Is it too Loud: .357 Magnum

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

LouisianaGunslinger

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
40
I had a post up a few days ago detailing how I accidentally shot a .357 indoors without hearing protection and it rattled my cage to the point where I was looking for a .45 ACP revolver, concerned about being disoriented in a half awake daze in the night if I ever had to defend my home.

People began saying how anything is going to rattle your cage indoors without hearing protection and the .357 Magnum's noise and blast wouldn't disorient you to the point of impairing follow up shots.

So... do yall think it's too loud, got too much flash or blast, etc?
 
Yes.

Thats why my "indoor" guns are .45 Colt, or .44 Specials, or .38 Specials, or 9mm, or even .380 auto's.

A SIG P232 .380 is laying on my nightstand as we speak..

Both my .357's are loaded with +P .38 LSWC, or Speer Short Barrel JHP.

rc
 
Supersonic ammunition indoors is bad medicine for your hearing and ability to stay somewhat oriented while in a half-asleep daze during the night.

I prefer to keep .38 LSWC +P, 147gr 9mm, or 230gr .45acp cartridges loaded on my nightstands and in my vehicles. Plenty of gun without as high of a threat of mass disorientation when dropping the hammer.

YMMV

-Jake
 
In my opinion, YES ! I do not understand the trend in self defense arms that employ 2" barrels, 12-16 oz weights, and 357 mag. cal. for situations that could be most likely to be used at night, with no time for hearing protection. The flash is blinding by itself, not to mention the hand crippling recoil, and deafening muzzle blast. Hopefully, the people that have these will never have to shoot them, or be experienced shooters that know what they have. The short barrel ammo by some companies are much better than std. loads as they use fast burning powder to reduce flash and blast. But they are still too much in my opinion. No ammo is recommended to shoot without hearing protection, so one must trade off somewhere. Cal.s (like the 45 ACP) that are low pressure items, are much better for flash and noise than most any high pressure magnum. The 45 is not without recoil, so it is not for everyone. I use 38 spec. 158 lswchp +p in my lightweight, with full ( not boot ) grips. For less recoil with the boot grip equipped ultra lightweight, I use Nyclad 125, not +p. I can control these loads and in the unlikely event I would actually have to fire them, could live with the side effects.
 
This is an issue that seems to be ignored by most "self-defense experts." Even a short-barreled .22 LR shot in a small room is pretty loud. The noise and flame of a firearm shot in self-defense in a dark room might be as disconcerting to the shooter as to the shootee.....

I've never had to do so. But I'm pretty sure which end of the firearm I'd rather be! :what:
 
shot a .357 indoors without hearing protection and it rattled my cage to the point where I was looking for a .45 ACP revolver
Click to expand...
Yep, the .357 is painful outdoors without hearing protection, much less indoors. The .45 is a lower pitch boom. It is not nearly as bad, and your hearing recovers faster as well.

.45 ACP for me all day long.

That said, +P .38 Spl, or middle of the road .357 loads are not nearly as bad as full power .357 Mag.
 
My .357 can be painful for me outdoors with ear protection. It has a sharp muzzle report that is piercing to me. I am most comfortable with foam twist-ups under my e-muffs. Same for my M1A Scout Squad since it has a shorter barrel (18") + muzzle brake which sends some of the blast back towards the shooter.

I do have a GP100 listed on my carry license but have not carried it because of this.

Dan
 
Now why would anybody shoot a gun indoors without hearing protection more than once, if you really forgot to put your ears on. DUH, any ammo will screw up your hearing if you do this more than once. Can't believe we are even having a discussion on this.

Beavis to Butthead: Beavis let's go shoot these guns but without the wimpy ear and eye protection.
 
the count said:
Now why would anybody shoot a gun indoors without hearing protection more than once, if you really forgot to put your ears on. DUH, any ammo will screw up your hearing if you do this more than once. Can't believe we are even having a discussion on this.

Beavis to Butthead: Beavis let's go shoot these guns but without the wimpy ear and eye protection.
Click to expand...

So, you slip your Cabelas muffs on for home defense? This is what I'm talking about, grabbing the .357 when something goes bump in the night.

