Hear loss related to caliber iN SD?

It is a 3db doubling effect on sound pressure.

83 is double the sound pressure of 80.

Too much safety schooling. Funny part is OSHA's standards do not follow what the physics actually are.
 
SPL's and Db's aside, worst-case-scenario would be shooting a .357 in a confined area in the dark... You end up blinded teporarily with a harsh ringing in your ears. I said- A HARSH RINGING!! :D
 
I remember reading articles in American Rifleman back in the late seventies that said that the blinding flash was a reason that LEO's went from the .357 back to .38 and to 9mm.
Flash blindness in the dark.

But I do think that even temporary hearing loss in a SD situation might be important it the conflict goes further than the intial shots. Cover, concealment, etc.

I have shot .357, 9 mm, .38 and 45 at various instances without the proper hearing protection, and it was the .357 that shocked me the most.
I can only imagine what six shots fired in confinement with a .357 would do to my senses. Remember that hearing and balance are connected and just your overall sense of perception.

So regarding the combination of flash blindness and hearing loss, would those be reasons in themselves to avoid .357 for SD?
Thanks for the chart on the decibels for the various calibers. That was informative!
 
^^^^

I don't use full house .357 for SD carry. Either lighter .357 loads or .38 Special +P or +P+. You'd be surprised how well some modern .38 Special loads perform, it's not all about energy. The mighty 125 gr .357s are well known for lethality, but they would surely take a toll on you with no hearing protection. :eek:

Full power and especially hot rod .357 loads like Buffalo Bore are strictly recreational for me. But they sure make objects "blow up real good". :D Buffalo Bore in particular is simply sinister! Twice the energy of .45 ACP in a sweet shooting gun like my 686 is very entertaining. :D
 
By the way, this custom tailored Buffalo Bore looks very interesting:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=106

Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Magnum Ammo - 140 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point (1,150fps/M.E. 411 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box

Typical full power 357 magnum loads offer several tactical problems for use in self defense and duty applications, especially when used in the shorter/lighter revolvers that are typical of concealed, defensive and duty carry. First, the muzzle flash can be blinding, especially from short barrels. Second, felt recoil can be a life-threatening drawback if fast follow-up shots are required. Third, the level of report can be deafening and cause permanent hearing loss, especially if fired indoors.

All three Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel loads address the above problems and make the 357 magnum ideal for concealed, defensive and duty carry in smaller revolvers.

Muzzle flash: These exciting new 357 magnum loads utilize a flash suppressed powder that will not blind you, should you need to drop the hammer in a low light situation. It is estimated that over 90% of all defensive civilian shootings in the U.S. happen in low light-that is when the criminal element is at work. Wouldn't it be horrible if you fired at an assailant, in the dark, to protect your family, only to find that you missed the bad guy and you are now blind due to your own muzzle flash? This is a scenario that has happened many times in the real world with the 357 magnum. Through the use of our non-canister, flash suppressed powder, the tactical problem of blinding muzzle flash is now greatly reduced with Buffalo Bore's new Tactical Short Barrel loads!

Recoil: Felt recoil is exacerbated by the use of shorter barreled, smaller framed, lighter weight 357 revolvers, typically used for concealed and duty carry. The new Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel 357 loads are not the normal full power "barn burner", 357 magnum loads we make and as such, felt recoil is substantially reduced, although they remain very powerful. Hence, deadly, and faster follow-up shots are more possible.

Your ears: Most folks don't think of the level of "report" as being a problem during a life threatening/defensive shooting and that may be correct for the actual moment of conflict. However, to lose some of your hearing for the rest of your life, following the shooting incident, is unnecessary and undesirable. Full power 357 magnum ammunition is deafening, even more so when fired from short barrels and even worse if you are required to shoot from an enclosed area such as a vehicle or indoors. Buffalo Bore's Tactical Short Barrel 357 magnum loads are not as hard on your hearing as full power ammunition. Although the use of hearing protection is still desirable, if possible, when using this ammo.

For those who wish to carry a 357 magnum revolver for potential "conflict resolution", these new Buffalo Bore loads put an end to the "tactical" draw backs associated with our regular 357 magnum ammo. These loads are great for use in longer barreled firearms too.
 
My house guns consist of 38,45acp and 45lc.
Reason: Having fired many calibers inside of dark buildings(mostly without hearing protection :rolleyes:), I learned the muzzle flash of a 357 bothered me greatly. Fire a 357 from inside a vehicle for some real effects:eek:
Was to young and dumb to realize the damage being done to my ears.
Also some of the stages in the timed course's were set up where your hearing was very helpful in faster target acquisition. Usually after the first 357 shot, you couldn't hear movement and would have to let your eye's re-adjust. This cost valuable time.

Most of the guys soon learned to run the course's with their 357's stuffed with 38spl's.

A few of the cooler guys that insisted on using 357's ran the course's with sunglasses on. Didn't do much for their hearing but did help with their vision and they resembled 'Dirty Harry' :D
 
I shoot my 357 snubby a lot but I use hearing protection. I admit that when I was younger I did not use hearing protection but I have had my hearing checked and I do have some minor hearing loss.

I recently stated carrying the Buffalo bore 125 grain ammo that advertises lower flash and lower report.

With hearing protection on I can tell a difference. I still would not want to shot it with out protection unless I had to.


357s are still my favorite round but now I always use protection.
 
Regardless of caliber choice, I would rather be deaf than dead. Nuff said


No doubt, but given the opportunity to prepare there's no reason to kill your eardrums.

I do not think the BG will wait while I go and fetch my hearing protection so there for I'll be hard of hearing.
 
Potential hearing loss is a big reason I have .38's in my .357 main carry / house gun for 2 reasons,

A) Permanent loss - I've already lost a lot of hearing.

B) Temporary loss - I'd really like to be able to hear LEO's upon thier arrival.
 
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