You should always wear ear protection when shooting to save you from any hearing damage caused by the noise of the guns. If you are shooting a rifle or pistol you should wear headphone type hearing protection as it provides reasonable sound protection and can be used for years. If you are shooting a shotgun you should wear insertable earplugs because headphones can affect how a shotgun can be mounted. Some types of earplugs are disposable after using them, while others are reusable. You can also get specially molded earplugs that fit to the shape of your ears. Make sure your hearing protection is comfortable and fits you properly.
