dead-eye-dick Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 What do you fella's use in the way of ear deafenders ? I currently use the foam type in-the-ear thingys, but am not sure how effective they are. They also block out all other noises i.e people talking/shouting wing beats etc. I'm not keen on the big ear muffs - but have seen these 'moulded' type of deafender which is fitted to your own ear. Has anyone got they or used them - how good are they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 I couldn,t get on with the large, headset type, ear protectors and I couldn,t justify spending hundreds of pounds on the "in ear digital etc" protectors. Noisebreakers are a good compromise. I had an inner ear impression taken at a local ear clinic and received the made-to-measure protectors, about 10 days later. They cost between £50-80, I can,t remember exactly, but I am very pleased with them. They advertise regularly in the shooting magazines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead-eye-dick Posted November 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 Sorry, got your P.M befor I read the post - youv'e answerd alot of the questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire Lad Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 British Army ear defenders are just the job. Small, light and designed to muffle gunshot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columbus Polumbus Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 I bought a set of custom made ear defenders, that fit in your ear with a little valve in them from the Midland. Had the impressions made and received the finished product on the Thurs following. Cost £65 not digital, Cranners is right they are £200 - £300 a set !!! These are my second set, can hear almost everything and very comfortable to wear I would have no hesitation in recommending them. Pm me if you need their details. Col Pol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sniper Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Same 'ear Col Pol. Bought a set of the inner ear defenders at the Midland this year. Until then I had used electronic defenders and couldn't really get on with them. I really like the inner ear defenders ,they are so comfortatle to wear you sometimes forget you have them on and they do reduce the noise but you can still answer mobiles, hear conversations etc with them on. They cost me £60.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 I use external electronic muffs, It means you can here what the coach is saying and the wind in the wings (and the gun down the line taking the **** out of your shooting) . Much of the sound gets in through the soft bit of your ear around the back and your head, the muffs stop this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elma Fud Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 I was wondering how many of us have actually damaged our hearing as a result of not wearing hearing protection whilst shooting. The reason I ask this is, is because I am a great supporter of wearing hearing protection especially now that I'm getting older. But I got caught out about two months ago whilst out deer stalking. A lad and I stalked towards a yearling roe buck out on stubble. He got prone and took the shot and missed. I had my binoculars firmly fixed on the buck instead of placing my fingers in my ears. The lad missed, I told him to reload as I knew there might be a chance the buck would stop before heading back into the woods. He took a second shot and missed again...... On both occasions I stood no more than a few feet to the side of the barrel. I actually felt pain in both ears as a result of the two shots. My hearing in my right ear is definitely lower than what it was before the shots. I also have a constant ringing in that ear. More noticeable when there is no background noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 I used to get headaches when shooting but like red I use ear defenders - the electronic muff ones. They may be a bit bulky but you very soon get used to them especially if you fix the length before hand. Absolutely key bit of kit and I'm sure my hearing is not deteriorating which is great!! Downside was the cost, about £120, but thats a small price to pay for hearing IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermin Dropper Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 I usually use electronic ear defenders which I paid £65 for, if I'm wearing my wide brimmed hat or just want less bulk I use the Sonic 2 ear plugs, they have a one way valve which lets you hear talking etc then closes on detection of a loud noise, and the best thing is they only cost a tenner so its no trauma if you lose one. Although I have ordered a pair of solar powered ear defenders, I know I'm bad, but I can't help myself. Oh yes, I used to get a touch of tinitus and the occasional head ache when I was young and stupid enough to forget about the ear defenders! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 I'm going to borrow a professional audiometer from work one weekend soon, which gives readouts of peak values and wavelengths they occur at. This is a personal noise level logging meter which I'll take shooting. When I have the data, I will post it here. You can use this data to compare the attenuation characteristics of hearing protection devices. This information can be used for selecting suitable ear protection. Watch this space.