Bright orange in the ear protection with a clear tube to a Walker's Game Ear I gives 31 decibel protection and the ability to turn the Game Ear on and off, volume up and down, to hear the stage briefing and not hear loud noises. This set up isn't cheap. Plain foam ear plugs are the best bang, or lack thereof, for the money.

The source I used for the glasses above is no longer selling them. But I did find a source: Lab Safety. I had an optician replace the flat Polycarbonate lenses with polycarbonate lenses with focal point at the front sight for the rifle.

Note the side shields.

Safety glasses and ear protection are mandatory when near the line. Use good, full coverage glasses. Don't use small round glasses just because they look period correct. One story: I was working as timer at Showdown at Buck Creek 2000. A lady was shooting a .38. The targets were relatively close and were not properly tilted down. She shot a low velocity round and hit the target. The round came straight back at me. My glasses had slipped down my nose because I was reading the timer. The round went above my glasses but into my eye, cutting the lid and bruising the eye. A visit to an ophthalmologist was necessary, and it was a near thing. Now I use an elastic strap to keep my safety glasses tight on my eyes. Cowboy Action Shooting is a very safe sport. The most common injury of consequence, however, is metal fragments in the eye. This is preventable, however. There will be lead splatter. You will be hit. Wear safety glasses with side shields.

Cowboy shooters use in-the-ear protectors. This isn't as good as ear muffs. You need 31 decibels sound reduction. Again, don't scrimp. The electronic in-the-ear protectors are expensive, but they're a good investment.

Ok, let's go to your first match.