Firearm Tips and Tricks
Hearing Protection for Shooting: NRR, Doubling Up and 4 Picks
Quick answer
Wear hearing protection every time you shoot. NIOSH researchers recommend doubling up, with foam earplugs under earmuffs. Use the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) to compare products, but don’t treat it as an exact number for gunfire. Under EPA rules, the information that comes with every hearing protector has to say the NRR is based on continuous noise and may not be accurate for impulsive noise such as gunfire. Below, you’ll find how loud guns are, how the NRR works, and four products whose ratings we checked on the makers’ own pages.
How loud is gunfire?
In an article written by NIOSH researchers (archived by the CDC), the authors say NIOSH recommends that exposure to peak impulsive noise not exceed 140 dB SPL. They report that a single event at that level would make up 100% of a person’s daily allowable noise exposure. NIOSH studies they cite measured peak levels from 144 dB for a .22 rifle up to 172 dB for a .357 revolver. At an indoor police range, the guns measured 159 to 169 dB peak. The authors also note that indoors, echoing sound becomes an important factor.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders warns that extremely loud bursts of sound, such as gunshots, can rupture the eardrum or damage the bones in the middle ear. It says that kind of hearing loss can be immediate and permanent. Loud noise can also cause tinnitus, a ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears or head.
What the NRR does and doesn’t tell you
The NRR comes from EPA labeling rules (40 CFR Part 211). Those rules require three things:
- On the label: the NRR in decibels, plus a statement that existing protectors range from about 0 to 30 and that higher numbers mean more protection.
- In the supporting information that comes with the device: a warning that improper fit will reduce its effectiveness.
- Also in that information: a statement that the NRR is based on continuous noise and may not be an accurate indicator of protection against impulsive noise such as gunfire.
Real-world protection is usually lower than the label. 3M, for example, says many users get less noise reduction than the NRR because of differences in fit and fitting skill, and it recommends cutting the NRR by 50% to estimate typical protection. OSHA’s workplace method for A-weighted noise subtracts 7 dB from the NRR before applying it. Some makers also print an SNR, which is a different rating. One earmuff below is rated 22 NRR and 28 SNR, so compare NRR only with NRR.
Doubling up: earplugs plus earmuffs
The NIOSH researchers recommend that hunters and shooters use double protection every time a gun is fired. They name a deeply inserted foam earplug with a well-seated earmuff as the best combination. In one NIOSH evaluation of a SWAT team’s training, doubling up added another 15 to 20 dB of peak protection on top of a single protector. If you wear shooting glasses, take extra care that the earmuff still seals against the side of your head.
Types of hearing protection
| Type | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Foam earplugs | Compressed foam expands to seal the ear canal | Protection depends on deep insertion |
| Passive earmuffs | Cups seal around the ear | Make sure the seal holds with glasses on |
| Electronic earmuffs | Microphones pass quiet sounds through and cut out loud ones | Same seal issue; needs batteries for the electronics |
| Plugs + muffs | Two layers | The combination NIOSH researchers recommend for shooting |
Will electronic muffs react fast enough? The NIOSH article explains that these muffs amplify outside sound to a safe level, usually under 85 dBA, and cut the gain as sound gets louder. In NIOSH’s tests, the amplifiers reacted fast enough to give the same protection as when they were switched off.
Four products we checked
Each NRR below is the number printed on the maker’s own product page, checked October 2026. Retailer listings don’t always match. Some retailer listings show a different NRR for the Peltor below than 3M’s page does, so check the package before you buy.
| Product | Type | NRR (maker) | Maker-stated details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3M Disposable Classic Earplugs | Foam earplug | 29 dB | Expands slowly to fit most ear canals; 3M says to cut the NRR by 50% to estimate real-world protection |
| Howard Leight Impact Sport | Electronic earmuff | 22 dB | Amplifies ambient sound to 82 dB and stops amplifying above that; slim cups for stock clearance; about 350 hours of battery; shuts off after 4 hours |
| 3M Peltor Sport Tactical 500 | Electronic earmuff | 25 dB | Bluetooth; adjusts its suppression to gunshot energy to reduce echoes; AA batteries or an optional rechargeable pack |
| ShellShock EXO PRO | Electronic earmuff | 22 dB (28 SNR) | ANSI S3.19 rated; 300 hours on two included AAAs; 13.2 oz; listed at $99, checked October 2026 |
The foam plug plus any of the three earmuffs gives you the double-protection setup NIOSH researchers recommend. If you shoot a rifle, look at cup profile. Howard Leight designed the Impact Sport’s slim earcups to clear a firearm stock, and 3M says the Sport Tactical 500’s low-profile cups are optimized for long guns.
Fit and habits
- Insert plugs deeply. The NIOSH researchers’ best combination calls for a deeply inserted foam plug, and the EPA-required fit warning says improper fit reduces protection.
- Check the muff seal with glasses on. The NIOSH researchers say special care is needed to keep the earmuff sealed when you wear safety glasses.
- Protect your ears before the first shot. The NIOSH article says a single shot from any firearm is usually loud enough to call for hearing protection.
- Take symptoms seriously. The same article says ringing and a feeling of fullness after shooting are signs you need better protection next time.
FAQ
Is an NRR of 22 enough for shooting?
No NRR can promise a safe level for gunfire. Under EPA rules, the information that comes with the protector says the NRR may not be accurate for impulsive noise such as gunfire. That’s why NIOSH researchers recommend wearing earplugs and earmuffs together rather than relying on one number.
Can I wear foam earplugs under electronic earmuffs?
Yes. Earplugs plus earmuffs is the double protection NIOSH researchers recommend. ShellShock’s own EXO PRO page also recommends doubling up with foam plugs for indoor shooting or louder guns.
What’s the difference between NRR and SNR?
They’re different rating systems. NRR is the rating the EPA requires on U.S. hearing protector labels. ShellShock prints both for the EXO PRO (22 NRR and 28 SNR), so compare NRR with NRR.
Is indoor shooting worse for hearing?
Indoors, the NIOSH article says echoing sound becomes an important factor on top of the peak level.
Once your ears are covered, if you carry every day, our Cloudster Pillow holster wedge is built to make that carry more comfortable.
