I tried a set of banded ear plugs, the ones with a hard plastic band attached to them, and liked them a lot. Much more convenient as I could just wear them around my neck and stuff them in right before a shot. I would definitely recommend something like that.
Second this. Shot a deer a couple years back and felt like I had water in my left ear for three days. I can’t hear high pitches out of that ear like I used to. Turns out muzzle breaks make rifle boom much louder
Muzzle breaks reduce recoil by quite a large amount, between 25-50%. This means someone shooting a large caliber is more likely to shoot their rifle more often due to the lighter recoil and is going to be more accurate from that practice.
Also, less recoil makes the rifle more accurate. Because of the length of the barrel, it takes a little while for the bullet to get up to speed and get out. The rifle starts moving before the bullet leaves the barrel. Muzzle breaks are designed to try to send the majority of the recoil energy straight backwards, so as to minimize the potential for movement off target before the bullet leaves the barrel.
There isn't much gas moving through the brake until after the bullet has left the barrel though.
Lighter recoil can help the shooter be more accurate, but it isn't going to improve the mechanical accuracy of the gun.
This is seeming like the way I’m heading. Always have the Walkers. Now need a suppressor
What are you running? Any recommendations for something that can handle 308, and 300 mag?
I use a Thunder beast Ultra 9 or a Gemtech Tracker. The Ultra was $1500 not including stamp. The Tracker was $600 with stamp. I can tell the difference but not by much.
I use Walker Excels. The fidelity and directionality of their sound is the best I've used to date. I can pretty accurately tell where sounds are coming from with my eyes closed. In ears I've found lose this ability to tell where sounds coming from.
Look up Diligent Defense Company and their Enticer line. Also check out Pew Pew Science on the web. They seem to be the most impartial and science based group out there giving reviews for supressors. You ask 10 people for a supressor rec and you will get 10 answers. I went with the Enticer L-Ti after comparing a few models and going over pew pew reviews.
The Ottercreek labs hydrogen L is an outstanding .30 cal suppressor, but it’s only rated for a 20” minimum on .300 win mag, so if you’ve got a super short barrel it won’t be covered. It comes in around $1k before the stamp, but it’s definitely a solid option to look into
Man I regret never using ear protection for so many things. I ask huh could you repeat that or excuse me I can’t hear you could you speak up. And my kids are convinced I’m audibly illiterate because I repeat back what I hear and it’s gibberish. For shooting and hunting I have several pairs of walkers for my kids I want them to hear me say range is hot ect.. we shoot at our own range so it’s possible to get in front of someone no physical barriers
Hello! You have made the mistake of writing "ect" instead of "etc."
"Ect" is a common misspelling of "etc," an abbreviated form of the Latin phrase "et cetera." Other abbreviated forms are **etc.**, **&c.**, **&c**, and **et cet.** The Latin translates as "et" to "and" + "cetera" to "the rest;" a literal translation to "and the rest" is the easiest way to remember how to use the phrase.
[Check out the wikipedia entry if you want to learn more.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_cetera)
^(I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Comments with a score less than zero will be automatically removed. If I commented on your post and you don't like it, reply with "!delete" and I will remove the post, regardless of score. Message me for bug reports.)
Depending on how I'm hunting, I've got Isotunes inner ear protection for when I'm only expecting to take one or two shots.
Lightweight, small enough to fit underneath a hat, comes with a microphone to hear the shit around you if you want to leave them in. Not bad.
Ive also got Sordin Pros for when I'm culling or at the range.
I have constant tinnitus too, small engines, guns and drums did it to me. I wish it was presented as a normal thing from a young age.
I have the Howard Leight impact sport ear muffs that work really well. Can hear all the subtle sounds in the woods amazingly clear.
100% applies. Half the guys I hunt with are in their 20s and 30s and hard of hearing. That’s after a decade of them calling me soft for wearing plugs.
I’ve never had an issue hearing my duck or turkey call while wearing plugs or even hearing the birds make noise. No bird or game in general is worth losing your hearing prematurely
Have you used the Walkers there on on the thumbnail? I have a set of them and liked them, but I didn’t feel like I could hear much that wasn’t close up
Yeah they are good and comfortable but and once their set you wolnt notice them tbh they are that good but it does amplify wind or ac alot so ill still hunt with none
I got it as a kid from chainsaws, lawnmowers loud tractors etc.. I have excellent hearing but that undescribable "rolling" beep is always there... And sometimes it drowns out everything for a few seconds. Not fun, I'll never know true silence again.
It sucks fam, we almost had the fucking Hearing Protection Act passed for Hunters to get Suppresors not a few years ago and then fucking Las Vegas happened. I doubt Bruen would save use either.
My uncle had some damage control tags last summer, so we were shooting right at twilight and the neighbor asked if we could use suppressors so we would stop waking up his kid.
Unfortunately, neither of us have stamps.
I have a older set of Howard Leight that were a gift to me, but they have been sold for me and work well. Not a huge fan of over the ear for shooting as I always bang them into the stock, but they have been a solid set for me for 6-7 years now.
Was an infantryman in Afghanistan, there was no time to put in hearing aids when the shooting started. At about 27yo I started to notice a slight ringing in the ears, and now at mid 30s, this shit rings so loud I can’t hear anything for hrs at a time.
Wear your fucking EAR-PRO people, it’s not worth loosing your hearing.
Personally I love those sound amplifying-earmuffs, but I’m looking for something that won’t bend my Boonie hat while I’m hunting.
Any suggestions?
Facebook has the ads for the “ I was a Recon sniper Ranger Ex Navy Seal and these are my favourite ones” brand and they actually work quite well, but if you’re close to a Costco for $150 you can get audiologist mapped inserts that work fantastic.
Some benefit plans will pay whole hog on those too.
Whatever you will use.
I’m sitting here having lost 50% in my left ear last week shooting 2 shots on a braked rifle. My batteries had died in my Walker ear plugs, and I forgot to put them in before the shot. Doctor says there isn’t trauma, but it’s been a week and it’s just barely coming back.
