Do ear plugs work for shooting

Q: Do foam ear plugs work for shooting?

Noise Reduction This is one of the highest NRRs youll find on foam earplugs, which makes them some of the most protective and efficient earplugs on the market. Theyre perfect for hunting and range shooting, as they provide enough protection that you wont have to worry about any loud sounds damaging your ears.

Hunting and shooting are two very popular pastimes in the United States. If you enjoy these hobbies, you understand the need to remain safe at all times and to protect your hearing health and wellbeing. Therefore, you might wonder whether it’s essential to wear protection during a session.

Índice Show

It dulls the noise
Hearing loss isn’t always gradual
The side-effects range in severity
How to protect your ears while shooting and hunting
What should you do if you spot the signs of hearing loss?
Top reviews from the United States
Do foam ear plugs work for shooting?
Do you need double ear protection for shooting?

The truth is that ear protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, is imperative because they add an extra layer of security. It’s tempting to assume that your hearing is the last thing you should protect, yet it’s probably the most vulnerable part of your person.

Here is a selection of the reasons wearing earplugs is critical for hunters and shooters, and the options available concerning protection.

It dulls the noise

As a rule, the higher the decibel level, the louder the sound. And, it’s the decibels that have the biggest impact on your hearing, causing you to experience side-effects such as tinnitus and an inability to make out sounds. It’s crucial to remember that the noise a gun creates is substantial, with the NIDCD reporting that an average hunting rifle can release a 140-decibel blast.

Any audiologist will inform you that the protective layers of the material enable ear protection to absorb the majority of the noise – from 20 to 30 dB – at close range. When this happens, the bones and hairs in your inner-ear are less exposed.

Hearing loss isn’t always gradual

Usually, you would expect your hearing to decline over time. This occurs when hearing loss is natural, not when a foreign noise or object is to blame. With a decibel level of 140-plus, it’s vital to realize that any atrophy occurs very suddenly. After all, the ear cells might be damaged beyond repair.

Thankfully, ear protection methods let you take part in your favorite hobby without having to fret about the short and long-term consequences. Earmuffs and earplugs are effective to the point where you can enjoy regular hunting or shooting sessions if they are to a high standard.

The side-effects range in severity

Do you assume that hearing loss is only concentrated to your ears? This is the biggest mistake people make because the side-effects are wide-ranging. They include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

Cardiovascular disease
Cognitive impairment
Depression
Risk of balance issues, such as trips and falls
Social issues
Isolation

Many other challenges are associated with hearing loss, some that you might not recognize at first, so it’s important to take care of your ears to prevent future issues. The impacts of untreated hearing loss can escalate, too, which is why it’s better to nip in the bud early.

How to protect your ears while shooting and hunting

In a perfect world, the solution would be as straightforward as wearing earplugs or earmuffs. However, they pose problems for shooters and hunters, including being uncomfortable and taking away from the experience. The latter is easy when you block out noises as you can’t hear the sounds of the animals giving themselves away.

So, what are the alternatives? Here are the best ear protection methods currently.

Earmuffs: Because they are designed to fit your head snugly, earmuffs reduce the majority of sounds, even at close range. If you’re worried about your hearing, these are the easiest and most effective options.
Earplugs: Earplugs are brilliant for people who don’t enjoy the closeness of earmuffs. Earmuffs are tight, which impacts everything from your form to your mentality – you won’t shoot straight if you’re not focused on the target. As they are small and slender, you’ll hardly notice that you’re wearing them.
Active ear protection: The two methods above are classed as passive ear protection. Active ear protection is different because it decides which noises are friendly and lets them pass into the ear canal. Therefore, hunters can continue to stalk their prey by listening for telltale sounds without worrying about them being drowned out.

Active earplugs, typically electronic, are fast becoming the go-to choice for hunters and shooters who want to strike the ideal balance between their art and health.

What should you do if you spot the signs of hearing loss?

You should speak to a qualified and certified audiologist straight away to limit the damage and maintain your hearing. Not only can an expert provide ear protection advice, but they can also fit devices to boost your hearing.

At the Quality Hearing & Audiology Center, our trained audiologists are on hand to evaluate your hearing and provide their professional opinion on what steps to take next. Call 816-233-0022 now to find out more.

Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020

Pros:
- Very comfortable
- Good attenuation for medium level sound threats ... I tested them at an indoor range and they were fine for attenuating the sounds of the handguns being fired a couple of booths down from me. They were also OK for the subsonic 9mm I was shooting out of my pistol. They were not good enough for my full powered 45acp loads in a pistol - the report (only fired one) was quite loud, although they did keep sound below the level that would make my ears ring, so I suspect that outdoors they might be fine as well.
- They do allow you to maintain more situational awareness than any other solution I have tried that didn't need batteries.

