Hot brass, flying debris, high decibels and hazardous chemicals. That’s the environment present every time we’re at the range. It’s easy to overlook such hazards, until you or someone else gets hurt. The right gun range PPE (short for personal protective equipment) can help make your time on the range safer, more comfortable and more fun.

Here’s a look at some of the most important types of personal protective equipment for gun owners and why they matter.

Eye Protection

Eye protection is one of the most essential items to have in your gun range PPE kit and it’s generally mandatory anywhere you shoot. The gases, debris and particles which firearms generate pose a serious eye injury risk to gun owners and bystanders alike. At both indoor and outdoor ranges, ejected brass, unburned gunpowder, ricocheting fragments and blowback debris can create a sudden and unanticipated hazard.

Quality ballistic shooting glasses help shield your eyes from these risks while providing an unrestricted view.

What to look for:

  • Lenses that are impact-resistant, wraparound and made of polycarbonate that’s rated to civilian ANSI Z87.1+ or military MIL-PRF-3103 or MIL-PRF-32432 standards are usually recommended.
  • Depending on conditions, different lens colors may improve visibility and contrast. Clear lenses are popular for indoor ranges, while tinted options can be useful in bright sunlight.
  • Comfort is also important. Eye protection that fits properly is more likely to be worn consistently throughout a shooting session.

Whether you are a recreational shooter, competitive athlete, instructor or range safety officer, get into the habit of making protecting your vision with quality PPE a non-negotiable part of every trip you take to the range.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection is also generally mandatory at most ranges, since few range hazards are as common as the noise. Firearm reports can reach 140 to 170 decibels at close range. That’s a sound level louder than jackhammers and jet engines and capable of causing you hearing damage, even after only brief exposure. What’s worse, such hearing damage is often permanent, making it key to prevent a hearing injury in the first place by using proper PPE.

Gun range hearing protection PPE typically falls into a couple categories:

  • Specialized earplugs and earmuffs are both available. Gun owners may use one or the other depending on personal preference and shooting conditions. Some will also recommend doubling up, wearing both earplugs and earmuffs, particularly around larger-caliber firearms or at indoor ranges where sound can be amplified by enclosed spaces.
  • Electronic hearing protection has become increasingly popular over low-tech, foam-filled options that provide passive hearing protection. These high-tech devices can filter out harmful noise levels while still allowing you to hear conversations, range commands and other important sounds. The combination of protection and situational awareness makes electronic hearing protection especially valuable for instructors, coaches and range officers who regularly communicate with others on the firing line.

What to look for:

  • Passive hearing protection should have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of at least 22 decibels.
  • Electronic hearing protection should effectively filter out harmful noise levels greater than 85 decibels.

While hearing protection is key to protect yourself while shooting, it’s doubly important for visitors, in cases where you’re at the range with your friends, students or customers. A number of legal claims have been made in cases where a person experienced hearing damage at the range without being advised of the need for their own proper PPE. Such claims are often successful, because it’s easy to prove hearing damage occurred and difficult to prove it wasn’t due to being at a range.

Clothing and Footwear

Appropriate clothing and footwear are another often-overlooked aspect of gun range PPE. While your range attire doesn’t need to be complicated, certain clothing choices can help reduce distractions and provide protection from common range hazards.

What to look for:

  • Long pants that can help shield your legs from flying cartridge cases, brush and vegetation at outdoor facilities.
  • Comfortable shirts with higher necklines or collars that reduce the chance of hot brass making contact with exposed skin.
  • Hats with brims that can offer sun protection and help prevent ejected brass from falling behind your ballistic glasses.
  • Shoes that provide good stability and traction on uneven terrain and that have a close-toed design to help protect feet from hot brass, dropped equipment and other potential hazards.

The goal with this type of PPE at the range is not specialized fashion but practical safety. Comfortable, well-fitting clothing allows gun owners to focus on safe firearm handling and marksmanship rather than unnecessary distractions.

Other Important PPE

In addition to range clothing and eye and hearing protection, other forms of PPE may also be useful depending on your activity and environment.

Gloves

Gloves can help improve grip, reduce friction and provide protection during extended training sessions as you handle your firearms, steel targets or range equipment. They offer protection against common occurrences like scraped hands from coming into contact with a slide’s serrations or fingertip burns from accidentally touching a hot barrel. Plus, gloves can also help protect your hands from lead residue.

What to look for:

  • Tactical gloves that are made from a thin leather or synthetic material and offer unrestricted hand movement. Ones designed for shooting are best.

Knee and Elbow Pads

Knee and elbow pads can save your body from added wear and tear in certain circumstances. Pads are useful when participating in competitions or training drills that involve kneeling or prone positions, especially on hard concrete or coarse gravel terrain.

What to look for:

  • Tactical pads designed for firearm training that are either a hard shell or soft gel design, stay in place and allow easy movement. Some options can come integrated into pants or shirts.

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory PPE may be relevant in certain situations, as well. Fired firearms can release vaporized fumes and fine lead dust particles into the air. Breathing in these hazardous substances can be bad for your long-term health. Indoor ranges typically use specialized ventilation systems, but certain facilities and ranges may advise you to wear specific protection.

What to look for:

  • Respiratory protection that is a NIOSH-approved respirator or a properly fitted N95 face mask.

Sun Protection

Sun protection can also important during outdoor events on warm, sunny days. Over time, excess sun exposure can lead to skin damage and other potential health problems.

What to look for:

  • Sunscreen, sun sleeves and appropriate headwear that can help reduce exposure.

No matter the specific gear involved, the basic principle remains the same — identify the risks associated with your particular activity for that day and use appropriate protective equipment to help manage them.

More Protection at the Gun Range

Whether you’re spending the day at the gun range, competing, coaching or teaching a class, PPE plays an important role in helping reduce risk around firearms. While safe firearm handling practices always come first, the right protective gear provides an added layer of defense against common range hazards.

Yet even though PPE helps reduce the risk of physical injury, it’s only one part of a broader approach to protection. Firearm owners, instructors, coaches and range safety officers, as well as clubs, their leaders and their members, also all face risks that protective eyewear and earmuffs can’t address:

  • Firearms can be damaged, lost or stolen.
  • Accidents can result in claims of bodily injury or property damage.
  • Instructors can face negligence and liability allegations related to their training activities.
  • Clubs can face claims of liability related to their club activities or properties.

That is where having the right insurance can play a key role. Just as gun range PPE helps protect you from physical hazards at the range, specialized protection offered by Lockton Affinity Outdoor insurance can help protect you from the financial consequences of unexpected events.

  • Firearm Insurance provides protection for your firearm property and their attached accessories from covered theft, loss or damage.
  • Personal Firearm Liability Insurance provides protection for a variety of liability-related risks that responsible gun owners often face.
  • Firearm Instructor Insurance provides protection against risks associated with firearms training for instructors, coaches and range safety officers.
  • Rod and Gun Club Insurance provides protection against liability risks for clubs that meet at a range or participate in events or competitions.
  • Hunt Clubs and Land Lease Insurance provides protection against liability risks for clubs that lease land or have a lodge or other hunting property.

You wouldn’t head to the range without appropriate eye and hearing protection. In much the same way, it can be risky to go without an added layer of insurance protection as an ordinary gun owner, firearm instructor, coach or range safety officer, club leader or member. From firearm safety to PPE to insurance, the more safe practices you combine, the better prepared you’ll be to protect yourself, your property and your future.

Have more questions about your risks at the range? We’re here to help. Visit Lockton Affinity Outdoor, email us or call us at (844) 401-9444 today to learn more.