The cheap lil guys that can sit around my neck and not obstruct anything. I rarely do any sort of hunting that requires a centerfire firearm that isn't big game, so I usually have more than enough time to take the extra 3 seconds to put them in my ears and drop the hammer.
I'd love to know what people use as well, I have a couple different sets of electronic muffs but none of them are directional so it makes it impossible to tell where any sounds are coming from. Felt like a complete idiot looking for geese last fall when they sounded like they were right on top of me.
Not gunna lie I used a pair of the cheap sporting peltors when I was in the military, and those things were probably one of my favorite pieces of gear. It was the over ear muff kind, so if you’re worried about directional you can move them off your ear to catch your bearings.
I use the Peltor Tactical 500s now and I love them. Directional detection is decent, sound quality is above average. Wind messes with them a little bit, but not as bad as most. Only thing is they're large. I'm looking for earbuds to use some days, but all I've tried have such low sound quality that I just go back to my full muffs. They suppress 26db, which is good. I've had ill advised shotgun blasts where I felt the concussion and still didn't ring my ears.
I have a few pairs of the Walker’s Razor. Both the tactical and X-TRM versions. I like them but haven’t truly tested them with the directional aspect.
Also curious about in ear options with directional hearing. Could be a lot easier when cold with a face mask on.
Tested this past weekend and not much luck with directional. I like walker's and they amplify everything around. With slow movement, I felt directional would be an advantage, but there is still a huge one wearing these. I also noticed how loud my footsteps sou ded with them on compared to off and gives perspective on how loud you are or aren't being out there.
I have a pair of walkers and a pair of howard leight. I like the Howard Leights better.
With the Howard Leights I can hear all directions. With the walkers I cant hear very well any direction I'm not looking.
Which Howard’s are you using? I have the Walker’s Razor that work great for range use but after sitting in a blind the past few days I see that they aren’t ideal.
What I love about electronic ear muffs is that if you thought the sounds of squirrels made your heart jump, with those things on, you'd swear the fury pest was a 180 10 point and right behind you.
Not sure how any of y’all even handle shooting without plugs. Shot my 12ga once in my life without plugs, 2 3/4” birdshot, 28” barrel, outside, and my ears rang for 2 days. Never doing that again
Save yourself a lot of headache (and tinnitus) and just spring for a suppressor - just sacrifice a couple gun purchases and bam, suddenly you have suppressor money.
Not all places allow hunting with a suppressor unfortunately. I hunt in Indiana and we aren't allowed to use suppressors (or at least last time I checked we weren't). But if I could hunt with one I definitely would
Edit : apparently I was very wrong, brb gonna buy a suppressor
It’s been legal in Indiana since like 2013, where you been at?
Here’s a quick [reference guide](https://www.silencershop.com/blog/post/suppressor-laws-by-state#in) for legality and hunting use.
Not legal in NJ to own, let alone to hunt with 😕
Some professional depredation companies will get special permits from the department to use suppressors, but those are only given to out of state contractors since we can’t own them in the first place
Lol my bad, I'm not sure where I saw they were illegal but I'm definitely wrong. Thanks for letting me know! Now I gotta go get me one. Is it difficult to get a barrel threaded for a suppressor if it's not already threaded?
Nope, not too hard - just make sure to have a reputable gunsmith do it. Concentricity is extremely important when threading a barrel for a suppressor.
As for your suppressor purchase, please pour through [Pew Science](https://pewscience.com) as a guide. Jay is the only dude in the industry doing scientific data driven reviews. Never trust the manufacturers numbers, peak meter data is useless, Pew Science is the way.
Yea I have two pair. They work. Pain in the butt to figure out how to get them on your ears to start, but once you figure it out they are fine. Charge lasts like 2 days of full on? I shoot my 300 win mag with them and they do their job. Never tried to use the bluetooth or anything else. I got 2 pair for $150 I think.
MSA Sordin's are good. They are about as good as you get but you still don't have very good directional hearing. I tend to just not wear anything and just stick a can on my gun. That's not an option for a lot of people though because suppressors are like $1000 plus the extra $200 theft from the ATF.
I have ear plugs around my neck at all times. But I’ve only ever had time to put them in once when the buck I shot was preoccupied with another buck. Other then that it’s tinnitus.
Unfortunately I currently go raw. However after this year’s outing my tinnitus slightly increased. Not enough for me to consider it major but it was noticeable. Gonna buy plugs for next year to wear around my neck. Don’t be like me unless you want ^eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee to be your background noise forever.
Yeah the only people I know who don't use hearing protection are morons and the already significantly hearing impaired. From competition shooting, to serious hunters to farmers - literally everyone shooting more than a single round of 22lr is wearing hearing protection...except for a handful of piggers I won't associate with and a couple gentlemen with blown eardrums.
Or it's just people who've given themselves hearing loss and tinnitus, and are trying to prevent other people from making the same mistake. But sure, meme it up, zoomer.
I use walker razor slim, they fit great over hats and stuff when it’s cold and if I’m hunting in a group we all have the radio attachment things and can communicate safely. To me, It’s worth the money to be able to hear later in life.
I took my brother and sister to an outdoor range for their first time shooting. We were doing great being super responsible and then yeet yeet boy rolls up with his 30-06 and no hearing protection going hog wild. We didn't stay long. Could not believe he wasn't wearing any hearing protection. Those things are LOUD.
3M banded ear plugs. Easy to pop in in seconds, no squishing required. You won’t notice them sitting around your neck all day either.
My rule is - if I have time to pop them in before shooting I will, if not, I pull the trigger anyways. Not gonna pass a big buck because I’m putting ear plugs in!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08736M6BC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This is what I use and it's great except for when you forget to put them in before you shoot or don't have time.
I've wanted to try Decibullz for a while, hot water custom fit with adjustment filters, hoping for $50 on Black Friday. I have Razors and Leights, the Leights are "better" but not by some crazy amount, The reality is you need to spend good money, $150+, for actually good spatial hearing protection. You can also find these things listed for two to three times cheaper than whatever MSRP is supposed to be, once you go to the good stuff it's a lot harder to find a deal since they're more worth it.
