Handgun caliber noise levels.

L

long shot

New member
I found the following data interesting, as i'm interested in the .357 sig for defensive purposes.

The data is from Peter Jordan's article,"Why Consider a .357 Sig Caliber."

Hearing damage possible-85dB
Threshold of pain-120dB
Jet engine at takeoff-140dB
.22 pistol-152dB
12 gauge shotgun-156dB
.45acp-157 dB
9mm-160dB
.357 mag-164dB

According to the article:
"Each increase of 3dB corresponds to sound that has twice as much energy.(Measured in pascals).Each 10dB increase corresponds to a 10-fold increase in energy."

It would seem the .357 sig would be no worse than the 164 rating of the .357 mag.Probaly somewhere inbetween the 9mm & the magnum.

That being said,maybe the .45 or a 180gr. 40 subsonic would be a better choice for home def. The .45's dB level is 7 less than the .357 mag, and 3dB less then the 9mm, which translates into atleast 2 times less energy noise wise.

All guns are obviously loud, but even slight increases in dB levels seems to make quite a bit of difference.

Just something to think about.Stay safe...long shot!
 
I have a problem with the numbers quoted. They seem rather arbitrary, no indication of distance or angle from source to instrument. Which end of what jet engine. What loads from and how are the guns configured. etc etc.

Yes you will get hearing damage from shooting unless you are wearing GOOD protection. No, I am not going to put in my plugs and put on the muffs before engaging a goblin, regardless of the weapon at hand.



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Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
You`ve GOT to have BARK with your bite, the more the better. ( Helps get my adrenaline pumpin' so my "rock" is ready to "roll"...)

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SHOOT,COMMUNICATE AND MOVE OUT !
 
Here's some background:

A. Sound is measured on a Log. scale so an addition of 10 db of loudnes IS twice as loud.

B. 120db is the threshold of pain for an instantaneous exposure, but the ear begins to compress sound and exhibit distortion above about 105db on an instantaneous basis.

C. Sound level exposure limits are only useful with a time factor in place. According to OSHA, 90db is the maximum acceptable noise level for an EIGHT-HOUR exposure. Interestingly, each additional 5db HALVES the safe exposure duration. This is pobably because the OSHA method uses A-weighting, which reduces the effect of low and high frequency information. As a result, 95db can be tolerated for four The catch is that you have to factor in all you exposures for the day in order to determine how much you can handle on a given day. An electric razor in your face is about 80db. The traffic out front of the building can be 85. You can easily experience 115db walking on the tarmac to a commuter plane. You get the idea. Use both plugs and muffs. You'll thank yourself later!

Here's the OSHA page on the subject:
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0095_APP_A.html

Bobbalouie
 
When the tobacco lawyers get finished with the second hand smoke issue they may come after second hand noise.Imagine a BG suing for having their hearing impaired after being shot at by police. Could happen ??? Anyone know if S&W is working on a quiet gun ??? :D
 
Dang, and I have been using my earplugs only for my .44 Magnum.
 
Don't have the 200.00 tax for a quiet gun.

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beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
 
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