Hello All,

I just finished reading a thread on the noise level of .357
magnum. The comments in the thread have given me second
thoughts on the purchase of a 4" model 19 that I thought would make a practical camping gun. Would the intense noise
level of a .357 revolver, that might have to be fired without hearing protection, steer you away from this round? I have a
Combat Masterpiece and quite a few M&P's. I probably don't need this gun but now I'm starting to wonder if I even want it.
What do you guys think?

For many, many years the police used the 125gr SJHP .357 Magnum with excellent results. I suspect if the hearing issue were that serious, they would've discontinued the use of the .357 Magnum. As is was, the adaptation of the semi-automatic pistol is what put an end to the .357 Magnum's police career.

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Centennial Every Day

I'm sure your right. It's just that some guys say that your just asking for hearing loss with these things. Even at the range, fully protected, you can tell they're awfully loud.

Any handgun fired without hearing protection will impact the hearing in a negative manner. The .357 magnum is no exception. You get what you pay for, so to speak. If concern, in an emergency situation, for your hearing is going to impact your reaction time, while using a .357 magnum, then perhaps another caliber would be a better choice.

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Hook686

Caliber doesn't matter if your not using ear plugs or such. So your post doesn't make sense.

Can't think of a better camp gun than a 357. If your just plinking, use hearing protection. If you need it in emergency, you won't notice the noise anyway.

140db is considered the threshold of pain.

357 mag is 164db
9MM is 158db
45ACP is 157db
25ACP is 155db

Get the point? Not much of a difference once you get over 140db.

Sir, having fired both .357 mag and .45 ACP without hearing protection (I know, I know), I can assure you that there's a very significant noise difference in the real world. The .357 is by far the louder of the two.

Bear in mind that decibels are logarithmic rather than linear. I can't remember all the science, but basically every 3 dB increase doubles the signal level. So going up from 157 dB to 164 dB doesn't just raise the noise 7 units--it quadruples it.

That said, I'd agree that a .357 is a good camp gun. Good power-to-weight ratio, accurate, lots of choices available. Outdoors, the noise isn't a huge problem. (Indoors is another story.) As you say, wear hearing protection while plinking, and in the unlikely event of having to shoot a threat in camp, noise is the least of your worries.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Our department couldn't SPELL hearing protection until the mid 1980's. If you didn't like the noise, you weren't cut out for the job. Nobody complained, but most of the retirees from that era have hearing loss.

If you are in a situation where you have to fire your gun, then you have to fire your gun ... hopefully one big bullet does the job of several smaller bullets.

I wouldn't even plink with a .22 without ear protection ...

I have been in shooting incidents where I fired 12g from a 14in barrel, 38+p and 38+p+. Life or death you arent going to hear the shot. In a very confined area like inside a car the pressure might rupture your ear drum but that could happen with almost any centerfire handgun. After firing my ears didnt ring and I could hear clearly. I have also been in an incident where a partner fired first and in that situation the round sounded like a dud to my ears. Either can cause hearing loss just like a 22 pistol. Those incident plus a few hundred snakes shot over the years have resulted in me wearing hearing aids.

Hearing protection is always good when exposed to noise. This includes using a lawnmower or such.

People will talk about the noise of a firearm being discharged but then ride a loud motorcycle all day without any hearing protection.

True enough, yrs ago we did not use hearing protection when shooting. There are a lot of shooters in their senior years with hearing loss. Yet how many hunters wear hearing protection when using some really high powered guns?

I am not sure that shooters have hearing loss due to their shooting either. People naturally lose hearing as they age. As we age, we also lose eyesight abilities.

Still I suggest everyone wear ear and eye protection when shooting but there are more sources of high noise levels than firearms. In my work, I often use a dosimeter to see how much ambient noise there is in an area that may have prevented a person from hearing what they should have. It would shock many to learn how much noise there is on a busy street corner.

I think a 4" barrel is a good compromise with a 357 round, carry-able but helps with the blast somewhat. That said I just about always get by with 38s & 38 +p in my 357s. If I was camping in the bush I may test out a few 357 loads(maybe hardcast lead) & go prepared.

If given the choice I'd rather have a gun chambered in 357 than 38. For woods carry I also like a lighter weight, higher capacity semi-auto. Something along the likes of my Glock 23, or H&K p2000sk, both 40 S&W. Any bear worries are way down my list when in the woods. If I was in the northern Rockies I may accept the weight of my 4" Redhawk in 45 Colt, appropriately stoked.

.357 equals LOUD
.357=LOUD
HUH!

