ear pro. Have tried many, and use Walkers now. They are decent, but meh.

Hard to spend the money, but if I had just bought the Sordins out of the gate, I am sure I wouldn't have regretted it. Instead, I've spent hundreds buying everything but the good ones!
 
MSA Sordin Pro X for me and Sordin Pro for the wife. Gel cups for both. Have tried the Peltors and HL’s and they don’t compare. The sound remains directional with the Sordins (important for hunting) and I like the fact that they attenuate the sound down to 85 dB instead of completely muting it out.
 
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Jesus... Never heard of Sordin's before. $300 for earpro? I guess I am a poor...

Thing is, it's the one piece of equipment you would use every single time you shoot. So, taken over 5-10 years it starts to look more reasonable.

But yeah, spendy!
 
We've got a couple pair of the Caldwell's here (my daughter wanted pink and they had them in pink LOL) and several Howard Leight. They've all been serviceable but the HL feel more solid and well built. None have failed from either brand yet though.
 
Yea Sordins are great. They are worth the money.


I also recommend these too. They work with any brand just about. Makes ear pro much more comfortable for long term use, protects the band and wire and give you a clip to hang them from. 20 dollar upgrade. They have lots of colors. Also has protected my head more than once when moving around structures and .... trunks... when you raise your head up fast and WHAM.
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Tactical...actical+head+band+for+ear,aps,163&sr=8-8&th=1


upload_2020-4-21_10-14-3.png
 
Another thing about the HL ones....if you leave the volume "on" you can still protect hearing, and you can talk to people, but as I learned Sunday, most importantly: you can hear those bad rounds make weird noises as they get stuck in the barrel, and NOT pull the trigger again!

I got to hear several of those the other day. I used to turn the sound off when shooting, and someone would yell to let me know something had gone awry in a gun I was shooting.....
Now I hear it for myself, and I love the muffs even more!
 
Another thing about the HL ones....if you leave the volume "on" you can still protect hearing, and you can talk to people, but as I learned Sunday, most importantly: you can hear those bad rounds make weird noises as they get stuck in the barrel, and NOT pull the trigger again!

I got to hear several of those the other day. I used to turn the sound off when shooting, and someone would yell to let me know something had gone awry in a gun I was shooting.....
Now I hear it for myself, and I love the muffs even more!
The reason for electronic is to hear all the time. Keep them on when on your head.I love mine. Helpful hints. Keep a set of spare batteries in your shooting bag
 
I really like my Walker Razors. Added some Noisefighters and they're waaay more comfortable now. I don't get headaches from wearing them with eye pro anymore. Plus they seal better. They're 45$ shipped on the manuf website w/ code gladiatorsix but I've seen them down to $35 shipped recently

If anyone is feeling DIY, you can up the protection a little by filling up the empty space with more foam. Here's a guide. I still double up with over ears in case the seal breaks and for some added protection.
 
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I am probably the outlier but I just didn't care for my msa sordins. they were overly expensive and function just like the cheapo howard light muff . I hated the gel cups on hot days they felt slimey after being sweated on and made my ears extremely hot. I end up just wearing foam ear plugs on hot days now to be honest and leave the sordins at home.
 
I am probably the outlier but I just didn't care for my msa sordins. they were overly expensive and function just like the cheapo howard light muff . I hated the gel cups on hot days they felt slimey after being sweated on and made my ears extremely hot. I end up just wearing foam ear plugs on hot days now to be honest and leave the sordins at home.

They are not anywhere near the same as HL's they use a completely different technology. Gel cups are FAR more comfortable than foam, don't your glasses pinch your ears? You should sell yours to NKD, recoup some of that money. Maybe he can swap a pair of HL's for them? Brand new in the box HL's with foam for your used slimy gel cap Sordins? If NKD doesn't want them ill make that trade.
 
They are not anywhere near the same as HL's they use a completely different technology. Gel cups are FAR more comfortable than foam, don't your glasses pinch your ears? You should sell yours to NKD, recoup some of that money. Maybe he can swap a pair of HL's for them? Brand new in the box HL's with foam for your used slimy gel cap Sordins? If NKD doesn't want them ill make that trade.
got it. my opinion is invalid because it is counter to yours. I will keep my stuff around and kindly reject your opinion and advice. you ever stop to think that your opinion and experience are not universal to everyone? No need to be a condescending jerk.
 
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got it. my opinion is invalid because it is counter to yours. I will keep my stuff around and kindly reject your opinion and advice. you ever stop to think that your opinion and experience are not universal to everyone? No need to be a condescending jerk.

Seemed like a good deal to me. You hate them. Wasn't trying to be a jerk. Text comes off colder than impersonal than it is meant. But as far as opinion, it isn't my opinion that HL and Sordins are the same. They are functionally not the same.

edits him to them. Cause i cant type.
 
