The Big Bang - How Loud is a .357 compared to a .38?

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Siaharok

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Hello,

I read (ahem...skim) a lot of threads on THR comparing calibers for self defense. In the frequent .45 vs .357 discussions, one thing that keeps coming up is the loudness of the .357 indoors. People often say that, in order to save their hearing, they'd much rather fire a .45 indoors rather than a .357.

I've never fired a .357 without hearing protection. I know that it's a lot louder than a .38. (People certainly perk up at the range when I fire .357.) But just how loud are we talking about? Specifically, how much hearing damage are we talking about if one were to fire a .357 indoors without protection? Is a .38 that much safer?

Also, does anyone know how a .357 compare (in loudness) to a 12 gauge shotgun?

I own a 2" Ruger SP101 in .357. Obviously, I'm specifically interested in the loudness of that particular handgun, but I'd appreciate input in general. Thanks in advance.
 
I don't know the specifics of the barrel length, etc of these tests, but here's some numbers. .45 is really no better - they'll all cause immediate hearing loss.


.38 Spl 156.3 dB.

.45 ACP 157.0 dB.

.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.

12 Gauge
28" barrel 151.50dB.
26" barrel 156.10dB.
18" barrel 161.50dB.

Also, keep in mind that 10db jump = twice as loud.

Any firearm (with the exception of perhaps a .22LR) fired without protection is going to do permanent hearing damage. I think the number is 140db or more = instant damage.

Old thread with broken links to data: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=256966
 
It depends on what .357 load, but full-power 125-gr. magnums definitely have a more ear-splitting "crack" report (from being supersonic) than the "boom" report of the subsonic .38. The blast wave is much greater, which adds to the perception. The actual sound impulse (dB) is probably not much different. But, I would still choose a load for its effectiveness on the target rather than how loud it sounds, within reason.
 
If you really want to knock em deaf then touch off the ole Mosin-Nagant inside if the bullet doesn't kill them the shock wave will.

Picking the .38 or .357 shouldn't be based on noise if your planing to use it for self defense purposes as your hearing is irrelevant if you cant defend yourself with the round.
 
The .357 is the most annoying gun to be next to at the range that I have encountered. I'd rather be next to a .44 mag or up to a 7mm Mag than a .357. It's somehow sharper of a bang than anything else I know and I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin every time. For shooting I'd rather shoot a .45 or better still a .41.
 
I'd have to agree with Yellowfin that the .357 can really bark. I was shooting the other day at an outdoor range with a covered roof, concrete floor and low brick walls.

I had my .357 and there was one other old timer who I thought had a 9mm. Whenever we both fired, the report from his gun just about disappeared. As it turned out, he was firing a .45. The noise from my gun just covered his up.
 
Once upon a time being a noob to guns and the proud new owner of a .357, I decided to take my new baby out. I didn't take along any hearing protection, cause I figured how loud could it be, so my ears ring a little. It couldn't be any louder than my buddies 12 gauge right? WRONG! I wound up firing about 18 shots. After the first one, I couldn't hear anything other than the rest of the shots going off, and those were just a muffled "whoomf". I've had a firecracker go off 6 inches from my ear. The .357 was WAY louder. It was a couple of days before I could hear my wife again (probably a good thing, she was not happy). I've had a continuous ringing in the background ever since (around 18 years). Also, a .357 is louder beside it than behind it. An amazing amount of sound pressure comes out of the cylinder gap.

All that said, I'm also told by those with first hand experience that for some reason, you don't lose your hearing when firing in a gun fight. Apparently something about the brain's response to stress.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Better deaf than dead.
Click to expand...
This is an argument that I see frequently. Obviously, anyone choosing between these two options would choose the former. But are these the only two choices?

I prefer to shoot .38s, and I am a better shot with them. If shooting a .38 is considerably less deafening, then I just assume stick to .38s. But from the data Jimmie posted, .38s, .357s, and .45s are all deafening. The .357 is the worst, but hearing damage seems unavoidable with any of them.

Any other thoughts?
 
Jimmie said:
Also, keep in mind that 10db jump = twice as loud.
Click to expand...
You missed that one by quite a bit. 3db is a factor of two (+3db = twice as loud, -3db = half as loud).

10db is a factor of ten.
 
I've always felt when I shot hot .357 that the damn stuff out of a 4" barrel was going to give me a nosebleed.

Not particularly pleasant.

.38 special never feels that way.
 
Very interesting thread. I keep a S&W 586 loaded with Remington 125 SJHP +P .38's. Right now, I do not have any .357 rounds in the safe. Got .44 magnum rounds though for my .44's . I always perceived the .357 as much, much louder, with the .45 ACP also louder than any .38 I have ever fired.
 
It was a couple of days before I could hear my wife again
Click to expand...

Does that really work??? Please tell me it does, I might have to try that!!! :evil:

Seriously though, to those that are thinking about trying it, don't. Read daddyo's post again. Always wear your hearing protection. I usually look to my left and right on the firing line before I fire to make sure everyone has hearing protection, and I am especially cognizant of that if I'm shooting 357s.

You missed that one by quite a bit. 3db is a factor of two (+3db = twice as loud, -3db = half as loud).

