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Can You Hear Range Commands While Wearing Earplugs?

Yes, in many cases you can. The trick is protection that fits your ears well and turns the noise down evenly, so voices stay clearer instead of sounding muffled. A filtered custom earplug with a 25 or 30 dB filter is a good starting point at the range, and on loud days, earmuffs over your plugs add a second layer.

Quick answer

  • How loud: ASHA says small-caliber firearms, including pistols and shotguns, can reach 140 decibels peak, and higher-caliber rifles can go past 175.
  • Why voices get lost: poor fit and too much protection can both make speech harder to follow.
  • What helps: a snug custom fit plus a flat filter, which NIOSH notes may help when conversation is common.
  • Our pick: The One with a 25 or 30 dB filter (NRR 25 dB with one filter installed; filters are interchangeable).
  • Loud days and indoor ranges: ASHA recommends earmuffs over earplugs when shooting.

How loud is a gunshot, really?

Very loud, and very fast. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), small-caliber firearms, including pistols and shotguns, can produce noise up to 140 decibels peak, and higher-caliber rifles can exceed 175. ASHA adds that without proper protection, as little as one shot can lead to hearing loss or ringing in the ears.

The NIDCD puts it in everyday terms on its Protect Your Child’s Hearing page: a gunshot can be as loud as a jet engine at takeoff. Its noise-induced hearing loss page explains that a one-time exposure to an intense “impulse” sound can cause hearing loss.

ASHA also notes that firearm users tend to lose high-frequency hearing, which makes sounds like “s” and “f” harder to catch, and that the loss is often worse in the ear closer to the muzzle. So the goal at the range is protection you’ll wear for every shot, on both sides, all session long.

Why can earplugs make range commands hard to hear?

Two things usually get in the way: fit and too much protection.

Fit first. ASHA says hearing protectors must be properly selected and fitted to each person to lower loud sounds well. NIOSH research shows the protection people actually get varies widely, partly because ear canals come in different sizes and shapes. A plug that doesn’t seal well can let in more noise than you expect.

Then there’s overprotection. In its hearing protection guide, NIOSH warns that too much sound reduction can make people less aware of their surroundings, and that some will take their protection off to hear properly. At a range, that’s the last thing anyone wants.

NIOSH also points to a helpful idea: flat attenuation protectors may help where verbal communication is common. A flat filter turns sound down more evenly across pitches, which can keep speech sounding more natural than a plug that cuts some pitches far more than others.

What does a filtered earplug change at the range?

A filtered earplug is designed to let some sound through on purpose, in a controlled way. Our The One uses a two-part, analog, non-electronic filter system.

  • A non-linear filter in the canal, built into every pair. It lets everyday sound through and closes down when sound turns dangerously loud, like a safety valve, then opens again.
  • An interchangeable flat filter on the outside, in 9, 15, 20, 25 or 30 dB. Filters are color-coded and swap in seconds, with no new mold needed.

For firearms, we recommend the 25 or 30 dB filter. The One carries an NRR of 25 dB with one filter installed, and because the filters are interchangeable, the same pair can switch to a lighter filter for a quieter day.

If you’d like to compare every filter level side by side, our guide on which earplug filter you need walks through each one.

Should you double up with earmuffs at the range?

For most shooting, yes. ASHA recommends putting earmuffs over earplugs when shooting firearms. NIOSH’s guidance is similar for the workplace: double protection for exposures at 100 dBA or above, or for impulse sounds.

Indoor ranges deserve extra care. ASHA suggests avoiding shooting in enclosed spaces, and if you do shoot indoors, choosing a facility that has been acoustically treated for reverberation.

Doubling up doesn’t mean giving up on hearing the line. A well-fitted filtered plug under your muffs still gives you a comfortable, consistent base layer. It’s also good to ask your range how they share commands, so you know what to listen and watch for.

Which Big Ear earplug fits the way you shoot?

Here’s how our options line up for shooters. All of them are made from impressions of your own ears.

Earplug Rating Price Good fit for
The One (filtered) NRR 25 dB with one filter installed; interchangeable filters From $224.95 Range days with instruction and conversation; 25 or 30 dB filter
Hunting earplug Specialty filtered plug $166.95 Hunting; designed to filter out sound at very high decibel levels
Full Stop Super-Soft (solid) NRR 32 dB $168.95 Shooters who want a soft, solid plug; platinum-cure silicone, Shore A 25
Guardian Vanquisher (solid) NRR 37 dB $179.95 High-impact noise; semi-soft silicone, Shore A 45

Any of these can go under earmuffs. If you’re weighing the highest NRR, our post on when an NRR 37 earplug makes sense explains when more is helpful and when it’s too much.

How does Big Ear build shooting earplugs?

It starts with your ears. Every order includes a free Home Impression Kit, which ships in 2–3 business days with return postage paid. With a helper and our guided video, impressions take about 10–15 minutes. If one can’t be used, we send a second kit free.

We hand-build each pair in the USA, and you can expect it 40 business days from the day your impressions reach our lab. Every pair comes with our 30-Day Fit Warranty and a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects (loss isn’t covered). Order shipping is $10, and we keep your impressions on file for up to ten years.

The One comes in three kits: Standard at $224.95 with one filter set, Select at $299.95 with two, and Premium at $574.95 with all five filters plus a hole plug, solid plugs, a tactical piece and a case. Select is a nice match for shooters, since one pair can carry a 25 or 30 dB filter for the range and a lighter one for everyday use.

When should a shooter see an audiologist?

If you notice ringing that is new or getting worse, sounds seem muffled and don’t clear, or you have ear pain, ear tubes or recent ear surgery, please see a doctor or audiologist. ASHA also suggests asking an audiologist for advice on choosing hearing protection.

Frequently asked questions

Which filter should I use for shooting?

We recommend the 25 or 30 dB filter for firearms. On loud days or at indoor ranges, wear earmuffs over your plugs as ASHA suggests.

Is The One electronic?

No. Its filter system is analog and non-electronic, so there are no batteries to charge.

Can I use the same pair for hunting and the range?

The One’s filters are interchangeable, so one pair can switch levels. Our hunting earplug is a separate specialty plug if hunting is your main focus.

Do custom earplugs fit under earmuffs?

Custom plugs sit inside the ear, so they generally work under muffs. If something presses or feels off, our 30-Day Fit Warranty is there to help.

Ready for your next range day?

Order your free Home Impression Kit, try Find my pair, or browse our shooting hearing protection. Questions? Call us at (719) 271-4528. We love talking filters.

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