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

yeah ..I hear a lot of things outta "those"
"magnums are too loud" .. just try turning a bear with a 380, thats what magnums are for.
"its impossible to hit a fast moving target with a scoped rifle" boy I wish I had heard that one before I shot a 6/10 string of clays with one ... no buddy its not impossible, its just hard.
"you cant conceal a full frame auto" .. here dude .. lemmy show ya my 12 Ga pump.
"Anything bigger than a 9MM or 38 has too much recoil to shoot accurately" .. till you can outshoot me and my 629 .. move on to someone who'll believe you.
the list is much longer but would just become obnoxious if I didnt leave room for others to add

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it just needs more voltage

I'm told by those who have experienced it, that you won't notice or recall the noise in an indoor shooting using 357's. Regards 18DAI.

Quite frankly any handgun fired without hearing protection will induce ringing, now the magnum is a different animal, where a 38 sp, 45 acp, etc will have my ears ringing for about 5 minutes the magnum takes a good 15 until my ears stop ringing.

I kind of miss the days when people bought guns without worrying about things like noise, over-penetration and recoil.

Maybe I should clarify. There is a thread, in this forum, where a guy asked what a .357 magnum sounded like outdoors. He took a pretty good beating simply for asking the question. A lot of guy's said he'd be
foolish to fire one without protection and many told stories of their
having tinnitus from having done so. That being the case, I'm wondering if the noise level of a .357 has driven anyone to go with a lower pressure round? I'm not worried about overpenetration. I'm not worried about recoil. I'm not some overly concerned sissy. I'm just curious. Thanks everyone, for your input.

the 44 magnum, even with very loud, light weight bullets at max pressure that breathe fire to rival dragons has never dissuaded me from firing it. the 357 is a tamer animal.
its attributes have not driven me to a low pressure round.
factors such as comfort and practicality have done far more to transition me from a mighty magnum big bore to 45 auto.
If something the size and weight of a 1911 had the power and reliability of the 629 I carried prior, you can bet I'd have it in my holster even if you could hear it somewhere in Switzerland when fired.

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it just needs more voltage

As I recall he took the beating because he is supposed to be a leo with firearms experience and to ask that question he came across as someone who didn't know jack.

I'd say it depends on where you're camping, what the risks are, and whether or not you like .357 anyway.

Big scary animals? - yep, .357 or bigger. What difference does it make if you don't have tinnitus, but are dead?

Likely to encounter bad guys? - likewise.

Most places I camp? - carry whatever you feel comfy with 'cause the caliber doesn't matter. I've killed a copperhead with a stick before while carrying a handgun. However...it was a BIG stick. Awfully quiet though...

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But then, what do I know?

I've shot my .357 hundreds of times with no ear protection. Sure it's loud, but so are lots of things. Yes a 44 mag is worse. Do you NOT buy one because it's loud? No. It's a fantastic gun and you can put 38's in it if it's too loud for you. Do you shoot it just for fun? No. That's what a .22 is for. Do you care how loud it is when a bad guy attacks? No. You'll never even hear the shot.
What do you want a gun for? When you answer that, I can tell you which caliber is going to work. Sure it may be loud, but that's not the important factor to consider. If you want to hunt elephants the gun will be loud. Squirrels? Quiet. Bears? Loud. Go plinking? Quiet.
I've never considered the sound my weapons make to make me choose one or the other. This is very interesting to me.

Lost Lake,

Although I probably won't fire it without protection, if you have, hundreds of times, and you're not deaf, then I see no reason not to get that Model 19. Thank you.

I understand. But I also think you understand my point. Once you get over 140db, hearing damage WILL occur whether it be a 357 or 45. Doesn't much matter after that.

I found the DB levels on a Google search. They admitted using guns with different barrel lengths. So db levels will increase or decrease with different guns as well as different calibers.

The sound intensity will also vary with the square of the distance from the ear. The progress of the impulse will also vary with nearby objects (walls, trees, etc...) that reflect the initial sound impulse.

Marc

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Marc

In a Gun Battle, a Fire Fight or a High Stress Situation, the rounds going off will not bother you. Take my word for it.

Rule 303

You're deer hunting and come across a gigantic buck innocently grazing away; you crouch, you slowly level your rifle, and you focus on the crosshairs as you gently squeeze the trigger...BAM!! The buck drops and you sigh in relief. As you're examining your new trophy, you replay the shot in your mind: it's funny though...you couldn't remember hearing a sound. All you remember hearing was your controlled breathing. Even the recoil escaped your memory.

