Hearing protection

[mitch4570]

Ok so I am booked for 2027 SA buff hunt. Looks like a lot of whispering is done on a hunt. My hearing is bad. So does anyone use and can recommend a type of electronic ear plugs. That help my earing while protecting against the report of the rifle.
Thanks in advance.

 

[375er]

Sound Gear!! Several models to choose from. Wish I would have done it years ago. I have one of the custom molded models. Comfortable and I can wear them all day.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

If your hearing is already impaired, I wouldn’t risk making it worse with just earplugs against the report of an African game rifle.

The Sordin ear muffs that I use provide better protection and still have good sound transmission so you can hear whispers.

Have you considered using a suppressor on the rifle? I notice a lot of safari photos where the rifles have suppressors. I’ve never used one so don’t know how much they mitigate blast noise. But seems like a prudent extra layer of protection.

 

[375er]

If your hearing is already impaired, I wouldn’t risk making it worse with just earplugs against the report of an African game rifle.

The Sordin ear muffs that I use provide better protection and still have good sound transmission so you can hear whispers.

Have you considered using a suppressor on the rifle? I notice a lot of safari photos where the rifles have suppressors. I’ve never used one so don’t know how much they mitigate blast noise. But seems like a prudent extra layer of protection.

I will politely disagree. There are great options out there for effective in the ear plugs. In fact the most effective protection are those foam plugs by decibel rating. The electronic plugs I have are equal to any electronic muffs on the market.

 

[mitch4570]

I have ordered the sound gear phantoms. Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

Interesting. Conventional wisdom has always been that you need earmuffs to avoid bone transmission. But all of my Google searching is failing to come up with any evidence for this. So this may just be an old wives tale. Does anyone know of definitive evidence, one way or the other?

 

[375er]

I have talked to audiologists about it and there is no scientific data that shows that concept to be true.

 

[Northview902]

For your specific needs on a once-in-a-lifetime buffalo hunt, I would strongly lean towards the Walker's Silencer BT 2.0 or the Axil GS Extreme 2.0.

 

[BlueFlyer]

I wasn't quite prepared to go the full sound gear phantoms route.
As a preemtive action I have just ordered some Axil XCOR Pro ear buds. After spending hours watching reviews the general summary I concluded was the the Axils are up to date technology, perform well and are good value.
They are deffinately not in the same league as the custom fitted Sound Gear Phantoms.

 

[SaintPanzer]

I have the Axil XCORs, and like them a lot. Some time ago, I was using them at the range, and forgot I'd turned the "sound enhancement" on. While they certainly took the "bang" out of my shooting (I believe it was my 7X57 that day), I was surprised I could here people giving impact corrections ("one inch high..." about 20 lanes over. That's when I remembered to turn the sound off. That was on it's lowest setting, so I'm sure turning up the volume would be helpful.

RE: the muffs, one of the things I learned in the oil and gas industry was that muffs lose their decibel rating when combined with glasses. In the oil and gas industry, the concern was safety glasses, but I can see it being the same with simple sunglasses. Plugs are preferred.

 

[C.W. Richter]

We hear what you're saying, but any protection (that seals well) is better than none! My 1 ear is prob 10%, but it's a combo of guns/brakes/loud engines/loud music/ex-wife. BP/Cholesterol meds poss. culprits as well (still investigating. The fact that the Dr. who peddles the aforementioned won't order a hearing test after 2 requests speaks volumes!)

 

[375er]

We hear what you're saying, but any protection (that seals well) is better than none! My 1 ear is prob 10%, but it's a combo of guns/brakes/loud engines/loud music/ex-wife. BP/Cholesterol meds poss. culprits as well (still investigating. The fact that the Dr. who peddles the aforementioned won't order a hearing test after 2 requests speaks volumes!)

Consult a different doctor.

 

[BeeMaa]

I picked up the TETRA Custom Shield Mulit-Pursuit a few years ago and have found them to be perfect for when muffs aren't an option. I can hear normally and even a bit amplified at normal levels but the report of a shotgun or rifle is nearly nonexistent. I'd highly recommend them.

 

[BlueFlyer]

The Axil XCON Pros have been delivered.
They function perfectly,they do limit the volume of loud noises, sound enhancement is good, blue tooth music & phone calls all work
The controls do take a little effort to master.
I cannot say that I have finalised the selection of the correct bud tip that suit my ears. I am on the small foams at this point, but I am feeling them after a few hours.