Best Ear Pro

[Inline6]

What I don't seem to get about these high-end electronic ear protection do not seem to provide any more protection than a $.50 set of foam plugs - Howard Leights, depending on the version protect up to 33 db. Actually, for ultimate protection use the plugs plus a good quality set of muffs. Personally, I shoot mostly with just good foam plugs. I only use muffs when there are other rifle shooters at the range. For trap shooting, I always shoot with just plugs as muffs get in my way.

It's more about being able to hear with them in. So that you do not have to take them in and to speak with people. Also while hunting you leave them so as to not worry about putting them in for a quick shot.

 

[Inline6]

I have a walker “noise canceling” head set and it did not deafen the shot it actually amplified it. Not sure if it was just a dud

Are you sure the seal did not break around your ear? That happens more than people realize.

 

[7MAG]

Are you sure the seal did not break around your ear? That happens more than people realize.

I’m not sure, it could have been possible

 

[shootist~]

I'm in full blown hearing aids and after discussing with several that use them at my range, went with the higher end ESPs. These are shooting hearing aids. Well worth it for my trip to Africa. No brake on my hunting rifle, btw.

Three price ranges with the lower end for people with good hearing running ~$1,600, IIRC.

I wear them under my electronic muffs at the range with and without rifles with brakes. If I remove my muffs I'm still protected. The ESPs alone work very well for a few shots using any un-braked rifle. With a brake will depend on the brake...

Some brakes, such as the Little Bastard, are beyond obnoxious and MUCH louder than others. I would not advise any shooting over such with out double protection.

 

[calling4life]

I shoot a 4" 500 S&W that has the compensator, my every day carry 9mm is magnaported, and my 458 lott has a muzzle brake.

I've run the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs for years, even out in -30 and -40 degree temps hunting coyotes along the ND/Canada border, these haven't failed me and they do a good job with how sound comes through them.
They amplify as well, so you can hear better than normal.

I then bought some Walker's behind the ear in-ear plugs, they were the higher $200 per one model, I think they're like $260 or something each now, I bought two, one for each ear obviously.
These things amplify sound like crazy, it is insane how much amplification is in them, I get like 14 or 16 different levels and I can't use anything but zero to 4, above that is just too much. I'm talking hear a drop of water hit a puddle from 50 yards away type thing. The sound reproduction quality isn't great though, lackluster in fact, I'd say.

Their sound suppression stinks, and if you have the volume turned up they either work so fast you're still catching amplification of the muzzle blast or they are catching echo/reverb, something because the shots hit you hard.
Turn the volume all the way down and it gets better but not great.

Now I bought the New Axil GS 2.0s, just because they have them on sale, these are in-ear electronic, re-chargeable, and have bluetooth.
Could care less about the bluetooth and I actually prefer battery vs re-chargeable because all batteries degrade over time and re-chargeables means you have to buy new hearing protection, battery operated ones you replace batteries as needed and the hearing device can last decades.

Anyways, the sound reproduction on these $150 hearing pro is far better than my $400 Walker's, not near as much amplification, but the Walkers are nuts, and these Axils have up to 6x amplification which certainly suffices. I'd take the Axils over the Howard Leights here too, but I like my Howard Leights as well.

The 29db noise reduction rating seems accurate, and this was the sell to me, my Howard leights are only 22db, the Walkers are anybody's guess, I bought these to see if they worked in this regard.

And they have, I've been impressed, even shooting in my shooting house with the amplification turned all the way up. I've been impressed, this was a hard sell for me and these succeeded, I didn't need these, they stay because of this.

To me, these have been worth it, maybe I got a good pair...idk, they are still on sale, 35% off that $199. And yes, that's 50% off two pair

 

[Fred Gunner]

 

[Rubberhead]

I was thinking about doing something like this, obviously not the most effective but they are quick

View attachment 460196

I tried some of those - they are cheap and do a good job protecting my hearing but it turns my head into a violin. Anything that touches the plastic arm gets amplified and sent straight into my brain...I used them for about 12 seconds...haha