Is .357 Magnum too Loud?

"CorBon's 125 gr. .357 DPX is listed @1300 fps.

From my Pro Digital Chronograph

M640-1, 2 1/8th in. bbl. ----1280 fps. Potent, but manageable from this gun.


M66 3"--------1300 fps"

More that 1120 fps is supersonic. That's gonna hurt.
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Yes, it's still loud an defeats the purpose of the .357 Magnum. It was designed to be a very high velocity round. That's how it got it's well deserved reputation as an excellent man stopper.

But when you water it down to 1300 fps, while that is still considerable speed, it's just not a real .357 magnum. Buffalo bore 9mm can match that with twice as many rounds, lower recoil, and lower flash.
 
Pressure- not velocity- is what makes it hard on the ears. Choose something with less pressure, like .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .44 Special, or use .38 Specials in your .357 Magnum.
 
Just to prepare myself for if I ever had to fire the thing with the 158 grn full power 357 rounds I kept in it in self defense,I fired it twice-three times each about two weeks apart without hearing protection.
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Well, might as well stop worry, because the damage is already done! It's not like you can get used to damaging your hearing to prepare for future damage!
For all, it only takes one time to do permanent damage to hearing. If you are young, the ringing might go away.....for a while, but it WILL eventually come back with old age.
 
Hearing damage

Many years ago I fired my 4" Model 19 out the window of my pickup, permanent hearing damage in my left ear.
 
WheelGunRealGun said:
Yes, it's still loud an defeats the purpose of the .357 Magnum. It was designed to be a very high velocity round. That's how it got it's well deserved reputation as an excellent man stopper.

But when you water it down to 1300 fps, while that is still considerable speed, it's just not a real .357 magnum. Buffalo bore 9mm can match that with twice as many rounds, lower recoil, and lower flash.
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So a 125 grain .357 bullet from a 4" barrel @ 1450 fps is a devastating 'man stopper', but a 158 grain .357 bullet @ 1200 from the same 4" barrel isn't?

What you and a lot of other people, who buy into the 'legend' of the .357 Magnum don't seem to understand, is that the bullet technology of 30 years ago was not what it is today. It took 1450+ fps and a light 125 grain bullet to get reliable expansion. The average expansion of of those old 125 grain Federals, Winchesters and Remingtons was about .51-.52 caliber. All sorts of modern .355 and .357 projectiles perform way better than that now, at lower velocities.

The truth is a person would be way better off with 15+ 115 grain 9mm's that leave at 1250-1300 fps, than they would with six 125 grain bullets @ 1450 fps.

Unless you just absolutely believe that 10 grains of weight, 150 fps and .002 of an inch makes the .357 into the ultimate man stopper.
 
I like the Golden Saber, but how is it better than 9mm?
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The revolver load doesn't have to compromise the nose cavity shape for a feed ramp, so the JHP cavity can be much more aggressive. The most outrageous in the 38/357/9mm family is Speer's 135gr load for 38+P and mild 357s. Ain't no WAY that would feed in an autopistol.
 
Yes, it's still loud an defeats the purpose of the .357 Magnum. It was designed to be a very high velocity round. That's how it got it's well deserved reputation as an excellent man stopper.

But when you water it down to 1300 fps, while that is still considerable speed, it's just not a real .357 magnum. Buffalo bore 9mm can match that with twice as many rounds, lower recoil, and lower flash.
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I don't think any purpose is defeated, since it offers power you can't get in a .38 Special, with controllable recoil.

The .357 DPX is controllable in a 640-1 J-Frame and has comparable recoil to Buffalo Bore's 158 gr. LSWCHP +P. Which, by the way, chrono's at between 1004 and 1032 fps (depending on lot number and which 640-1 was used) from the J-Frame, and 1080 fps from the 3" M66.

This M66 is tight and produces higher velocities than my M586 4".

Considering that CorBon DPX 110 gr. is 1062 fps. from a 640-1, I'd consider the .357 version a serious upgrade from .38 Special-- even if it falls short of full power .357 velocities.

It's designed to offer a "midrange" load, and that's what it does. Just an option that's available if you want it. I carry .38 DPX in my 640, 642 and either .38 or .357 DPX in the .357 J-Frame.

As for noise, the .357 was used for a long time by many LE agencies with plenty of shootings-- indoors and out. Haven't done any research or run across much information on the hearing problems associated with OIS's.

Depending on the construction of a building, sometimes a lot of sound is absorbed indoors.

On the other hand, I know an individual who fired at a jackrabbit with a .357, in a ravine, without ear protection, and the noise was so loud and painful, he dropped his gun in the dirt and grabbed his ears. He doesn't remember what happened to the rabbit.:D
 
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Sigh.

As most anybody who has had to shoot in a self defense situation will tell you, and in my experience you don't hear you own gun's report in such serious social encounters. I don't know if this is an universal truth, so YMMV. But it happened to me: under the adrenaline rush you feel the shot's pressure, you see blast, and you know the gun went off, but you don't actually hear it. On the other hand, a healthy report could scare the beejesus of whatever is on the other side of the muzzle. So I don't think .357's report is a "tactical" (I hate that word) problem for HD.

Regarding permanent hearing damage, my take at it is as follows: hopefully, you'll never have to shoot to defend your home. In the extreme situation that you have to do it, it will be probably a once in a lifetime situation. I (others will make their own choices) would rather risk a slight hearing loss than risk my life and that of my loved ones. So if my load of choice, the one that made me feel most comfortable was a very loud one, I would not hesitate to use it. When facing life-and-death, a ringing in the ears is small stuff indeed.

