We know that guns are loud, but just how loud are guns? Any sound that is under seventy decibels is something that is considered a safe level, in order to protect your hearing. If you are around anything that is over eighty-five decibels, then it is likely to cause damage to your level of hearing, as it can impact the inner ear.

It has been found that being exposed to the noise of firearms can alarmingly reach anywhere from 140-175 decibels. The level that can be reached will depend on the gun that is used, but this can seriously impact your current level of hearing. That is why hearing protection is essential when shooting.

DOES HEARING PROTECTION CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU ARE SHOOTING WITH?

No matter what you choose to shoot with, whether it be a rifle, a handgun, clay target shooting, field hunting shooting, or using a shotgun, the result is the same. The kind of protection that you need doesn’t change. Whenever you are around a gun, no matter what kind of gun, it is best practice to make sure that you are wearing some hearing protection to protect your hearing.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN EARPLUGS AND HEARING PROTECTION FOR SHOOTING

Any kind of hearing protection is likely to come with an NRR or noise reduction rating. This is a measurement that shows how effective ear protection is at reducing noise. The NRR rate can also work out what the decibel level will be when the sound reaches your ear. If the NRR rating is ten, then it means that there will be ten decibels of hearing protection. The bigger the NRR number on the hearing protection, then the better it will be to look after your hearing.

There are some choices when it comes to the kind of hearing protection that you choose, as well. There are some larger choices, such as ear defenders that go over your head. You could also choose earplugs. Either option can be effective at protecting your hearing, often making the choice about personal preference and requirements in some ways. If you already wear hearing aids, for example, earplugs are going to be unlikely to work. In a case like that, ear defenders could work well instead as they don’t go into the ear canal.