Basic Ear Protection for Shooters

Talk to a group of hunters about hearing protection, and you may get some strange looks. Ask the same group for advice on a recommended rifle or shotgun, and they'll talk your ear off. Although hearing protection is vitally important; it's one of the most overlooked and underused pieces of shooting gear.

The general consensus among hearing professionals and doctors indicates that even a single exposure to any noise above 85 decibels can begin to damage the hearing. Take that into consideration as the average gun blast measures anywhere between 140 and 150 decibels. Unprotected exposure to sounds at that degree will certainly cause hearing loss. Depending on the loudness of the sound, the damage can be immediate and noticeable. At lower decibel readings like the 80 - 90 dB range, repeated exposure leads to longterm damage.

Now that the importance of hearing protection for shooters has been demonstrated, let's talk about choosing the best type of hearing protection for your needs. Since not all types of hearing protection are equal, I'd recommend basing your buying decision on a combination of facts and price. I wouldn't automatically select the least expensive or cheapest solution as some of the less expensive models of hearing protection may only offer minimal protection.

You would think buying some type of ear protection would be pretty easy, but there are a number of different types of hearing protection available along with different levels of protection. The purpose of this article is to provide some basic information on the different types of hearing protection, along with some suggestions.

For the most part, hearing protection for shooting sports can broken down into a couple of different categories: passive ear plugs, passive hearing protection, and electronic hearing protection.

Let's a take a moment to discuss each one of these different styles of hearing protection in detail:

Passive Ear Plugs - These are basically soft plugs that are usually made from plastic or some type of foam material. These plugs are placed into the ear opening and they serve to muffle any loud sound that the ear is exposed to. They are known as "passive" because these plugs don't utilize any electronic technology that damper noises. Ear plugs are by far the least expensive form of ear protection, but do they actually work effectively? The sound is suppressed a bit, but can still be quite loud. When I was younger, I can remember using ear plugs of this type when bird hunting; and I can still recall how bad my ears rang after a entire day of hunting. I'm sure the plugs helped out some, but they really didn't protect my ears as well as they should have been protected.

Passive Hearing Protection - This model generally consists of ear muffs that have a cup which covers the entire ear. The muffs are usually attached by a headband or headpiece of some type. Like the passive ear plugs, this model won't have the electronic sound reducing device. The ear muff style design is nice as the cup has a seal that protects the entire ear from the noise versus the ear plugs which only partially protect the ear canal itself. Most ear muff models have the ability to be adjusted, although some of the less expensive ear muff models may not have this feature. Unfortunately, ear muffs of this design dampen all sound, so the wearer can't hear anyone talking or any other significant sounds.

Electronic Hearing Protection - This design incorporates an ear muff design and integrates it with electronic technology that reduces the noise down to a level that isn't harmful to the human ear. The entire sound dampening action takes place faster than the blink of an eye as the suppressed sound is communicated to the wearer almost instantly. The best feature of electronic hearing protection is the ability to hear everything that is going on around you while you are shooting. In many situations, such as on the range, during training, or while hunting; this can be a tremendous benefit. Of course, due to the technology involved, electronic hearing protection tends to be the most expensive all the hearing protection devices. Several of the higher end electronic models may have other enhancements such as a independent volume control for each side of the ear muffs, enhanced adjustability, a battery saver feature to conserve battery use, and ambient sound magnification. The ambient sound magnification is a great benefit for hunters as it amplifies noise to a degree that is far greater than the naked ear can hear. At the same time, the augmented sound is instantly dampened when a shot is fired.

What's the best selection for you? Evaluate your basic requirements and match that up to the most appropriate above. On a personal note, I wouldn't suggest the basic passive ear plugs. Far superior to no hearing protection at all, they supply only minimal protection. If you only shoot now and again or don't have the demand for the added capability of an electronic style, standard passive ear muffs will most likely work just fine. If you are a active shooter or hunter, the electronic models can be a great investment with all their added features. I switched from passive earphones to an electronic model years ago, and I've never once regretted it. At the end of the day, the decision really comes down to your own individual preferences and needs.

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Hopefully, you found this article and the contents useful. For further information on electronic and passive ear protection, please visit Pro Ears Hearing Protection as they have a great selection of passive and electronic hearing protection models.

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