Is a 44 Magnum louder than a 357 Magnum?

A lot of how the noise of a particular cartridge is perceived has to do with the particular loading too. For example, the .357 Magnum seems to have a markedly sharper pitch to its report if full-power 125gr loadings are used. 158gr loadings don't seem nearly as sharp or concussive to me. Likewise, a .44 Magnum loaded with full-power 180gr loads is much sharper than a full-power 240gr load.

Another factor is where you are positioned in relation to the gun. Neither .357 nor .44 Magnums seem nearly as loud or sharp to me when I'm shooting the gun as they do when I'm standing next to someone else shooting the gun.
 
If you are worried about noise, maybe take classes throwing knifes? That way you wont ever have to worry about discharging a firearm inside during an HD situation.

Or you could buy a suppressor and use sub-sonic ammo, that makes things pretty quiet.

Like has been posted before, anything over 85dB causes hearing damage. Whether you feel it, can tell it, or any of those things, it causes hearing damage. Just depends on how long it takes to begin affecting you.
 
I don't think there is enough difference between the noise of full-house .357 and .44 mag to be a consideration in the choice of a weapon. BTW, anyone who thinks the .44 mag is not too bad has probably never been close to a heavy load of H110 being touched off. My humble advice is, get the best ear protection you can afford and the gun that you really want.
 
That's correct. :D

But in using H-110 in both 357 & 44 all things but caliber being equal, the 44 Mag is always toned down to what the 357 is producing in noise. I can download my 44 to any 357 power level and do it with less noise than with a similar barrel sized 357.

This is perceived and I have not actually tested this, but I know I'm right.
 
I found that a 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk to be fairly comfortable when hunting and firing a few shots without ear protection. A .357 Mag with a 6" barrel was excruciatingly loud and made my ears ring for a couple of days.

Another observation with the .44 Mag is with powders chosen. IMR 4227 was much quieter than 2400 or H110 when shooting 240 grain bullets.
 
I don't know whether to believe you or not because I have never heard of anyone who shot ak-47's, .308 rifles, 12ga shotguns and etc... and go on to say there not that loud, and then to continually shoot without ear protection with no ill effects. If you really have done this much shooting without ear protection you are walking a dangerous line and you already caused damage whether you realize it or not, it is physically impossible for you not to suffer damage for the amount of unprotected shooting you have done with decibel ranges that high.
 
I shot a .41 mag with no ear protection. I never heard it go off....it was like BOOMRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGG. for about 3 hours...

Not cool.
 
From a distance, the .44 will be louder. It has a deeper boom that carries.

From up close (as in you're shooting it), the high-pitched and very loud crack of the .357 mag is worse.

I've shot both without hearing protection a number of times, and I'll take shooting the .44 over full powered .357 mags any day. The shooting without hearing protection is from my younger days shooting jackrabbits and such. They don't sit around while you put muffs on.

Yes, my hearing suffers to some degree from it. I can still hear fairly well, but sometimes have trouble in loud, crowded rooms.

I love shooting .45 Colt for the same purpose these days, and I won't even own a .357 mag revolver now.

Daryl
 
The only definitive thing we have established is that you are foolish for enduring repeated gunshots without hearing protection.
 
I own both,,,

I own a 6" Model 629 .44 Magnum,,,
and a 6" Model 686 .357 Magnum.

While both are loud,,,
I believe the .357 to be a sharper, more painful report.

JMHO

Aarond
 
I was at the range shooting my Rossi Ranch Hand made in 357mag, and people at the range were asking me if it was a 44mag. So i guess they maybe about the same. My uncle has a 44mag and he told me that my 357mag was louder, so idk, opinions may vary from person to person on this subject.
 
Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'll bet there has been a lot of hearing loss for some of the folks on this thread. The only way to quantify how much one has had is to compare before and after hearing tests.

When I shoot at a covered outdoor range or the indoor range, I use foam plugs and muffs. Just my 2 cents.
 
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