cathouse01
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If you’re on Creedmoor’s mailing list you’ve probably already seen this, but they just sent out a detailed email on ear pro. The more pertinent parts are at the end:
When do we need hearing protection?
Hearing protection should be used for anything at or above 85 dB. This is halfway between a vacuum cleaner and a circular saw sound.
What does the NRR mean on hearing protection labels?
The Noise Reduction Rating can range from 1 to 33 and tells you the effectiveness of the plugs or earmuffs.
How to determine effectiveness of your hearing protection.
Take the NRR of your hearing protection, subtract seven, and then divide by two. If your earmuffs have an NRR of 33, then the formula would look like (33-7)/2=13. 13 is how many dB your hearing protection will reduce the sound by. This means if your running a jackhammer with 110 dB, your hearing protection will reduce the exposure to 97 dB.
Should we wear earplugs under our earmuffs?
We absolutely should, especially shooting indoors. However, combining protection doesn't combine the NRR of the plugs and earmuffs, but it will add 5 NRR to the highest rated protection product you're wearing. If your plugs are 24 NRR and your earmuffs are 26 NRR, the total NRR is 31.
What NRR should we look for?
You'll want a minimum of 20 NRR for .22 lr, 25 NRR or better for handguns and medium cartridge rifles, and large cartridges and magnums require 33. For indoors, if there's a chance of anything being shot other than a .22 lr, get 28 NRR or better.