Noise & Muzzle Blast: 308 Win w/ 20¨ Barrel

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cesarf

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I´ve been currently offered a Savage 99E, in 308 Win, with a 20¨ barrel.

I also currently own a 30-30 Win 94 carbine, which also has a 20¨ barrel. When I fire it, I find its report and muzzle blast to be rather mild.

The 308 Win has a reported SAAMI pressure of 62,000 psi, while the 30-30 Win has a pressure of 42,000 psi, which equates in 308 to about 50% more.

I´ve been looking to buy a Savage 99 in .308 with a 22¨ barrel for a long time now, and I found this deal, however what really offsets me is that it has a 20¨ barrel.

My concern arises because I have been a tinnitus sufferer for about 20 years now, due to firing a lot of high power rifles without ear protection. Now I know better, and want to protect what´s left of my hearing, so I double up at the firing range (muffs and earplugs), and always use earplugs while hunting.

I really like the Savage 99E, and would use it ideally as a brush/guide gun, to be carried a lot and fired very little.

Has anybody had a chance to fire and compare both calibers (30-30 & 308) with a 20¨ barrel in terms of noise and muzzle blast? I know sound perception is a rather subjective issue, but do you consider the 308´s ¨louder¨ report to be a deal breaker in this case?

Any input or feedback will be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
 
I have 30-30 marlin and a 94 along with 308 rifles with 18" up to 22"

I always wear ears but I don't notice much of a difference. The 30-30 seems less.sharp but all tbr 308 rifles sound and feel about the same with one exception which is a hog hunter that wears a brake.

The brake doesn't make it louder but Much more concussive to anyone except the shooter. To the shooter it seems a bit louder but not much.

I cannot answer your tinnitus question directly but I would suspect you will hesr\feel very little difference with ears on.

And as an aside I find my carbine ar rifles to be louder and more obnoxious to shoot than either of the above.
 
I spent yesterday's range trip calling impact splash at 300 yards for a friend shooting an 18" .308 AR10, with a brake. It's certainly loud, but not remarkably so with 150gr bullets. With 125gr bullets, any .308 is painful to be near.

Maybe you can find an indoor range that'll rent you a 308 to compare.
 
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.308 Win was designed to peak out in 22" barrels. I have had 18" to 26" barreled ones for years and yes the 18" ones , which for some reason have always been ported or had Brakes are pretty loud. 30-30 is less concussive in longer than 14" barrels as you surmised with the lower pressure and less powder volume, BUT you still need hearing protection ! Yup with any non suppressed weapon hearing protection is a must , however the reality is most folks take the one shot hunting with out it, you really wont notice the difference between a 20" .308 Win or a 20" 30-30 then , I am certain
 
I have 308 bolt guns with 20 and 26 inch barrels. I never noticed one as being louder than the other. Whatever difference there is would be even less between 20 and 22 inch barrels.

The 20 inch barrel would be handier in the field. If it's a good deal and you like the gun, go for it.
 
I have two Browning BLR`s in 308 with 20 inch barrels. Last deer hunting season I shot a doe. I don`t even remember hearing the muzzle blast.
On the bench I wear hearing protection.
 
GAF said:
I have two Browning BLR`s in 308 with 20 inch barrels. Last deer hunting season I shot a doe. I don`t even remember hearing the muzzle blast.
On the bench I wear hearing protection.
Click to expand...

But your ears still took the associated damage. Since the blast doesn't hurt when we're tuning it out, it's something easy to forget, or ignore. It's still there tho.

I hunt without plugs for the most part. If I'm not actively moving and looking for game I'll put them in, and I always have them in my truck, but when stalking, or still hunting I don't ware them (which is what I predominantly do). I've actually got a set of surefire plugs Ive be considering leaving in. My issue with plugs is it makes my breathing and movement noises distracting, the surefires have so far been ok about that.

It takes 3 or 4 shots for me to feel the effects of shooting without hearing protection, while actively doing so. Even with the largest of my rifles.
But even after one I can feel some "wierdness" for a while later in the day.

That said, I don't find 20 anythings, well anything sub magnum, particularly offensive. The .30-30 will have a less sharp sound in my experience, but the .308 isn't going to be awful.

Still I would suggest using hearing protection if you can. You may want to try the surefire plugs, I have so far found them quite comfortable. I use them for work. They do reduce your overall ability to hear small sounds, but don't seem to cause the problems regular plugs do.
 
Electronic plugs would be a great solution. I never hunted with plugs for decades and still run a baseline of 0-5 every year on hearing but a few years ago I opted for corded plugs with one in and the other partially in. I can still hear noise enough to alert me and my strong side hand seats the second plug with minimal effort right before I shoot. Get the ones with a “stick” for insertion, no need to squeeze or roll before slipping them in. If money were no object, opt for electronic with noise attenuation.

5B193BAD-D2D8-4C54-957B-D698F16BA68F.jpeg
 
I have rather poor hearing and have since I was a little kid. I certainly haven't helped it by a good bit of unprotected shooting and lots of time at the race track. I'm considering bringing my electronic earmuffs hunting just because I can hear things with them on that I can't hear with no assistance. I'm not even middle aged so no sense ruining what I still have.
 
I have 308's with 18, 20, and 22" barrels. I can't tell any difference. I had a 30-06 at one time with a 20" barrel, it was louder, but not objectionable.
 
LoonWulf,

My ears sure did , but I don`t remember the blast being an ear ringing experience, but sitting at he bench and forgetting to put on hearing protection seems to be a whole different experience .
 
I have a Browning BLR 308 Win - 20" barrel. I don't notice the sound or pressure at the range or hunting. Don't tell my mom but I don't wear ear protection when hunting. Yes, I understand there is still damage despite not noticing anything.
 
I have a 16" .308 with a brake, it's loud. I have a 24" .308... it's loud. I've got a 20" Savage 99F... it's, well, it's not so bad, because I shoot low velocity cast loads in it.

Like you, OP, years of gun fire, truck engines, and motorcycle wind noise have nuked a lot of my hearing, I'm trying desperately to keep what I have left. A lot of times, I'll take the roll up foamies and insert them partially in my ear canal... it takes away the sharp edge of the sound wave but still allows me to hear, but I kind of like Skylerbone's idea of having those plugs on a lanyard... easily stuck in to shoot, easy to pull out and hold on to.
 
GAF said:
LoonWulf,

My ears sure did , but I don`t remember the blast being an ear ringing experience, but sitting at he bench and forgetting to put on hearing protection seems to be a whole different experience .
Click to expand...
Yep, thats been my experience as well. Its a focus thing i think.
I shot my STW in relatively confined position, bottom of a water cut blue rock channel, laying prone. 4 shots i dont remember hurting, but i couldnt hear the wind, or regular conversation properly for a few hours after that.
 
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