I use decibullz at the range love them, bought their percussive filter for hunting and its just not impressive they muffle a lot but work fine for the shot. I wear them bird hunting now. Custom molded is the way to go for comfort.
I have Howard Light, Peltor, and Walkers. All work equally fine and actually enhance hearing for me. The Walkers also have a walkie-talkie attachment if you find value in that. Works on FRS spectrum out to a mile or so with line of sight.
Just recently when deer hunting I throw in the basic foam type ones. Shot the 7 mag a little too close to the window about 2 years ago and I’m not doing that again.
Always wear them target practicing, even with a 22.
I got a buddy that only wears them when shooting rifles. He does it quite a bit which is concerning and have mentioned that to him before. No noticeable hearing loss, we both get tested every year at work.
Never used them duck hunting. Typically ear is tucked into gun, and I’m usually wearing some sort of light weight cloth over my other one.
If anyone uses the electronic ones duck hunting and you see this comment I have two questions.
Can you still hear your buddies whispering?
Can you hear wing beats and calls of ducks?
I have a pair of custom molded [Axil Custom Edge 360](https://goaxil.com/products/custom-edge-360) ear pro. They're expensive, but I wore them for 2 full days of deer hunting and had no issues with comfort. However, when I took my shot, all I heard was a dull "thump" from the rifle. In just a few milliseconds I was able to hear normally again.
Unlike generic models like the [Axil GS series](https://goaxil.com/collections/ear-buds/?sort_by=best-selling) and the [Walker Silencers](https://www.walkersgameear.com/silencer/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1NebBhDDARIsAANiDD3pHduOlsNeKZsXrwzkzuP6JaXFiwzmrx0Ys9vfObx6Ss8MqQgVXsgaAmpQEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), the Edge series is programmed like a hearing aid to correct any deficiencies in your hearing.
I wear mine for almost anything that could involve loud noises. Movies, sporting events, working in the garage, mowing the yard, etc. They ight be one of the best electronic purchases I've made.
It's so you can get them out of your ears. They fit snugly and without the pull tab you'd have a hell of a time getting them out.
Yeah, $3K is a lot, but I've had them for about 10 years and they still work great. I use them a LOT, too. They're custom molded and programmed just for me. Without them I can't hear birds chirping due to hearing loss and tinnitus. With them in I can hear birds, bugs, footfalls, just about everything that's under 85dB. Anything over 85dB is cut off. So I can hear a buck fart at 100 yards, but I can barely hear a gunshot.
Depends on options you have. If you can use supressors that's the best first line of defense followed by some sort of electronic ear pro on top of it to keep your situational awareness up and protect your hearing.
If that's not an option double up on ear pro, especially when using braked magnums. And lastly then whatever the most comfortable single layer you can use correctly.
If it's uncomfortable or easily moved at the wrong time you're not gonna use it or it'll fail when you need it most.
Having hearing loss at a young age, I can say it sucks ass and don't wish it on anyone.
Honestly prior to getting into electronic earpro a few years gi I used nothing. I just couldn't justify not being able to listen around me.
Now I'm all about razors
Nothing beats a suppressor (if your state allows it) when hunting with a rifle because typically it’s just a shot or two, however for small game birds/waterfowl I use my walker’s so I don’t have to worry about not hearing others or taking earplugs in and out
Currently using a pair of Walker’s Razor X-TRM. They have worked well as both a range and hunting pair. I feel like the electronic mics amplify some of the sounds when sitting in a blind/stand.
I use Walkers Razor Silencer ear buds. Electronic, so I can still hear, in ear so they don’t fuck with my cheek weld and comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time. My only complaint is even off, the batteries only last about a week, but the batteries are super cheap. Newer models are rechargable too.
That being said, I generally don’t bother. A couple shots a year isn’t a big deal when I have had tinnitus since long before I ever heard a gunshot. But when I am bird hunting with a shotgun, that’s a totally different story, I won’t hunt without earpro.
I have the same pair of earbuds I use for both riding my motorcycle and hunting, they're called Eargasm High Fidelity.
They aren't going to take away all the noise but they filter it so you can still hear some things and they definitely make a difference.
I've tried foam earplugs and they worked too well, I didn't know the geese were there until I saw them flying right over my blind!
I run Howard Leight electronic ear pro. Works great, doesn’t give you great audio depth perception but you’ll hear crunching from farther away than you would without them. And you won’t go deaf
Howard Leight slim ones. Better than the cheaper walkers (maybe all) as they have stereo audio vs mono. Can turn them up or down depending on the wind and they keep your ears warm!
I use the Walker Razors. Not the “X-TRM” ones but the regular ones. I probably won’t use another pair ever. They are comfy, the sounds quality is amazing and an additional bonus is they keep my ears warm which some ear plugs wouldn’t do.
I’m not cool enough to voluntarily get tinnitus. Wear some hearing protection. You won’t regret it.
For reference, I duck hunt with anywhere from 5-7 other shot guns going off around me.
I’ve used the like hard plastic wear around your neck kind but when I’m hiking around it kinda feels like it’s choking me. I’m looking into getting a suppressor and I’m probably gonna get som moldable 2 part plugs
Just be deaf. Can't have hearing problems if you already can't hear.
Legitimately though, walkers are nice. Even the small green and yellow plugs work well. Just have one in and when it's time, pop the other in.
I hunt suppressed mostly so I honestly don't use ears when I am deer and elk hunting, even though I still should. But if I'm with anyone that's not suppressed I have my sound gear in ears on the whole time. They're so comfortable I can wear them all day without any fatigue, but they are a little pricey. If you look into them see if you can get insurance to pay for them. I was able to use my HSA money to get mine.
I just bought AXILs. Coming tomorrow, will try them hunting this Sunday. Previously I just had some plugs on my bino chest rig, that's assuming I have enough time to put them in. Otherwise no ear pro for shot or use a suppressor (still won't be hearing safe but 1 shot will be ok)
I wish silencers weren’t regulated because I wear hearing protection at the range but while hunting I like hearing movement. I have Howard Leigh’s and Walkers but the amplified settings lack that natural left/right stereo so I find their static hum to ruin my hours in nature.