Cons
- Removal can be tricky if you don't follow the instructions and insert them with the tab up ... in my ears, if the tab is down, there is NO WAY to grab the tab for removal and I had to work for quite a while to get them out without resorting to tools :) If you read and follow the instructions, they are easy-in and easy-out ... "RTFM"
- If you are going to shoot high powered rifles, they may not be enough ... so they aren't a solution to every noise issue

UPDATE AFTER USING A FEW MORE TIMES:
I stand by my initial review, but I have found that it is difficult for some reason to remember to get that little tab in the correct orientation every time. I know that it is operator error, but today, I did it again and found myself asking "Why couldn't this little tab be a little longer???"

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2018

So far I've worn these every day at work since I've received them (12, 8, 12 hours) and left them in the entire time from before I head onto the floor til I sit down in my car to leave. I work in a factory that molds car parts and the sustained noise level leaves a little hearing loss without protection but when steam vents or if you're too near to a Water Jet, then it can get very loud for a short period of time, sometimes in bursts. I've never had anything in my ears so comfortable as these for any amount of time, and these earplugs really do the job! I wear the large ones, which have some sort of a plastic filter in them additionally so you can't insert a string between them if you wanted to, and the pull tabs are a bit short if you don't have fingernails and/or aren't careful about how you put them in, but I can put them in just as deep as I need to without worry of getting them back out again. I look forward to testing these next time I go to the range compared to the normal cheaper ones I usually use/compared to my Beats when I totally forget plugs altogether somehow, especially with some of our larger cal shotguns and rifles, and under covered areas, but I expect they'll perform as described. I really like that I CAN leave these in all day because I can still hear people with them in, even when we're using our inside voices in the break room, even if I'm talking more quietly to a close friend or something. That's not something I've had with cheaper dB earplugs or foam earplugs in the past. I've had a hard time hearing my team members on the floor with those in, but with these it's all been much clearer and I've found myself asking people to repeat things a lot less. Bottom line, will definitely buy again, HIGHLY recommend.

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2022

I got these for working in a factory. I only did 2 12-hour shifts every weekend and thought it would be nice to hear what the guys around me were saying but not the ear-bleeding pounding of metal on metal. The first problem is the material. They might just be too thin or maybe too hard, but they are NOT comfortable to wear, even to a hockey game. My ear canals literally bled by the end of the weekend.

The color is nice, if you're trying not to draw attention to your efforts to preserve your hearing.

The case is neat and waterproof, though awkward to manage not dropping them on the floor on account of having to shake them out.

When fully inserted, they don't block that much noise. DEFINITELY don't trust them on the range. Again, I intended to block percussive sounds and realized at some point that not much was being blocked.

Another problem is the shape. Yes, they include a large and small set, but they are so conical that they slide out to a place of no use in a matter of minutes. Foam plugs will stay in your ear better and collect less crud.

I am a fan of reusable ear plugs, though, because I take care of them and can always have a set on me when I need them. Instead, at my other job, I picked up a set of Honeywell Howard Leight 0333 SmartFits, which cost about $1.34 per unit and wear them to this day. They have a kidney-shaped plastic case that fits flat in my pocket and the protection is magnificent. What you are buying with the "shooting" ear plugs is marketing and a tin can. They do not block "just the percussive sounds." They don't block anything. And for what I paid, you could have about 18 sets that do work.

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020

I've used these ear plugs on a handful of occasions and I must say they work well. They don't block out sound as well as foam earplugs, but they aren't designed to and I have no issues with it. I haven't worn these around rifles or pistols, but they block out 12ga. shotgun noise well. Conversational noise comes through just fine, but if you're talking in low voices (like you would be in most hunting situations) it does not come through very well unless you're close to the person who is talking. They are comfortable to wear and the small tab for removing them is an absolute MUST for earplugs like this. I would not buy this style of earplug without that tab or they would be nearly impossible to remove. The only thing about these that is slightly inconvenient is the black case, I use these when I hunt and dropping a black case in the dark could be an issue.

Do foam ear plugs work for shooting?

Noise Reduction This is one of the highest NRRs you'll find on foam earplugs, which makes them some of the most protective and efficient earplugs on the market. They're perfect for hunting and range shooting, as they provide enough protection that you won't have to worry about any loud sounds damaging your ears.

Do you need double ear protection for shooting?

Types of Hearing Protection There are three kinds of hearing protection available: Earplugs, passive earmuffs, and active earmuffs. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends wearing both earplugs and earmuffs together when shooting any firearms.