As it happens I know a little about this subject. Will some minor changes this is the same that I posted sometime ago on another hearing/noise related thread. I hope my comments are of assistance. I apologize for it being a little long winded but it is difficult to reduce it much further. Many people ignore hearing protection and regret it during their retirement. Ignoring it will effect the quality of life during your later years.
NOISE FACTS
According to the current Australian OHS/WHS regulations exposing employees to noise levels over a peak of 140db or to noise at or above an average of 85dB(A)leq for the period of an 8hr shift.
It is the “peak” of 140db that applies to shooters. Above this level you will have some hearing loss.
Some examples for shooters of noise levels are: (I did not take these measurements but the source is fairly reliable)
22Lr 140 dB peak
12g 165 dB peak
3006 170 dB peak
And also:
Lawn mower 95 dB
Vacuum cleaner 80 dB
Jet air craft >115 dB
Food processor 92 dB
So every time you fire a rifle (without hearing protection) you are doing a little damage to your hearing and the damage compounds throughout your life. The loss of hearing will not become noticeable until later in life and by then it will be too late.
And when measuring noise you must remember that an increase of 3dB is double the sound power. So an increase of just 2 dB is very significant. Immediate irreversible damage is likely to occur at 140dB.
HEARING PROTECTION
In Australia hearing protection is sold in 5 classes that are laid down in Australian Standard 1270. Class 1 being the lowest level of protection class 5 the best. Below is the minimum reduction (the technical term is attenuation) in dB required of each class of hearing protection, Muff or plug at the ear.
SLC80 Range (Attenuation)
Class 1. 10 - 13
Class 2. 14 - 17
Class 3. 18 – 21
Class 4. 22 - 25
Class 5. 26 or greater
Muffs & ear plugs perform differently at various frequencies further complicating which muffs to purchase. The above is essentially an average at various frequencies.
So if the noise level of a 3006 is 170dB you can expect a class 5 muff to reduce the exposure to the ear down to at least 144dB, but perhaps not all frequencies. So the wearing of anything less than a Class 5 would be fairly useless to shooters. Even the class 5 may not completely prevent hearing loss. However it will certainly go a long way in reducing hearing loss. Continued and regular exposure to gun fire of say 130db will still damage hearing over time.
Many retailers such as Bunnings sell ear muffs but you get what you pay for and often it is not clear what “class” they are on the packaging. As mentioned above, this is important. In addition cheaper muffs generally wear out very quickly, significantly reducing the level of protection provided and the wearer is usually unaware that they now have reduced hearing protection. So you start off with say a class 3 and a yr later it is a class 1 muff for example.
WHAT SHOULD I BUY?
Ear muffs, both standard and electronic provide the best protection and I would recommend class 5 for shooting. The down side of standard ear muffs is the effect they will have on communication and potentially not being to hear other hazards nearby, e.g a truck heading in your direction. Ear plugs, I cannot recommend the use of off the shelf ear plugs I rarely see them worn correctly. However if worn correctly they fine, very effective and convenient to wear in the field. Personally fitted plugs should be a better option for most users if you prefer plugs but check what the expected attenuation will be before purchasing.
As mentioned earlier electronic muffs are great and fitted with a microphone and amplifiers that automatically switches off at 85dB, effectively reverting to a normal ear muff. This allows you to hear normal sounds and your ears are protected from loud sounds. However quality ones are expensive & you get what you pay for.
If you are shopping around for a pair of muffs I suggest you visit a safety specialist retailer such as protector alsafe or safety equip. In my experience the staff generally know about the products they sell and will steer you in the right direction. And they also sell muffs of the less expensive brands. Stick to well known brands is always good advice. Avoid overseas purchases as you may not get the level of protection you need.
Well known better brands to look for:
Bilsom
Peltor
Howard Leight
EDUCATION
Here is a couple of links for two very good videos. If links do not work copy & post the line below into your browser address bar.
Here is a link to a general video about sound and hearing protection that all shooters should watch, about 18 minutes. The hearing video
http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications ... rtid=34284Here is a link to a couple of 70 second videos showing how to fit ear plugs correctly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nGO0qNTCd8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghNFKsxJuvYI hope this helps people to better understand the importance of looking after their hearing and how to do just that.
Oldbloke