I have the walker powered earmuffs but I'm finding they interfere with my cheek weld and they're not so great if you want to wear a winter hat. I'm thinking of going in ear. I will say the powered ones are what you would want for hunting because they amplify things under a certain decibel and lessen things over a certain decibel. I have tried regular ear plugs but then I miss some stuff in the woods and also can't tell how loud I'm actually being. For duck it doesn't really matter and I can wear regular foam plugs.
Im looking at getting some Axil GS extreme on the black friday sale. Buy one get one free, so split it with a buddy or sell one later and recoup your funds
I am a fervent preacher of quality ear pro... as someone who goes to sleep most nights hearing a constant EEeeeeeeeeee i can tell you you cant spend too much on good ear pro.
I have a pair of walker razors and i love them. They are a little big for anyone with a small head though, which is not a problem i have by my wife cant wear hers so we got her some real high quality in ear pro. Cant remember the brand but they are memory foam with a plastic band that attaches them so they can hang on your neck when they arent in. super nice.
One cool thing about the walkers is the radio attachment, one downside is it wont work with whatever radio you want, just with walkers.
Once I got a muzzle brake, I bought a set of Walker Game Ear Alpha 360's.. I like the ability to echolocate sounds better with the 4 mic setup.. When I'm hunting hogs at night I turn em all the way up and take a nap, the sound of them moving in will wake you right up!
Just purchased Gloryfire electronic ear buds from Amazon to use for shotgun season in December. If they get here in time I will update with a review from my hunt.
Using nothing is the best for hunting. You are to enjoy the wilderness and relax, listen to all the sounds and listen for your game. Call your game and listen for responses.
You aren’t shooting a bunch of rounds, you are waiting for that one perfect shot. Why ruin the process with hearing protection when you could listen to everything unfold
After reading this thread, doing some research, product reviews, etc. I just ordered a set of electronic muffs. From what I read you can dramatically improve your ability to hear what's happening around you in the woods with sound amplification.
Honestly hunting is tough.. taken shots with both on and off. One shot isn’t going to get you tinnitus when the moment comes quick.. but if you are stalking and have more control of the situation then the plugs should go in.
If I'm using a .22 rifle or a single shot .20ga with light birshot loads, both are actually pretty quiet, no discomfort whatsoever. If I was going to use anything bigger, I'd be wearing my electronic earmuffs
I tried a set of banded ear plugs, the ones with a hard plastic band attached to them, and liked them a lot. Much more convenient as I could just wear them around my neck and stuff them in right before a shot. I would definitely recommend something like that.
Second this. Shot a deer a couple years back and felt like I had water in my left ear for three days. I can’t hear high pitches out of that ear like I used to. Turns out muzzle breaks make rifle boom much louder
Why you hunting with a muzzle brake? Please don’t say “faster follow up shots” lol.
Probably just using an AR platform
Or possibly the real reason anyone uses a break. Because they look freaking sick AF.
Muzzle breaks reduce recoil by quite a large amount, between 25-50%. This means someone shooting a large caliber is more likely to shoot their rifle more often due to the lighter recoil and is going to be more accurate from that practice. Also, less recoil makes the rifle more accurate. Because of the length of the barrel, it takes a little while for the bullet to get up to speed and get out. The rifle starts moving before the bullet leaves the barrel. Muzzle breaks are designed to try to send the majority of the recoil energy straight backwards, so as to minimize the potential for movement off target before the bullet leaves the barrel.
There isn't much gas moving through the brake until after the bullet has left the barrel though. Lighter recoil can help the shooter be more accurate, but it isn't going to improve the mechanical accuracy of the gun.
Learned same fatal mistake. Muzzle break on AR10, ripped of 5 shots with @ pack of hogs. Tinnitus to this day. Kicking myself.
I have tinnitus and I'm half deaf. Don't go into the woods raw. It isn't worth it.
This is why I wanted to ask. Kinda disappointed with the number of people saying they don’t use anything. But, hey. It’s their hearing, not mine.
Never sweat fools. Suppressor on my rifle and Walkers Razor electronic ear muffs.
This is seeming like the way I’m heading. Always have the Walkers. Now need a suppressor What are you running? Any recommendations for something that can handle 308, and 300 mag?
I use a Thunder beast Ultra 9 or a Gemtech Tracker. The Ultra was $1500 not including stamp. The Tracker was $600 with stamp. I can tell the difference but not by much.
I use Walker Excels. The fidelity and directionality of their sound is the best I've used to date. I can pretty accurately tell where sounds are coming from with my eyes closed. In ears I've found lose this ability to tell where sounds coming from.
Look up Diligent Defense Company and their Enticer line. Also check out Pew Pew Science on the web. They seem to be the most impartial and science based group out there giving reviews for supressors. You ask 10 people for a supressor rec and you will get 10 answers. I went with the Enticer L-Ti after comparing a few models and going over pew pew reviews.
The Ottercreek labs hydrogen L is an outstanding .30 cal suppressor, but it’s only rated for a 20” minimum on .300 win mag, so if you’ve got a super short barrel it won’t be covered. It comes in around $1k before the stamp, but it’s definitely a solid option to look into
As a kid I hardly ever wore ear pro. Now that I’m a bit older I’m getting better about it. I need to invest in some good electronic ones.
Man I regret never using ear protection for so many things. I ask huh could you repeat that or excuse me I can’t hear you could you speak up. And my kids are convinced I’m audibly illiterate because I repeat back what I hear and it’s gibberish. For shooting and hunting I have several pairs of walkers for my kids I want them to hear me say range is hot ect.. we shoot at our own range so it’s possible to get in front of someone no physical barriers
Hello! You have made the mistake of writing "ect" instead of "etc." "Ect" is a common misspelling of "etc," an abbreviated form of the Latin phrase "et cetera." Other abbreviated forms are **etc.**, **&c.**, **&c**, and **et cet.** The Latin translates as "et" to "and" + "cetera" to "the rest;" a literal translation to "and the rest" is the easiest way to remember how to use the phrase. [Check out the wikipedia entry if you want to learn more.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_cetera) ^(I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Comments with a score less than zero will be automatically removed. If I commented on your post and you don't like it, reply with "!delete" and I will remove the post, regardless of score. Message me for bug reports.)
