Did you hear that?

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brutus51

brutus51

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Always chose the .45ACP as a home defense round because of the less perceived muzzle blast and audible report as say compared to the .357MAG. Looking at this chart there really isn't that much difference, which doesn't seem right based on my own shooting experience.
The .357 always seems much louder with more of a crack to it.

Comparative noise levels and length of time for damage to occur
Jet engine taking off 140 dB Instant damage
Thunder/Ambulance siren 119 dB 3 minutes
Hammer drill 113 dB 15 minutes
Chain saw/Earphones/Concert 110 dB 30 minutes
Bull Dozer 105 dB 1 hour
Tractor/Power tools 96 dB 4 hour
Hairdryer/lawnmower 90 dB 8 hours

Noise levels of firearms:
.22 caliber rifle 130dB
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.
.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.
.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.
20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.
12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.
.25 ACP 155.0 dB.
.32 LONG 152.4 dB.
.32 ACP 153.5 dB.
.380 157.7 dB.
9mm 159.8 dB.
.38 S&W 153.5 dB.
.38 Spl 156.3 dB.
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.
.41 Magnum 163.2 dB.
.44 Spl 155.9 dB.
.45 ACP 157.0 dB.
.45 COLT 154.7 dB.
 
theres an enormous difference between a real 357 shooting 110 grains at 1700FPS from a 5" barrel, and a common 357 shooting a 158gr at 1250 from the same firearm. I bet they measured the latter.
 
1dB is about the smallest sound power difference the human ear can detect. Going up 3dB about doubles the sound power.

Barrel length makes a huge difference as the pressure behind the bullet drops off rapidly as the bullet moves down the bore. Also, the loading makes a tremendous difference. To really get precise comparisons you would need a very large chart that takes loadings and barrel lengths into account, in addition to just caliber.
 
I could only find about 3 such charts on my internet search and all reported about the same results.
Would really like to find a more detailed study that would include data such as JohnKSa suggested.
I think the 7mm rem mag and 25acp readings have to do the distance from the device.
Rifle wit a 24" barrel and 25acp with a 2"
 
Yup, it's logarithmic. Definitely not linear.

Double the power is about 3dB
3x is about 4.8dB
4x is about 6dB
5x is about 7dB
6x is about 7.8dB
7x is about 8.5dB
8x is about 9dB
9x is about 9.5dB
10x is 10dB
20x is about 13dB
100x is 20dB
200x is about 23dB
...
 
In all honesty, I'm not sure what a decibel is. I have had the "opportunity" to fire, or be in the vicinity of someone else firing, 9mm and 45 ACP either indoors or in confined spaces outdoors without hearing protection- as well as other rounds, like 5.56 and 12 gauge, and even a flash bang. It sucked, every time, every caliber.
 
What is the best "Game Ear" hearing protection type device that fits inside the ear? I have seen some more expensive ones for $300 to $400. Are those worth the cost?
 
According to the OP`s list, the difference in db`s between the 45 ACP and the .357 is 6.7 db. That make the .357 a little over twice as loud as the 45 ACP. IMHO one would find the 45 much easier on the hearing. I shot a .357 without hearing protection. That is something I never want to again!
 
JohnKSa said:
1dB is about the smallest sound power difference the human ear can detect. Going up 3dB about doubles the sound power.
Click to expand...

+1. A difference of 7.3 decibels is actually pretty significant. Having said that, I'm pretty sure they all are terrible for your hearing if you don't have protection. That's why I have a pair of these: https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leigh...t&qid=1563759017&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1 It does look like the price on them increased recently, though.
 
tark said:
I find it a little hard to believe that a .25 auto is within a couple of decibels of a 7mm magnum
Click to expand...
One time, I accidentally fired a 25 ACP without my earmuffs on, and I have no doubt that the 25 ACP is a killer in the noise department.
 
brutus51 said:
I think the 7mm rem mag and 25acp readings have to do the distance from the device.
Rifle wit a 24" barrel and 25acp with a 2"
Click to expand...
Mil standard testing is with the meter 1m from the muzzle of the firearm, so barrel length won't have any effect on the distance to the device.

If you're interested in more of this kind of stuff, look into suppressor testing. There are some forums (NFATalk is a good one) where members have professional testing setups and publish their results - they take a scientific approach and capture things like ammo type, barrel length, dB at muzzle vs shooters ear, etc. it's interesting to see the difference between barrel length, ammo, and even how the same host differs on different days. Unsuppressed numbers are always taken as a comparison to suppressed performance.

There's also a guy with a cool home build/form 1 Welrod for any of you history guys. It seems to meter really well too.
 
There is no question that my hearing difficulties are due to shooting. When I was a kid, we would shoot trap on Sundays at the local Isaac Walton. Nobody wore hearing pro....not even me.
 
brutus51 said:
Looking at this chart there really isn't that much difference,
Click to expand...
Numbers lie, try it live and in person with .45 ACP and .357 Mag, there is more to it than the DB number.

But seriously, don't ever shoot guns without hearing protection like old timers did before they knew better.

.45 ACP inside the percussion is much less, and you lose less hearing ability and recover faster.

.357 Mag will split you open, yikes it is bad.

Just take folks word for it. :)
 
I have no experience to justify talking about the chart above. I can tell you I have fired three times in an enclosed space without hearing pro. Once with a .44 mag (180 gr Remington JSP), 12 ga shotgun with field loads, and a .45 Colt with cowboy loads. I won't go into why these incidents occured but I'll say the .44 left me ringing something awful.
 
In my experience the .357 hurts my ears far more than a .45 ACP. To me the .357 is a very loud crack sound and feels like a nail was driven through my ears, where as the .45 is more of a boom, if that make any sense. A .22 Mag fired from a revolver also has a very sharp crack sound that is painful.
 
George Dickel said:
In my experience the .357 hurts my ears far more than a .45 ACP. To me the .357 is a very loud crack sound and feels like a nail was driven through my ears, where as the .45 is more of a boom, if that make any sense. A .22 Mag fired from a revolver also has a very sharp crack sound that is painful.
Click to expand...

I was so anxious to shoot my first .357 I loaded up and completely forgot ear protection. Ye gods and little green apples, that hurt my ears. Never, ever, done that since. No matter the caliber, even 22 rimfire, shooting pistols with out protection is going to destroy your hearing, some calibers more quickly than others. I really believe full house 357 loads will get it done the quickest.
 
doubleh said:
No matter the caliber, even 22 rimfire, shooting pistols with out protection is going to destroy your hearing, some calibers more quickly than others. I really believe full house 357 loads will get it done the quickest.
Click to expand...
The chart doesn't list it, but without proper hearing protection, a 30 Carbine fired in a 7.5" Ruger Blackhawk will destroy your hearing pretty darned quick.:eek:
I know that from experience I'm sad to say.:oops:
 
I have one ear damaged from a very close Thirty Eight Special.:(

I think revolvers are a bit worse because of the cylinder gap. The gas is escaping at a higher pressure and for a longer duration, before the bullet even leaves the barrel.

I would like to see the difference between a Coonan and a revolver.
 
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