Best Ear Protection for Shooting Range?

Hi everyone,


I’m looking for recommendations for ear protection to use at the shooting range. My top priority is maximum noise reduction, but I’m also open to features like sound amplification or Bluetooth connectivity if they don’t compromise protection.


So far, I’ve come across options like the Allen ULTRX Bionic Fuse Bluetooth Electronic Earmuffs, Howard Leight Impact Sport, and Walker’s Razor Slim, but I’d love to hear your experiences or other suggestions.


What’s worked best for you? Any advice is much appreciated!


Thanks in advance!

Peltor (3M). Industrial rated hearing protection designed for airport ramp workers and other dangerously noisy areas, with multiple types of electronic systems available corded, bluetooth, two-way, listen only, and passive external only or a mix of all.

MSA / Sordin, same but different label basically.

These two brands are the market leaders in this space for a reason.

I have a set of Sordins & rate them. Make sure you get gel ear cups. This makes a big difference when wearing shooting glasses. Batteries last really well compared to a mates Peltors. No blue tooth.

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.

If really worried, do what we did in the mines and use foam earplugs inside grade 5 earmuffs. Worked a treat. Guys who wore none were deaf as posts after about 5 years on the pneumatic rock drills.

But if you are working in silly hot environments (Aussie outback) you have to pull your earmuffs away from your head every 10 minutes to drain the sweat out:XD:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XR500

If really worried, do what we did in the mines and use foam earplugs inside grade 5 earmuffs. Worked a treat. Guys who wore none were deaf as posts after about 5 years on the pneumatic rock drills.

But if you are working in silly hot environments (Aussie outback) you have to pull your earmuffs away from your head every 10 minutes to drain the sweat out:XD:

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I second this and have used this system on the range. Makes a big difference.

I use the Axil xcor pro earbuds. Expensive but I’ve had no issues. It depends on how much shooting you do as to
Whether you can justify the cost. I like the ability to Bluetooth and the sound quality is very good. I use them as general earbuds around the house etc.
I’ve also used Peltor muffs (various models) over the years and have always liked them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XR500

If really worried, do what we did in the mines and use foam earplugs inside grade 5 earmuffs. Worked a treat. Guys who wore none were deaf as posts after about 5 years on the pneumatic rock drills.

But if you are working in silly hot environments (Aussie outback) you have to pull your earmuffs away from your head every 10 minutes to drain the sweat out:XD:

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A DPT in addition to the above.

I use custom electronic plugs but once got a pr of Howard Leights while in the US. The headband design is rather poor and they don't clamp easily in the right position to get a good noise seal. I wouldn't recommend them.

Stay away from the howardleights, they're pretty hopeless compared to 3M.

Get a good set of rubber plugs then wear some grade 5 peltors over the top.

MSA Sordin have just announced a new model which will be available in the first quarter of this year. Called the X2 I think, but will be expensive and will probably have to buy offshore.

They make another model called the Swatcom Active 8 - marketed by Swatcom but definitely made by MSA Sordin.

Both worth having a read about before you buy anything.

I second the peltors with foam ear plugs inside works well

Has anyone tried Allen ULTRX Bionic Fuse Bluetooth Dark Grey Earbuds?
I'm relatively new to these, so would appreciate any guidance. Cheers!

Depends if you need to talk to people at the range or not. If you’re only shooting on your own then as others have said earplugs and good earmuffs over the top work well.

If you need to be able to communicate regularly then that’s not going to work and you’ll need electronic earmuffs or earbuds. I have used both Walker’s and Howard Leight impact sports and rate the latter better. The direction of sound is more natural and I forget I’m wearing them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ASap

Has anyone tried Allen ULTRX Bionic Fuse Bluetooth Dark Grey Earbuds?
I'm relatively new to these, so would appreciate any guidance. Cheers!

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No experience of this brand, but I have a set of Peltor electronic earplugs that are noise cancelling, come in their own recharge case etc etc just aren't bluetooth. I still use them with a phone, just not directly connected (the phone microphone still needs to be held next to your mouth so bluetooth is for me sort of a gimmick on devices that don't have a built in microphone allowing you to be fully hands free).

They work OK, do the job, but don't have the noise protection a full muff offers. On range RO duties with rifles (especially muzzle brakes) I find the plugs aren't high enough rated and need more protection which is why I have the Grade 5 industrial rated electronic Peltors... No requirement to wear plugs under the full size electronic muffs, I did under the Howard Leights and the Sporttac lightweight models when I was using them.

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.

Quote:

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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.

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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

Quote:

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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 ?

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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.

Quote:

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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.

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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! :D

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.