Hearing damage from gunfire is permanent and cumulative, and it does not announce itself — it turns up twenty years later as a difficulty following conversation in a busy room. Modern protection is good enough that there is no reason to shoot without it.
Three broad choices:
- Electronic earmuffs — these cut the muzzle blast but amplify everything quieter, so you can hold a conversation on the peg or hear a beater working. Walker's Razor is the volume seller, in slim and rechargeable versions, and the Peltor Sport-Tac and ProTac Hunter are the step up.
- Passive earmuffs — simpler and cheaper, with no batteries to forget. Jack Pyke and the Walker's Pro-Low Profile folding muffs cover this end. Worth having a spare pair in the truck.
- Plugs — lower profile under a hat or against a stock, and better in warm weather. Foam plugs are the cheap option; Decibullz mould to your own ear canal; ISOtunes Sport add Bluetooth so you can take a call.
A note on gun fit: bulky over-ear muffs can lift your head off the stock and change your mount. If you shoot a lot of clays or driven game, either a slim-profile muff or plugs will usually give you a more consistent gun mount.
Reading the ratings
Shooting ear defenders carry a noise reduction rating: NRR on US-made products and SNR on European ones. A higher number means more reduction, but the two scales are measured differently, so compare like with like. Fit matters as much as the number: a muff that does not seal (over glasses arms or a thick beanie) or a plug that is not seated properly gives far less protection than its rating. Check the rating on each product page.
Brands include Walker's, Peltor, ISOtunes, Decibullz and Jack Pyke. Replacement Napier comfort cuffs for Pro 9 and Pro 10 defenders are here too, and there are children's folding muffs for young shots. For shooting glasses as well, see hearing and eye protection.
