Hearing and Eye Protection for Range Day: NRR, Z87+ and Electronic Muffs

Gun show tables sell muffs, foam plugs and shooting glasses cheap, and the packages are covered in numbers: an NRR of 22 or 33, a Z87+ stamp, a reaction time in hundredths of a second. Few buyers can say what those numbers measure. Here is how the regulators, standards writers and manufacturers define them, and how to choose protection that still works once the shooting starts.

What the NRR on the package actually is

The Noise Reduction Rating comes from the EPA's labeling rule, 40 CFR Part 211, Subpart B. It dictates the label: the words "Noise Reduction Rating," the number in decibels, the phrase "when used as directed," and a line saying existing protectors range from "approximately 0 to 30." The package must also warn that improper fit "will reduce its effectiveness." That 0-to-30 line has not kept up with the shelf; Howard Leight rates its Super Leight foam earplugs at 33.

The number is a lab result. The rule requires testing under ANSI S3.19-1974, and its calculation subtracts two standard deviations from the measured attenuation, then another 3 dB for what it calls spectral uncertainty. EPA issued the rule in 1979 and proposed an update in 2009, but in a December 2021 interpretation letter OSHA wrote that it was "not certain about the status of the rulemaking." As of September 2026, the eCFR text still specifies the 1974 test method.

Why real protection runs below the label

OSHA's Technical Manual says the labeled NRR "often did not reflect the actual level of protection," which is likely lower because most workers are not fit-tested and lab fitting does not match how people put protectors on in the field. The published adjustments, as each source states them:

• OSHA. Appendix B to 29 CFR 1910.95 says to "Subtract 7 dB from the NRR" when noise is measured A-weighted. The 2021 letter adds that "in some circumstances" compliance personnel apply a further 50 percent safety factor when weighing whether an employer needs engineering controls, but not when judging whether hearing protectors are adequate.
• NIOSH. Its 1998 noise criteria, as summarized by NIOSH researchers John Franks and William Murphy, recommend "derating the NRR by 25%, 50% and 70% for earmuffs, formable earplugs, and all other earplugs, respectively."

NIOSH's hearing protection page now says the agency "has previously recommended derating" and calls individual fit testing "the best way" to check protection. All of this was written for workplace noise averaged over a shift, not for single gunshots. What carries over to the range is simple: fit decides protection.

Gunfire is impulse noise, and it blows past the limits

OSHA's manual traces impulse noise to the rapid release of compressed gases, which describes a gunshot. The OSHA standard says impulsive noise "should not exceed 140 dB peak sound pressure level," and NIOSH recommends the same ceiling. In a NIOSH evaluation of SWAT team training in Fort Collins, Colorado, described in its outdoor firing range guidance, firearm noise ran from 159 to 169 dB.

A 2014 peer-reviewed study of youth target shooting in the International Journal of Audiology, co-authored by NIOSH researcher William Murphy, measured peaks at a young shooter's left ear. Fired standing, .22 rifles ran 139.6 to 143.8 dB, other rifles from .17 to .30-06 ran 147.1 to 163.6 dB, shotguns 151.8 to 161.5 dB and pistols 157.5 to 168.8 dB. Firing seated over a tabletop generally pushed peaks higher, up to 171.1 dB for a .357 Magnum handgun. Handguns top the list, so if you are shopping for a first handgun at a show, budget for protection too.

The case for plugs under muffs

NIOSH's range guidance is blunt: "Wear double hearing protection (earplugs and earmuffs) and eye protection when shooting." In the SWAT evaluation, plugs, muffs and custom protectors each cut peak noise by roughly 30 dB, and plugs plus muffs added another 15 to 20 dB. That is a big gain, if well short of adding the two together. Foam plugs under the muff you already own are the cheapest upgrade in the building.

Electronic muffs: what the electronics actually do

Electronic muffs add microphones and speakers. Quiet sounds, like range commands, are played into the cup; loud ones are cut off or clamped down. Makers describe that second job differently:

• Howard Leight Impact Sport: amplifies ambient sound "to a safe 82dB" and stops amplifying once the surroundings get louder than that. NRR 22; two AAA cells, about 350 hours, four-hour auto shut-off.
• Walker's Razor Slim: NRR 23, with a claimed ".02 second reaction time." Two AAA cells.
• 3M Peltor Sport Tactical 500: NRR 25 on 3M's page. Its "Dynamic Suppression Time" measures gunshot energy and adjusts to reduce echoes. AA cells or a rechargeable pack, plus Bluetooth.

A time, a threshold and a named feature do not share a scale, so don't rank them against each other. Note the ratings, too: 22 to 25, against 30 for Howard Leight's passive Leightning L3. What electronics buy you is hearing. The youth study says level-dependent protectors are designed to offer "both audibility and impulse signal protection."

The eyeglasses problem

OSHA's PPE guide says earmuffs "require a perfect seal" and that glasses, facial hair, long hair and even chewing can reduce their protection. 3M's Peltor X Series data sheet says noise reduction may be lower when eyeglass temples sit under the cushion, and recommends "thin, flat temples." Electronics cannot fix a broken seal.

