Hello All
Everywhere on the web I read how most people love the MSA Sordin Electronic Tactical Hearing protectors. I had a bad experience I want to post and maybe warn others. It is only my direct personal experience so take it as you will.
I received a pair of MSA Sordin’s Supreme Electronic Hearing Protectors as a gift. I wore them to the range for 3 hours with friends (outdoor, 9mm pistols, 400 rounds) about three months ago. The person who bought them for me read all the positive reviews (on sites like this) before buying them. I should have checked the NRR more carefully myself before wearing them to the range.
At the range MSA Sordin’s seemed like they were not blocking as much sound as my usual plain 30 dB reduction muffs (28 bucks a set), but the Sordin’s are supposed to be a quality product, tested and block more 4000 Hz gun blast better etc. (and cost $200+ bucks) so I figured they were OK for one day at the range. Worst mistake of my life (to date anyway).
The day was very windy with a lot of “wind howl” so I turned the electronics off (the cut off at 85 dB way too high for comfort anyway). The wind created a false baseline of noise so it was hard to tell how well the ear protectors were working. I did not feel discomfort at the noise I experienced. Shortly after shooting I got back in the quiet cab of the truck I knew I was in big trouble. My hearing was muffled and quickly I developed a hideous ringing in both ears.
It turns out after visiting the audiologist (I had great hearing before this incident) the Sordin’s let through enough noise to damage my hearing into developing to Tinnitus, but not enough noise to make me uncomfortable and seek more protection. With these muffs you believe you are protecting yourself but you are imperceptibly damaging you hearing with every shot. Hearing damage is cumulative, so all those individual shots add up to a big problem.
After wearing the highest rated muffs for years of comfortable shooting with no issues, I developed a bad case of Tinnitus in a single day wearing the Sordin’s. Now I have a roaring in each ear 24 hours a day. I am having trouble sleeping and concentrating, it is very bad news.
After my injury I reviewed the Sordin website in detail. Sordin’s strategy (per their website) of “minimal sound attenuation” is a bad idea in my opinion. In a potential high noise environment you need as much protection as possible, not the minimum as Sordin provides.
Further checking the Sordin site, Sordin muffs only reduce the acoustic signature about 16 dB, not nearly enough to protect you. 9mm pistol blast = 148 Decibels, Sordin reduction = 16 Decibels, net exposure = 132 Decibels. Anything over 85 creates permanent hearing loss, so using Sordin’s you are on your way to trouble.
Learn from my mistake and protect your hearing. Going deaf is not the worse thing can happen, living with Tinnitus roaring in your head for every second of your life is a nightmare. Buy the highest rated muffs 30 dB+ and wear ear plugs underneath also (for another 15 dB reduction). You will never know the misery you are avoiding. You are one shot away from hearing trouble, please don’t risk injuries like mine.
Everywhere on the web I read how most people love the MSA Sordin Electronic Tactical Hearing protectors. I had a bad experience I want to post and maybe warn others. It is only my direct personal experience so take it as you will.
I received a pair of MSA Sordin’s Supreme Electronic Hearing Protectors as a gift. I wore them to the range for 3 hours with friends (outdoor, 9mm pistols, 400 rounds) about three months ago. The person who bought them for me read all the positive reviews (on sites like this) before buying them. I should have checked the NRR more carefully myself before wearing them to the range.
At the range MSA Sordin’s seemed like they were not blocking as much sound as my usual plain 30 dB reduction muffs (28 bucks a set), but the Sordin’s are supposed to be a quality product, tested and block more 4000 Hz gun blast better etc. (and cost $200+ bucks) so I figured they were OK for one day at the range. Worst mistake of my life (to date anyway).
The day was very windy with a lot of “wind howl” so I turned the electronics off (the cut off at 85 dB way too high for comfort anyway). The wind created a false baseline of noise so it was hard to tell how well the ear protectors were working. I did not feel discomfort at the noise I experienced. Shortly after shooting I got back in the quiet cab of the truck I knew I was in big trouble. My hearing was muffled and quickly I developed a hideous ringing in both ears.
It turns out after visiting the audiologist (I had great hearing before this incident) the Sordin’s let through enough noise to damage my hearing into developing to Tinnitus, but not enough noise to make me uncomfortable and seek more protection. With these muffs you believe you are protecting yourself but you are imperceptibly damaging you hearing with every shot. Hearing damage is cumulative, so all those individual shots add up to a big problem.
After wearing the highest rated muffs for years of comfortable shooting with no issues, I developed a bad case of Tinnitus in a single day wearing the Sordin’s. Now I have a roaring in each ear 24 hours a day. I am having trouble sleeping and concentrating, it is very bad news.
After my injury I reviewed the Sordin website in detail. Sordin’s strategy (per their website) of “minimal sound attenuation” is a bad idea in my opinion. In a potential high noise environment you need as much protection as possible, not the minimum as Sordin provides.
Further checking the Sordin site, Sordin muffs only reduce the acoustic signature about 16 dB, not nearly enough to protect you. 9mm pistol blast = 148 Decibels, Sordin reduction = 16 Decibels, net exposure = 132 Decibels. Anything over 85 creates permanent hearing loss, so using Sordin’s you are on your way to trouble.
Learn from my mistake and protect your hearing. Going deaf is not the worse thing can happen, living with Tinnitus roaring in your head for every second of your life is a nightmare. Buy the highest rated muffs 30 dB+ and wear ear plugs underneath also (for another 15 dB reduction). You will never know the misery you are avoiding. You are one shot away from hearing trouble, please don’t risk injuries like mine.