[dom1104]

What is the most pleasent large bore revolver to shoot?

I am thinking that the .45 colt loaded down must be pretty mild, low pressure, no sound barrier crack...

How important is it to avoid 1200 FPS to save your hearing?

Is .45 acp out of a revolver decently quiet? I am sitting here wondering... after a lifetime of shooting very few if any of us will actually save our lives with our guns, but very many of us will not save our hearing :)

Any opinions on what makes a gun easy on the ears?

[trickyasafox]

I double up ear pro now. I wear plugs and muffs. something to consider to help on your hearing. I'm 23 and intend to hear for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time to come. :)

[harmonic]

Facts on noise levels:

Decibels measure sound pressure and are logarithmic. That means that only a 3db increase almost doubles sound pressure, a 6db increase quadruples sound pressure, etc.

Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.

Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.

Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.

At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.

There is also the more extreme ‘acoustic trauma’, which is an immediate loss of hearing after a sudden, exceptionally loud noise such as an explosion.

From: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...aring-loss.cfm

“When someone goes to a concert, cuts grass or runs a power saw, they can suffer from NIHL,” said Dr. George Hashisaki, assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Virginia Health System. “Afterwards, if their hearing is muffled or their ears are ringing, they have suffered NIHL. Even if their hearing comes back to what they perceive as normal, a small part of that hearing loss is permanent."

"People who are most in jeopardy of losing their hearing are those who use firearms regularly without ear protection or who are in the military and unable to wear hearing protection, such as those on the frontlines, Hashisaki said. The noise level of gunshots can reach 170 dB and is capable of immediate damage. Hashisaki recommends wearing both earplugs and earmuffs to protect hearing while target shooting."

Comparative noise levels and corresponding damage

12 gauge shotgun 165 dB Instant damage
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





Here are some examples of noise levels:

Video arcades - (110 dB).

Firecrackers - (125-155 dB at a distance of 10 feet).

Live music concerts - (120 dB and above).

Movie theatres - (118 dB).

Health clubs and aerobic studios (120 dB).

Sporting events (127 dB).

Motorboats - (85-115 dB).

Motorcycles - (95-120 dB).

Snowmobiles - (99 dB).

"Boom cars" - (140 dB and above).

Here are noise levels of firearms:

.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.

Factoid

Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.

All of us should be trying to get the greatest Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) that can be put together. NRR 30 plugs with NRR 20 muffs will give you an effective NRR 45 (add plugs and muffs, then subtract 5). If noise levels are 160 dB this gives you an exposure with plugs and muffs of 115 dB. The acceptable exposure time for this is 15 minutes total for the day. If the noise levels are 150 dB the resultant acceptable exposure time with the given plugs and muffs is 1 hour and 4 hours if the noise level is 140 dB. You're not going to find unsuppressed noise levels below 140dB with gunfire.

(Note: some question the credibility of the above formula. They say instead you take the higher of the two and add 5 dB to that. 30 plug with 20 muff gives an effective NRR of 35 not 45.)

If you are shooting by yourself, roughly 100 rounds of 140 dB instantaneous noise in a day should not produce hearing damage. Put your plugs and muffs on and you get to shoot up to a thousand rounds without damage (louder ammo/gun and the allowable drops by a factor of 5). Shoot with other people and you have to add all the rounds shot cumulatively (10 people shoot 100 rounds and everybody's done for the day; toss a handcannon or 30 cal rifle in and you're back down to 200 rounds cumulative). If you shoot on an indoor range then all the rounds fired while you are on the range go into your total. So you can see that it doesn't take very long on a range to have a thousand rounds popped off around you.

If you want to know what the noise level you are exposed to is you can rent noise dosimeters that you can wear. They will record the total noise exposure and present the information to you as dB. You can then subtract the adjusted combined NRR of your hearing protection to determine if you're getting too much exposure.

LINKS

http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk/N...+loss+1640.twl
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...aring-loss.cfm
http://www.audiologyawareness.com/library.asp

[jameslovesjammie]

Excellent info!

I'm 27 and had a hearing test when I was applying for CBP. I already have slight hearing loss in both ears, more in my right than left. The first question the lady asked me was if I shot. She said it is quite often she sees people who shoot have more loss in their right ear than left due to it being closer to the gun's action.

My last range trip, I used both plugs and muffs, and I have to say it was quite an improvement over just muffs. One thing I realized immediately was that I couldn't hear the exhaust fans in the range. It actually made shooting more peaceful indoors.

[Markbo]

Every gun shot is damaging to hearing. Even the lowly .22RF. If you shoot - ever - without hearing protection, you are being foolish about your future well being and also are being a poor representative of the shooting sports.

Don't be like me and so many people I know whose favorite words are 'what?' and 'huh?' and 'what did he say?'. I shot from the time I was a kid until I was probably 30 before I took it seriously and I have measureable and permanent hearing loss.

You know how your ears ring after a loud shot? Mine never stops. Ever. They ring 24/7. Be smart. Playing macho will get you deaf. Nothing cool about being hard of hearing because you were too tough to wear hearing protection.

[earplug]

I wear plugs and muffs, don't forget about the other people at the range who may be shooting some god awful ported short barrel magnum next to you.
At times I wear muffs when i'm using power tools or the lawn mower. Easier to ignore the phone that way.

[BlindJustice]

Ex-Navy Sonar Tech( STG the G is for surface fleet )
'72-'78 - ST's were tested once a year for hearing. In
addition, I rode motorcycles for years, and wearing ear
plugs even on muffled bikes, there is still wind noise in
side of the helmet. After a long 500 mile day, a lack of
earplugs is tiring vs using the ear plugs.

