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

[Rampant_Colt]

@ Siaharok - the only way for you to hear how much louder the .357 Magnum is compared to a .38 or .45 is to go to the range and shoot 'em yourself, or observe other shooters on the range

Some well-worn .357s have a large cylinder/barrel gap, increasing the Db level even more

I'll go one step further and add that most .357s don't use flash-suppressed powder like their autoloading counterparts, thus increasing the flash level as well

 

[gallo]

This one of the most useful threads I've read at THR.

Where do the .40S&W and .357 SIG and 20 Gauge fall in the noise level?

 

[Claude Clay]

my nite stand has either 92fs or bhp with sub-sonic ammo and peltor 6s or hs1's cuase they amplify a whisper and shut down a BANG. the moment extra to put on electric ears is strategy, not time wasted. and a BANG in a confined space (hallway or room) IS going to cause hearing damage, adrenaline/mindset or situation aside. sub-sonic hp's to keep them in my house.

 

[jgo296]

not exactly a gun but i used to have a buell cyclone (we wil call it a +p+ harley sporster engine) after market exhaust broke off so i had about 12-18 inches of header that emptied right under the engine
because of finances i rode it this way a few months
it took 4 months for my hearing to return to normal

 

[Defensory]

The .357 is MUCH louder than even a .45 ACP.

The muzzle flash, muzzle blast and blast wave make the .357 a poor choice for indoor self-defense. The muzzle blast will temporarily deafen you, and the muzzle flash will temporarily blind you if fired in a low/no light situation.

 

[AStone]

The muzzle flash, muzzle blast and blast wave make the .357 a poor choice for indoor self-defense.

Which is why I wear a SW 642 in .38 spl for indoor SD
(along with the .357 mag carbine for bedside),
and save the .357 mag revolver for camp use.

 

[Defensory]

Posted by Nematocyst:
Which is why I wear a SW 642 in .38 spl for indoor SD
(along with the .357 mag carbine for bedside),
and save the .357 mag revolver for camp use.

You're smart to use the .38 indoors.

The .357 is a good backup gun when hunting.

 

[AStone]

The .357 is a good backup gun when hunting.

IMO, it's more than a "back up gun" while hunting.

Depending on what one is hunting,
it can get the hunting job done, to.

Big bear or elk? No.
I'll take .45-70.

Small game to whitetail up to 50 m?
No problem with a carbine
and the right rnd.

(And lighter loads need not be as loud.
Then, I'd rather use .22 for smaller game.)

Adequate for bipedal predators, too.