The fact is I feel most comfortable with .45 ACP, which is easy on the ears. But if .357 was my choice (it has been in the past) I would use full house loads and would not loose any sleep over its loudness.

I don't know if the fact that I am slightly older makes a world of a difference, but in my misspent youth I foolishly shot a few hundreds of full house 125 grain .357 from a 4" with no hearing protection at all- and countless smaller rounds. Now that is something stupid that nobody should do. Call me lucky, but about 30 years have past, and I still can hear all right, thank you very much. So I really don't buy the idea that a couple of shots, taken to save your life in a once in a lifetime situation will make you deaf.
 
A .357 is loud. In a self defense situation you will likely even notice it. While a .357 is loud, virtually an handgun will produce a very loud recoil in a confined space.

I don't believe this is much of an issue in any SD situation.
 
I'm 70 years old and was a jet engine mech in the Air Force for 8 years. I worked alot of those years with my head inside aircraft engine bays leak checking ect. running at full throttle in afterburner. The point I'm making is protect your hearing. I now have tinninitus (spl?) ringing and some veryy strange noises in my ears constantly. I have learned to ignore it but when sitting alone in a quite place its annoying. I would use earplugs and headset to protect yourself on the range. I keep my .44 mag loaded with .44 spec for home defence. I will carry my SP-101 with 38 spec. Just a little advice from an old guy.


Rich
 
As a revolver fan, perhaps a .45 ACP revolver would be the ideal?
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That's the conclusion I arrived at quite a few months ago after studying the issue and reading stories similar to the above. My primary HD handgun is a Model 22-4 (4" .45 ACP revolver), also handy are a Ruger P345 .45ACP semi-auto and a S&W Model 64 (4" .38 spc +P). I'm not looking forward to shooting any of them indoors without hearing protection, but believe there is far less chance of permanent damage than if I used a supersonic .357 magnum. Given the choice, it's hard to believe anyone would purposely carry or use a .357 without hearing protection.
 
It's Relative

I have a 357 that I often carry in the woods and so I practice with it with hearing protection. I am shooting 158 Federal JHP full house loads when I am hunting and my practice rounds are similar hand loaded Hornady's. During practice sessions I can definitely tell the difference as they make a significantly sharper/louder noise than my other handguns. I can even feel the repercussion in a different manner.

Keep in mind this is outside, but the adrenaline theory is the same. I had a porcupine treed and missed (hit tree trunk next to porky) on the first shot because I was anticipating the sound of the shot. When I realized that it was barely audible in the great outdoors, I hit on the second and that was the end of mister porky. The point is, when I had the adrenaline rush of a live target, I didn't hear the shot and I have had no lasting ill effects from those two shots.
 
You should also consider the bright flash of a hot load. It can temporarily blind you if you are in a dark room. I suggest closing one eye before firing so you don't lose night vision in both eyes.

My work partner in Florida was installing a new gas range and he needed to drill a hole in the floor. He stuck his head behind the stove and fired a Ruger .357 into the floor behind the stove. He really rang his chimes. He never got rid of the ringing in his ears.

I have permanent tinnitus in my ears. I have learned to live with it. I did not get tinnitus from conventional firearms. When I was 18, I worked in construction. We used .38 CF ramset guns. I never used hearing protection, at work, at that time.

Doug
 
This thread illustrates why I have ZERO interest in carrying the .357 Sig in a gun meant for self defense.

It also concerns me greatly that they are the round used by federal air marshalls. How many people will lose/damage their hearing if an air marshall touches one of those off inside of a jet airplane? I'm serious.

I've got half a mind to call up some old friends at CBS to do a 60 Minutes story on what could happen, complete with interviews with audiologists.

FYI -- I've read that the air marshalls don't even practice with their .357 Sigs at indoor ranges because of... you guessed it... potential progressive hearing damage WITH HEARING PROTECTION.
 
My work partner in Florida was installing a new gas range and he needed to drill a hole in the floor. He stuck his head behind the stove and fired a Ruger .357 into the floor behind the stove.
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Wow, that's a new one. Interesting use of a firearm, but not one I'd recommend. I'd rather just get a 3/8" drill.
 
Where did you read that? Since they're training for shooting in an airplane, I imagine much of their shooting is actually conducted in the shell of an airplane.

National Geographic Channel had a special on the Secret Service last weeked, with footage of agents shooting .357 Sigs at an indoor range.
 
My work partner in Florida was installing a new gas range and he needed to drill a hole in the floor. He stuck his head behind the stove and fired a Ruger .357 into the floor behind the stove.
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Hope there wasn't anyone living downstairs!:eek:
I don't want that guy working at my house!
 
I like the Golden Saber, but how is it better than 9mm?
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Exactly....

My work partner in Florida was installing a new gas range and he needed to drill a hole in the floor. He stuck his head behind the stove and fired a Ruger .357 into the floor behind the stove
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LOL! A man after my own heart!
I've done similar... :D
 
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Some people seem to be missing the point. It does not matter if your adrenaline is going and you don't even register/hear the shots you fired. You will still suffer damage to your ears. As others mentioned 9mm is very close these days to the ballistics of the .357 round. For an indoor home defense gun the .357 is just not the best choice. Take it from me, you do not want permanent ringing in your ears. May not seem like a big deal till it happens to you. Do a little reading into it and you will find that tinnitus, which is ringing of the ears, causes many who suffer from it to commit suicide because it drives them so crazy. Tinnitus is no joke and nothing to take lightly, especially since there is no known cure for it. Ever been sitting in a room with an old TV that sends off that very annoying frequency and you eventually turn it off, well you cant turn off tinnitus and the fact that you have no power over it is what drives you crazy.
 
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