I had an audiology exam about a year and a half ago.
Afterwards and the audiologist examined the results, the first
thing she asked me "are You righthanded?" I said yes, then
she asked have you ever fired firearms? I said sure I grew
up on a farm and used the 1911 in the USN. I then asked
why did you ask if I was righhanded. She said because of the
slight tilt of the head with long guns and sometimes handguns
the Rh'd person's left ear gets more of the noise, and you have
some hearing loss in the left ear between 3,000 hertz and
4,000 hertz.

I shoot the S&W 625 with a 5" Bbl. in .45 ACP
and .45 Auto Rim.... I mostly shoot 200 gr. SWC @ 1,025 FPS.
Controllable recoil for followup shots, and it's definitely
quieter than my 686P .357 Magnum. I do wear muffs
at the range. I'm shopping for some ear plugs.

One trick at the range if you forget the ear plugs - it
has worked for me is to take an empty .45 ACP case
and place it in the ear open end on the inside - hey
wait for them to cool down Dude! It does take the
sharpness out of the report of the weapon.

YearplugsMV...

Oh, I have a link somewhere - some ear muffs that
are intelligent and shut down sounds above 80DB for
only $ 50 which beats the ones at Cabelas at $ 150
or their deluxe ones at $200 The advantage
is during pauses you can easily talk to someone else on
the range, or hear the range master more clearly during
a pause.

ok, I just went through my folder and found it


Howard Light IMpact Sport - Ear Protection
( dampens sound above 80 DB ) $50

Might be just the ticket for some of us.

[mossberg]

I use ear protection with everything above .22. I don't see .22 hurting my ears outdoors, But I would wear ear protection if I was shooting indoors.

[DMK]

How important is it to avoid 1200 FPS to save your hearing?
I don't think velocity has anything to do with it. It's pressure that affects the noise level. 230gr 45ACP, 180gr .40S&W and 158gr .38 Special all do about the same velocity, but .40 sounds the loudest, followed by 45ACP, then 38Special is noticeably quieter than that.

I haven't checked that SAAMI specs on these cartridges, but I'd bet they fall in that order, pressure wise.

[Down South]

I wear a pair of the electronic muffs. I have considerable hearing loss form many years of loud industrial work. The muffs work well for me plus you don't have to take them back off to hear people talk.

[RobertFBurnett]

I have always worn muffs (Peltor 10's), but after reading this I am now considering adding plugs with my muffs at the range.

I wanted to ask this distinguished panel of sound experts something:

Recently I have been pondering the fact, if I am to use these beautiful pieces of steel for home defense, would it be worth while to pop off a couple of rounds with NO ear protection, kind of a real world, just been woke up by breaking glass, how much noise is there from a .357, or 12 Gauge?

I always wear ear protection at the range, but is it advisable to know how big the boom is in the hallway? Or is it best to wish for the best, Save my hearing for if the glass does break, or that I'll never need to shoot anything but paper?

Just something been on my mind fer a spell.
RFB

[trickyasafox]

I would say do not, under any circumstances, risk your hearing for a what if scenario.

It's akin to saying 'how bout I just rig my airbag to deploy, so I'll know what to expect if I ever get in a car wreck'

even though a tool will save a life, it doesn't mean that it can do so without causing harm if used improperly. Hearing, unlike sight- is your only feeler into the world that never gets turned off. You are always hearing things- it allows you to sense something beyond your sense of touch at all times that you are alive.

To risk that just to be more prepared for a home invasion scenario is a bit foolish (no offense)

G-d forbid you ever need to defend your home- I'll bet you won't even remember hearing the shot.

[RobertFBurnett]

Very good answer trickyasafox, probably what I needed to hear, I liked the airbag part.

RFB

[Markbo]

I use ear protection with everything above .22. I don't see .22 hurting my ears outdoors, But I would wear ear protection if I was shooting indoors.

Maybe Harmonic will chime in and tell you how many rounds will cause permanent hearing loss. Remember that it is cumulative - you won't see it! It is not the one shot that will hurt. It is the 1000's and 1000's of .22 shots that will hurt. And by the time you notice it, it is too late... you cannot recover what you have already lost.

[kayakersteve]

Excellent post! - I am a certified hearing conservationist and a practicing PA in emergency and occupational medicine. I feel like I am beating a dead horse when I talk to people about proper hearing protection, whether in a outdoor setting or in a factory.. If you don't mind I would like to print your post to hand out to a few people - It lays it on the line nicely.

SteveB
WWW.KayakForFun.com

[Donut]

The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.

So true! Part of my job is race photography, and constantly taking the plugs in and out of my ears over the weekend would leave my ear canals sore at the end of the trip. So one event, I thought I'd be smart and bring my shooting muffs - they didn't work so well on the low frequencies of 2500 horsepower motors. That was a less than fun weekend.

Conversely, I've tried my plugs at the range, and I prefer the muffs, hands down. However, I've been doubling up at the range lately. I don't notice much of a difference, but I know the plugs aren't hurting anything. (Maybe annoying my ear canal a little, though.)

[mossberg]

Does anyone Have experience with the "cease fire" ear plugs. They are red, Cost $8.99 at wholesale sports. They are noise activated and allow normal conversation while reducing impulse noise.

[BridgeWalker]

Mossberg, those are the ones I use, but I am slowly developing increasingly persistent tinnitus.

I recently got some muffs to start doubling up on protection. Those plugs sure are nice for allowing conversation, really important for me since especially when I'm shotgunning I'm also getting a lot of direction from other shooters. They seemed pretty effective at reducing noise. But, after only several months of use, I'm starting to show signs of hearing trouble.

I wouldn't rely on them alone on a regular basis.