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.
- 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.
Replacement Napier comfort cuffs for Pro 9 and Pro 10 defenders are here too. See also hearing and eye protection.
