Surefire Sonic Defenders.

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

NOLAEMT

Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2010
Messages
790
Location
Louisiana
I just ordered a set of these: http://www.surefire.com/EP4-Sonic-Defenders-Plus

Surefire sonic defenders, to wear when I am hunting, after a trip last wednesday.

I had two "incidents" that have my left ear still softly ringing (I can hear it in a quiet room, but a fan or tv drowns it out). First was a hunting partner shooting a 20 gague about 2' from my left ear at a passing bird when I wasn't expecting it. And the other was my fault:banghead:, shooting a downed but crippled crow about 30 yards away with my .45 acp.

I don't usually wear hearing protection when hunting, but I think I'm going to start, I'm sure I've already lost some hearing, and I want to minimize it in the future.

I will post a review when I get a chance to try them out, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this product they would like to share?
 
I use them all the time.

Of course, any plug should be worn under muffs as well.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, I have the EP4, and I absolutely love them.
Normal conversation can be heard clearly, and they do a great job of reducing loud sounds. Furthermore, they have tiny plugs, for use with loud rifles.

It's hilarious, because mine are flesh colored, nearly invisible and I've had a RSO run up to me motioning wildly and shouting "EARS, YOU NEED EARS!!!!" on one occasion.
 
Are they sufficient for use as range ear pro with the "plug" open? Or do they just cut out some of the noise?
 
With the plug open, the Hocks filter limits any sound over 85db. with the plug in, they are more effective.

I find that shooting indoors requires the plug inserted, but outside has been fine with out.
 
I have a pair but don't use them. They attenuated the sound just fine, but after 10 minutes or so they always hurt my ears, and constantly slipped out. I have since started using these (the double ended ones), which I like alot better. Very similar performance but more comfortable.

I recently bought some electronic muffs which I'm excited to try out. Of course, muffs don't work so well with rifles.
 
Interesting concept. After reading the site I'm left thinking that it doesn't provide enough protection, especially on an indoor range and even with the stoppers inserted.

"•24dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) with stoppers inserted"

And then you add in the sound transferred to the inner ear through the mastoid process/bone and it looks even less efficient. A rating of 30 dB would provide 2 or 3 times the protection, if not more.


Here's a site, one of many, that provides an explanation of the db scale.

www.noisehelp.com/decibel-scale.html

"What is a decibel? Zero decibels (0 dB) is the quietest sound audible to a healthy human ear. From there, every increase of 3 dB represents a doubling of sound intensity, or acoustic power."


Hey, here's something else I didn't know, sound waves become shock waves at 194 dB.
 
I just recently started using them, (and asked about them here as well) they DO work, I shoot at an indoor range mostly, and I'll still keep the cups on over them, but I'm not losing a lifetime of hearing if I have the cups off for a second when sighting in a friend's scope for them.
 
I am sorry I cannot offer a review of the product, but I wanted to say that your decision to start wearing hearing protection while hunting is a good one.

My dad never wore anything when he went bird hunting as a young man. He hasn't hunted in 35 years but the damage is there. He can barely hear anything out of one ear and has terrible tinnitus. He says it sounds like a swarm of cicadas in his ears and drives him crazy.
 
I use them (same make & model) as a back up to Muffs.

Outdoors in the open, they are good for the occasional shot (like hunting) not so much for more sustained firing (like the range)

indoors, they are not enough, but better than nothing- I put them in in the parking lot, as my hands will be full, usually, till I get to a firing point and put my muffs on.
 
NOLAEMT said:
Are they sufficient for use as range ear pro with the "plug" open? Or do they just cut out some of the noise?
Click to expand...

That's how I use mine. I mostly shoot at an outdoor, but I've used them at an indoor range several times, .45acp with plugs out, no problemo. I put the plugs in when firing 12 ga and 5.56 out of habit.
 
For pure protection, it is hard to beat the cheap expandable foam plugs. I have a pair of Peltor Tactical 6s active muffs, but they DO NOT provide enough protection for extended use. Running 3 gun matches soon demonstrated that to me. They would be just fine for a lifetime of hunting if one could stand to wear muffs. I am interested in the SureFires as well (for hunting). I currently use the triple baffle plugs that can be inserted quickly. They work fine for hunting if you can get them in before the shot. Any additional user experiences with the SureFire plugs are appreciated.
 
I'm gonna go hog hunting soon, K1500, and I plan on using the Surefires when I go.

