Shooting sports earplugs

Anyone active in the shooting sports knows how intense the noise level on a range can be. A single shot already produces a sound pressure well above the pain threshold. Shooting sports earplugs are therefore not an afterthought but a fixed part of your kit. With the right earplugs you protect your hearing without losing your concentration or your sense of what is going on around you. That applies at the shooting club just as much as it does out hunting.

Why are shooting sports earplugs so important?

Every shot creates a sound pressure that can run up to 150 dB or more. Even relatively quiet firearms already reach around 140 dB, and with the heaviest calibres that climbs to 170 dB. Every shot is therefore above the 120 dB pain threshold, the point at which hearing damage can occur immediately. Without proper protection you run the risk of permanent hearing loss or tinnitus.

Prolonged exposure counts too. From 80 dB onwards damage can already occur if you are exposed for longer than eight hours, and the louder the noise, the faster that happens. Quality earplugs for the shooting sports attenuate those peak sounds to a safe level while you keep hearing relevant ambient sound such as instructions or signals. That way you combine safety with control. Want more background? Read our article on hearing protection for the shooting sports.

What types of shooting sports earplugs are there?

Within the shooting sports several solutions are possible, depending on your discipline and your preference.

Earplugs

Earplugs for shooting sit in the ear canal, so they attenuate right at the source. They are light, comfortable and suitable for prolonged use. During training sessions or longer competitions in particular they are often experienced as pleasant, because your ears are less likely to get warm.

Earmuffs

Earmuffs seal the ear completely and offer powerful noise reduction. They are often used with heavier calibres, or together with earplugs for extra protection. Wearing both at once gives you roughly 5 dB of additional attenuation.

Active or passive

Passive hearing protection works with constant physical attenuation, for example via an impulse filter that flattens the bang. Active hearing protection attenuates loud shots electronically and at the same time amplifies quieter ambient sound, so you can keep following instructions and conversations. Both systems protect effectively; passive protection is generally more affordable, but no less effective for it. At Audinc you can choose the passive Custom Impulse with impulse filter, or the electronic Cens, which attenuates shots automatically and amplifies ambient sound.

What should you look for in earplugs developed for shooting sports?

You choose the right earplugs not only on attenuation, but on comfort and stability as well. While shooting they have to stay firmly in place and must not create pressure points, not even after a few hours on the range.

For pistol shooters, compact custom-made earplugs are usually enough. Rifle shooters more often go for earmuffs with a cut-away lower edge, so the cups do not catch on the stock of the firearm, possibly combined with shooting earplugs to increase attenuation further. A shot is always above the pain threshold, and that makes good hearing protection indispensable, whether you are on the range or out hunting.

Custom-made shooting sports earplugs

For optimal comfort and reliable attenuation you have your earplugs made entirely to measure. To do that we take an impression of your ear canal. We use that mould to make earplugs that follow the shape of your ears exactly, so they protect you properly against loud noise and stay firmly in place.

The benefits of custom-made earplugs for the shooting sports:

• A better seal
• Consistent and reliable attenuation
• More wearing comfort during prolonged use
• Less chance of shifting while you move

With well-fitting earplugs you can focus entirely on technique and precision.

Buying shooting sports earplugs at Audinc

Looking for reliable shooting sports earplugs? At Audinc you get personal advice and you can compare different types side by side. We help you choose the right solution, matched to your discipline and how you use it.

Still torn between active and passive protection, or want to know more about earplugs for the shooting sports and hunting? Get in contact with us via customer service, by email, through the online chat or in the shop. A visit to one of our locations is possible too.

Curious about other applications as well? Then take a look at our custom earplugs page.