Cheap Electronic Muffs for Burglar-Blasting?
March 6th, 2009I am going to have to get electronic ear muffs. Reason: if I have to defend my home, I will need to hear ordinary sounds while I look for the perp, but I don’t want to go deaf if I shoot. And they should have stereo, so I’ll have directional hearing. At the range, my cheapo muffs and plugs are fine, because I don’t need to hear low-level sounds. And muffs don’t give you real protection at the range; you need plugs, too, if you’re shooting a long gun. So even if I got good muffs, I’d still have to wear plugs when shooting anything bigger than a .45. Much of the benefit of the electronics would be lost. The house is different. I’m willing to sacrifice a little protection when faced with a need to defend myself. That means no plugs.
I was considering getting a quality pair, like the better Peltors. I didn’t want something that would fall apart over multiple range sessions. Then it occurred to me: because I wear plugs at the range, I have no reason to take electronic muffs. That means I don’t need the toughest electronic muffs made. Maybe I would be better off getting a cheap pair for home defense. They only have to last long enough to get me through one encounter, and I don’t think cheap muffs are more likely to crap out at a bad time. I would guess that the big differences are durability, comfort, and sound quality.
What do you think? The price difference is gigantic.
March 6th, 2009 at 3:05 PM
I think that if it comes down to defending yourself, in your own home, muffs will be one of the least of your worries.
March 6th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Yeah, that two seconds it takes to reach for the nightstand is just too much bother.
March 6th, 2009 at 4:18 PM
If you are awake and hear him come in or try to come in that is one thing, but if he wakes you up coming in you are already out of time. There are too many things to think about besides ears. And two seconds are an eternity. You have to be in movement from the moment you know where he is.
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As you prepare to defend yourself keep in mind that you absolutely have to hear yourself move because you have to be certain he cannot. You have to be sure you are hearing exactly where he is as well. Flipping on lights is a real bad idea.
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March 6th, 2009 at 5:17 PM
MUFFS.
The sound impulse indoors versus outdoors is very different. Muffs will at least seal around your ears entirely. I think they’re faster than electronic plugs, too. Good idea! Will make it easier to hear, too.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:33 PM
i`ver got a set of peltor tac-6 muffs- excellent ear protectors. I`ve got a friend with a set he got from harbor freight for less than half the price. they muffle sound almost as well as my peltors- with about a 2 second delay. if you can put up with a 2 second delay in noise while your looking around in the dark for a bad guy in your living room, go for it. for me, the extra cash is money well spent.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:38 PM
I think that unless they come with a recharging stand, you’ll probably be scrambling around for batteries when you need them most.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Well, I can’t speak for which electronic muff to go with…I’ve been using ear-plugs and a cheap pair of Home Depot job-site earmuffs.
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Let us know what you go with…I might get the same pair.
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Slightly Off Topic, I thought you might enjoy this Steven Crowder “commentary” on gun control (with Michael Moore pillorying for good measure):
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WKLXCHgOiA&feature=channel_page
March 6th, 2009 at 5:57 PM
1. With Roland.
V/R JW
March 6th, 2009 at 6:00 PM
You live alone, right? So it’s not like you have to find the diffo between the wife and the thief.
OTOH, if you have two guys in, shoot one, you’ll never hear the second one.
My Peltors were fine for the range. And since they all use AAA batteries if you use them for the range they have a hope of being live when you need them.
-XC
March 6th, 2009 at 7:25 PM
I hate to point this out, but believe it or not, burglars don’t always come flying through the bedroom window and land on your chest. Very, very often, they give themselves away in plenty of time for you to react in an organized manner. Read “Armed Citizen” in the NRA’s monthly magazine. Lots of these encounters last a good long time.
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Yet somehow not long enough for the cops to arrive.
March 7th, 2009 at 1:05 PM
http://www.bigrivertactical.com/catalog/item/4457578/4461735.htm
Got ’em, love ’em. (had to bend the headband just a bit to fit well, but I’ve got a Giant Head)
That being said, you won’t even hear the shot if you’re in that situation, based on high-adrenaline times in the past. Now, later, you’ll say “WHY IS EVERYBODY WHISPERING?”
Peltors are nice – but what I really like about those is they _attenuate_ noise. They don’t shut off like many do.
That is, many of them shut down the speakers when the sound exceeds a certain level. Those put out a constant level in the headphones, so if you’re on an active range, for instance, you can easily carry on a conversation.
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So those I love, highly recommend, and I think Overstock has them slightly cheaper (it’s where my wife got mine, but I don’t look since they were a gift 🙂 ) But I wouldn’t overworry it in an inside-the-house situation.
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The other answer would be to get a tax stamp and a silenced weapon. 🙂
March 9th, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Steve
Go over to http://www.surplustrading.com this is my brother in laws operation, he has some great electronic peltors at surplus prices and will ship anywhere in the world. If you don’t see them, send him a note mike@surplustrading.com
I use them and even with a 50db hearing loss, I can remove my hearing aids and hear folks pretty well when the unit is adjusted for volume.