I'll let you know how they perform.
 
I tried SF earplugs a while back, they didn't work well for me, I cant recall why.

I'll stick to my foam yellow barrels. EAR Classics. Uncomfortable, but effective. Have muffs in the rangebag as well, they don't always get used, but I still have the option to double up if I feel the need.
 
Zach, I cannot tolerate the pressure of the yellow ones for more than a few minutes. Try these Leight plugs. They're super soft and very effective.

www.howardleight.com/earplugs/leight-plugs

I believe they're the same ones that Remington used to sell in green at a higher price. They feel just like the ones I bought from Remington for many years.

I like them so much I ordered a box of 200 pair last month.
 
They remind me of a product that was popular in the late 60's, early 70's called Sonic Ear Valves. http://www.hearingaidmuseum.com/gallery/Miscellaneous/Other Items/info/LeeSonicEarValves.htm

I had a set that I shot smallbore .22 Rimfire at indoor ranges and matches. One time I went to a really loud rock concert with them on and found that the sound was actually much worse (louder) WITH them on than it was without them!

Be careful about what you read and what you hear. If your ears hurt, if they are ringing, if the sound SEEMS LOUD, it most likely IS TOO LOUD! Be prepared and take some good foam ones with you including muffs with which you can double up on the foam ones!

I'm in my mid-50's and have had extreme tinnitus (ringing of the ears, chirp sounds, etc) since the early 70's. My hearing damage was mostly from shooting a 45-70 between two buildings with no hearing protection at all. After 20 rounds, I remember my ears literally ached for days. Add to that extremely loud music in the 60's and 70's and I am currently having to wear hearing aids so I can hear others over the high pitches of the tinnitus!

We are told when we are young that we only have one set of eyes, one set of ears, one set of teeth, etc. Take care of them all. Part of the problem is, when we are young, we think nothing will hurt us, we are tough. When we get older, the truth finally sinks in that all those people might have been right and what we did was WRONG and we are living proof that we were wrong, as we get our ears fitted for hearing aids, buy batteries, buy domes, and everything else that goes with H. Aids!:eek:

With the foam ones, I need to carry a pair of hemostats as my ear canals are very deep. On many occasions, I could not get the foam ones out, and trying to pinch them with thumb and index finger resulted in them going even DEEPER! Now, I just pull out my hemostats, grab the outside part and slowly pull them from my ear canals!
 
24 dB is pretty middle of the road.

Foam plugs hit over 33 dB, and a very few muffs can hit that.
 
I have the Peltor also, grey and yellow. Right my gunon the nightstand. don't know if I would actually try putting them in during a night time break in, But if I had the time, like a barracade situation, I might if I were to go to a rifle. Even just the right side might be a good idea.
Wow I feel bad about the ear problems our fellow member above has. Is that a constant ringing or does it come and go, It really must be tiring by days end. Sorry for your trouble, but a lesson for all to learn who shoot without ear protection. I also use a cheap headphone over the plugs, but now am thinking it may be worth buying a better headset. I know Peltor is a well known name, any other choices out there?
 
Last edited:
Zach, I cannot tolerate the pressure of the yellow ones for more than a few minutes. Try these Leight plugs. They're super soft and very effective.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I've tried similar plugs, always end up going back to classics. While uncomfortable, they are tolerable (for 8+ hours), and I've found them to be the most effective for me.

I've worked in machining and manufacturing for over ten years so I've tried a wide variety of earplugs over the years.
 
I like the sonic defenders with the plug open under electronic muffs. Best combo I have ever found.
 
These look just like the EarPro EP4 that I have. I can never get the foam plugs to seat in my ears properly, so these are actually quieter for me. They are plenty when shooting medium caliber pistols and rifles outdoors. For anything else I double up. I also find them very comfortable. They come in 3 sizes, BTW. I'm going to try them with the valves open & my amplified Peltors this weekend.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
surefire "Sonic defenders" for hunting?
Replies
5
Views
1K
highorder
H
G
  • Locked
How are the EP3 Sonic Defender earplugs?
Replies
2
Views
538
highorder
H
D
  • Locked
Ear protection
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
dougwx12
D
B
  • Locked
Quietest gun for self defense
2 3 4 5
Replies
104
Views
23K
SharpsDressedMan
S
S
  • Locked
Electronic muffs while hunting?
2
Replies
44
Views
2K
natman
N
Back
Top