.357 vs .410: What's louder?

C

Cosmodragoon

New member
Comparing average defense-rated loads in your average "Judge" and your average 4"-6" .357 revolver, what is more punishing on the ears?
 
Well, sorta hard to answer because I haven't shot either without my muffs on, but I would think the 357 Magnum. It is known for not only it's power, but it's punishing sound level as well. Never really thought of a 410 as being all that loud. Even in my PD Poly with it's 2" barrel.
 
Agree with Cheapshooter, The only frame of reference I have is 3" .410 shells out of one of my shotguns or out of my Polish flare gun (with insert). My 4" barrel S&W 686 with .357 Magnum seems to be significantly louder.
 
I'm familiar with .410 in long guns but I don't think that's a fair comparison. I've never witnessed a Judge in action so I was curious.
 
The .357 seems to be much louder. My first handgun was a .357 Dan & Wesson I bought for $140 at a gun show. I couldn't stand to shoot the thing because the nasty "crack" of the high pressure round, and the recoil didn't help it's cause. I ended up shooting mostly .38 Special out of it, before I cracked the bore in it. To me the .410, even in judge size sounds like any other shotgun.
 
My Judge just sounds like a generic handgun going off.

My 4" 357 sounds like a jet breaking the sound barrier right next to my head. I had to use one for SD once, and my ears were still ringing when the LE arrived.
 
the .357 is much louder, the only handgun I have ever shot that is louder than a .357 is a 7.5" blackhawk .30 and that thing is in a class of its own :D
 
Look's like the jury is back in record time. I know .357 is extreme but is it really a "Noise Tyrant"? How does it stack up against other high-pressure rounds, from .327 to .454?
 
You're asking for subjective comparisons that'd really be meaningless across such a wide spectrum.

Sound volumes also are a matter of individual perception. While there may be quantifiable constants, each individual may perceive sound levels differently depending on their own hearing, proximity, position, state of mind, and surroundings.

I've used the .357 on two dogs & one cat (on duty, details not necessary) and never noticed excessive or painful levels.
Took a 6-incher hunting one year & fired at a deer. Missed, but the point there is that I didn't notice the blast.
None of the above incidents left a notable ear-ringing in the immediate aftermath.

Was standing about 6-8 feet from a Glock 9mm under an overhung front porch one day when it killed a hatcheteer just inside the door. That close, with a brick wall facing, a brick wall at my left, and under the roof overhang, that shot shoulda been LOUD. The small pop sounded like a small firecracker lit by somebody next door.

Best answer to your question would be more than .327 & less than .454.
Everything in between's just...in between.
Denis
 
Neither is more punishing on the ears than the other. Any shot fired inside without hearing protection will cause permanent hearing loss. A .22 Short will do it. It may be imperceptible, but it's there.
"...details not necessary..." The cat won. Didn't it? snicker.
 
Cat was severely injured on a highway just outside town from being hit by a car very late one night.
Vet not possible.
Mercy killing.
Believe me, did not enjoy it, actually took two shots.
Denis
 
I don't have a 410 revolver but would imagine it's blast would be similar to a 44spl or a 45Colt. Both nowhere near the blast of a full power .357.
 
When gas leaves the muzzle it is super sonic and make no noise, yet.
At the point it slows down to the speed of sound, a sound wave propagates from the surface of the gas ball at amplitude peak of 2 atmospheres, and trough of 0 atmospheres. This is the threshold of cavitation and as loud as sound can get in air. The frequency content of this pulse rolls off below frequencies with 1/4 wave length = gas ball diameter. This is why cannons make a deep boom with lots of bass content, while 22s are more like just tweeters.

The size of that barely supersonic gas ball is roughly proportional to the muzzle pressure, that Quickload can calculate.

Roughly because bigger diameter and longer barrels can replenish gas faster after the bullet escapement.

What doe it all mean?
In Quickload those guns with 10,000 psi muzzle pressure are louder than those guns with 1,000 psi muzzle pressure.
 
cosmodragoon said:
I know .357 is extreme but is it really a "Noise Tyrant"?
Click to expand...

Yes it is! :eek: The .357 is insanely loud, especially with the nuclear 125 loads. You COULD, and people often did, shoot slow poke .45 ACP without hearing protection here and there without major effects relative to some calibers. But you wouldn't dare do the same with .357 unless you wanted to be deaf in short order.

There are charts on the net with the decibel ratings of various handguns and .357 is at the highest level. And rest assured, decibel measurements > subjective internet ratings any day. .357 is LOUD.
 
"IME only .357 Sig is louder than .357 mag. "

^^^

Haven't seen the decibel ratings, but if it's even comparable, it's a tactical flaw in the caliber. Extra punishment and disorientation due to extreme noise is the last thing you need in a firefight, when you will almost definitely NOT be wearing hearing protection.
 
Comparing average defense-rated loads in your average "Judge" and your average 4"-6" .357 revolver, what is more punishing on the ears?
Click to expand...
That question begs the questions: Why does the person asking the question want to know? What scenario do they have in mind? If it concerns shooting inside a house in a defense scenario, the sound that either make with be extremely unpleasant and deafening, but in that scenario, it is not likely the exact sound level would be of concern relative to the seriousness of the situation. If the poster were concerned about range or general shooting, then how much noise is made is a non-issue if they wear ear-plugs and ear-muffs. The poster should explain what his frame of reference is.
 
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