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 I also have a constant ringing in that ear. More noticeable when there is no background noise. Welcome to the club!! Both the ear specialists that I have seen, asked the same questions when tests showed hardly any hearing left in my left ear. Are you right handed? Done any shooting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Downside was the cost, about £120, but thats a small price to pay for hearing IMO. You were done! Where did you get them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Attleborugh do em, plus this was at the bottom of the page, might be of interest. http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/adc...012738424583319 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Attleborugh do em, £55.00 at that do just north of Leeds. There seemed to be a lot of stalls pouring stuff in peoples' ears. Were they ear plugs with strings to pull them out, or were they the electronic ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 i use electronc ear defenders but after looking at some of the above posts i may get some of those in the ear things made up as i dont like knocking the defenders on the gun stock when mounting the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Constant ringing in the ear is called tinnitus and is caused by exposure to repeated high pressure waves (e.g gunshots). It is irreversible and cumulative (gets worse the higher the exposure). Blacksmiths are also prone to it due to the constant noise from hammering, as are workers who use pneumatic hamers. Some 50p foam earplugs are every bit as good as the more expensive ones. Effectiveness depends mainly on the attenuation range. Some are best in the low ranges (such as chainsaws), others best in the hight ranges. Some do not give adequate protection for some applications. Electronic ear defenders work by blocking sounds of a certain pressure level or frequency, whilst allowing quieter sounds through such as speech. Again, for them to be effective, you need to ensure their performance in the relative octave band for shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted November 16, 2003 Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 Downside was the cost, about £120, but thats a small price to pay for hearing IMO. You were done! Where did you get them? This was a few years ago when electronics were just hitting the market big time, you're right prices have dropped since then..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rightandleft Posted December 6, 2004 Report Share Posted December 6, 2004 Please, please, please wear Ear Defenders at all times.... I recently shared a hide with a good friend (not recomended i know), after taking a great snap shot, i realised that my friend did not have his ear defenders in and now has tinitus for the rest of his life..... and greatly reduced hearing.... wish i could have decided against the shot, all insured we were properly prepared, but we all rush the preparation when the birds are flighting..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white fox Posted December 6, 2004 Report Share Posted December 6, 2004 Yes - do look after your ears I started working in noisy papermills in 1980, nobody wore ear defenders, started clay shooting in '83, wore ear defenders then but ditched them when rough shooting, for the stupid reason that I was not letting off as many cartridges. My hearing is now shot. I cannot tell when the turbo kicks in on my landy when everyone else can, also got tinitus continually, however it does not seem to bother me Could be the landrover, but I am sure the papermills and shooting have all contributed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugene molloy Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 I've just had a hearing test on the NH. If you ask your GP for a referral you can get one free. Alternatively just roll up to one of the outfits selling hearing aids, they'll do one too; but remember they have a commercial interest. After the test at a Black Country hospital in what used to be a heavy industry area the girl asked if I'd ever worked in foundries or forges (A. "Yes"). Did I shoot? (A." Yes") "That's why you're rather deaf then." Bit of a choker really. I'd only gone because 'Er Indraws said I should, I thought I was OK. Look after your lugs bonnie lads. Eug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 I can only echo the plea made by white fox. I have posted about this a few times before, but please do use adequate hearing protection. My hearing is wrecked as a result of working in the glass industry. We used to double plug, thats plugs and muffs used together. In some areas the noise level was around 175db. Sometime the noise actually hurt, you could feel your brain rattling inside your skull, bloody madness. Its no joke, eh, what did you say? Please dont make the same error webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugene molloy Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Webber 175db. Holy bovine! I have a mate who used to service RR Avon turbines when they were running! and I don't think they got that loud. No wonder you're mutton! Eug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Eug It was bloody hot as well. We eventually designed and made some large muffler boxes similar to car exhausts. They had a reasonable effect. The noise was caused by multiple exhaust blasts from very large pneumatic cylinders, running at elevated pressures. We also got showered in fine particles of glass. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugene molloy Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Webber, Got it now. I thought it must something like that. I remember Pilkingtons in St Helens being something like that in their bottle plant. Was yours the same sort of thing? I stood next to a few modest hydrogen explosions as a junior chemist; don't know how loud they were, but you'd get tinnitus for hours afterwards. Oh, and we got the chance of a shower of Caustic soda / sodium cyanide mixture; nearly as nice as powdered glass! I did see (and hear) a big hard chrome plating bath that was covered in a deep H filled foam go up; took all the windows out and blew the roof fire vents off. Probably the worst was two bolt making machines at Glynwed in Darlaston, those suckers made 600 bolts a minute between them, Bren gun speed. It was never as loud as your shop, but it was continuous and just ground you down. Horrible. These kids have got it soft today..."we lived in a hole in ground wi nowt but wet newspaper...!" Pardon? Regards Eug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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