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I am probably the outlier but I just didn't care for my msa sordins. they were overly expensive and function just like the cheapo howard light muff . I hated the gel cups on hot days they felt slimey after being sweated on and made my ears extremely hot. I end up just wearing foam ear plugs on hot days now to be honest and leave the sordins at home.

I put the Gel cups on my Walkers. I noticed two things, that they reduced the sound attenuation quite a bit.
And, are hot AF in the summer. So I agree with you on that point man. The summers hear are so hot and any muffs at all are rough! Great for winter though, and they did reduce ear/head fatigue.
Some of the foam, like the Leights, is so stiff I can't wear them very long. A long match would include great suffering!

So, I don't know, maybe good in-ear is the way to go for hot summers in NC.
 
I put the Gel cups on my Walkers. I noticed two things, that they reduced the sound attenuation quite a bit.
And, are hot AF in the summer. So I agree with you on that point man. The summers hear are so hot and any muffs at all are rough! Great for winter though, and they did reduce ear/head fatigue.
Some of the foam, like the Leights, is so stiff I can't wear them very long. A long match would include great suffering!

So, I don't know, maybe good in-ear is the way to go for hot summers in NC.
I wish there were some decent electronic in ear pro that were about the cost of the sordins. The ones I have seen are $1k+ for the electronics.
 
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For electronic ear pro - I have Howard Leights and cheap Peltors, I also have Comtac 3 Tactical and Sordin Supreme Pro X. There are basically two types of of sound protection - clipping and compression. Anything under 200 bucks is clipping. Comtacs and Sordins do compresssion. Basically clipping cuts off the electronic sound when a loud noise is detected, compression takes the loud sounds and compresses the loud sound ONLY. So you can hear other things during and around gunfire. If you don't want to spend the money on compression technology then get the HL's with gel cups. Gel cups make a HUGE difference in the seal and comfort. If you want the most comfortable and all around best over the ear.... the Sordin Supreme Pro X are the best. They are about 260 bucks (i think.) I wear them all day during a training class and i literally forget i have them on. They are very light, the sound quality is excellent, they allow you to hear speech during shooting, they are super tough and made for daily wear. Indoors i still wear foamies with ear pro. Outdoors i like the Sordins better than the Comtacs. I think the circuitry is better in the Sordins. I have used the Sordins and Comtacs in pouring rain for hours. I have seen cheaper pairs fail. It always amazes me people spend outrageous amounts on guns and don't buy good gear to protect their hearing. The absolute cat's pajamas are in the ear compression electronics. I will get these next. The are a lot more than over the ears but have a huge benefit of being tiny.

Do you notice any of yours amplify enough to hear well with foam earplugs under? I think the ones that "clip" do so at a level that is too low (82 db I think) for me to hear people talk during the match with earplugs in. If they passed through 100 db at a higher setting, and then I wore plugs to get it back down to the mid 70s range that would be ideal.

I have to use earplugs because the muffs stop sealing sometimes just when turning my head. It would also be nice to get that extra noise protection if it also allowed me to hear better to boot.
 
I am probably the outlier but I just didn't care for my msa sordins. they were overly expensive and function just like the cheapo howard light muff . I hated the gel cups on hot days they felt slimey after being sweated on and made my ears extremely hot. I end up just wearing foam ear plugs on hot days now to be honest and leave the sordins at home.

I was not a fan of the gel feel during the summer either.
 
Do you notice any of yours amplify enough to hear well with foam earplugs under? I think the ones that "clip" do so at a level that is too low (82 db I think) for me to hear people talk during the match with earplugs in. If they passed through 100 db at a higher setting, and then I wore plugs to get it back down to the mid 70s range that would be ideal.

I have to use earplugs because the muffs stop sealing sometimes just when turning my head. It would also be nice to get that extra noise protection if it also allowed me to hear better to boot.

Robbie, outdoors i never use ear plugs with either the Peltor Comtac or MSA Sordins - UNLESS i am in a carbine class and the guy next to me has a muzzle break that is nasty. For the last year or so i have been wearing a pretty cool hat that i recommend. It has ear plugs built in that you pull out and then tap your ear and they wind back up and you can tuck them in the ear pouch. I love that hat. It has a mesh top. You can buy velcro flags and name tags on Amazon for cheap. I have my name on the back, American flag on the front. If i am shooting i am usually wearing this hat.

https://www.skdtac.com/MSM-CG-Hat-Mesh-DLUX-p/msm.204.html


Back to the info...So if this match is outside Sordins will work great for you i think. Most of my shooting is outdoors. One thing i do is if i am on the line and the instructor is behind us giving commands I flip my ear pro around so the mics are facing backwards. This helps hear what they say a lot even when everyone is banging away. The gel cups will really help with what you describe as losing the seal when you turn your head. The foam ear pieces for ear pro are more rigid and get way MORE rigid after a few years. The gel makes a far better seal on your ears especially if you are like me and wear a hat and glasses. Foam ear muffs don't conform to the area around the glasses by your ears, Gel cups just work better at giving a good seal. No matter what you buy you should get gel cups to protect your hearing. Someone up above said Gel cups make you sweat. In NC in the summer EVERYTHING makes you sweat. I will say during a class and we are walking back to the table to reload you see everyone take off their cheap ear pro. I leave mine on because it is honestly really comfortable. Maybe i am weird. Now if we are talking August in the sun I take all the stuff off my head and pour cold water on my head. Everything is really wet then.

