Noise levels for revolvers
- Thread starter Haxby
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The one with the heaviest bullet, smallest powder charge, and lowest velocity.
rc
rc
Hondo 60
Member
Without running numerous tests on various loadings with a db meter, I'd defer to rcmodel's answer.
He's usually right.
(sarcasm)
He's usually right.
(sarcasm)PJSprog
Member
I'd go with rc & Hondo's advice as well.
tightgroup tiger
Member
Definitely, along as it stays subsonic as well.
BCRider
Member
A caliber which we don't see much about on US forums is the old British WWII handgun standard .38/200. A short .38S&W casing with a 200 gn bullet traveling as a leisurely 620 to 650 feet per second.
I'd expect a load of this sort to be pretty quiet.
A .44Spl sort of equivalent would be to load up a "cowboy action" like load that would make a 260 to 280gn bullet loaf along at around that same 650 to perhaps up to 700 fps. What it gives up in speed it would make up for with mass to ensure decent penetration.
And do they have 300gn bullets or molds to cast them for a .45? Going with that same idea of big and slow you could set up loads to shoot these at around 600fps and likely it would sound like loud mouse fart. Such a load MIGHT even be as quiet as a .22 rifle.
Out in the open I'd expect that a load of this sort could ALMOST be safe for the hearing.
Barrel length plays a big part as well. Just ask any cowboy action shooter or .22rimfire shooter what the comparison is between shooting subsonic ammo from a handgun and rifle. HUGE difference.
So all in all I'd suspect that the 6" .44 would be potentially noticeably quieter than the 4" .357.
That and keeping the cylinder gap shimmed so it's on the tight side of the optimum range.
I'd expect a load of this sort to be pretty quiet.
A .44Spl sort of equivalent would be to load up a "cowboy action" like load that would make a 260 to 280gn bullet loaf along at around that same 650 to perhaps up to 700 fps. What it gives up in speed it would make up for with mass to ensure decent penetration.
And do they have 300gn bullets or molds to cast them for a .45? Going with that same idea of big and slow you could set up loads to shoot these at around 600fps and likely it would sound like loud mouse fart. Such a load MIGHT even be as quiet as a .22 rifle.
Out in the open I'd expect that a load of this sort could ALMOST be safe for the hearing.
Barrel length plays a big part as well. Just ask any cowboy action shooter or .22rimfire shooter what the comparison is between shooting subsonic ammo from a handgun and rifle. HUGE difference.
So all in all I'd suspect that the 6" .44 would be potentially noticeably quieter than the 4" .357.
That and keeping the cylinder gap shimmed so it's on the tight side of the optimum range.
gamestalker
member
What I do know is that H110 loads will literally bring tears to your eyes. And my 38 special Longshot loads aren't a whole lot better. With ear plugs in, both 38's and .357 loads are still quite painful, so I started using both plugs and ear muffs.
As to your question, you'll still be forced to use maximum protection even with light loads for either of the cartridges and guns mentioned. I have forgotten to put my protection in / on a couple of times over the years, and now I suffer severe permanent hearing loss, and ringing in my ears that has never subsided since.
GS
As to your question, you'll still be forced to use maximum protection even with light loads for either of the cartridges and guns mentioned. I have forgotten to put my protection in / on a couple of times over the years, and now I suffer severe permanent hearing loss, and ringing in my ears that has never subsided since.
GS
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