benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Most AR's and shotguns aren't, either, particularly those set up for HD. The last thing you want on *any* HD gun is a blast-and-flash-multiplying muzzle brake.You also have to factor in that most pistols aren't equipped with a muzzle brake that is sending the sound back towards the shooter. Depending on where the microphone is when doing the recording, that can make a difference as well.
My 16" AR is set up with a Smith Vortex flash suppressor, which does a very good job of directing the muzzle blast and flash forward, and subjectively it is no louder or more annoying than my 3.5" barreled 9mm. I have shot next to AR's and CETME's with brakes, though, and I would never, ever want to fire a braked gun indoors; they sounded like a .357.
Braked, bare muzzle, or good flash suppressor? What barrel length? The configuration makes a huge difference. A 14.5" AR is significantly louder than a 16", for example. My AR (16", Vortex FS) seems comparable to a pistol in terms of volume and annoyance, whereas the loudest and most annoying gun I've ever shot next to at an outdoor range was a 14.5" AR with a brake.I have fired an AR in a hallway with no hearing protection, I fired one round and it caused me complete temporary hearing loss, dizziness and blurred vision. Not helpful in a self defense situation. I vote 12 gauge semi auto shotgun.
Going by published measurements, a 16" AR with FS (not brake) should be very close to the same peak dBA and duration as an 18" 12-gauge.
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