Two weeks later, you're camping with your family. It's dark with no moon, a little windy, a bit on the chilly side, and the only light is coming from your campfire. Then suddenly...you hear something in the tree line. Then you see it!! A massive mama grizzly charging as she lets out a satanic scream. You reach for your custom fitted, lined leather holster (to protect your beautiful Model 19 of course), and pull out your Smith. As you focus on your sight picture, you notice her eyes getting wider, her teeth getting whiter, and she postures with her three inch claws ready to scoop up your little daughter. But...you calmly squeeze the trigger...BAM!! The mama grizzly lays in a quiet heap inches away from your daughter. Your perfectly blued .357 magnum with 158 grains of pure power just splayed her head wide open. The bear never saw it coming...and you never heard the shot!

Month later, you and your family are enjoying a cup of hot chocolate in front of your fireplace while you guys admire your new bear rug!

Meaning = safety first, hearing last...

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Put Some "BANG" On It...

In a gunfight, no you won’t notice the noise as much. But the after effects of said gun battles are what retired FBI agents from what I have right here on this forum. It’s not like it stopped them, but it was noted. Either way, I still double up at the range and I’m fine with .38’s in the house gun. I have thought of getting some Pro Ears to shuck on since they both amplify your hearing and cut out the gunshot. Both would help out in a night time incident since helping you to hear a prowler would aid you and they would protect your ears.

What?

I never said I'm not deaf! I started driving tractors all day long in the fields when I was ten. The muffler on an Alice Chalmers 45 comes up out of the hood about 6 feet in front of the driver. And they aren't quiet.
Then we used to trap shoot all the time with no hearing protection. Milling corn is extremely loud. Silo unloaders, combines, choppers, chain saws for hours on end, life on a farm is loud!!! We didn't know better back then.

I have tinnitus now, but of course now I am older and wiser and always wear hearing protection shooting and sawing wood.

So yes, wear hearing protection, but not while defending your life. That one sound blast you get will be much better than losing your life to a bad guy....

My hearing is literally shot to hell! I stupidly fired thousands and thousands of rounds as a kid with no hearing protection. Back in the day, it wasn't cool to wear it. Now I am paying the price - my most widely used word is WHAT?? My wife & kids are on my case big time to get hearing aids, but I am just not ready. Soon I won't have much of a choice. Most of the shooting I did as a kid was from a .22 rifle indoors, and yes I do admit I was stupid (or naive) at the time. Now that I know better I wear ear protection ANY TIME I do something loud ---- snow blower, shooting, using a loud power tool or air tool, and even when using the leaf blower.

I own many 357's and I do shoot them. They are loud and I will ONLY shoot them outdoors with good quality ear plugs AND a good quality set of muffs used together. I also carry a .357 Magnum from time to time, and I hope I never have to use it, but of I do I accept the danger to my ears from it as a balance for how efficient the round really is. A couple of shots at this point shouldn't make a huge difference in my hearing loss, but it just might save my bacon one day.


Chief38

I wouldn't fire a 22 short without hearing protection in just a shooting situation. Hunting or self defense though is a different story.

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One gun is never enough...

I shot a 4" .357 magnum once while standing on a loading dock. There was a metal building directly behind me that went about 100 yards to either side. That had to be the loudest, most painful earsperience I have ever had. Yes, earsperience is a word even though I made it up. I don't shoot hand guns without hearing protection unless I'm hunting. Like some others have said, you don't really notice the noise so much at that time.
Pray for America,
Gordon

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better have that checked

Well let's see 'hear',

Need a gun in camp,

A .357 rings my ears...I must be alive.

The gruntin ever breath and poppin of teeth general drown out the gun fire.
Being kilt will stop the ringing in the ears.

The time we had a sow grizzly and two cubs came into camp one nite,
wasn't thinkin too awful much about the noise of a little gunfire

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Sure, buy the Model 19. It is perfect for a fellow who normally shoots .38s. As for, "I probably don't need this gun," what are you talking about? Of course you do.

I have always been fanatic about wearing hearing protection whenever I shoot, but even so, I would never worry about shooting anything, anywhere, if it were necessary to save my life. On that topic, I agree with Dave.

LOL. I think I'm just in denial. I have about two dozen handguns now.
With every purchase I've convinced myself that there was some practical reason for owning this gun. Then, I start to feel guilty and try to talk myself out of it, only to buy the gun anyway. Then, sooner or later, the next one shows up. This all started about seven years ago with a hundred year old, reblued, Franzite gripped M&P that I wouldn't look twice at today. Man, what happend?

