357 mag Ear Killer

Well, GIs shoot AR15s inside of buildings (as in Iraq and Afghanistan) and from what I understand they can still hear.

DPS uses (or did use) the .357 Sig for years and they ain't deaf. Air Marshals use .357 Sigs inside of airliners.

So I don't put much stock on this .357 will deafen you with one shot.

Oh, and BTW, they make low flash loads for the .357 magnum to.

Deaf

This ^^^^ and don't forget the hearing protection when practicing.

I had to lulz a little ... as many mag rounds as I have through my 686 collection I should be totally deaf if one shot will do the trick as the OP suggested.
 
"Air Marshals use .357 Sigs inside of airliners."

I don't believe there is a single case on record of an air marshal firing his weapon inside an aircraft...in an attempt to stop a hi-jacking...except in the movies. Of course I could have missed something.
 
I don't believe there is a single case on record of an air marshal firing his weapon inside an aircraft...in an attempt to stop a hi-jacking...except in the movies. Of course I could have missed something.

They have fired more then a few rounds inside aircraft fuselages during training and in testing.
 
Well, GIs shoot AR15s inside of buildings (as in Iraq and Afghanistan) and from what I understand they can still hear.
I knew service member who's ears rang an entire weekend after an indoor training exercise. That is hearing damage.
He was issued hearing protection. Chose not to use it.
 
I had to fire a 357 outdoors in a SD situation once when I was in my early 30's. My ears rang afterwards. Now I am 50 and have noticeable hearing problems. I don't know if the two are related or not.
 
My experience is that all handguns are really loud and you best wear hearing protection.

Funny how some people don't perceive it like it is.
 
Has anyone here used a decibel meter? I imagine that it'd be just as much fun as using a chronograph to get "real world" data on what you shoot. Is there an inexpensive one that would be accurate over the appropriate sound ranges for handguns? I hear there's a decibel meter app but I'm somehow skeptical that phone hardware is right for the job.
 
Years ago I took two shots at a rabbit (missed first shot) with my gp100 using the heavy buffalo bore 180 grain. For about two weeks everything sounded like it was through a blown out speaker.
 
Hunting without hearing protection for sure. Was hoping for a hog, but settled for a rabbit. I now carry 3 38 special and 3 357 in the cylinder and take hearing protection with me.
 
Matt. Why the 3/3 combo? Why not load with 38's and have a speed loader or moon clip with 357's? Reason I ask is the hand/mind get used to 38's then if the 4th.on are 357's you might forget and not remember. Could prove to be to your dissadvantage.
Doc
 
If it is only loaded with 38, and I need 357 , with speed loaders not only would I have to fool around with pulling out a speed loader and reloading, but then would also have to mess around with unloading the 38s and putting them away. Also would be just one more thing to carry. Something I don't really see any point in carrying. I'm curious as to how being loaded with 357 would be a negative (assuming hearing protection is worn), other than the extra cost of ammunition?
 
ANY firearm including 22s will destroy your hearing without good hearing protection.

NEVER SHOOT WITHOUT HEARING PROTECTION.
Kraig is absolutely right-THIS should be your mantra. I haven't even read all the replies, but I can't stress this enough. Keep yourself from getting like he and I. Don't even fire a gun once without ear-pro to acquaint yourself to it's noise in case you ever need to fire it indoors. Up to you, of course, but there it is.

Check the differences you want to know about at the range with ear-pro. If there is a difference it will be noticeable. My .44 mag hurts even with ear-pro. It's when I decided to double-up with plugs and muffs, and have been doing it ever since with all calibers.
 
Last edited:
2 shots ruined my hearing and is now why I wear hearing aids. First shot I had removed my earplugs to talk and forgot to put them in when resting over the hood of a jeep to fire my 44 mag. My ears wouldn't stop ringing and the doctor told me I lost some of my hearing which is the high frequency sounds which you loose first. The next time several weeks later, I had my head in the trunk of my car without ear protection when my buddy fired his 8 mm Mauser right behind me. Again ringing ears. I couldn't for several days hear myself peeing in a toilet or a faucet running. Once you lose your hearing there is no getting it back.

I was outside chronographing some .357 handloads from my stainless Blackhawk and especially with H110 and 300MP they were L.O.U.D (and boomy/flashy). I couldn't even imagine touching something like that off indoors without ear protection.
__________________


Years ago back when 35mm cameras were the top of the line I did many pictures of my buddy's 357 loaded with H110 firing in the night. I had the camera on a tripod and held the lense open so the flash was the lighting to record the picture. H110 was spectacular for muzzle flash and cylinder gap flash over any other powder we tried.
 
Shimpy,

I have the same exact problem. I couldn't hear the high sounds at all anymore I bought LifeEar sound amplifier on Amazon for like $378. They make one for the left or right ear.
The hearing aid companies were quoting $2500 to $4000 for a hearing aid.
Maybe it will help you.

Doc
 
Back
Top