I didn’t wear ear protection when I was in my early shooting career, late 60’s/early ‘70’s, nor in a noisy industrial. Hearing protection wasn’t stress than as now! During the early years of shooting, noisy industry, and racing motorcycles damaged my hearing......you can’t regain it, and like so many things “you don’t miss it until it’s gone! I religiously wore ear protection during the last 40+ years of industrial work and when shooting.....but, the damage had been done! However, until now.....I didn’t wear ear protection when hunting. I wanted to hear my surroundings, would only fire one or two shots per season, and didn’t use a muzzle brake!
Fast Forward to present! I wanted to hunt with my S&W 460 XVR, and even with light-loads ......even one shot fired was unbearable! We hunt in grizzly country, and I didn’t want to mute any sounds when hunting.....nor likely would have time to insert ear protection prior to a shot. I think that I’ve solved my delima! We recently ordered 2 sets of AXIS GS Extreme ear buds.....they arrived yesterday!
So, these are the results of my very brief (cold rain falling) and not extensive test and evaluation.....using my 460!
Sound reduction: At least as good as any ear plug that I’ve used. I only fired one round from my 460.....not bad at all!
Sound enhancement: When walking back to my range, I had them turned on to a pretty high volume. While just a sprinkle, the drops sounded pretty loud on the grass and barren dirt, and I could hear my footsteps quite well! When I turned around to walk back to the house, I was walking into the slight breeze...there was a very noticeable roar! But, as said, they were turned up high. I lowered the volume, and eliminated the roar!
Sound direction: While walking toward my range, I could hear traffic on the highway, a bit over 1/2 mile behind me. There was no problem determining the origin of the sound......however, this could be a “skewed” opinion, as I knew the direction of the road!
There you go.......my initial impression! memtb
Fast Forward to present! I wanted to hunt with my S&W 460 XVR, and even with light-loads ......even one shot fired was unbearable! We hunt in grizzly country, and I didn’t want to mute any sounds when hunting.....nor likely would have time to insert ear protection prior to a shot. I think that I’ve solved my delima! We recently ordered 2 sets of AXIS GS Extreme ear buds.....they arrived yesterday!
So, these are the results of my very brief (cold rain falling) and not extensive test and evaluation.....using my 460!
Sound reduction: At least as good as any ear plug that I’ve used. I only fired one round from my 460.....not bad at all!
Sound enhancement: When walking back to my range, I had them turned on to a pretty high volume. While just a sprinkle, the drops sounded pretty loud on the grass and barren dirt, and I could hear my footsteps quite well! When I turned around to walk back to the house, I was walking into the slight breeze...there was a very noticeable roar! But, as said, they were turned up high. I lowered the volume, and eliminated the roar!
Sound direction: While walking toward my range, I could hear traffic on the highway, a bit over 1/2 mile behind me. There was no problem determining the origin of the sound......however, this could be a “skewed” opinion, as I knew the direction of the road!
There you go.......my initial impression! memtb