Electronic muffs and earbuds that let you hear range commands and cut the sound of each shot, plus when to wear plugs underneath.
How Loud a Gunshot Is
Gunshots peak at about 140 to 170 dB. NIOSH studies measured from about 144 dB for a .22 rifle to 172 dB for a .357 revolver, as reported in The Hearing Review. NIOSH's limit for impulse noise is 140 dB, so an unprotected shot from almost any firearm is over it.
On our noise levels chart, the threshold of pain is 120 dB. Gunshots are 20 to 50 dB above that. Indoors, walls and ceilings reflect the sound back at you, which adds to the exposure.
Phone decibel meters, including our decibel meter, can't measure gunshots. Phone microphones overload far below 140 dB and miss sounds that short.
SNR and NRR in Plain English
Ear muffs and earplugs sold in the UK and Europe carry an SNR (Single Number Rating), measured under the EN 352 standard. In the US they carry an NRR (Noise Reduction Rating), measured under rules set by the EPA.
Both are lab ratings: trained adults fit the product carefully and the lab measures how much sound it blocks. The two tests use different methods, so the same product usually shows a higher SNR than NRR, and you can't compare an SNR with an NRR directly.
Real-world protection is usually lower than either number and depends mostly on fit: a gap from hair, glasses, a loose band, or the wrong tip size lets sound in.
Double Up: Plugs Under Muffs
NIOSH recommends double hearing protection, earplugs and earmuffs together, for shooters at firing ranges. In one NIOSH indoor-range study, muffs cut peak levels by 26 dB on average and plugs by 24 dB. Both together cut them by 44 dB (NIOSH).
- Double up at indoor ranges, with magnums, rifles with muzzle brakes and short barrels, and for long sessions.
- Use a deep-fitting plug. Foam plugs rolled and inserted fully work well; our sleep earplugs guide shows how. Electronic earbuds such as the Caliber also work under a muff.
- Don't add the two ratings. Plugs plus muffs give more than either alone, but less than the sum.
- Electronic muffs still turn up speech over the plugs, which helps you hear range commands.
How Electronic Muffs Work
An electronic muff is a normal passive muff with a microphone and a small speaker in each cup. The microphones pick up quiet sounds, such as voices and range commands, and play them inside the cup at a safe level.
When a shot goes off, the electronics stop amplifying or compress the sound within milliseconds. You then get the muff's full passive rating. The Impact Sport, for example, amplifies up to 82 dB and stops above that.
The electronics never make a muff block more than its rating. If the batteries die, it still protects at its passive rating, but everything sounds muffled.
Fit and Safety
- Muffs need a seal around each ear. Hair, hats, and thick glasses arms under the cushions let sound in. Thin-armed shooting glasses help.
- Replace cushions when they crack or harden.
- Everyone near the firing line needs protection, including spectators and children. See our kids' ear defenders guide.
- Ringing ears or dull hearing after shooting means too much exposure. If it doesn't clear within a day, see a doctor or audiologist.
- No ear protection makes gunfire safe on its own. It lowers each dose, and the doses still add up over years.