If you use it when you need it, it won't matter. Other circumstances you can control. for me it is a non-arguement.

yashua

My 686 is still my go to gun at 3 am when I hear a noise. But I must tell you that part of the reason for the constant ringing in my ears is shooting it without (or with poor) ear protection. Fact.....

xcop is correct. I have never heard the gun go off in an actual shoot out either....I saw a big orange flame and was seeing it in super slow mo and wondering what was on fire when reality shocked me back to what was actually going on.....it wasn't his hand on fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been thinking about this myself. It is quite possible that I might be indoors during a defensive shooting. After much debate and several range trips, I have taken to loading all my wheelguns with Buffalo Bore 158 Grain Heavy .38 spl, Standard Pressure (non +P), Short Barrel, Low Flash. It shoots to Point of Aim in all my Smiths. It is both sufficiently powerful, and controllable. I'm sure it would be plenty loud indoors, without hearing protection. So I ask myself, just what am I trying to accomplish with the same projectile, pushed to 1300 fps, instead of 850 fps? Am I going to hesitate due to the .357's recoil and report? I recall firing a full house .357 from a snubnose and standing stunned for a moment, thinking "what just happened?...Oh, I hit the 10 ring." When I shoot the same gun with a .38 spl loading, It's just "pop,pop,pop...pop,pop,pop", while retaining situational awareness. If I really need more firepower than my trusty .38, I'll have to grab my carbine. I've jammed some Peltor indoor/outdoor plugs in the handguard for easy retrieval, cause I really don't want to fire that thing off in the living room with no ears on.

I am mainley a lurker here, but will chime in on this. I am mainley a .22 and muzzleloader shooter. A few years ago I wanted a centerfire handgun, bought a .357 blackhawk, allways used hearing protection at the range, then I forgot to put them in, BAM, my ears were ringing the rest of the afternoon. Decided then I would trade it for a smaller caliber, a model 10. The .357 was just too much for me. I still wear protection with the .38 at the range, but have shot it without protection and the noise is tolerable. I just did not want to mess with hearing protection when out poking around the woods. The .357 is just not for me. chuck

The .357 magnum has been popular for longer than most of us have been alive. If the noise level was that bad it wouldn't have remained so popular. Wear hearing protection when you can. Don't worry about it when you can't, such as in a self defense shooting. And enjoy one of the very best handgun calibers available.

I fired a model 19 loaded with Remington .357 125 SJHP ammo indoors while defending myself. That was over 20 years ago. I still have tinnitus (ringing in the ears), although the shots did not seem loud at the time. I don't know that any handgun wouldn't have caused the same problem. I do know that 125 SJHP is VERY effective against attackers.

What?

I can tell you that while the .357 is noisy, what handgun isn't? I can tell you that when I was younger and about 19 I made the mistake of firing off a box of .357's without ear protection and have paid for it ever since, but do I still shoot them? You darn right. It's more of a blast to me than noise when wearing muffs but I really enjoy touching off some 1,200 fps rounds from my 27-2.

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Vaya con Dios

I might as well throw my 2 Cents in the pot too.

I normally have 2 loads for my revolvers. I have a Lite Range/Plinking Load, and Full House Loads. In the Summer, I carry HillBilly Concealed Carry loads quite a bit. That would be 2 shotshells followed by lite loaded semi wadcutters. Most of my gun fights are with copperheads, and Cotton Mouth's. No time for hearing protection. The lite loads help. If I am going to town on purpose I will switch my ammo to hollow points.

At the range I wear hearing protection when shooting any handgun. No matter how lite I have them loaded.

For Self Defense ANY handgun with enough Horse Power to depend on is going to be very loud. With Carry Ammo, if it is not loud enough to ring your ears without hearing protection, you do not have enough gun.

Bob

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ICORE MO2908

Many posters have pointed out that in the excitement of hunting or self-defense shootings, you won't "notice" the loud sound of gunfire. Nonetheless, it's still hearing-damaging loud, whether you notice it or not at the moment. (Mas Ayoob has frequently mentioned the technical name of the phenomena of not "hearing" shots fired in the heat of battle, but I'm too lazy to look it up ...)

No one has pointed out how simple and quick it is to insert plugs in many shooting situations that are fairly dynamic. I hunt with rifles and handguns, and when so doing, have a pair of corded plugs dangling around my neck and tucked into my shirt front so they don't get tangled with other neck-mounted equipment such as glasses, binocular straps, game call lanyards, etc. Takes but a moment to don these. I even wear them in camp when I anticipate having to shoot marauding varmints.

