Maybe for casual shooting I would but definitely not while I am hunting. Its in the wide open and it cuts down the noise enough where I am alright without hearing protection. If it didn't I wouldnt waste my time/money on one.I lost a lot of mine in the Army as well. But unless you are shooting subsonic .22, you still should wear some kind of ear protection. Only subsonic .22's are quiet enough for me to not use anything. High powered stuff will always have a blast.