Not good enough for unsurpressed MSR fire with 16 inch barrel where the average firing noise level is ~165 dB. The most an NRR 23dB rating its going to offer is 8 dB reduction which means the reduction of firing noise level is going to be to ~157 dB which is still above the safe vs exposure time level of 120 dB average (or 140 dB peak sound pressure level). If you were really interested in protecting your hearing you would need to also wear in ear foam plugs with NRR 29 dB with the NRR 23dB to get to the threshold of safe vs exposure time of 120 dB average (or 140 dB peak sound pressure level which is the hearing pain threshold lower limit for sound energy).

What is it with NRR 23dB and shooting hearing ear protection in the industry. Its the absolute minimum a shooting hearing protection can have, its like almost no serious engineering at all using common materials, and that’s based upon an average of 140 dB sound pressure level for a .22 LR rifle. But tons of people get them and use them and swear they work fine and go on firing their MSR’s with them alone then wonder one day why they have tinnitus or can’t hear certain frequency ranges any more. Its not just exposure in terms of peak reduction like people think, this is impulse noise so its reduction AND exposure time.