Thread: Best Ear Protection for Shooting Range?

Gotcha, I'll stick with the standard ear muff then.

Just so I'm not seeming like I'm knocking the earplugs, I do wear them if I'm shooting by myself just I don't find they have enough protection when on the range standing behind the firing line. Otherwise I quite like them, much cooler to wear in summer than the muffs and more comfortable when shooting rifles as the earcup fouling the stock isn't an issue when it's plugs.

Just noting the fact that the shear noise off big braked rifles means I don't find them to have sufficient protection in the range situation, especially when two or three are in use at once.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

I use Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones on both smallbore and fullbore rifle ranges.

They are a noise cancelling bluetooth stereo headphone.
Lightweight and comfortable.
USB-C charging, can be charged off a battery pack if flat at the range.

Not very water resistant, but if its wet they're worn under the hood of a raincoat.

They are the most comfortable noise cancelling headphones I've ever worn and have noise cancelling as good as any other I've worn.
I've worn them next to a noisy F-Open rifle without any issues.

The only disadvantage is when they've synch'd to my phone and my wife calls me in the middle of shooting.
It's happened. She forgets the instruction is to text not call when I'm at the range.

They also are a great stereo headset paired my TV, phone, laptop, tablet.

I wonder how well noise cancelling headphones work ?
Guessing they dont seal out ambient noise but create out of phase sound of similar intensity.
Presumably they have a limit like 90dB so you dont play music too loud.
Can they respond quickly and really cancel out even 20dB of gunshot ?

I came across a guy with noise cancelling headphones at our range day last month and leant him a pair of Sordins.

@Cyclops how do you find them ?
Any tinnitus after a day on the range ?

Sordin w gel cup 392g
Sordin plain cup 336g

Ive actually found the plain cup just fine. Its easier to slip on and off.

I have used these for the last 5+ years for work and shooting. Wearing them for probably 30-40 hours a week, most weeks of the year. The boom mic is great, can use tools and be on the phone and the person on the other end can barely hear the back ground noise. Great in the maimai, can talk quietly with the ambient sound turned up and not have to fuss around when a shotgun goes off, straight back to talking. Fantastic run time off 2xAA's. Radio and bluetooth. Bit hot in summer but manageable. Looking for smaller in ear as a summer or shooting in a group on bigger mobs etc. So far nothing has stood out as worth spending the coin on.
https://www.3mnz.co.nz/3M/en_NZ/p/d/v100994028/

The OPs priority is maximum noise reduction.
I doubt there is a single electronic earmuff or headset on the market rated to class 5 protection.
Electronic earmuffs are great, but for shear attenuation (especially for impulse noise) don’t offer the same protection as a passive set.
Electronic earmuffs are diminishing return compromise that needs to be rationalised by the end user.

I use howard leights for shooting and work as well. They seem fine to me

Originally Posted by Bagheera

I wonder how well noise cancelling headphones work ?
Guessing they dont seal out ambient noise but create out of phase sound of similar intensity.
Presumably they have a limit like 90dB so you dont play music too loud.
Can they respond quickly and really cancel out even 20dB of gunshot ?

I came across a guy with noise cancelling headphones at our range day last month and leant him a pair of Sordins.

@Cyclops how do you find them ?
Any tinnitus after a day on the range ?

I find the SOny WH-1000xM4 as good as, if not better than any "proper" electronic ear muffs I have used.
They are lighter weight and more comfortable to wear all day. Cheaper too.
The noise cancelling works on the range - when you've got shooters either side of you firing there is no problem.

No tinnitus, no aching head, after a day on the range.

Haven't tried them in the wet - this could be a problem.

The only problem is with them pairing to my phone then my wife rings me when I'm in the middle of a string.
Turning bluetooth off on the phone solves this.

Originally Posted by Moutere

The OPs priority is maximum noise reduction.
I doubt there is a single electronic earmuff or headset on the market rated to class 5 protection.
Electronic earmuffs are great, but for shear attenuation (especially for impulse noise) don’t offer the same protection as a passive set.
Electronic earmuffs are diminishing return compromise that needs to be rationalised by the end user.

3M Peltor for one, as stated earlier. The baseline attenuation of the standard earcups on their industrial line is equal to or higher than their passive Grade 5 rated earmuffs, and the electronic versions are rated for aviation (ramp), mining/drilling, engineering and any other occupation you can think of. Follow the link Ranal posted above and download the tech specs brochure which gives you the attenuation ratings.

Thanks everyone for the input. I ended up getting a basic 3M Peltor SportTac. Nothing too fancy, haha!

MSA sordin's are my go too when on the range, one set lives in my range bag and have another for around the garage.