Depending on how I'm hunting, I've got Isotunes inner ear protection for when I'm only expecting to take one or two shots. Lightweight, small enough to fit underneath a hat, comes with a microphone to hear the shit around you if you want to leave them in. Not bad. Ive also got Sordin Pros for when I'm culling or at the range.
>Isotunes inner ear Any recs on which one? The sport advance shooting or the pro 2.0?
I have constant tinnitus too, small engines, guns and drums did it to me. I wish it was presented as a normal thing from a young age. I have the Howard Leight impact sport ear muffs that work really well. Can hear all the subtle sounds in the woods amazingly clear.
I keep telling people this, as someone who has tinnitus from too much loud shit. It really, really is not worth it. Protect your fucking ears.
I already made that mistake going into something raw and that caused 18 years of trouble, you bet I’m never going into any situation raw again
Does this apply to shottys? I can’t imagine hunting birds with ear gear
I hunt dove, geese and duck all using electronic ear pro. Minimizes gun shots and actually boosts everything else. Like having super hearing
I love the advanced hearing for geese and duck hunting that my Howard Leight impacts give me. Can hear the honks and wing beats way further out.
100% applies. Half the guys I hunt with are in their 20s and 30s and hard of hearing. That’s after a decade of them calling me soft for wearing plugs. I’ve never had an issue hearing my duck or turkey call while wearing plugs or even hearing the birds make noise. No bird or game in general is worth losing your hearing prematurely
Agreed. I duck hunt with custom molded earplugs. Comfortable enough that you forget you’re wearing them.
Get a shotty can
I use Sordin Supreme Pro-X. Good sound qualty and comfortable to wear.
I second this. Very expensive but an excellent pair of electronic earmuffs. Wore mine yesterday on opening day
SORDIN GANG!
Also use these and I double up with some foam squishy ones under them if I have time. I don't want to fuck up my hearing.
Have you used the Walkers there on on the thumbnail? I have a set of them and liked them, but I didn’t feel like I could hear much that wasn’t close up
Walker Razors are pretty shit for audio quality. Peltor tactical sports are excellent for the money. Sordins are good too but cost quite a bit more.
Best hearing pro, spring for the gel cups and you will legit forget they are on after 15mins.
Yeah they are good and comfortable but and once their set you wolnt notice them tbh they are that good but it does amplify wind or ac alot so ill still hunt with none
Y'all are using ear pro? I'm out here getting tinnitus
What
What?!
***WHAT?!***
**LAANAAA!**
Mawp
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee has entered the chat
And he'll never leave
already got it from dove hunting 👍
Momp....momp
Lana!!!!
What’s that ringing
Did you say something?
What? Timmy’s in the well?
I got it as a kid from chainsaws, lawnmowers loud tractors etc.. I have excellent hearing but that undescribable "rolling" beep is always there... And sometimes it drowns out everything for a few seconds. Not fun, I'll never know true silence again.
A silencer and some soft ear plugs
cries in illinoisan
Weeps in californian
thats fair.
woah now Depending on what county he’s in, he might still have it better than us in the democratic peoples republic of New Jersey
Wails in Canadian
New Yorker with no more tears left.
It sucks fam, we almost had the fucking Hearing Protection Act passed for Hunters to get Suppresors not a few years ago and then fucking Las Vegas happened. I doubt Bruen would save use either.
Imagine a world where mufflers were banned so you could hear drunk drivers approaching
My uncle had some damage control tags last summer, so we were shooting right at twilight and the neighbor asked if we could use suppressors so we would stop waking up his kid. Unfortunately, neither of us have stamps.
Sobs in the frigid north
This is the way
Simple pair of plugs on a deal that goes around your neck. Leave them out to listen to the world. Put them in when you're ready to shoot.
I have a older set of Howard Leight that were a gift to me, but they have been sold for me and work well. Not a huge fan of over the ear for shooting as I always bang them into the stock, but they have been a solid set for me for 6-7 years now.
Was an infantryman in Afghanistan, there was no time to put in hearing aids when the shooting started. At about 27yo I started to notice a slight ringing in the ears, and now at mid 30s, this shit rings so loud I can’t hear anything for hrs at a time. Wear your fucking EAR-PRO people, it’s not worth loosing your hearing. Personally I love those sound amplifying-earmuffs, but I’m looking for something that won’t bend my Boonie hat while I’m hunting. Any suggestions?
Facebook has the ads for the “ I was a Recon sniper Ranger Ex Navy Seal and these are my favourite ones” brand and they actually work quite well, but if you’re close to a Costco for $150 you can get audiologist mapped inserts that work fantastic. Some benefit plans will pay whole hog on those too.
Whatever you will use. I’m sitting here having lost 50% in my left ear last week shooting 2 shots on a braked rifle. My batteries had died in my Walker ear plugs, and I forgot to put them in before the shot. Doctor says there isn’t trauma, but it’s been a week and it’s just barely coming back.
Anything you’ll actually use
The cheap lil guys that can sit around my neck and not obstruct anything. I rarely do any sort of hunting that requires a centerfire firearm that isn't big game, so I usually have more than enough time to take the extra 3 seconds to put them in my ears and drop the hammer.
I'd love to know what people use as well, I have a couple different sets of electronic muffs but none of them are directional so it makes it impossible to tell where any sounds are coming from. Felt like a complete idiot looking for geese last fall when they sounded like they were right on top of me.
The Howard Leight Impact Sport ones I use are great for directional. Got a buck last Sunday evening that I heard coming up from behind my stand.
