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Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

banks74

Sergeant
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 17, 2007
607
54
Greeley, Colorado
So electroic hearing protection is pretty new to me. I would like to get a pair so I can hear range commands in classes etc. a lot easier. It seems like most people point to Msa/Sordin and Peltor. There are so many models of each, I am not sure which ones I should look at or stay away from.

If anyone could point me in the right direction or tell me which models to stay away from that would be greatly appreciated.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

Youre going to pay alot for something you dont really need to with those. I've had good experiences with Howard Leights and they only run about 50-60$.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LVMIKE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Youre going to pay alot for something you dont really need to with those. I've had good experiences with Howard Leights and they only run about 50-60$. </div></div>

The Leight Impacts are good, thin and well made however I'd get something else for indoors or really loud firearms. Popular but they are only rated at 22 and I can definitely tell the difference between those and my passive Peltors (NRR 33) and my Pro Ear Slims (NRR 28).
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

Peltors/Sordins are nice but the sound reduction is reduced when eye pro is introduced under the ear cups.

I have a ruptured ear drum from my peltors being pulled off my head when they snagged on something as 2 M2's were firing 10ft away to the left and the right. It's been over 7 months and I still have a constant ringing in my ear.

I would recommend using in the ear and electronic hearing pro when possible. Anything indoors or large calibers with brakes will leave your ears ringing a little with just peltors/sordins. It's a hell of an investment for little benefit.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LVMIKE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Youre going to pay alot for something you dont really need to with those. <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">I've had good experiences with Howard Leights and they only run about 50-60$</span></span></div></div> +1 $47.21 on Amazon
I wrote a review on these <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">(Howard Leights)</span></span> at one point in time or another (lost in the internet abyss at this point), but they are great for the money and perform better than comparable Peltor TAC6s muffs.

Is their better out there...sure, but you'll spend 4-5x as much denairo.

I have a pair that's been around the world a couple times
grin.gif

jhgk.jpg


*Note the TRIAD TACTICAL t-shirt...shameless plug for you Steve
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Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

2nd on the peltor tac 6 had them for a month maybe then I sold them.
lousy indoors and not very comfortable on my head.
this was maybe 5+ years ago when they were closer to $100, not worth it.
now im using custom molded plugs with a simple pair of peltor dome ears. double the protection when im on the line but off I can hear conversations just fine while being protected from the ambient sound.
I would look into pro ears if I were to get an electronic set. made in the USA with a 5 year guarantee
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

Anyone try the Surefire Earpro underneath Leights/Sordin ect? I've worn the SF Earpro by themselves while my wife shot her .22, but have not thought to put them under my Impacts when shooting indoors/large caliber. Might work well.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I run the Peltor Tacsport/Sporttac's (seen them called both)

They are pretty comfortable for all day and work well for Rifle, shotgun and carbine.

I have used them in live fire shoot houses with no problems. The only drawback is they are thicker than many others, so they may not fit under some ballistic helmets (if that's a concern).

About half of my team has now purchased some type of electronic ear pro for training and entries.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: doorkicker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LVMIKE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Youre going to pay alot for something you dont really need to with those. <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">I've had good experiences with Howard Leights and they only run about 50-60$</span></span></div></div> +1 $47.21 on Amazon
I wrote a review on these <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">(Howard Leights)</span></span> at one point in time or another (lost in the internet abyss at this point), but they are great for the money and perform better than comparable Peltor TAC6s muffs.

Is their better out there...sure, but you'll spend 4-5x as much denairo.

I have a pair that's been around the world a couple times
grin.gif

jhgk.jpg


*Note the TRIAD TACTICAL t-shirt...shameless plug for you Steve
grin.gif
</div></div>

LOVE IT!!!
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iggy.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's wrong with using these for about $0.03?
They have a 33db reduction, way more protection than any muffs and it I can cheek the rifle better.</div></div>
Sounds to me like he wants to hear what's going on better:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: banks74</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to get a pair so I can hear range commands in classes etc. a lot easier.</div></div>
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: doorkicker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iggy.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's wrong with using these for about $0.03?
They have a 33db reduction, way more protection than any muffs and it I can cheek the rifle better.</div></div>
Sounds to me like he wants to hear what's going on better:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: banks74</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to get a pair so I can hear range commands in classes etc. a lot easier.</div></div> </div></div>

Exactly it is hard to hear with foam plugs, when the RO/instructor is at the other end of the line giving information/instruction.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run the Peltor Tacsport/Sporttac's (seen them called both)

They are pretty comfortable for all day and work well for Rifle, shotgun and carbine.

I have used them in live fire shoot houses with no problems. The only drawback is they are thicker than many others, so they may not fit under some ballistic helmets (if that's a concern).

About half of my team has now purchased some type of electronic ear pro for training and entries. </div></div>

I have the same ear muffs and love them...normally when at the indoor range i turn them off, but when others are around, i turn them on so i can hear what is going on around me...im going to give them a go round hunting this weekend
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iggy.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's wrong with using these for about $0.03?

