I know they are fierce inside (I was present for one going off in a hallway), but how's one sound being fired outside? I fired off a 9MM last week with no hearing protection, and it was a sharp crack and my ears rang for a bit.

It's a great big ole bang, kinda like someone shooting a gun.

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There is often a substantial flash of light too. It just isn't so obvious outside in the daylight.

Thanks for the info. I think we can all agree a .357 is in a different category than .38 and 9MM.

Your ears will ring if you are in close proximity be it in or outdoors. There's something about the crack/bang that just plain old hurts.

It's VERY LOUD!!!! A number of years ago I was staying at a guest ranch out in the wilderness. It had a nice outdoor range out in the woods, about 1/4 mile away from the residents' cabins. I went out to shoot one afternoon, shot a box of .22lr and then, a couple of dozen .357s. At dinner I overheard one of the guests say to another: "Did you hear those enormous explosions this afternoon? What on earth could have caused them?"

Don't know, except it is still loud outdoors with plugs and muffs!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Last time I went shooting, a friend brought a 9mm AR. I couldn't get a good cheekweld with my muffs, and I didn't have any earplugs, so I just shot it without any hearing protection. It wasn't loud at all. Couldn't say the same for the magnums though. They are bad enough with hearing protection.

Are you really a police officer?

357s are very loud. Since .357s are typically shot from revolvers they are VERY loud. Revolvers are louder than automatics.

Don't shoot any Magnum revolver without hearing protection at the range. If you have to use one in the field, the sound will be the least of your worries, but your ears will ring, even outdoors.

Muzzle blast is also a concern, especially with short barrels.

The .357 is definitely louder than a 9mm.

Don't try a 351PD .22mag.....it's as if someone stuck knitting needles into your ears.....my eardrums curl up at the memory....

Go ahead and shoot a box or so w/o hearing protection. Later you won't need to bother with muffs or plugs because the ringing in your ears will drown out the noise (and every other sound you normally hear). Seriously, for the love of pete, always wear both plugs and muffs whenever you shoot or are near someone else who's shooting. If you don't, some day that ringing in your ears will be 24/7 and will last a lifetime. And there is no cure. I speak from experience.

Pistol gunshots range in sound pressure from about 120 dBA to 190 dBA, with every 3dB added being a doubling of the energy in the sound, so it is a very wide range.

However, since the noise level that starts to harm hearing is about 90 to 100 dBA, the continued exposure is going to destroy hearing eventually, just somewhat faster with the louder sounds.
Hearing loss is cumulative and permanent, and OSHA considers 85 dBA environments to require hearing protection.

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Science plus Art

Steve in vermont aint kiddin, I am an avid shooter, and a music-lover and professional DJ, I am quite aware that at this point I have hearing damage, and can't undo it. All I can do is prevent further damage from this point on. I've enjoyed the humorous and informational responses so far, and would like to add my 2 cents:

Just about two weeks ago I went on a shooting camp-out with my girlfriend and one of our close friends. Since we were shooting out-doors, I only used earplugs, though I had muffs with me. We brought many calibers: several .22s pistols and rifles, 5906 9mm, SW1911 .45acp, two 12 gauges, a Mosin Nagant, a S&W 629-2 .44 mag, aaaaand a Ruger GP100 6" .357 magnum. The ONLY one that 'hurt' to shoot or be near, was the .357! Even the .44 mag, with full-on Hornady defense magnum loads, was more pleasant to shoot and be near, than the .357. It's as if the .44 mag had more 'body' to the report, where the .357 was very sharp and flat, sounded like lightning splitting a tree! This wasn't my first time shooting any of these calibers, not by a long shot, but it was my first time shooting them all with just earplugs in a good long while. The Mosin was the next-worst to be around, after the .357, but the .357 has a serious sharp concussion to it, we ended up making a rule that if anyone was shooting the .357, they had to take several steps away from the rest of us, that concussion just SLAPPED the other shooters and gave us all a headache pretty quickly. That didn't stop us from shooting all it's ammo of course, but certainly left an impression. I used to keep my .357 in a small rapid-access safe under my bed. But since that recent campout, I replaced what's under the bed, and for now i'm just leaving the .357 in the bigger/further safe until I get around to buying some .38 specials for it. I didn't wanna hear the thing with earplugs in out-doors, let alone indoors with no hearing protection! Even if it might save my life, I have other competent calibers, and I wouldn't mind keeping my sense of hearing! I now have a .45LC where the .357 used to be, It's got a much comfier report to it Seriously no way to describe it in full without just bringing you outside with just earplugs and sending some lead downrange. Shoot some .357 outdoors at your soonest convenience and you'll understand. it's mean! It's the only round at the moment that from now on I will surely be wearing plugs and muffs to touch off. Rifles aren't even as bad, it's that concussion wave, it's nasty! but now i'm curious, if I fire two at the same time, will they cancel each other out?


