Handgun noise levels

S

simonrichter

New member
When shooting at an indoor range,I notice a huge difference between 9mm and .22lr. The centerfire blast does not only appear louder (I war double hearing protection), you kind of feel the shock waves with your whole body (like on a rock concert). Th .22 is, by comparison, just a soft pop. Are there Amy centerfire calibers comparably mild like the .22 when used indoors? (I only know 9mm so far)
 
What you are hearing (and feeling) is the pressure wave released at the muzzle. What we call “Uncorking pressure”.

The 22lr is a very low pressure round. Thats why 22lr suppressors can be made out of aluminum. Heck even a soda can is strong enough to contain that low pressure

The 9mm has a MUCH higher uncorking pressure, hence louder with more blast wave.
 
45 ACP is a subsonic centerfire. 44 Special can be subsonic.

I suggest a suppressor.


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.32 S&W and .32 S&W long are very mild centerfire cartridges. My .32 S&WL revolver with a 3 inch barrel is not as loud as my friend's 6 inch barrelled revolver in .22lr.
 
22. mag indoors will get your attention. Was shooting my .22's next to a group of GI's with a Desert Eagle in 50 AE. Now that's a pressure wave.

Since there were three of them taking turns with the pistol I split. No other lanes were available.
 
That's when you should have pulled out the S&W Model 29/ Ruger Super Blackhawk with a full charge of H110.

That big ball of fire would have gotten there attention.
 
Yes a 90 grain LSWC bullet and about 2 grains of powder will send the bullet down range
at about 750 to 850 FPS. And as you say less noisier than a 9mm or a 44 magnum.

I would like to have a K32, but cost is what is stopping me.
 
Capt Rick - They are actually uncomfortable if someone is shooting one next to you at a range. I couldn't imagine being next to someone shooting one in an indoor range. Our range has a roof - no walls and it was unpleasant. I think it has more blast than my 375JDJ with magna porting.
 
It's nice to see the .32 S&W Long getting discussed here. It is more powerful and arguably more reliable than .22 LR. It is also the most comfortable and least loud centerfire cartridge I shoot. Yes, there is the shorter .32 S&W but that's a bit further out on the edge of obscurity. Decent factory ammo in .32 S&W Long seems a lot more common. Sure, it costs more than 9mm (or certainly .22 LR) but any specialty tends to cost more. You could always take up hand-loading too.

Also, consider that indoor ranges are always louder. I prefer to shoot outdoors when weather permits. Air is cleaner too.
 
".32 S&W and .32 S&W long are very mild centerfire cartridges."


Absolutely! I usually shoot 32 S&W long out of a 6.5" barrel. It just goes "pop". My 357 magnums go "CRACK!". Try the 32. You'll like it.
 
FITASC said it .......If you go with a gun that has a longer barrel it will reduce the amount of noise at the indoor range...( comparing a sub-compact in a 9mm....to say a full sized 1911, with a 5" barrel in 9mm ) -- the 1911 will give less noise around you --- but its not going to get you close to what you get from a .22

Shooting a .38 spl ...is a pretty quiet load ( not .22 quiet ) ...in a longer revolver barrel say in an 8 3/8" S&W over a 2" snubbie.

Now, if you want to get into reloading ..... you can play around with a 9mm load...and get it to reduce fairly significantly. Or you might want to look at the specs on the ammo you are buying in 9mm....often going to a heavier bullet ( like 124 gr and a little slower velocity ...will give you less recoil and less noise than some of the rounds in 115gr )....some of the commercial ammo is just hotter than others..( like MagTech ...it just seems hotter than some others ).

Wearing custom earplugs for layer 1 ( molded to your ear canals ) helps a lot ...and then I use electronic noise cancelling ear muffs as 2nd layer. I shoot at indoor ranges almost exclusively ...and it really helps as well. The quality of that first layer of ear plugs is really important.
 
A suppressed 9 mm with subsonic ammo and a good Suppressor will be as quiet or quieter than a .22 LR.
 
The pressure/sound wave(it's actually the air slamming back into places after being displaced by the gasses) released then promptly bounces off the likely hard concrete/brick walls of the range. Changing how those sound waves get bounced can ease the bang. Simply hanging old carpets on the walls does that. As daft as that sounds.
Isn't something you can do unless you own the range though.
One shot, even from a suppressed(not legal in most places), .22 can cause permanent irreparable hearing loss.
 
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