A. Different horses for different courses. When you need to be easily visible, put the bright shells on, but when you want to hidden, put the dark sheels on. I never shoot without ear defenders and, although they can feel bulky, electronic ones like the ProTacs with high-quality shielding and stereo control often benefit users in the field; you remain more integral to your surroundings and others around you, rather than being a little shut off and secluded ‘in your own world’. I can shoot a shotgun in defenders of this size, although some can’t and, although they look bulky, they are comfortable all day and that extra air volume within the shells does seem to stop your ears getting too hot. You can hear beaters, vehicles and quarry moving that you might not have been able to hear before. BUY NOW 3. Caldwell E-Max Low Profile Electronic Hearing Protection with Sound Amplification 21-25 NRR – Adjustable Earmuffs

I can often be shooting all day for days in a row and, despite other ills, my ears currently work very well and I’d like to keep them that way. Due to the size of the rifles I shoot, regular muzzle brake exposure and the (often painful) experience of covered firing points, defending my eardrums is a serious priority for me personally, and I have researched the subject in more detail than many others. It’s a simple fact that the damage is cumulative, and anything registering above 85dB is a known risk factor, with complex health and safety guidelines in the workplace that dictate the time and exposure levels that can be sustained, and the correct protection SNR (Single Number Rating) required of supplied protection. Given that gunfire is well into the 130-plus decibel region, and sound moderators don’t make as much difference as you might hope when firing in great quantity, I started to look around for an ear defender unit that suited my needs: all-day wear, highest possible SNR protection, and electronic noise transmission to be able to communicate easily when instructing. Over long shooting sessions with louder firearms, the extra attenuation can help make the Peltor SportTac a more comfortable choice. However, this extra attenuation comes at the cost of being a bit bulkier. Price Most people agree that electronic ear defenders are the best option for shooting since they offer good hearing protection while allowing you to hear what’s going on around you.SNR (Single Number Rating) and NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) are the two main standards for rating the level of hearing protection offered by ear defenders and ear plugs.

An interesting thing to be aware of is that the decibel scale isn’t linear. An increase of 10 dB equals roughly a doubling of the perceived volume. This means that a decrease of 30 dB (via the use of ear defenders) equals roughly 1/8 th of the perceived volume. Ear defenders vary greatly in price. While you can’t put a price on your hearing, you want to make sure you’re getting value for money. Thankfully we’re all much more aware of the need to protect ourself today because a shoot day can be very noisy. Most 12-bore gunshots produce a sound of around 150 to 160 decibels (db), while a .30-06 rifle with a 24in barrel produces around the same. Consistent exposure to sounds of more than 95db is bad, and noises of more than 120db can cause permanent damage to your hearing in seconds. Read our piece on why you should always wear ear defenders when shooting. The attenuation level of these ear defenders appears to be higher than the MSA Sordin Supreme PRO X ear defenders, but this is partly because the SNR (single number rating) is measured differently to the NRR (noise reduction rating), and SNR values are typically higher. Almost all firearms produce a noise of over 140 decibels (dB), which is enough to cause long-term hearing damage.

Why getting the best ear defenders for shooting is crucial

Electronic ear defenders can be most easily described as a pair of headphones covered in noise-dampening foam. Tom Payne, Shooting Times contributor, says: “These are my go-to best ear defenders. They are robust and comfortable to wear, even after I’ve worn them for six hours at a stretch. I wear them seven days a week.”