April 24th, 2022
6minute read
Its never quiet for me.
Sadly, I also have a harder time hearing normal conversations.
Shooters are at high risk for hearing loss and damage.
Before heading to the range, make sure you have appropriate protective equipment like these muffs from 3M Peltor.
Firearms emit noise that is loud enough to cause permanent damage with a single shot.
Repeated shots increase both the likelihood and extent of damage.
Theres nothing manly about shooting without hearing protection.
Hearing protection can come in many forms, with in-ear and over-the-ear styles being the most significant difference.
You cant undo damage to your auditory system.
The more you have of either, the higher your chances of permanent damage.
Sound is an energy wave.
Even when shot outside, the report of a pistol is loud enough to cause permanent auditory impairment. Make sure you always use hearing protection.
As its intensity increases, so does the impact it will have on your ears.
Loudness of a noise is measured in decibels (dB).
The decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear.
In-ear plugs are a popular option for preventing permanent hearing damage when shooting.
That means as sound increases on the scale, the sound is orders of magnitude greater.
For example, moving from 100 dB to 110 dB is not a 10% increase.
Rather, every 3 dB roughly doubles the sound energy.
Low-profile electronic muffs offer excellent noise reduction yet do not interfere with the shouldering of a rifle.
Perceived loudness of a 10 dB increase is about double.
Different cartridges generate different amounts of noise.
For example, a 7mm Rem Mag makes a louder report than a .22 LR.
When using foam plugs, make sure you tightly roll the plugs as small as you can before sliding them deep into your ear canal. When used properly, inexpensive foam plugs can offer up to 33 dB of noise attenuation.
However, the barrel length of a gun can also play a major factor.
Shorter barrels release more noise than longer ones.
An AR-15 chambered in 5.56 NATO may produce noise in the range of 155 dB to 160 dB.
Muffs come in a wide range of colors, styles and sizes. Companies like Peltor make quality ear pro in kid sizes as well.
Another factor to consider is how the harmful noise is contained.
Shooting at an indoor range is potentially more harmful than shooting in an open field.
Remember that sounds are wave energy.
The Peltor Sport Tactical 500 electronic hearing protection offers a high degree of noise attenuation as well as Bluetooth connectivity at a reasonable price.
The net effect is the harmful sound appears louder.
To avoid permanent damage, you have to protect yourself.
Each offers specific benefits, and the two can be combined for improved noise attenuation.
High-quality electronic hearing protection can vastly improve the experience of shooting for kids and teens. You preserve their hearing and increase the likelihood they will stay with shooting for a lifetime.
In-ear plugs can vary in construction.
Inexpensive foam plugs are the most common.
They are surprisingly effective when worn correctly.
Ive seen some that provide 32 dB of noise reduction.
Over-the-ear muffs range from simple foam-filled cups to units with advanced electronics.
The most effective muffs provide more than 30 dB of noise attenuation.
Electronic muffs have at least one microphone on the outside of the unit.
Quiet sounds are amplified while high energy noises are attenuated.
More advanced models may use compression algorithms and other technologies to reduce the harmful noise while improving speech clarity.
A perfect example of this is the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 muffs.
The stereo microphones work with the companys onboard processors to identify voices for amplification.
At the same time, it uses gunshot recognition and dynamic suppression to protect your hearing from harmful noise.
Ive found the system works well.
Ive heard virtually no wind noise when wearing these and find the low-profile muffs work well with long guns.
The headband is also comfortable with vent holes.
Whenever possible, I recommend people try them on prior to buying.
You want to double-check they fit your head comfortably.
Assuming they do, I expect you will be pleased with their performance.
Final Thoughts
Ive become very protective of my remaining hearing.
If I am on the range, I always double up by combining in-ear plugs and over-the-ear muffs.
Good muffs or ear plugs will provide about 30 dB of noise reduction.
Getting 35+ dB in noise reduction helps me preserve my remaining hearing.
For those younger than me, that kind of protection can safeguard your hearing for a lifetime.
You dont want to spend the rest of your life in silence save that maddening ringing.
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