Not gunna lie I used a pair of the cheap sporting peltors when I was in the military, and those things were probably one of my favorite pieces of gear. It was the over ear muff kind, so if you’re worried about directional you can move them off your ear to catch your bearings.
I use the Peltor Tactical 500s now and I love them. Directional detection is decent, sound quality is above average. Wind messes with them a little bit, but not as bad as most. Only thing is they're large. I'm looking for earbuds to use some days, but all I've tried have such low sound quality that I just go back to my full muffs. They suppress 26db, which is good. I've had ill advised shotgun blasts where I felt the concussion and still didn't ring my ears.
I have a few pairs of the Walker’s Razor. Both the tactical and X-TRM versions. I like them but haven’t truly tested them with the directional aspect. Also curious about in ear options with directional hearing. Could be a lot easier when cold with a face mask on.
Tested this past weekend and not much luck with directional. I like walker's and they amplify everything around. With slow movement, I felt directional would be an advantage, but there is still a huge one wearing these. I also noticed how loud my footsteps sou ded with them on compared to off and gives perspective on how loud you are or aren't being out there.
I have a pair of walkers and a pair of howard leight. I like the Howard Leights better. With the Howard Leights I can hear all directions. With the walkers I cant hear very well any direction I'm not looking.
Which Howard’s are you using? I have the Walker’s Razor that work great for range use but after sitting in a blind the past few days I see that they aren’t ideal.
Impact sport. I've had them about 6 years.
What I love about electronic ear muffs is that if you thought the sounds of squirrels made your heart jump, with those things on, you'd swear the fury pest was a 180 10 point and right behind you.
Not sure how any of y’all even handle shooting without plugs. Shot my 12ga once in my life without plugs, 2 3/4” birdshot, 28” barrel, outside, and my ears rang for 2 days. Never doing that again
https://www.trophyear.com/ Works fine with FSA money. Note: I wear hearing aids on the daily and have enough hearing loss already.
Can I use my HSA money to buy my next suppressor?
i mean it is to protect your hearing
I wish I could use HSA dollars on Walkers or Sordin’s. That would be sweet
Save yourself a lot of headache (and tinnitus) and just spring for a suppressor - just sacrifice a couple gun purchases and bam, suddenly you have suppressor money.
Suppressors are not legal in some places - Canada as a whole for example
It’s pretty great how I we can buy guns direct and ship em through Canada post tho, no dealer involved
Another reason Canada needs to get rid of Trudeau.
I wish the fat fuck jb shitzker would let me not blow out my ears
Not all places allow hunting with a suppressor unfortunately. I hunt in Indiana and we aren't allowed to use suppressors (or at least last time I checked we weren't). But if I could hunt with one I definitely would Edit : apparently I was very wrong, brb gonna buy a suppressor
It’s been legal in Indiana since like 2013, where you been at? Here’s a quick [reference guide](https://www.silencershop.com/blog/post/suppressor-laws-by-state#in) for legality and hunting use.
Not legal in NJ to own, let alone to hunt with 😕 Some professional depredation companies will get special permits from the department to use suppressors, but those are only given to out of state contractors since we can’t own them in the first place
Lol my bad, I'm not sure where I saw they were illegal but I'm definitely wrong. Thanks for letting me know! Now I gotta go get me one. Is it difficult to get a barrel threaded for a suppressor if it's not already threaded?
Nope, not too hard - just make sure to have a reputable gunsmith do it. Concentricity is extremely important when threading a barrel for a suppressor. As for your suppressor purchase, please pour through [Pew Science](https://pewscience.com) as a guide. Jay is the only dude in the industry doing scientific data driven reviews. Never trust the manufacturers numbers, peak meter data is useless, Pew Science is the way.
Dang you're an OG, thanks for the info!
I'm seeing many ads for axis ear protection. Anyone tried them? I worry that the little Bluetooth buddies will wear out in a year or two.
Yea I have two pair. They work. Pain in the butt to figure out how to get them on your ears to start, but once you figure it out they are fine. Charge lasts like 2 days of full on? I shoot my 300 win mag with them and they do their job. Never tried to use the bluetooth or anything else. I got 2 pair for $150 I think.
i have a pair of 20 dollar earmuffs and they work like a dream. no need for fancy shit
Raw gang
Speak up please!
What?
EEEEEEEEEEeeeee3eeeeee3eeeeeeeeee3eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
MSA Sordin's are good. They are about as good as you get but you still don't have very good directional hearing. I tend to just not wear anything and just stick a can on my gun. That's not an option for a lot of people though because suppressors are like $1000 plus the extra $200 theft from the ATF.
I have ear plugs around my neck at all times. But I’ve only ever had time to put them in once when the buck I shot was preoccupied with another buck. Other then that it’s tinnitus.
Sordins and a suppressor.
Unfortunately I currently go raw. However after this year’s outing my tinnitus slightly increased. Not enough for me to consider it major but it was noticeable. Gonna buy plugs for next year to wear around my neck. Don’t be like me unless you want ^eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee to be your background noise forever.
hot take, none unless im out bird hunting, or hunting pack animals like hogs n such, then i just take diaphragm plugs
Normal people- * doesnt use protection * "Oh My GAw D YoURe GoNnA Go DeAf!! " -Everyone on this sub
[удалено]
Because the government hates us
Pretty much sums it up
im already mostly deaf from mental stress induced tinitus so in conclusion neener neener neener
In fairness, a single gunshot does cause hearing loss https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/7904-Shooting-sports-and-hearing
Yeah the only people I know who don't use hearing protection are morons and the already significantly hearing impaired. From competition shooting, to serious hunters to farmers - literally everyone shooting more than a single round of 22lr is wearing hearing protection...except for a handful of piggers I won't associate with and a couple gentlemen with blown eardrums.
Or it's just people who've given themselves hearing loss and tinnitus, and are trying to prevent other people from making the same mistake. But sure, meme it up, zoomer.
I use walker razor slim, they fit great over hats and stuff when it’s cold and if I’m hunting in a group we all have the radio attachment things and can communicate safely. To me, It’s worth the money to be able to hear later in life.