and here's a photo from our recent camp-out, of something I will not be doing again! Firing a .357 with just ear-plugs (photo is mid-recoil)

They will ring a bit longer after a 357 Magnum shot. The 9mm is manageable without hearing protection the 357 Mag is not.

Are you kidding? I carried a S&W 64, and then a Glock 19 while on the job. I've heard shots fired inside a few times, one time a .357, but never been right next to a .357 outdoors. Guys carry them for outdoor activities and I wanted to get their take on the effect firing unprotected. I would not fire my .357 (or any other gun) without ears on. The 9MM shot was a deliberate experiment to see if my ears would ring. They did, but not bad and not for long.

I repeat........................22mag=ouch+P+

I've fired a few rounds during the handgun javelina season from a 4" bbl. --- it's like having an icepick jammed in your ears, followed by a blow from a ballpeen hammer --- extraordinarily unpleasant. Now I've taken to using a Contender in .223 --- it lets me shoot from a sufficient distance that I have time to stick plugs in my ears before firing, among other reasons. For big game hunting, I keep a set of plugs on a cord draped over my neck, and stick them in place before firing.

Model 19 2 1/2" will get you free admission to the tinnitus club......

The 9mm is certainly manageable w/o hearing protection? Keep it up...someday you'll notice that ringing won't go away, and never will. No-one should ever shoot w/o plugs and muffs, not any caliber, period. And if you elect to disregard my advice that's your choice, but please don't let youngsters go w/o this protection. Please!

When I shoot my .357's I put use both plugs and muffs. My ears are tender from past happenings not related to guns and if there was anything else for protection I would use it too.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

Given the technology we have available for so few bucks these days, anyone who hunts or practices shooting without earmuffs is a fool. I spent several years teaching cops to shoot at an indoor range, and my hearing will never be the same. Rounds like the 357 Magnum, 357 SIG, and 40S&W (especially when loaded with certain powders, like Power Pistol) have a far more harmful sound signature than rounds that operate at lower pressure. All my 357 guns have been retired from Home Defense roles, in favor of 45 ACP's. The noise is far less harsh, especially indoors. I also keep a pair of electronic muffs nearby, and if I hear a noise, they go on as soon as I grab the gun. All sounds are amplified up to about 85dB, then they shut off, so I can hear the burglar tiptoeing across the kitchen, but gunfire won't deafen me.

Technology is a wonderful thing...............when it works properly!

I keep a pair of electronic muffs nearby, too. I shot a pitbull once with my 9MM and my ears rang for a bit. I shot that one 9MM shot a few months back without them to see if they rang more or less. No real difference between the two times. I just wonder why people say it's such a great round (it is, for penetration, i know). if firing one is gonna take a heavy toll. Also, the .45 is less harsh than a .357, eh? Didn't know that.

Say what?? I don't know what round you're going to carry. Every service caliber is going to be loud. Maybe you show see if they'll let you carry a .22 rifle loaded with shorts lol.

Don't FOOL WITH YOUR HEARING, PERIOD!!!!!! I even keep a pair of muffs sitting on top of my home defense firearm.

Hearing loss is FOREVER AND EVER.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

About 1980 my college roommate and I were shooting my new 2 1/2 inch Model 19 outside with factory 158 grain magnum loads. He touched one off while standing just to my left. I was putting on my ear muffs and had the right one on and was pulling the left one down when he shot.

