Blast difference between carbine and handgun

[Csinn]

I’ve got a .45 colt lever gun and now am looking at a .357/.38spl lever gun. The .357 in a handgun to me is obnoxious without plugs and muffs. I don’t like to wear both out in the woods but do wear wireless earbud noise canceling headphones rated at -28db. Is the rounds blast toned down a bit in a 16-20” barrel enough that that should be fine? How is it compared to a 24” 12 gauge? I shoot my 12 gauge the most and with those it’s very comfortable to me.

 

[bearcreek]

The longer the barrel, the quieter the gun, all else being equal. FWIW, I have a .44 Mag rifle with a 20" barrel that is significantly quieter than a .22 pistol with a 4 inch barrel.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

My 357 rifle is fine with muffs. Though truth be told, I don't mind the revolvers while wearing muffs either.

 

[gotboostvr]

I've run both 44 and 357 out of 16-20" rifles.

The 44 will have surprisingly stout recoil, but the muzzle blast and concussion isn't very bad. Definitely less than a 223, 308 etc

 

[chicharrones]

Launching .357 mag out of my 16” barreled Marlin is much, much milder to the protected ears than out of my 2.5” or 6” barreled .357 revolvers.

No cylinder gap blast, more barrel length, yadda yadda yadda.

I can’t compare to a 12 gauge as I haven’t fired one in years.

 

[jmorris]

Will depend on the powder one uses too. There are a number of small charge fast powder loads that will have less report than full magnum loads using slower powders.

 

[drobs]

My 20 inch barrel Rossi 92 357/38spl is suppressor quiet using 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutters and starting 38spl loadings.

 

[earlthegoat2]

20” barrel 44 Mag is one I usually hunt with sans ear pro. I wouldn’t shoot at the range that way though. And no way with a 44 mag handgun. Noise is one thing but blast is something else. There is considerably less blast with a rifle/carbine. The powder just has more barrel to burn the powder.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Will depend on the powder one uses too. There are a number of small charge fast powder loads that will have less report than full magnum loads using slower powders.

Bullet weight can be a factor too, although less so than powder choice and charge weight. As a really broad statement, I've found that factory ammo using heavier bullets tends to produce less sturm and drang at the muzzle from PCCs.

 

[denton]

Loudness of muzzle blast is determined by the gas pressure in the barrel at the time the bullet exits.