Did you hear that?

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I shot a 45 acp from a 4.5 inch barrel once by accident with only one plug in.

I never want to repeat that, and anything louder is just a no go. It's what made me seriously consider a suppressor for HD. I'm likely to get a CZ Scorpion Pistol with a brace and put a suppressor on that. I can only imagine how loud a 357 would be indoors without hearing protection. My animals would be in agony.

I wear ear plugs when I cut my lawn.
 
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One thing I don't see mentioned is frequency. I think sound at different frequencies can damage hearing. However at gunfire decibel levels, its all about the pressure. I'm one of those whose ears ring continuously, due to guns, and loud mechanical rooms.
 
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. :)
100% agree. Your ears will feel like they are bleeding for days if you ever fire a 125gr 357 indoors.
That first shot without earmuffs is like you got slapped by a gorilla.
Never had a flash bang, but I don't want to if it's worse than that.
 
My "ear crickets", constant "snare drum hissing", etc. came from a combination of loud music with headphones on and several times without adequate hearing protection.
When firing high pressure loud guns, it is important to not only wear plugs in the ear, but muffs around the ear. Your mastoid bone surrounding your ear area, transmits vibrations to your middle ear and gunshots can transmit damaging levels of vibrations

Protect what you have because you can NEVER get it back
 
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.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t ever fired a shot in defense of my home/property where I couldn’t get ear protection or a suppressed firearm.

That said, if I needed something quicker and didn’t have it handy, it wouldn’t stop me from utilizing a loud firearm.

I already have bad hearing from being a stupid kid, not about to be a dead old guy trying to save what’s left...
 
I’ll be honest, I haven’t ever fired a shot in defense of my home/property where I couldn’t get ear protection or a suppressed firearm.

Oh no, you can't use a suppressed firearm. I was just reading on another forum how you would be likely doomed to hell if you used a suppressed firearm to defend yourself...too many potential legal problems if you do so and by God, Bill Jordan said a little sound never hurt anything. Of course, I think Bill Jordan had some deafinite hearing issues before he passed.

Personally, you should use what is best and handy. Saving your life comes first. If that happens to be with hearing protection or suppression, then saving your hearing is nice as well.
 
My hearing protection fell out of one ear on a military course of fire about 10 years ago. It still rings and I still notice it. 0 out of 5 stars, would not recommend.

I am consistently weighing the options of hanging some really good ear muffs from the bed post or going through the red tape for a suppressor.
 
Huh, what was that sonny? Hearing protection? That stuff is a myth I say.
On a serious note PLEASE use the best hearing protection you have access to, hearing loss is no joke. I have bad hearing from being a stupid kid listening to loud music, bad genetics (ear infections from pretty much birth to age 23), and working in LOUD industrial environments over the years (while wearing appropriate hearing protection). The nice 2 Khz ring in my ears never really goes away and can be annoying at times.

I did make the mistake of being beside someone shooting a very large magnum rifle with a brake while wearing only ear plugs. My head hurt and ears rang for the better part of 2 days afterwards.
 
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!

Managed to run a drill with my .45 (5 rapid rounds I believe) on an open outdoor range without my muffs on (they were perched helpfully on my head).

Certainly annoying but my ears are battered enough that I didn't have much ringing at all (only a bit in my "good" ear). With my .357 I am sure it would have been so much worse.

I also did that once last year with my .300 BLK 16" barrel on an outdoor range and, honestly, I only realized I didn't have my earpro in because the pitch of the shot was different. Good news for hunting with that gun I guess, bad news for the health of my ears.
 
I did my own experiment years ago with
.45 ACP
.32 Mag
9mm
.38 Spl

The .45 ACP sounded like a very loud “thump” where the others all sounded like a very loud and very sharp “crack”.
The .32 Mag was “louder” to me than the others.

I did this experiment using a pair of lightly inserted foam earplugs over a several day period. Yes, it was a stupid thing to do. My ears rang for days. BUT, if I were firing a gun indoors with no hearing protection I would definitely prefer .45 ACP over the others in regards to sound and hearing.
 
Lost a lot of my hearing to jet engines.

now, I wear sonic ear valves under electronic muffs. For indoors, a 12 ga is low pressure and lower frequency.
 
Old battleship sailors have told me that the 5-inch guns were harder on the ears than the 16-inch guns - sort of like how a .357 is worse than a .45, the sharp crack as opposed to the lower boom.
 
Had a serious social encounter 50 years ago while in LE.. I had a 41 Mag and he had a 9MM. We fired at almost arms length at the same time in a motel room. He missed. I have been listening to cicadas ever since.

I had a couple of other occurrences with the the .41 when there was not time for protection.. I am paying dearly for it now.
Since retiring and moving town, I have started carrying a 45 ACP for the very reasons expressed.
Less muzzle blast and recoil.
 
Old battleship sailors have told me that the 5-inch guns were harder on the ears than the 16-inch guns - sort of like how a .357 is worse than a .45, the sharp crack as opposed to the lower boom.

My father served in the Navy in Korea in U. D. T. 3, working off a destroyer at times. I recall him saying those small 5 inch guns were nastier than the big ones.
 
Old battleship sailors have told me that the 5-inch guns were harder on the ears than the 16-inch guns - sort of like how a .357 is worse than a .45, the sharp crack as opposed to the lower boom.

My dad was in the Navy. He was on the deck when someone accidentally fired a 5". That was the end of his Navy career. He was about 20 feet from the muzzle.
 
I shot a 45 acp from a 4.5 inch barrel once by accident with only one plug in.

I never want to repeat that, and anything louder is just a no go. It's what made me seriously consider a suppressor for HD. I'm likely to get a CZ Scorpion Pistol with a brace and put a suppressor on that. I can only imagine how loud a 357 would be indoors without hearing protection. My animals would be in agony.

I wear ear plugs when I cut my lawn.

I did the same thing with my 625 at an outdoor range. My right ear took a beating since I was standing next to a wall.

So even a 45 will give you some permanent damage, as this was the only time I ever shot without ear protection.

That damage along with my years as a CNA in pediatrics (way too much screaming in a tiny room) has lead to 70% hearing loss in my right ear.

Everyone's body is different and reacts differently. Just cause one person says a 45 doesn't cause then an issue doesn't mean you will be the same
 
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