I had the aforementioned "ice pick" sensation, and the hearing in that ear went almost dead. A second later the ringing started, and hasn't stopped.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

If you shoot a few outdoors in a hunting or SD situation, you probably won't notice the sound as your adrenalin will be pumping. On an outdoor range, you DEFINITELY need hearing protection......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I have heard guns go off outside before, without protection, and it was loud, but the ringing stopped after about 30 minutes. I have not heard a .357 go off outdoors, and wanted to know if the damage is more lasting. I don't know what the problem is asking this question. it's not like I said 'Are guns loud?". I am specifficaly asking abou unprotected .357 fire. I'm not dumb enough to try it, although I was next to someone who fired a 12 gauge indoors, and MAN it was loud. I know some people hunt with these, and with a handgun, I can't imagine someone taking the time to put on protection before they fired.

I've always wondered how soldiers fire off so many rounds from M4's, SAW's, and 12 gauge shotguns, and can hear anything at all. Sustained fire must be overwhelming. Seems like the should put electronic suppressors right into their Kevlar helmet. Allows them to hear talking, but muffles the shots.

It's going to be loud. Period. Doesn't matter if it's indoors, outdoors, two inch barrel, four inch barrel, etc. And the ringing WON'T stop after 30 minutes. You'll be lucky if it goes away in a day or two it at all.

I can personally vouch for 24/7 ringing in the ears. I was diagnosed with tinnitus back in 1974 and was told then there was nothing they could do. Here it is many decades later and it's not only gotten louder but I hear another tone along with the constant hiss. Eyes and ears are precious...protect them both at all cost and moreover, never fire something like a 357 without ear protection-indoors or out or I can guarantee you a similar case as mine.

I wish I'd not listened to loud music when I was younger. I have tinnitus 24/7. I protect my hearing be it 22lr or 30-06. Electronic muffs are nice. I like to let my friends that are new to shooting because they can hear my instructions.

My favorite load for my .357 686+ uses H110. A very visible flash and a sharp report. Gets attention as in WTH was that??

Or was that W296?

Hobie....what u say??

I love this reply. YUP. It's loud no matter what. Wear proper ear protection with any caliber. Don't leave home without it.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

If it's as harsh as people say, how do cops and hunters, who carry this round, manage to touch them off? My 38 and 9MM are a sharp crack, followed by a brief period of ringing. I know most ops don't fire them very often in actual police shootings. But say the cops from the North Hoolywood shootout. When I first came out of the Aczdemy, my friends wanted to shoot so I brough them to the woods. We forgot hearing protection, so we went without it. <y ears rang for hours with 9MM and .38. How'd those guys still keep their hearing after 1500 AK rounds fired at them, plus their return fire of 9MM, .38, .12 gauge, and AR rounds? I know you don't care muh when your life is in danger, but how long did those guys go around with ringing ears?

Without knowing any of those officers personally I'd say they probably still have ringing in their ears to some degree. That's what everyone is getting at here - tinnitus (ringing in the ears) doesn't go away. Ever. It doesn't take a certain number of rounds or certain caliber to cause it.

Exactly. I speak from experience. If you have any questions, "Speak Up!"

Have an audiologist test your hearing. People have hearing loss and it adds up. When the total loss is uncovered and all frequency levels are graphed and charted, then you find out how wrong you were.

To compound the problem there is the aging factor. You could not only be losing hearing but losing speech comprehension as well due to that loss.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I had a negligent discharge recently. Basement, end of a hallway, just about as confined a space as you can get. .38spcl, factory load, 3" barrel. My ears did not ring at all, I had no "physical" reaction at all. I'm sure my experience s not typical, I'm wondering f there's any other physiology that comes into play?

I have had very good luck with my hearing in my military career. I have fired all manner of loud weapons, machine guns, short barreled M4s, ridden on helicopters, all the usual Army stuff. Most of this has been with one level of hearing protection on. Completely shutting down your hearing is not acceptable on patrol. Your ears must not only be protected, but also listen to sounds around you, and listen to a radio. Typically this is done with a Peltor headset or whatever you have issued to you. Wearing ear plugs in addition to this would reduce your hearing too much to be tactically sound.

On ranges I typically wear one level of hearing protection when low intensity weapons are being fired. 22s, 38s, etc. When I have ARs going off on adjacent lanes, or anything larger, I wear muffs in addition. However, keep in mind that I have fired or been near 50 cals, 240s, etc firing many times with only one level of hearing protection on, as described earlier.

We have our hearing tested every year in the military. Mine is consistently as close to perfect as you can get. My level of hearing is the same as the baseline that was taken the day I joined.

