Looking for a good Comp to put on my Grendel

[explorecaves]

So with that post.....now you have to give recommendations of custom electronic plugs!!

For the EARS!

[Dan]

Generally I would not recommend electronic custom hearing protection for the sole reason that they are very expensive for what they are. The chips used to make them are used in analog hearing aids. In order for the specialist to make it worth their while to sell them they generally go for $900 and up. I have a pair that retails at $1200 but I got them for free because I'm in the business and I love them but to me they aren't worth nearly that much. Looking at custom hearing protection from a buyers prospective I think the custom Hocks Noise Breaker is my favorite. They aren't electronic so no batteries that will die on you (big plus), they allow you to carry on conversation pretty well (speech and other softer sounds are slightly reduced), when a loud sound is presented, like a gun shot, it has greater noise reduction. Here is a link to their site showing their test data.

http://noisebrakers.com/test_data/custom..._test_data

They basically do the job of electronic hearing protection without the need for batteries. The only advantage electronic hearing protection has is that they can amplify sounds as well. A solid custom plug will offer greater protection but these do great in my opinion for outdoor shooting especially for precision shooters. For rapid fire you might want to consider something different. For indoor ranges I would say that foam plugs plus muffs are a must.

[Nukes]

What Nukes says is true, however, it is not the whole truth. I'm a hearing instrument specialist and I also make hearing protection. In my in-office tests as well as data from other sources I have found that generally speaking muffs are superior to even custom plugs. It is also true that sound travels to the cochlea (inner ear) through the bone. But your entire skull is bone and muffs only cover a very small portion. When considering hearing protection/loss associated with shooting it is important to understand a few things. 1- Hearing loss caused by gunshot generally occurs between 4000hz and 6000hz. And 2- NRR ratings don't tell the full story. I have seen hearing protection with an NRR rating of around 22db reduce sound levels between 4000hz and 6000hz by up to 45db while other hearing protection with higher NRR ratings struggle to reduce sound levels at those same frequencies by 35db.
Ear muffs are great and I recommend their use when possible but many shooters find it difficult to maintain a good seal while wearing eye protection. Ear muffs also make it difficult to maintain a good cheek weld on your rifle.
As materials improve I am seeing greater benefit coming from custom hearing protection and it is my belief that we will be seeing more and more of its application in the shooting sports weather it be electronic custom hearing protection for hunting or solid custom plugs for practice and target shooting.

Excellent data, always in favor of the whole truth, much appreciated.

Perhaps you can help with a question that has long bothered me. Does the latency period of electronic hearing protection, whether muffs or in-ear, still result in acoustic trauma?

I have assumed it does though I expect slower cumulative effect.

[Dan]

Most loud noises are tolerable for a period of time. For precision shooters electronic hearing protection should be fine if you have a good seal. For rapid fire however I would not recommend electronics for that very reason. When the manufacturer sent me mine they said that they should only be used for hunting or in outdoor settings when shots are not frequent. The same would be true for the Hocks or any other kind of noise breaker/reducer.

[Tedward]

Most loud noises are tolerable for a period of time. For precision shooters electronic hearing protection should be fine if you have a good seal. For rapid fire however I would not recommend electronics for that very reason. When the manufacturer sent me mine they said that they should only be used for hunting or in outdoor settings when shots are not frequent. The same would be true for the Hocks or any other kind of noise breaker/reducer.

So the Hocks look small and compact for bench shooting but will they be ok for walking thru the woods and still hear things like my big ass clumping thru the leaves? They actually would be a lot nicer than wearing big ol muffs. How much are those and do they fit them to each persons ears???

I have been looking at these kind of muffs and wondering if they are sufficient. There not the $900 like you said above and not sure what is $900. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/914108/...-next-camo.

So, the Hocks price range? Just called a local office and $165, multi colors and string so you can drop them out and hang on your shirt.
And are they fit to each person? Yup
Will the above electronic ones like Midway has be sufficient for outdoor target practicing?

Thanks for the info Dan.

[Dan]

I will contact Hocks and find out what their cost would be. If you all lived around Bluffton, SC I have a few places I can order them from and can price shop but if you pay someone to take impressions of your ears and send it to Hocks the price would be a little different. Because they are made from an impression of your ear they are made to fit the shooter. I'll do some research today on the pricing. The $900 ones are for custom electronic hearing protection. The big ol muffs are a one size fits all.
To answer your last question, those electronic muffs would do a great job for you as long as you can maintain a good seal over the ear in your different shooting positions and while wearing your eye protection.

