Determining gun loudness

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.308 Norma said:
Strange indeed! Could it be the different style flash suppressors? I don't know much about flash suppressors. That's why I'm asking.:)
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Possibly. But even at that, the longer one on the blued rifle is closed off more like a muzzle brake. And the other is identically shaped like an A2. So logically, it still should be opposite of what it is.
 
JWF III said:
Possibly. But even at that, the longer one on the blued rifle is closed off more like a muzzle brake. And the other is identically shaped like an A2. So logically, it still should be opposite of what it is.
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In that case, it's the design of the muzzle devices.
Flash hiders are just that--they work to reduce how obvious a flash is, and not much more.
Muzzle brakes catch more of the blast to direct it sideways or back, and the noise impulse goes along for the ride. So it's more noticeable behind it.
The flash hider is probably louder in front, that's just where you don't want to be to check.
 
Deus Machina said:
In that case, it's the design of the muzzle devices.
Flash hiders are just that--they work to reduce how obvious a flash is, and not much more.
Muzzle brakes catch more of the blast to direct it sideways or back, and the noise impulse goes along for the ride. So it's more noticeable behind it.
The flash hider is probably louder in front, that's just where you don't want to be to check.
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You must have misunderstood what I was attempting to say. The 1 with the A2 style flash suppressor is the 1 that is unbearable for even 1 shot. It would’ve made since if the brake was the bad one.

Wyman
 
I'd hazard that it depends on where the receiver (your ears) are in relation to the muzzle.
Being forward of a .243 is downright painful!
 
Riomouse911 said:
I will opine, with no scientific knowledge to back it up, that the smaller bore of the .223 makes for a different pitch than the larger bore of the 12 ga. This sound-pitch difference may also make noise “seem” louder in one gun than another because of how it’s affecting your hearing organs.

I can say the .223 in a 14.5” barrel has a “crack” like sound to me, while the 12 gauge is more of a “boom”.

Maybe out there somewhere is a sound study showing the actual sound signatures of guns to explain it for real rather than just guesses like mine?
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.223 runs about 55K psi; 12 gauge about 11K; pressure, pressure, pressure
 
That is true, the .223 runs at a much, much higher pressure than the 12 ga.,

I’m wondering if bore diameter doesn’t play a role as well, as my .270 and .30-06 caliber guns also run at a high pressure but don’t seem to have as piercing a report as the AR does (at least to me). The barrel length may play a role as well, with the .223 at 14.5” to 20” and the other guns run 22”-24”.

Whatever the cause (if there even is one), it’s all bad for our ears. :( Cover them up!

Stay safe!
 
mjsdwash said:
I can shoot a 28" 12 gauge all day with no ear protection, get no ringing. Same with a 22 rifle and did for years, and have average hearing. A 16" AR with an A2 hider is horribly loud. I shot a Mini 14 in 223 outdoors without earplugs once or twice, didn't hurt, no ringing, only real difference was the flash hide. hot 357s ring with earplugs in, 22lr pistols are too loud without plugs for me.
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I have an A2 flash hider on my AR15. It sounds like removing it might be the best thing I could do. All AR rifles seem to come standard with those. It might be what gives AR's a reputation for being so loud.

Try taking the A2 flash hider off your 16" AR and see if it then sounds similar to your Mini 14.
 
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12Pump said:
I have an A2 flash hider on my AR15. It sounds like removing it might be the best thing I could do. All AR rifles seem to come standard with those. It might be what gives AR's a reputation for being so loud.

Try taking the A2 flash hider off your 16" AR and see if it then sounds similar to your Mini 14.
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I have shot them without the A2, it makes a difference. One interesting thing, the 223 has a fireball that washes out your vision when shooting with a scope and no hider.
 
I can shoot a 28" 12 gauge all day with no ear protection, get no ringing.
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You are kidding yourself; 12 gauge is not subsonic and the hearing damage is cumulative; I have been shooting shotgun for over 35 years, ANY shot without protection is a losing proposition for you.
 
Yup, my right ear has a good dose of tinnitus; some from an ear infection in high school that damaged the drum, three perforated eardrums from crashing while water skiing and from shooting .22 Lr a lot and dove hunting without ears on when I was a kid.

Left ear isn’t as bad off, but it rings a bit, too.

I protect the heck out of them now, I don’t want to lose any more of my hearing.

Stay safe!
 
mjsdwash said:
I have shot them without the A2, it makes a difference. One interesting thing, the 223 has a fireball that washes out your vision when shooting with a scope and no hider.
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Would it make even more of a difference to install a linear muzzle brake? They're supposed to direct the sound forward, which may or may not help the shooter in a self defense situation indoors. From Youtube videos I've seen on the subject, they cut the sound by maybe 3 db.
 
It’s the pressure at the muzzle, coupled with barrel length which a shorter barrel may allow for more gas to escape at peak pressure. As one guy pointed out bore diameter will determine the “pitch”. How fast or slow the powder is most likely has to do with it as well.
 
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