Safety Equipment and Clothing

Like many activities, shooting requires safety equipment. Always use hearing and eye protection. Many ranges will insist that shooters wear hearing and eye protection. Even if they don’t insist, it’s still a good idea to wear it. Safety equipment is generally inexpensive, commonly available, and can be easily replaced if lost, unlike your hearing or eyesight. Even a .22 long rifle, especially if fired indoors, produces enough sound to damage your hearing.

• Use headphone-type hearing protectors if you are shooting a firearm. Headphones provide reasonable sound protection and can be used for years.
• Use earplugs if you are shooting a shotgun, since headphones affect how a shotgun can be mounted. Some earplugs are disposable after one use, others are reusable, and some can be specially molded for your ears.