Hearing Protection
Gun fire produces noise levels that peak between 140db and 170 db. That noise is made even more damaging at indoor ranges as the ears are exposed to the same noise multiple times as it echoes off of the walls, floor and ceiling. Shooters who do not wear hearing protection while shooting can suffer a severe hearing loss with as little as one shot, if the conditions are right. The normal human threshold for pain is around 130db, and hearing loss can occur instantaneously at 120db. Even sounds as low as 78db can cause hearing loss over time.
When we look at what hearing protection to buy, we need to pay close attention to the product’s NRR, or Noise Reduction Rating, which is defined as the maximum number of decibels (dB) that the hearing protector will reduce the sound level when worn. By law, all hearing protection products have to have a NRR rating. The highest NRR rating you can get is 33 NRR. Products with a 28 to 31 NRR are recommended for indoor shooting. There are two different kinds of hearing protection, earplugs and ear muffs. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health actually recommends using both earplugs and earmuffs together when shooting. This is especially beneficial when shooting (or near someone else shooting) high powered rifles at an indoor range. It might come as a surprise to hear that earplugs can actually offer more protection than ear muffs, because earplugs fully block the ear canal.
Earmuffs come in two main types, passive suppression and electronic suppression. Those with electronic suppression also have passive suppression, but they have built in microphones and amplifiers. This allows you to adjust the volume so you can hear people talking, yet when the noise level gets above 82db, the electronics will immediately suppress the noise. Due to the amplification feature, electronic earmuffs allow the wearer to more easily hear normal sounds when wearing earplugs with the earmuffs. Electronic earmuffs are a bit more expensive than passive earmuffs.
There are several good earmuffs available. Following is a list of recommended manufacturers and models. Clicking on the hyperlinked titles will take you to the Amazon listing for that item.
Passive Earmuffs
3M Peltor Optime 105 Over the Head Earmuff $21.98
- Noise Reduction Rating of 30dB
- Superior comfort, fit, and hearing protection
- Patented twin-cup design
- Recommended for extremely loud conditions
- 4.6 stars/2561 reviews
3M 90565-4DC-PS Pro-Grade Earmuff $21.39
- Our #1 noise-reducing earmuff (highest noise reduction rating (NRR) 3M Earmuff in retail stores)
- Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 30 dB
- Helps protect against harmful noises that are at 85 dB and above
- Steel wire headband with rubber overmold design for durability and comfort
- Lightweight, adjustable design reduces pressure points for all-day comfort
- 4.8 stars/14 reviews
Howard Leight by Honeywell Leightning L0F Folding Ultraslim Shooting Earmuff (R-01523) $14.57
- Ultralight design (40 ounces) with ultraslim earcup for a more comfortable feel that won’t interfere with your shooting; convenient, folding feature collapses earmuff to just four inches
- Super-soft ear cushion eliminates “squeezing” sensation on head; snap-in feature allows for quick and easy cushion replacement
- Headband features telescopic adjustment for custom fit, steel wire construction to withstand demanding use, and padded foam to minimize pressure on head
- Earcup features patented Air Flow Control technology to reduce sound across all frequencies without increasing earcup size or weight; 3 sound reduction levels to suit different shooting environments
- Noise Reduction Rating: 23
- 4.5 stars/399 reviews
Howard Leight by Honeywell Leightning L2F Folding Slim Shooting Earmuff (R-01525) $23.95
- Stylish, slim earcups that won’t interfere with your shooting; convenient, folding feature collapses earmuff for easy storage
- Super-soft ear cushion eliminates “squeezing” sensation on head; snap-in feature allows for quick and easy cushion replacement
- Headband features telescopic adjustment for custom fit, steel wire construction to withstand demanding use, and padded foam to minimize pressure on head
- Earcup features patented Air Flow Control technology to reduce sound across all frequencies without increasing earcup size or weight; 3 sound reduction levels to suit different shooting environments
- Noise Reduction Rating: 27
- 4.4 stars/173 reviews
Pro For Sho 34dB Safety Ear Protection – Special Designed Ear Muffs Lighter Weight & Maximum Hearing Protection $16.97
- 34dB – Highest Hearing Protection Ratio Earmuffs Help Silence Your World “ In A Snap ”
- 9 color selections
- SOLID, LIGHTWEIGHT – Specifically resigned to address the limitations of conventional ear muffs
- COMPACT & EASILY CARRIED – Perfect for carrying in bags without weight or bulk
- Industrial Grade Ear Muffs Protect Your Hearing During Shooting, Hunting, Woodworking and Study
- 4.6 stars/4616 reviews
ClearArmor 141001 Shooters Hearing Protection Safety Ear Muffs Folding-Padded Head Band Ear Cups, Black $14.95
- SonicSeal – ClearArmor’s exclusive sound technology provides better protection to save your hearing.
- Comfortable, premium quality, lightweight, super soft ear ring foam for maximum long wear comfort.
- Padded head band adjusts to fit most head sizes . . . Industrial grade. . . Engineered to last
- Compact folding design for efficient storage. . . Snug reliable fit to keep our muffs on your head.
