This is the first reason I use .38 special over .357 for defense out if my revolvers. I have fired .38 outdoors and did temporarily loose my hearing and developed a ringing for a few days. I felt my hearing getting affected more each pull of the trigger up to the sixth shot. That is my limit on caliber decibels. My hearing came back and ringing stopped. I shudder to think of letting loose a .357 with open ears. If I had no choice sure. But I can choose ahead of time what I carry.
Video: CCW sound metering
- Thread starter Ironman
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Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Sure they are. A 150 db gun is less damaging than a 165 db gun, contrary to the test in the OP, the db level should be measured at the head of the shooter and not several feet off to the side of the gun where the shooter isn't located.
Yes, this is very silly. They are not choosing what works best for them for protecting their lives from a threat, but deciding on a gun/caliber based on a factor that is non-critical to self defense.
It very well might on many levels. While you may not suffer as much ear damage, if you choose the less powerful caliber (despite having the option for something more powerful that maybe you can control as well) maybe you save a little more of your hearing...before you bleed out.
xfyrfiter
Member
I have had tinnitus since the age of 17 (now 62) and I know when it started, we were at the gravel pit and I fired six rounds from a .22 mag snubbie. my ears have rang ever since. Even louder than my Security six in .357.
ChCx2744
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For everyone asking about the similarity to a gunshot indoors to a flash bang grenade...Hell I'd rather eat a bang than be in the same room as a gun going off. The bang is more of a loud boom that you can feel inside your body, nose and mouth where the gunshot is more of a loud crack/snap that actually hurts your ears and inside your head. I've been exposed to a flash bang grenade in training and I've also been in the same room (About 20x25 feet) as an AR going off and the AR hurt.
PJSprog
Member
Was shooting outdoors with some friends back in the mid-80s, and one friend grabbed my 686 and started squeezing off some .357 rounds before I could get my muffs back on. As I was standing just about 5 feet off to the side of him, I was frankly surprised that it didn't really hurt at all. I then shot it myself, sans muffs. One shot, and I've never had my ears hurt so bad in my life. It was like someone jabbed ice picks into both ears. Never did that again.
I've also been a professional rock musician for over 30 years. Believe me, if you don't already have Tinnitus, you don't want it. Take care of your hearing.
D
Deleted member 217172
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audio engineer/musician here-
Ouch. Impulse sounds damage hearing differently then continuous sound, hearing loss is inevitable at SPLs that high. At audio schools (rules put forth by the AES) getting caught mixing at dBu of 85+ will get you kicked out of the program. Wearing -30 dB protection at an indoor range will protect sufficiently for a few minutes. The length of time one is exposed to high SPLs is something overlooked for shooters- wear plugs and phones always when shooting for more then 10 minutes. 160dB is insane! One instance /w out protection WILL cause permanent damage. In a CCW real life scenario (obviously) nothing can be done, but at the range, different story. Every time one hears ringing- that's the LAST time you will ever hear that particular frequency, ever. I'm going to do my own tests at the range /w protection and record/average the dB level (using A-weighted measuring). Will post results when I get 'em.
Ouch. Impulse sounds damage hearing differently then continuous sound, hearing loss is inevitable at SPLs that high. At audio schools (rules put forth by the AES) getting caught mixing at dBu of 85+ will get you kicked out of the program. Wearing -30 dB protection at an indoor range will protect sufficiently for a few minutes. The length of time one is exposed to high SPLs is something overlooked for shooters- wear plugs and phones always when shooting for more then 10 minutes. 160dB is insane! One instance /w out protection WILL cause permanent damage. In a CCW real life scenario (obviously) nothing can be done, but at the range, different story. Every time one hears ringing- that's the LAST time you will ever hear that particular frequency, ever. I'm going to do my own tests at the range /w protection and record/average the dB level (using A-weighted measuring). Will post results when I get 'em.
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