10db is a factor of ten.
Click to expand...

Wow. So using the dB data posted by Jimmie, a 357 is almost 27 times louder than a 38? Dang, I figured it was 2 to 3 times as loud, but I would NEVER have thought 27 times! :evil: But if Jimmie's 10 dB = twice is loud is right, then it's still almost 2x louder than a 38 or 45. Ear muffs and plugs are your friends :) .

BTW, I always thought my 20" 12 gauge wasn't as loud as my 357 686, and this data confirms my thoughts.

I was standing by a gent shooting a 6" S&W 500 Mag. Really, the report wasn't all that bad, IMO. Like the 44 Mag, it was a very low, very deep BOOOOOOOM ... like a 45ACP cranked up a notch or 4. Neither had the ear splitting lightening-bolt like CRACK! of a 357 Magnum.

So I guess it goes like this:

38 Special: Pow!
9mm: Pop!
45 ACP: Boom!
45 Colt: BOOM!
44 Magnum: BOOOOM!
500 S&W: BOOOOOOOM!
357 Magnum: CRACK!!! :eek:

Quote:
I prefer to shoot .38s, and I am a better shot with them.

So there's your answer,right there.

Besides,the old SWC-HP "FBI load" is still a good round,especially if you step it up to +p.
Click to expand...

I shoot 38s better too. Much easier to make followup shots for me. Placement and penetration, I can do both with a 38 with proper ammo selection. And the FBI Load is an excellent choice.
 
You missed that one by quite a bit. 3db is a factor of two (+3db = twice as loud, -3db = half as loud).
Click to expand...

If I missed it, then this PhD and lots of other edu's missed it.

http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/

It says 10db = twice as loud and 3db = twice as much power.

Here's got the same data.

http://www.superlux.us/frequency_response.html
A larger change on the order of 10 dB is needed for something to sound "twice as loud" at mid frequencies. This subjective impression seems to hold up fairly well for all listeners. Therefore, an increase of 20 dB will sound four times as loud, and an increase of 30 dB will sound eight times as loud.

Some folk get confused since an increase of 3 dB is twice the power, and an increase of 10 dB is ten times the power. This is true, but does not change the way the ear / brain combination interprets sound. For example people want their sound system to play louder and buy a 200 watt amplifier to replace their existing 100 watt amplifier, and think it will sound twice as loud since the power has doubled. The ear, however, says "that's just a bit louder" since the level increase is just 3 dB. In order to get the sound system to sound twice as loud, they would have to buy a 1000 watt amplifier to replace the original 100 watt model (a 10 dB increase in level). Then they will probably find they are burning out their loudspeakers trying to get the system to play twice as loud.
Click to expand...

And here:

http://www.soundinstitute.com/article_detail.cfm/ID/95
In other words, a sound that is twice as loud as another sound could be described as being 10 decibels (10 dB) louder.
Click to expand...

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~musiclab/decibel.htm
This is already noteworthy! And if you raise the volume 'til the music sounds twice as loud again, you will have taken the music through two increases of about the same power ratio. Each will have been a change of roughly 10 dB. Thus, our perception of loudness works logarithmically, so it's appropriate that we use a logarithmic measure for it.
Click to expand...
 
i shot a full power .357 snubbie when i was about 12 with my uncle with no hearing protection, only 6 shots, but ever since ive that permenant hissing sound like a TV is constantly on in the background.

thats also why i have a set of compensating ear muffs on my gun safe next to the bed. if im grabbing my gun, im grabbing those too, im only 22 years old. i need to keep some of my hearing for my grandkids.
 
Jimmie - -

Read your own post.
Some folk get confused since an increase of 3 dB is twice the power, and an increase of 10 dB is ten times the power. This is true, but does not change the way the ear / brain combination interprets sound.
Click to expand...
It is the "power" that does damage to hearing, not how the brain interprets it.
 
Standing to the side of a .357 can give you quite a beating. I've noticed that the noise and concussion is much worse than when you are holding the gun. Always, always wear ear protection! :cuss:

Something fun I like to do is take a handful of .357 and .38 rounds, mix them all up in a bucket and then randomnly load 'em in the gun. No speedloader, so you're loading blind which is a good drill. Then, shoot and see how your accuracy is. I've noticed that quite a few start flinching when they know that they will be firing .357 rds and the accuracy goes downhill. If you don't know what's up next and use proper trigger control, you will be surprised at how little and controllable the difference is IF you are using a large frame revolver. I wouldn't try this with a snubby!
 
Forty years ago I was on a college ROTC smallbore rifle team. Our range was under the stadium steel bleacher formed the roof, concrete floor, brick wall. We had no hearing protection. I did this for two years, plus shooting my 30-06 at a couple of local ranges. Did not know much about hearing protection and my hearing shows the results today.
 
Amen to that jkingrph.

My brother remarked a while ago, that as a young recruit in the early 50s the range sergeant would patrol to make sure no one was wearing hearing protection. (Ya don't want anybody to sneak up on ya.) Fast forward 20 years, as a BN commander, he has his NCOs patrol to ensure all shooters are wearing hearing protection!

I have deafened myself at least once with a high powered rifle as a teenager. The ringing just will not stop.
 
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