The cumulative effect of shotgun recoil often translates into fatigue and skill erosion. Savvy shooters cheat the action/reaction out of shotgun physics with sensibly loaded cartridges, high tech recoil pads, as well as a professional gun fit, particularly as concerns the width and configuration at the stock’s comb. Women and heavy chested men warrant special consideration in the set and shape of the stock’s toe as well.
But one often overlooked reason shooters recoil against recoil is that pesky “bang bang” just inches from their noses. One clays coach of my acquaintance jokes that the response to gunfire and recoil is often as much a matter of “padding” between a shooter’s ears as protection over them!
Minimizing hearing loss hazards while hedging against recoil sensitivity is a matter of either “passive” (noise reduction only) or “active” (protection kicks in electronically against harmful noise) technology. What we’re looking for is a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) right around 30 dB’s.
The most cost effective, fail-safe passive hearing defense is a quality set of plugs a set of lightweight muffs scalloped on the bottom half to reduce interference with gun mount. But while passive protection effectively dampens the sensation of gunfire, it also reduces other sounds that are critical to shooting success: officials’ commands, trap releases, the wing whistle of game birds, communication with squad mates, coaching from an instructor.
Enter active electronic technology for both muff headsets and custom fitted, in-the-ear units. Top-of-the-line offerings effectively guard hearing and defend sensitivity to the gun’s recoil while digitally enhancing what we most want to hear, especially the congratulations of our companions on a great shooting performance!
Gil and Vicki Ash gave me a set of Pro Ears Predator Gold electronic muffs several years ago, and I’ve used them for clays, pass shooting, and during gun dog training. They weigh just over 9 ounces, and have great sound quality (the company advertises that they amplify sound eight times normal hearing…which no lifelong shooter of a certain age likely has). There are 3.5mm input jacks for MP3 players or iPod, a feature I’ve never used.
On the down side, I can’t readily buy the N-size batteries in our locale, and the leather covered adjustable headband proved fragile. Though Gil and Vicki had given me a spare band with the muffs, I am thinking you’d want to buy a couple to have on hand in case the original broke in the field or out on the range. You can learn more about Pro Ears Predator Gold hearing protection/enhancement at www.proears.com
For more information on the excellent Fiocchi shotshells photographed on top of our round bale dove blind, please go to www.ballisticproducts.com; click on "ammunition," then "brand" to find a great selection of Fiocchi ammunition.