Plugs, passive muffs and electronic muffs side by side

The derating column is NIOSH's 1998 workplace adjustment, shown for comparison, not a measured result for these models.

Reading Z87, Z87+ and the lens codes

Safety eyewear is rated to ANSI/ISEA Z87.1, and the American National Standards Institute describes the 2025 edition as current. OSHA's workplace eye rule, 29 CFR 1910.133, still cites the 2010, 2003 and 1989 editions, so marks from several eras share the same show table.

HexArmor's summary, written around the 2015 edition, says the marks appear on the frame's side arm or the right side of the lens. A wraparound shape or the word "tactical" is not a rating; without the mark, nothing says the glasses passed an impact test.

Tint and impact are separate codes, so a dark lens tells you nothing about impact. Clear is the default, and amber is sold for contrast; the Uvex Acadia amber listing pitches it for "low light shooting environments." Save dark lenses for bright outdoor ranges, and check them for the mark too.

Prescription glasses are not safety glasses

OSHA's PPE guide is plain: "Use of ordinary prescription corrective lenses will not provide adequate protection against most occupational eye and face hazards." Its workplace rule requires eye protection that incorporates the prescription or fits over it without disturbing either pair. A range is not your employer, but the logic travels. Your options are prescription safety lenses marked Z87-2, ideally with the plus, or over-the-glass eyewear such as Howard Leight's HL100, which the maker says fits over most prescription eyewear and meets the Z87.1-2015 high-impact standard. Two frames under a muff cushion give the seal more to work around, so try the combination on.

Used or new at the show table

New protection is cheap enough that a used deal has to be clean. At the time of writing (September 2026), Howard Leight listed MSRPs of $95.94 for an OD green Impact Sport, $43.25 for the L3 and $35.73 for the L0F, and Walker's listed the Razor Slim at $59.99. Weigh show prices with our gun show vs. online pricing comparison.

• Cushions. For its Peltor X Series muffs, 3M says to inspect for cracked or worn parts, "especially the cushions," and to replace cushions and foam liners "at least twice a year." Worn cushions are a price point if parts exist: 3M points Sport Tactical 500 owners to a gel replacement hygiene kit, and the L3 takes snap-in cushions. No parts, no deal.
• Headband. The same X Series fit instructions call for "even pressure around the ears." Loose cups will not seal.
• Electronics. With permission, check the battery contacts for corrosion, then test both sides with fresh batteries of the type the model takes. Gunshot response cannot be tested at a table.
• Earplugs. Never used. Foam plugs like the Super Leight are sold as disposable.
• Glasses. Find the mark first, then look for scratches in your line of sight.

Kids at the range: fit comes first

The youth study notes that noise limits have not been set specifically for children or adolescents, and points to a 120 dB peak limit the World Health Organization suggests for children. Every firearm measured exceeded it. It adds that kids usually shoot standing or from a table, which puts the firearm nearer the ground or another reflective surface than an adult shooter's would be.

The authors write that "It is critical that any hearing protector worn be sized appropriately and seal well." They say double protection "should also be considered" for young shooters, and suggest level-dependent protectors so kids can hear instruction and safety warnings. Youth eyewear exists too: Howard Leight's HL200 Youth is narrower, with shorter temples and a slimmer bridge, and the maker says it meets Z87+ impact standards. Fit gear on the child's own head. If the family is coming along, check whether kids get into gun shows free.

The table-side checklist

Run this before you pay, then find your next show on the national gun show calendar.

1. Find the NRR label on the package or device.
2. Try the muff on while wearing your shooting glasses.
3. For long guns, favor slim cups or cut-outs.
4. Check cushions for cracks and flattening; ask if replacements exist.
5. With permission, inspect the battery contacts and test both sides.
6. Skip used earplugs; buy a sealed pack.
7. Find Z87+ on the side arm or lens.
8. Prescription wearers: Z87-2 lenses or over-the-glass, tried under the muffs.
9. Kids: check fit on the child, not an adult.

Buying new instead: what to look for online or at a dealer

If the table is thin or the used muffs fail the checks, buy new. Hearing and eye protection sells through sporting goods stores, range pro shops, safety supply distributors, online retailers and, for some brands, the manufacturer. Compare:

• NRR. Confirm it on the package or the maker's page, and compare like with like.
• Profile. For long guns, look for slim cups or cut-outs. 3M describes the Sport Tactical 500's "cushioned cut-outs optimized for long gun use," and Howard Leight says the Impact Sport's slim earcup leaves a firearm stock clearance. Expect a trade: the ultra-slim L0F is rated 23 to the L3's 30.
• Battery life. Check cell type, rated hours and auto shut-off; Howard Leight lists about 350 hours on two AAA cells for the Impact Sport.
• Attack time. Treat it as a claim and read the units. Walker's states ".02 second"; Howard Leight describes an 82 dB cutoff instead.
• Replacement cushions. Confirm the maker sells them for the model.
• Eyewear marks. Z87+ in the listing and on the product, Z87-2 on prescription lenses, youth frames for small faces, and a tint that fits your range.
• Returns and warranty. Ask whether opened hearing protection can be returned, and how long the electronics are covered.

Muffs and marked glasses also make a practical present with no firearm transfer involved; our gift guide for shooters has more.