[Tedward]

I will contact Hocks and find out what their cost would be. If you all lived around Bluffton, SC I have a few places I can order them from and can price shop but if you pay someone to take impressions of your ears and send it to Hocks the price would be a little different. Because they are made from an impression of your ear they are made to fit the shooter. I'll do some research today on the pricing. The $900 ones are for custom electronic hearing protection. The big ol muffs are a one size fits all.
To answer your last question, those electronic muffs would do a great job for you as long as you can maintain a good seal over the ear in your different shooting positions and while wearing your eye protection.

Thanks Dan and I guess further posts should be started on a new trend. But thanks and back to Comps.

[LongRanger]

A good brake available in stainless steel is the muscle brake. Cost is $115 or $210 installed and contoured to your barrel. http://www.piercisionrifles.com/ Look in store on main page to find all their brakes. The videos shown are very impressive as to reduction of recoil.

[wiersy111]

Sorry for not reporting back sooner but been a little busy. It took a few more phone calls but I finally got my BWA comp, it looks awesome and now I finally have the gun together and shooting. Very minimal barrel rise and no felt recoil. When I get a few minutes I will get some pics.

[GMinor]

It's only $35.00 and I had it bored to fit my Grendel (.310).

Why .310? Thats a weird choice.

I ordered a Harrells brake, and am having it opened up to .284, which would be .020" over bore.

[SG4247]

By far Ross Shulers custom brakes, I have one on 2 of my AR's (One Satern 6.5 G and one 300AAC) and one on my 260 Remington Bolt Rifle. My 7yo loves shooting my 300 Pistol with it on there. Ross is VERY fast in shipping and will do any thread and any length. He will get it to you faster than Midway and cheaper too. I will never do another Rifle without one again. Doesnt even add a bunch of noise like most of them either.
home.comcast.net/~MOA_Shooters/RossMuzzleBrakes.htm

+1

I have four stainless brakes from Ross all profiled to my barrel diameter and with the proper size exit hole.

His thread fit to the barrel on all the brakes is excellent.

Super fast delivery and exactly what I ordered every time.

[GMinor]

Anybody have an opinion on rocking one of these on a Grendel?

http://www.surefire.com/sfmb-68-5-8-24.html

[Tedward]

Why .310? Thats a weird choice.

I ordered a Harrells brake, and am having it opened up to .284, which would be .020" over bore.

I have a Recoil Eliminator from JP and they say "RECOMMEND A MINIMUM OF .040 OVER BORE DIAMETER FOR THE FINAL EXIT HOLE."
http://www.jprifles.com/document_pdfs/JPRE9BT_532.pdf

I had my Machinist do this for me on my .50 Beowulf and worked fine and helped a tremendous amount. I also used the same measurement when enlarging comp's for the Grendel.

[GMinor]

Ok, I get it, but you seriously put one of those ugly ass brakes on your rifle?

[bwaites]

I have it on good authority that Seekins brakes will soon be a possibility for the Grendel.

[TheDroz66]

Any idea as to how soon? I just ordered the 7.62 / 308 seekins, but can probably cancel the order and wait. This would be perfect for my Lilja barrel as long as it comes in 5/8 x 24 threads!

[bwaites]

Any idea as to how soon? I just ordered the 7.62 / 308 seekins, but can probably cancel the order and wait. This would be perfect for my Lilja barrel as long as it comes in 5/8 x 24 threads!

After SHOT, no time on the machines until then. Still working on details for the 5/8x24 threaded Grendel brake. I'm not sure that the minimal difference in diameter of the exit hole between 7.62 and 6.5 will have any significant impact on the effectiveness of the brake. However, there will be two options for Grendel owners, 9/16x24 and 5/8x24. There may also be a third, .750x28, but that option is still a little fuzzy and will require enough Grendel owners to step up and ask. I would like it, because I have one of them, but it has to be workable for Seekins, too. More details from another member soon, just waiting on a few details to clear up.

[TheDroz66]

Thanks for the info. I will probably keep the one I have on order then. I can always sell it and get the 6.5 later if I feel the need to.

[bwaites]

Thanks for the info. I will probably keep the one I have on order then. I can always sell it and get the 6.5 later if I feel the need to.

That would be my choice! I love the one on my 5.56, having shot them on lots of different rifles, and different barrel lengths.

[Tedward]

Ok, I get it, but you seriously put one of those ugly ass brakes on your rifle?

I put it on my Beowulf and ya, it looks good for the application. I like it and that's what counts, and it works too. But the point was the measurement.