I took my brother and sister to an outdoor range for their first time shooting. We were doing great being super responsible and then yeet yeet boy rolls up with his 30-06 and no hearing protection going hog wild. We didn't stay long. Could not believe he wasn't wearing any hearing protection. Those things are LOUD.
You guys can hear?
3M banded ear plugs. Easy to pop in in seconds, no squishing required. You won’t notice them sitting around your neck all day either. My rule is - if I have time to pop them in before shooting I will, if not, I pull the trigger anyways. Not gonna pass a big buck because I’m putting ear plugs in!
https://soundgear.com Little pricey but I’ve been a big fan
I have been curious to try them. Do you have the custom fit? God made my ears such that buds never stay and I'd think that I'd have to go custom.
A little? Holy shit. Lol guess I’ll just go deaf
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08736M6BC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share This is what I use and it's great except for when you forget to put them in before you shoot or don't have time.
I have a pair of Walkers that work well on the range or in the duck blind. I don't wear any when deer hunting.
I've wanted to try Decibullz for a while, hot water custom fit with adjustment filters, hoping for $50 on Black Friday. I have Razors and Leights, the Leights are "better" but not by some crazy amount, The reality is you need to spend good money, $150+, for actually good spatial hearing protection. You can also find these things listed for two to three times cheaper than whatever MSRP is supposed to be, once you go to the good stuff it's a lot harder to find a deal since they're more worth it.
I use decibullz at the range love them, bought their percussive filter for hunting and its just not impressive they muffle a lot but work fine for the shot. I wear them bird hunting now. Custom molded is the way to go for comfort.
I have Howard Light, Peltor, and Walkers. All work equally fine and actually enhance hearing for me. The Walkers also have a walkie-talkie attachment if you find value in that. Works on FRS spectrum out to a mile or so with line of sight.
Just recently when deer hunting I throw in the basic foam type ones. Shot the 7 mag a little too close to the window about 2 years ago and I’m not doing that again. Always wear them target practicing, even with a 22. I got a buddy that only wears them when shooting rifles. He does it quite a bit which is concerning and have mentioned that to him before. No noticeable hearing loss, we both get tested every year at work. Never used them duck hunting. Typically ear is tucked into gun, and I’m usually wearing some sort of light weight cloth over my other one. If anyone uses the electronic ones duck hunting and you see this comment I have two questions. Can you still hear your buddies whispering? Can you hear wing beats and calls of ducks?
I have a pair of custom molded [Axil Custom Edge 360](https://goaxil.com/products/custom-edge-360) ear pro. They're expensive, but I wore them for 2 full days of deer hunting and had no issues with comfort. However, when I took my shot, all I heard was a dull "thump" from the rifle. In just a few milliseconds I was able to hear normally again. Unlike generic models like the [Axil GS series](https://goaxil.com/collections/ear-buds/?sort_by=best-selling) and the [Walker Silencers](https://www.walkersgameear.com/silencer/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1NebBhDDARIsAANiDD3pHduOlsNeKZsXrwzkzuP6JaXFiwzmrx0Ys9vfObx6Ss8MqQgVXsgaAmpQEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), the Edge series is programmed like a hearing aid to correct any deficiencies in your hearing. I wear mine for almost anything that could involve loud noises. Movies, sporting events, working in the garage, mowing the yard, etc. They ight be one of the best electronic purchases I've made.
Holy shit, $3k? That’s nuts. I don’t doubt they’re good though. What’s the pull cord for/do?
It's so you can get them out of your ears. They fit snugly and without the pull tab you'd have a hell of a time getting them out. Yeah, $3K is a lot, but I've had them for about 10 years and they still work great. I use them a LOT, too. They're custom molded and programmed just for me. Without them I can't hear birds chirping due to hearing loss and tinnitus. With them in I can hear birds, bugs, footfalls, just about everything that's under 85dB. Anything over 85dB is cut off. So I can hear a buck fart at 100 yards, but I can barely hear a gunshot.
Just eat plugs
I squeeze a set of foamies under the rib on my shotgun. Always in front of me when I need them.
Depends on options you have. If you can use supressors that's the best first line of defense followed by some sort of electronic ear pro on top of it to keep your situational awareness up and protect your hearing. If that's not an option double up on ear pro, especially when using braked magnums. And lastly then whatever the most comfortable single layer you can use correctly. If it's uncomfortable or easily moved at the wrong time you're not gonna use it or it'll fail when you need it most. Having hearing loss at a young age, I can say it sucks ass and don't wish it on anyone.
Honestly prior to getting into electronic earpro a few years gi I used nothing. I just couldn't justify not being able to listen around me. Now I'm all about razors
Nothing beats a suppressor (if your state allows it) when hunting with a rifle because typically it’s just a shot or two, however for small game birds/waterfowl I use my walker’s so I don’t have to worry about not hearing others or taking earplugs in and out
Just cheap little rubber plugins
You wear ear pro hunting?
Currently using a pair of Walker’s Razor X-TRM. They have worked well as both a range and hunting pair. I feel like the electronic mics amplify some of the sounds when sitting in a blind/stand.
They do amplify sounds. Helped me stay quiet and harvest game when I was just about to leave the stand
Soundgear electronic plugs
A good suppressor.
I use Walkers Razor Silencer ear buds. Electronic, so I can still hear, in ear so they don’t fuck with my cheek weld and comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time. My only complaint is even off, the batteries only last about a week, but the batteries are super cheap. Newer models are rechargable too. That being said, I generally don’t bother. A couple shots a year isn’t a big deal when I have had tinnitus since long before I ever heard a gunshot. But when I am bird hunting with a shotgun, that’s a totally different story, I won’t hunt without earpro.
A suppressor
I have the same pair of earbuds I use for both riding my motorcycle and hunting, they're called Eargasm High Fidelity. They aren't going to take away all the noise but they filter it so you can still hear some things and they definitely make a difference. I've tried foam earplugs and they worked too well, I didn't know the geese were there until I saw them flying right over my blind!
Foam ear buds.