I spent many youthful hours around high sound levels in the rock-n-roll biz, and am thankful to have escaped the hearing damage I probably deserved. Now I guard my hearing assiduously.

Sir,

I think I've heard it referred to as "auditory exclusion" or something like that.

Andy

Hearing loss and tinnitus is a terrible condition to suffer from.

Use hearing protection at the range...always.

Over the years I have fired .38's in enclosed rooms and .357's.

The muzzle blast in dark room from a .357 is not nice thing to expirence.

And yes, for each 3db of sound the magnitude DOUBLES.

In defensive mode you need all of your sensory functions and you don't really hear the report of the shot.
You will notice it after the fact,however.

My personal preference is the .38+P.

Everyones tolerance level is different.

Just my .02 worth.

#1 Just because it 'doesn't bother you' or 'you will not hear it' due to auditory exclusion during a fight, doesn't mean it won't permanently damage your hearing.

#2 It is not a stupid question. Do you guys carry a gun on the premise that you will never have to fire it? The .357 is significantly louder than many other choices. The difference is enough to cause additional hearing damage.

If you want .357 power for a little noise as possible, a 10mm in an auto may be the way to go. Autos are do not have a b/c gap, and big bore rounds can generate the same energy level with a lower sound pressure waive. A 10mm is loud, just not as loud as a .357.

Hearing protection and loud noises. Hearing protection is essential with any loud noises or hearing damage can result. Both OSHA, NIOSH, and other safety organization contain information on the exposure of noise levels that can result in damaged hearing. If you fire a gun at the range hearing protection is essential. You just don't know who your next door neighbor is and what he will be firing.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Association the exposure of noise is also affected by the time of exposure. A person can tolerate louder sounds for a short period of time so that the noise exposure won't damage one's hearing. OSHA, which enforces the guidelines in the workplace puts a Gunshots at 140 dBA. However if you stay at the range above 85 dBA for long periods of time then the amount of noise exposure for prolonged times decreases as the sound level increases and prolonged exposure can cause hearing loss if the sound level is over 85dBA. At 140 dBA any exposure will cause hearing loss, which is the lower end of the gun range, which will cause hearing damage. A shotgun has a noise level of 160 dBA. According to "The National Campaign for Hearing Health's Toxic Noise Guidelines any exposure above levels of 130 dBA will cause hearing loss. Safe dB Levels. OSHA, oftentimes, has lower standards than NIOSH for exposure damages due to the levels of noise and the time of exposure than other safety groups and organizations. The Academy of Pediatrics, the National Campaign for Hearing Health, and NIOSH of the CDC have all established a guideline minimum concerning exposure to loud sound at above 85 dB for the noise is considered dangerous. I noted one article that spoke of a suppressed gun shot at 120 dBA which could still cause noise damage.

Why do I bother with this because any exposure, without hearing protection, to a gun shot can cause hearing damage even if the shot is suppressed in sound. A .357 Magnum being shot has a minimum noise level of 140 dBA which will cause hearing damage with any exposure.

I took a beating because this forum, like so many others, is filled with people who THINK they know what they are talking about because they read SWAT magazine. I did 20 years in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, and have heard 9MM's and .38's on the street and indoors. I once heard a 12 gauge indoors and my ears were ringing for hours. I was asking if anyone had ACTUALLY ever fired a .357 outdoors in an emergenc and what the feeling was like. Sorry if my question wa so stupid. Some of the ones I have read on this board have been real doozeys. Mine wasn't, even if some Chairborne Ranger thinks it was.

I've had occasion to fire .357 magnum revolvers, both indoors and outdoors, in law enforcement encounters back in the 70's and 80's. Not pleasant at all, massive disruption of all the senses. It is more than the noise, there is a massive difference in muzzle blast, muzzle flash, and recoil that make it very difficult to focus on the situation at hand, much less address the need for a follow-up shot, time to seek cover, etc.

I've also used .45ACP for clearing huts, bunkers, and tunnels in Vietnam. Again, nothing pleasant about being inside an enclosed space with a serious handgun being fired, even when you are the person doing the firing. Not pleasant at all, very disorienting to say the least.

I'll use .357 magnum loads for hunting, when necessary. For personal defense, home defense, or other routine uses I will stick to .38 Special +P ammunition, thanks all the same. My J-frames will be loaded with standard velocity loads, not +P's.

The current trends for small-frame .357's, ultralight .357's, etc, all seem to be little more than marketing ploys for the unitiated and unenlightened.

YMMV, I'm sure.