Indoors i do wear ear plugs, with either the Comtacs or Sordins. I can tell you i have to be facing the person talking for the directional mics to pic up the conversation even with full volume up. But it is very loud in the range i go to in Yadkin county. The problem with the cheaper head sets is they way their electronics work with 'clipping" the sound, they turn off the electronic hearing when a loud sound is detected. So w__ Peo___ talk, You Ca__ he__ all the words. I was a Howard Leight fan for 20 years and i always wore foamies with them too. I think they are worse for conversations. We are all still shouting at each other. It is just to fricken noisey. Outdoors that problem goes away.

If you watch videos the big names teaching shooting stuff online you will see Sordins all the time. No one hawks ear pro that i have seen, its a piece of gear few talk about in shooting. They are all focused on the guns and training. But I find it interesting to see what they use when teaching classes. Just my two cents.

V
 
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Robbie, outdoors i never use ear plugs with either the Peltor Comtac or MSA Sordins - UNLESS i am in a carbine class and the guy next to me has a muzzle break that is nasty. For the last year or so i have been wearing a pretty cool hat that i recommend. It has ear plugs built in that you pull out and then tap your ear and they wind back up and you can tuck them in the ear pouch. I love that hat. It has a mesh top. You can buy velcro flags and name tags on Amazon for cheap. I have my name on the back, American flag on the front. If i am shooting i am usually wearing this hat.

https://www.skdtac.com/MSM-CG-Hat-Mesh-DLUX-p/msm.204.htm


Link doesn't seem to work.
Is this the hat you are talking about?

https://www.skdtac.com/MSM-CG-Hat-Mesh-DLUX-p/msm.204.htm
 
Robbie, outdoors i never use ear plugs with either the Peltor Comtac or MSA Sordins - UNLESS i am in a carbine class and the guy next to me has a muzzle break that is nasty. For the last year or so i have been wearing a pretty cool hat that i recommend. It has ear plugs built in that you pull out and then tap your ear and they wind back up and you can tuck them in the ear pouch. I love that hat. It has a mesh top. You can buy velcro flags and name tags on Amazon for cheap. I have my name on the back, American flag on the front. If i am shooting i am usually wearing this hat.

https://www.skdtac.com/MSM-CG-Hat-Mesh-DLUX-p/msm.204.html


Back to the info...So if this match is outside Sordins will work great for you i think. Most of my shooting is outdoors. One thing i do is if i am on the line and the instructor is behind us giving commands I flip my ear pro around so the mics are facing backwards. This helps hear what they say a lot even when everyone is banging away. The gel cups will really help with what you describe as losing the seal when you turn your head. The foam ear pieces for ear pro are more rigid and get way MORE rigid after a few years. The gel makes a far better seal on your ears especially if you are like me and wear a hat and glasses. Foam ear muffs don't conform to the area around the glasses by your ears, Gel cups just work better at giving a good seal. No matter what you buy you should get gel cups to protect your hearing. Someone up above said Gel cups make you sweat. In NC in the summer EVERYTHING makes you sweat. I will say during a class and we are walking back to the table to reload you see everyone take off their cheap ear pro. I leave mine on because it is honestly really comfortable. Maybe i am weird. Now if we are talking August in the sun I take all the stuff off my head and pour cold water on my head. Everything is really wet then.

Indoors i do wear ear plugs, with either the Comtacs or Sordins. I can tell you i have to be facing the person talking for the directional mics to pic up the conversation even with full volume up. But it is very loud in the range i go to in Yadkin county. The problem with the cheaper head sets is they way their electronics work with 'clipping" the sound, they turn off the electronic hearing when a loud sound is detected. So w__ Peo___ talk, You Ca__ he__ all the words. I was a Howard Leight fan for 20 years and i always wore foamies with them too. I think they are worse for conversations. We are all still shouting at each other. It is just to fricken noisey. Outdoors that problem goes away.

If you watch videos the big names teaching shooting stuff online you will see Sordins all the time. No one hawks ear pro that i have seen, its a piece of gear few talk about in shooting. They are all focused on the guns and training. But I find it interesting to see what they use when teaching classes. Just my two cents.

V
Thanks for the info!
 
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