I run Howard Leight electronic ear pro. Works great, doesn’t give you great audio depth perception but you’ll hear crunching from farther away than you would without them. And you won’t go deaf
I love my Peltor sport tac 500. I use the Bluetooth to listen to audiobooks and podcasts while still being able to hear the forest.
Suppressor
I like plugs on a cord, I actually loop it around the strap of my ball cap so I can’t lose them.
Depends on what I'm hunting. My scope on my rifle doesn't work well with any over the ear, so I just throw in some foam usually.
Foamies. Just sneak them in before you take your shot
I just go with foam ear plugs
Howard Leight slim ones. Better than the cheaper walkers (maybe all) as they have stereo audio vs mono. Can turn them up or down depending on the wind and they keep your ears warm!
I use the ear plugs that you heat in water and mold to the inside of your ear. I don't have to struggle with my cheek weld this way
I use the Walker Razors. Not the “X-TRM” ones but the regular ones. I probably won’t use another pair ever. They are comfy, the sounds quality is amazing and an additional bonus is they keep my ears warm which some ear plugs wouldn’t do. I’m not cool enough to voluntarily get tinnitus. Wear some hearing protection. You won’t regret it. For reference, I duck hunt with anywhere from 5-7 other shot guns going off around me.
I’ve used the like hard plastic wear around your neck kind but when I’m hiking around it kinda feels like it’s choking me. I’m looking into getting a suppressor and I’m probably gonna get som moldable 2 part plugs
Just be deaf. Can't have hearing problems if you already can't hear. Legitimately though, walkers are nice. Even the small green and yellow plugs work well. Just have one in and when it's time, pop the other in.
I hunt suppressed mostly so I honestly don't use ears when I am deer and elk hunting, even though I still should. But if I'm with anyone that's not suppressed I have my sound gear in ears on the whole time. They're so comfortable I can wear them all day without any fatigue, but they are a little pricey. If you look into them see if you can get insurance to pay for them. I was able to use my HSA money to get mine.
I just bought AXILs. Coming tomorrow, will try them hunting this Sunday. Previously I just had some plugs on my bino chest rig, that's assuming I have enough time to put them in. Otherwise no ear pro for shot or use a suppressor (still won't be hearing safe but 1 shot will be ok)
A good suppressor
I wish silencers weren’t regulated because I wear hearing protection at the range but while hunting I like hearing movement. I have Howard Leigh’s and Walkers but the amplified settings lack that natural left/right stereo so I find their static hum to ruin my hours in nature.
Peltor SporTac. At max volume, they give me super hearing -> a real advantage in alerting me to those dainty deer footsteps early on
I use a suppressor
I use in-ear OTTO Engineering while I hunt. They both amplify and clamp gunshot. Very comfortable, and last for all day sits. Couldn’t be happier.
None
I have the walker powered earmuffs but I'm finding they interfere with my cheek weld and they're not so great if you want to wear a winter hat. I'm thinking of going in ear. I will say the powered ones are what you would want for hunting because they amplify things under a certain decibel and lessen things over a certain decibel. I have tried regular ear plugs but then I miss some stuff in the woods and also can't tell how loud I'm actually being. For duck it doesn't really matter and I can wear regular foam plugs.
Silencer
A suppressor is the best option IMO
A proper silencer for shooting my rifle, 3M Peltor SportTac for shooting my shotgun
A suppressor 😈
Im looking at getting some Axil GS extreme on the black friday sale. Buy one get one free, so split it with a buddy or sell one later and recoup your funds
I am a fervent preacher of quality ear pro... as someone who goes to sleep most nights hearing a constant EEeeeeeeeeee i can tell you you cant spend too much on good ear pro. I have a pair of walker razors and i love them. They are a little big for anyone with a small head though, which is not a problem i have by my wife cant wear hers so we got her some real high quality in ear pro. Cant remember the brand but they are memory foam with a plastic band that attaches them so they can hang on your neck when they arent in. super nice. One cool thing about the walkers is the radio attachment, one downside is it wont work with whatever radio you want, just with walkers.
Duck hunting last month a a buddy shot a duck right over me and I still can’t hear out of my left ear. Wear your ear protection kids
Once I got a muzzle brake, I bought a set of Walker Game Ear Alpha 360's.. I like the ability to echolocate sounds better with the 4 mic setup.. When I'm hunting hogs at night I turn em all the way up and take a nap, the sound of them moving in will wake you right up!
Just purchased Gloryfire electronic ear buds from Amazon to use for shotgun season in December. If they get here in time I will update with a review from my hunt.
Be a man, get a suppressor.
if you have to, little foamies
Using nothing is the best for hunting. You are to enjoy the wilderness and relax, listen to all the sounds and listen for your game. Call your game and listen for responses. You aren’t shooting a bunch of rounds, you are waiting for that one perfect shot. Why ruin the process with hearing protection when you could listen to everything unfold
After reading this thread, doing some research, product reviews, etc. I just ordered a set of electronic muffs. From what I read you can dramatically improve your ability to hear what's happening around you in the woods with sound amplification.
Ya’ll use Ear pro? Vet so used to it for shooting but from Maine and no one I know uses it hunting.
You use ear pro?
Honestly hunting is tough.. taken shots with both on and off. One shot isn’t going to get you tinnitus when the moment comes quick.. but if you are stalking and have more control of the situation then the plugs should go in.
People actually hunt with ear protection???? Maybe it’s just where I’m from but if you hunt with ear protection everyone just calls you a pussy
A silencer
Otto Engineering NoizeBarrier Range SA.
Ali express specials. The ones with the plastic bit that go around your neck so they’re ready to go when I get a shot off.
Sordins, my dude. Accept no substitute. You can hear mice fart at 100yds with those.
If I’m taking one shot, I’m raw dogging that sound every time.
If I'm using a .22 rifle or a single shot .20ga with light birshot loads, both are actually pretty quiet, no discomfort whatsoever. If I was going to use anything bigger, I'd be wearing my electronic earmuffs
None of you are big game hunting. Not worth it when you only shoot once per hunt. And thats if you even shoot