- ANSI S3.19 & CE 521 Tested Certified. . . Over head ear muff, perfect fit swivel cup design
- NRR 31
- 4.6 stars/7755 reviews
Electronic Earmuffs
Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Pro Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff, Black & Grey (R-01902) $53.39
- Built-in directional microphones amplify range commands and other ambient sounds to a safe 82 dB, providing more natural listening and enhanced communication
- Actively listens and automatically shuts off amplification when ambient sound reaches 82 dB; passively blocks out noise at 30 dB
- Rubberized pressure points prevent gunstock scratching; padded adjustable headband provides a secure and comfortable fit
- Includes 3.5 mm connection cord for MP3 players and scanners; includes 2 AAA batteries; automatic shut-off feature after 4 hours increases battery life; approx. 350 hours battery life; Works well and long with Polaroid AAA Batteries
- Noise Reduction Rating: 30. Noise-induced hearing loss is 100% permanent, but 100% preventable
- 4.5 stars/1788 reviews
Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff $38.19 – $59.15 depending on color selection
- Built-in directional microphones amplify range commands and other ambient sounds to a safe 82 dB, providing more natural listening and enhanced communication
- Actively listens and automatically shuts off amplification when ambient sound reaches 82 dB; Noise Reduction Rating (NRR): 22
- Features low profile earcups for firearm stock clearance; adjustable headband for secure fit; compact folding design for convenient storage; attractive pink color
- Includes AUX input and 3.5 mm connection cord for MP3 players and scanners
- Includes 2 AAA batteries; automatic shut-off feature after 4 hours increases battery life; approximately 350 hours of battery life
- 4.4 stars/15,155 reviews
Caldwell E-Max Low Profile Electronic 23 NRR Hearing Protection w/ Sound Amplification and Adjustable Earmuffs for Shooting, Hunting and Range, Shooting Glasses $30.26
- COMFORTABLE: Padded headband and adjustable cushioned ear cups allows for a snug fit to ensure proper noise cancellation and protection. The low-profile design allows for a closer fit against your rifle for more accuracy and comfort
- HEARING PROTECTION: 23 NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) amplifies low sounds (below 85dB) and compresses high noises (above 85dB) to create the perfect range experience
- CONVENIENT: The lightweight designed muffs and the included glasses are impact resistant and fold compact for transport. Shooting glasses feature an adjustable nosepiece and temples and block out 99.9% of UV rays (Glasses meet ANSI Z87.1 standards)
- EASE OF USE: Runs on 2 AAA Batteries (not included) with adjustable volume control and an audio jack for a phone or MP3 player
- 4.3 stars/16 reviews
Caldwell E-Max Electronic 25 NRR Hearing Protection with Sound Amplification and Adjustable Earmuffs for Shooting, Hunting and Range, Green $26.49
- COMFORTABLE: Padded headband and adjustable cushioned ear cups allows for a snug fit to ensure proper noise cancellation and protection
- HEARING PROTECTION: 25 NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) amplifies low sounds (below 85dB) and compresses high noises (above 85dB) to create the perfect range experience
- CONVENIENT: The lightweight design is impact resistant and folds compact for transport
- EASE OF USE: Runs on 2 AAA Batteries (not included) with adjustable volume control and an audio jack for a phone or MP3 player
- 4.1 stars/186 reviews
Understanding Actual Protection
The rating levels do not measure how many dB will be filtered out from an environment, which is a common misunderstanding. Being able to calculate the actual protection level, called field adjusted NRR, is very important when choosing the right hearing protection for a given situation.
To determine how much of a reduction in dB there will be, one must take the NRR number, then subtract seven, and then divide by two. Then take the dB level in the environment and subtract that number. So, if the average weighted noise level at a gun range is 122dB and the hearing protection is rated at NRR 30dB, the formula would look like this: (30-7)/2=11.5. 122-11.5 = 110.5db.
Based on that, the noise levels that still reach the shooter is 110.5dB. This formula can be used for ear plugs or ear muffs.
Another important thing to note when calculating protection levels is that if wearing both earplugs and ear muffs for hearing protection, the dB protection is not calculated by adding the NRR of both items. In this instance, the actual NRR protection level is calculated by taking the higher NRR number and adding 5 to it. That number is then used in the above calculation to determine the exposure levels while wearing both pairs of hearing protection.
So continuing the above example, if the shooter is wearing earplugs with an NRR value of 29 and ear muffs having an NRR value of 30. To calculate the attenuation, first calculate field adjusted NRR for the better protector. In this case it’s the earmuffs. Using the same formula from the previous example, you have: [(30 -7) x 0.5] = 11.5dB. Next, add 5 dB to this field-adjusted NRR. You have 11.5 + 5 = 16.5dB. Finally, subtract the attenuation value from the noise exposure, or: 122 -16.5dB = 105.5dB.
Here are estimated average dB noise levels for gun calibers:
- .25 ACP – 155.0 dB
- .32 LONG – 152.4 dB
- .32 ACP – 153.5 dB
- .380 – 157.7 dB
- 9mm – 159.8 dB
- .38 S&W – 153.5 dB
- .38 Spl – 156.3 dB
- .357 Magnum – 164.3 dB
- .40 S&W – 156.5 dB
- .41 Magnum – 163.2 dB
- .44 S&W Magnum – 164.5 dB
- .44 Spl – 155.9 dB
- .45 ACP – 157.0 dB
- .45 COLT – 154.7 dB
- 12 Gauge Shotgun – 155 dB
- .22 Pistol or Rifle – 140 dB
- M-16 – 160 dB
References for further reading…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12851012
https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/hearing-protection-buyers-guide/
Links to earmuff reviews…
https://www.bestadvisor.com/hearing-protectors
https://www.shootingandsafety.com/best-ear-protection-for-shooting/
