Factors influencing firearm noise...a summary...

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saturno_v

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I would like to sum up all the potential variables involved in variance in the level of noise report.

I ask to the experts, please, to correct me if some of my statements or assumptions are false/incomplete or to confirm their correctness and to add more items to this list if they do apply.

- Pressure....generally higher pressure means more noise all else being equal...because gases velocity is higher, being velocity influenced by temperature (higher temperature = higher speed of sound in that gas medium) which in turn is influenced by pressure.

- Propellant Gas quantity....a 12 Gause shotgun will be much more noisy than a 9mm handgun even if the latter is a much higher pressure cartridge.

- Similar to the previous point, a bigger caliber, all else being equal (pressure, barrel length, etc...) will be more noisy....a good example of this would be the 300 Win Mag and the 338 Win Mag....the second will be more noisy (more gases developed because of bigger barrel volume, courtesy of the larger caliber)

- Barrel length...a shorter barrel will be more noisy, all else being equal, because of more hot unburnt powder mixing with oxigen at the muzzle


Finally, I have two questions

1) Does bullet weight, in the same cartridge (and pressure level) influence noise?? For example, all else being equal, a 150 gr. bullet load in a 30-06 will be less or more noisy than a 200 gr, load???

2) Can we have noticeable difference in the level and characteristics of noise between two different firearms of similar design? (for example a Rem 700 in 30-06 and a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06 with both 24" barrel lenght). Can some people distinguish just from the noise report what caliber went off?? Does every cartridge and/or a specific cartridge/firearm combo have a unique "voice"?

Thanks


Regards
 
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