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They have a 33db reduction, way more protection than any muffs and it I can cheek the rifle better. </div></div>
+1 Most any ear muff provides 25dB or less protection which just isn't enough for extended range sessions. Double up if you don't want to be 60 and saying "what? what did you say Johnie? Can you speak up son?"
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I have the Howard Leights and very much like them. Was out not too long ago and was shooting a serbu .50 without doubling up and didn't notice any noise issues dealing with the "low NRR rating" that some are bringing up. I even had eye pro on at that time.

I have tinnitus from my time in the Army, so I don't mess around and always wear my ears now.

Branden
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

Triple recommendation for the Tacsports:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=160677

I must have gone through at least five different models - pretty much the highest customer rated ones I could find on midway and other sites - at prices ranging from $80 to upwards of $400.

All went back until I found these. SUPER comfortable (even when wearing eye protection), best acoustics/boosting of anything I could find, and very low profile. Like LoneWolf and others have attested, I love em.

The one thing is they work best as a pair with ear plugs. You can wear them without but not around heavy stuff like 50s or indoor handgun shooting if you're gonna be doing it all day.

cheapo foam plugs + tacsports = extremely pleasant days at the range, all day long.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I ended up going with a pair of the Howard Lieghts, run the volume up high and wear a pair of the plugs under them. You can hear range commands fine and muzzle blast is all but non existent.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I have been using the HL's since DK posted about them, I have found that if you collapse them the wires break, I rewired mine and have been GTG since, and I don't collapse them anymore, it appears HL did a little redesign to improve the wire harness
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I'll throw in another recommendation for the Tacsports.

One thing you have to understand is the difference in how these muffs work.

Essentially they use one of two methods to control noise: Clipping and Compression.

Clipping (common in most of the cheaper muffs) basically cuts off for a microsecond whenever a noise is above the preset limit. Works fine except the conversation can be choppy, especially if there is a good bit of firing going on.

Compression muffs will knock down the volume of noises that are above the preset limit (89 decibels in most pairs). The big advantage is that you can heard the conversations pretty much seemlessly. These will generally cost more. Pro Ears use the compression as well as the Tacsports. The Tac 6's use clipping and I'm pretty sure that the Howard Leight's use clipping as well (not 100% on that one though).

I have worn a pair of the Tacsports from Peltor on a line of 24 shooters at a Tactical Response rifle course and could hear the instructors 4-5 positions away from me while everyone was shooting at once.

If you're finding you need more then use a pair fo the molded plugs or the foam ones inside of the electronic muffs. Turn up the amplified volume of the muffs and you should be able to hear conversations very well but still have plenty of protection.

Love my Tacsports. One big thing I like is only one set of batteries to keep up with and they have any electronic shutoff so no worries about dead batteries everytime I need them.

Charlie
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

+1 for the MSA....if your not sure and you really want to talk to someone who knows coms/hearing protection gear, talk to the guys over at Tactical Command Industries. Their MSA sordin Pro-x are a military grade and do not have an aux-input as they are made to be upgradable to the liberator com-set. But a cool feature of the MSA is the civi version has a aux jack input so you can plug in a radio or a mp3 player (I DON'T Suggest that at all, always good to be able to hear range commmands). They are definitely durable and have great sound reduction (especially no clipping noise when you fire), but if someone is shooting a cannon next to you, you might want to throw a foam plug under that side.

Good luck with your decision.
(link below to Tactical Command Industries)

Tactical Command Industries MSA Sordin
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I've got a pair of the Peltor Tac-6's, from back when they were $160, and they're ok. Now they can be had for around $50-$60 if you shop around. Our entry guys were wearing them under their kevlars, but have recently switched to the Howard Leights. The general consensus is they seem to like them better than the Peltors so far.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I use the Howard lights as a class this weekend. They did really well. I only wore them for about 4-5 hours strait at a time. So it was not an extended use, but they seemed really comfortable.

They were comfortable to wear by themselves volume wise. Only when shooting out of confined space or when the next group down opened up with long guns did I feel the need to double up with foamies. So far so good.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

Afer a few pounding headaches wearing my peltors i was going to get some of the howard lights until a friends didnt cut out a couple times. The way i figure it is my hearing will probably be shot because of the shop so anything i can do to extend or help my hearing is worth it. Some spend more in a month going out to lunch than on good protection.

These are comfy (got the gel thingies) work very well and will most likely be the last pair i ever buy for myself.
http://www.triadtactical.com/MSA-Sordin-Supreme-Pro-X.html
 
Re: Msa/Sordin & Peltor so many choices??

I've ran Howard Leight Impacts for a year+ and they work great. That said I wear them for pistol or RO'ing only, I run foamies for rifle. I cannot stand the earpiece on the stock (and I've had a stock push the earpiece off my ear while firing a 12" braked 308-my ears are still ringing from that).