What Is the Best Ear Protection for Shooting?

Whenever you go shooting, no matter what type of shooting you are involved with, whether it’s clay pigeon shooting or live game, your ear protection must always be taken seriously. For those who use firearms on a regular basis and don’t use adequate ear protection, the risk of experiencing hearing loss is much greater. 

Why is hearing protection important?

Sound is measured in decibels. Casual conversation tends to be around 60 decibels (dB) to give you a baseline to work with. Since a .22 caliber rifle will produce a sound that measures about 145dB, and a .44 revolver will give out a sound that is closer to 170dB, you can see just how loud these sounds are, and how they can clearly cause damage to your hearing if you are not adequately protected. 

Any sound that measures 140dB or more will cause ringing in the ears and pain, but can also cause permanent hearing damage leading to potential hearing loss. In reality, any noise above 85dB can cause hearing loss after prolonged exposure. When it comes to shooting specifically, hearing protection must always be used, but even if you are using it and you experience a ringing in your ears or any pain, you should immediately stop what you are doing and find a quiet space to recover in. 

Types of hearing protection 

In the main, there are two different types of hearing protection that can be used when shooting. These are earplugs and earmuffs. Both have their benefits and both have some disadvantages to consider, and we will go into this in more detail in this article. 

In some cases, you may be required to wear both earplugs and earmuffs, and of course, this will give you the ultimate hearing protection when shooting, and may well be the best option altogether if you want to ensure you are doing all you can to protect your hearing. 

Remember, even when hunting you should use ear protection; it’s not just for the firing range. Some suggest that wearing ear protection when hunting can mean they are unable to hear their prey, but if permanent hearing loss occurred due to not wearing any ear protection, you would most likely have to give up hunting altogether. The choice will always be yours, but it is highly recommended you wear ear protection whenever you handle a firearm. 

Earplugs 

The most obvious benefit of wearing earplugs when shooting is that they provide an excellent level of protection for your hearing. They fit directly into the ear canal itself, meaning that they offer better protection than ear muffs can. 

Another advantage is that they can be slipped easily into a pocket or a bag because they are small and lightweight. Since they are so easy to take with you, you’ll be able to pack them when going shooting without causing you any problems at all. When compared to earmuffs, which are much bigger and more cumbersome, they win out. 

If you are wearing additional PPE including a helmet or goggles, earplugs won’t get in the way and will enable you to wear everything you need to keep you protected. 

One of the negatives when it comes to earplugs is that they can be uncomfortable, and difficult to wear. They must fit entirely in the ear to provide adequate protection, and wearing them incorrectly can lead to hearing loss. 

Earmuffs 

Earmuffs do have a major advantage over earplugs; earmuffs are much easier to wear. They simply slip over your ears rather than being placed into them. For intermittent use this is ideal since it is a quick process. Plus, everyone can wear earmuffs; there are no special ways of wearing them, and they will therefore protect everyone who chooses them. 

Earmuffs don’t change size or shape, unlike earplugs. This means that they don’t have to be specially fitted and you will know they are always going to offer the right level of protection to those who need to wear them. 

In colder climates, earmuffs can even double as a means of keeping your ears warm, allowing you to concentrate more on your shooting. 

One of the negative aspects of earmuffs is that they offer less protection than earplugs do since they don’t sit in the ear canal but instead are only placed over the top of the ears. Plus, if you are using the earmuffs in a warm environment, they can become extremely uncomfortable, and even lead to an ear infection. 

And then, when worn with a helmet or goggles, the earmuff might lose some of its protective capabilities as it may no longer be sitting snugly against the ear. 

Speak to Physicians Hearing Center today

Hearing loss is a serious subject and requires plenty of consideration. If you need any help and advice in ensuring that you are as protected as possible when shooting, please get in touch with the Physicians Hearing Center at (334) 441-4090 today.