The major concern for loss of hearing in the military these days is due to IED explosions and sunglasses. That's right, your eye protection can lead to hearing loss. The frames on sunglasses break the seal on the noise-canceling headsets we wear, just above the ears. This allows the blast wave from an IED explosion to reach your ears and damage them. The newest headset technology uses earbuds, which are unaffected by sunglasses, helmets, and all the other stuff we wear which would break the seal on traditional muffs. Something to keep in mind in regards to how you wear your muffs.

I don't really have a point to this post, just sharing my experience. Hearing protection is something you constantly have to manage. In certain jobs and in certain circumstances, you will not be able to have two levels of hearing protection on for every shot. But for recreational shooting, there is no reason not to where needed. Firing high intensity firearms like 357s or high intensity rifles without hearing protection is asking for trouble. Mistakes will be made, shots will be taken before you are ready with your hearing protection on, but we just have to minimize that as much as possible. Your ears are like your eyes, you get one shot, and when they're gone they are gone for the rest of your life.

Speaking of loud handgun calibers, I have both .357's and a .30 Carbine Blackhawk. Both are loud, but I've never shot the .357 at an indoor range, and I've never failed to gather a crowd at an indoor range while shooting the Blackhawk. The 'hawk is an earsplitting flamethrower. I wonder if anyone has any experience shooting both in the same environment?

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One might not notice the sound in such a situation, but regardless, the damage done to the ears is the same, whether noticed at the time or not.

I take the occasional deer hunting shot (Model 625 revolver in .45 Colt, or Thompson Contender in 44 Magnum with 14" barrel) without hearing protection, but more and more I am increasingly reluctant to do so.

Hearing loss is cumulative and different for every person, so there are no hard and fast rules to determine what amount of damage will be done by a particular caliber and barrel length combination. Rest assured though, there WILL be damage.

I might try the electronic muffs or keeping a set of plugs on a string around my neck while hunting (as someone posted earlier).

About 25 years ago, when I was younger and dumber, a bunch of us had an impromptu plinking session on an old abandoned farm. We had a variety of guns in different calibers. I had a four inch 686 loaded with factory 158 SJHPs. And no hearing protection. "Lightning splitting a tree" is an apt description for that first shot. The second thru sixth became more and more muffled. After about a day and a half the muffled sensation went away. The ringing did not. Now I sleep with a fan on so the "white noise" drowns out the ringing.

So the Peltor headset is electronic,allowing voice commands to get through but muffling loud noises?

There are many electronic muffs on the market, which usually activate at about 80-85 dB to muffle any louder sounds. Many also amplify quieter noises. The ones I have don't activate particularly well indoors, therefore the additional earplugs.

To amplify ( ) on other comments - that ringing/buzzing in the ears after exposure to loud noise is an indication of permanent nerve damage. "Slightly too loud" repeatedly (like a .22) will have the same cumulative effect as a very loud blast once. Please do whatever is possible to prevent it.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Same here. One session in the 70's is all it took.

For those who didn't know, loudness is the report is dependent on the pressure the round generates, not caliber.

I use MSA-SORDIN electronic, Expensive $280-300 with the Gel Pack ear cups to help with the safety glasses sealing to the head problem. I also wear plugs. The amplification still allows me to hear the range commands.

They shut out the LOUD Noise but not all sound, some economy muffs completely shut off all sound leaving sort of a time lapse in their function.

Some people also do not know that SOUND will REVEBERATE the NOISE through the bones in your neck and head to affect your hearing and that MUFFS/PLUGS have no effect upon this.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

DON"T SHOOT ANY FIREARM WITHOUT HEARING PROTECTION!

A .357 always sounds too me like "You should have been shooting .38s". I rarely shoot them anymore, opting for either 38's or just moving to bigger calibers.

I rarely have problems while earplugged with .44spc or mag, .45 acp or lc, .38spc. The .357 and 9mm annoy the **** out of my ears. I recently had 2 unprotected shots, one when I shot my .44 at a bear and wanted to be able to hear his movements, the other when some jackass popped off a 9mm unannounced at my farm. The .44 was nothing, no ringing. The 9mm had my ears ringing all day and a headache to boot.
Either way, I am a big believer in plugs and muffs, in any and all controllable situations.

B-O-O-M!!!!!!!

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What??????????

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