Dan
 
bergmen said:
So, you slip your Cabelas muffs on for home defense? This is what I'm talking about, grabbing the .357 when something goes bump in the night.

Dan
Click to expand...
An attack at home? In that event worrying about your hearing will be your smallest problem. Adrenaline will filter out any pain until the fight is over.
 
I'd rather be deaf than dead. Do swat teams or military wear ear plugs and carry 38's when they bumb rush a building? What is the likelyhood of you getting life altering hearing loss from a few shots in doors?
 
Regardless of caliber, I have to wear ear protection or suffer the consequences. However, in a self defense situation I don't think you would even notice the gun going off.
 
What is the likelyhood of you getting life altering hearing loss from a few shots in doors?

I was in two close quarter shooting incidents 40 years ago. I have had tinnitus ever since.
 
Amplified ear muffs are much less expensive than hearing aids.

In a home defense situation, you might not ALWAYS have time to put them on, but I suspect in most cases you will. By the time you are pointing loaded guns as people in your house, that is no time to be concerned about people making fun of your unorthodox appearance.

The amplified muffs also allow you to hear things that you might not otherwise hear - which can be weird and may take some familiarization to incorporate into your "tactical" response.

I fired a 30-30 indoors "by accident" in 1976.
My ears rung for longer than I cared for.
 
Yep!

I was in the passenger seat of a 68 Chevy 409 Impalla one time when the driver fired a Model 70 .264 WinMag out the passenger side window right in front of my face!
Yowser!!! :what:

I thought he was just gonna look at the coyote through the scope, but NO!!

Neither of us had any idea how much dust & dirt was in the headliner of an almost new Chevy!

Come to think of it, I never hunted with him again.

rc
 
I let loose a 158gr .38 in a bathroom with a tile floor two months ago and think I have tinnitus, or so it seems.

Take care of yourselves folks.

-Jake
 
If you have to fire a gun in your own house in the middle of the night, your hearing will be the last thing you will be thinking about. ALL handgun rounds are above the threshold for hearing damage. Makes no difference if it's a .22 or a .50. Most likely though, when your 'fight or flight' kicks in they'll all sound like popcorn popping. Not to say you won't have hearing damage, but the probability is you won't feel the pain at the time.

The guys recommending the electronic muffs are spot on. I'll go so far as to put in a plug for Peltor.
I have monster tinnitus and a 20% hearing loss. When I sampled electronic muffs, they were the brand that had enough volume for me to hear range commands without my hearing aids.

As to muzzle flash, take it from one who has shot night qualifiers for 36 years, no problem. All handguns have flash, some little, some big. The little flash allows you to see your sights and the big flash allows you to see your target, so it's all good.

Pick the caliber YOU feel most comfotable with, get a set of Peltor's and be worry free.
 
VA27,

Wait until you get 75% loss in one, and 80% loss in the other one, like Naybor said, "Got crickets in my ears now." Wish I could hear crickets!
 
My wife has finally got used to having to speak up after 10 years, although she uses that to her advantage now. She also understand why I need her to repeat things sometimes. I can't call that sound crickets, I like to listen to crickets on a cool still nite. That damn ringin is just plain irritating.

Loud music was also a contributing factor in my case, and some machinery. Don't think it takes a lifetime to mess up your hearing! I'm 34 and wish I would have been a little more careful in my younger years.

Saying all of that my bedside gun is a.357 it's loaded with .38's with a full charge .357 reload. And also a marlin carbine.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

L
  • Locked
Help Me Pick a Caliber
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE
S
B
  • Locked
.357 Magnum Too Much Recoil?
2 3 4 5
Replies
101
Views
7K
Warp
Warp
Pat Riot
  • Locked
Thunderstruck revolver is LOUD
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Meeks36
Meeks36
R
  • Locked
SP101 2" Need some help choosing the model (.38 vs. .357 mag)
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
SAWBONES
S
S
  • Locked
The Big Bang - How Loud is a .357 compared to a .38?
2
Replies
32
Views
14K
AStone
A
Back
Top