dB levels like a Jet Engine

[ColColt]

Recently at the range there was a guy about three isles down from me that touched off something that had all the possibilities of creating a Tsunami or at a minimum had some influence on tidal waves. It seemed the range was enveloped in a dense fog, the sound echoed off the walls and I think the blast burned the frame his target was on and the guy next to me looked like he was going to loose consciousness. You could not only hear but feel the shock waves.

What was this nuclear blast? It was a 2-2.5 inch 357 Magnum. I never heard anything so loud. I decided to do a bit of research and found that the decibel level of a full blown 357 load was 164 dB compared to a 45 Auto at 157. From what I could gather, that's more than twice as loud as the .45....I believe it. I thought he was shooting a .50 cal or something similar but as I stepped back from where I was to get a look, it seemed that wasn't the case.

With already having tinnitus in my left ear, I was glad I had on ear protection. However, since I've been delving into the possibility of procuring a 3 inch 686+ it sure causing some doubts about that now. I can imagine if I intended to use it as a HD weapon and ever had the misfortune to ever have to use it, I'd loose my hearing for good in an indoor situation without some muffs on. I'd be hearing crickets in both ears and probably nothing else henceforth. I may stick to my .45's.

 

[bountyhunter]

I have seen data showing that a magnum will put out an SPL of about 170 dBA. BTW: the shooter is in the "null" behind the muzzle so he gets mostly reflected sound which is a little less than the poor shmucks in the lanes next to him.

If you are in a range where some jerk is firng a magnum of any kind, your hearing is being DAMAGED. Even if you are wearing plugs and muffs, you'll only get a reduction of maybe 40 dB total. Your ears are getting nailed with close to 130 dBA which is very bad.

magnums and indoor ranges do not mix.

 

[bountyhunter]

What was this nuclear blast? It was a 2-2.5 inch 357 Magnum. I never heard anything so loud.

You should hear a .44 magnum indoors. The idiots who run the ranges around here allow them to shoot.

 

[ColColt]

It was plenty loud. If I'm not mistaken, this is the same guy I first heard about a month ago with what must have been the same pistol and I had to stop shooting as it was distracting...well, that's putting it mildly. In a smaller room, like a living room or bed room I can imagine what that would have sounded like. I figured my 45's and Glock 19 with +P+ was loud enough but this was the creme de la creme of loud.

44 Mag? I'll bet!! Couldn't be any worse that his .357.

 

[NE450No2]

I think the loudest handgun I have ever fired was a S&W 2 1/2" Mod 19, with S&W 125gr 357 Mag ammo.

 

[PDL]

I hate indoor ranges anyway, so won't go to them. But I don't understand your complaints. Don't you wear ear protection. Or doesn't your ear protection provide protection?

 

[exfebee]

Can you imagine firing a 357 from inside a car ? Even a 38 will hurt your hearing from inside a car. The 357 snubby is a "flame thrower" as well fired inside a dark room.

 

[old bear]

I’m one of those Cretans who loves to shoot my 2 ½” .357 Magnum with Speer 125 Gr. or 158 Gr. gold dots at the indoor range. I do though use plugs and muffs when I do. From now on out I will keep several pair of “pass out” plugs in my shooting bag.

 

[TAROMAN]

Double hearing protection (plugs+muffs) is what Mine Safety mandates for >105 dBa exposure.

At my (outdoor) range, some guy was firing a S&W 500 magnum with full power loads. The shockwave reminded me of being on the tank range at Ft. Stewart (obviously greater distance there, however).

 

[ColColt]

I hate indoor ranges anyway, so won't go to them. But I don't understand your complaints. Don't you wear ear protection. Or doesn't your ear protection provide protection?

If you don't go to indoor ranges you can't imagine what I'm talking about. Outside a .357 or .44 Magnum is not near as bad as it is indoors. You could feel the shock waves standing 10-15 feet from this guy. Try standing next to someone indoors with a short barreled .357 or .44 Mag and you'll have a similar experience...ear protection is the norm for most people, BTW. That didn't matter.

I had considered getting, as I mentioned, a 3 inch 686 but after hearing this, I can imagine what it would sound like inside my house(if needed). My hearing would be destroyed.

 

[MTKTM]

I hate indoor ranges anyway, so won't go to them. But I don't understand your complaints. Don't you wear ear protection. Or doesn't your ear protection provide protection?

The next time you're in a sporting good store check out the hearing protectors. Most are rated for db reduction levels. A fairly common range for many ear-muff style hearing protectors is between 23 and 30db reduction. Then just do the math, subtract that from whatever the db level of the noise exposure, and you've got it. If a given gun puts out 160dbs, apparently close to a magnum fired indoors, and your muffs are rated for 30 which would be pretty good/thick ones, that means you're being exposed to 130 dbs. That's a lot.

Stand off to the side of a 50BMG being fired sometime.......you'll feel it in your core.

 

[scooter123]

The simple answer is to load it with a good 38 +P round. They are far quieter than the 357 Magnums and it's rather doubtful that you'll need to shoot thru any car doors or engine blocks inside your home.

BTW, I do all of my shooting at indoor ranges. The nearest outdoor range is at least a 35 mile drive one way while there is an excellent 50 yard indoor range only 10 miles from my house. Because it is technically a rifle range, I always double up on hearing protection and have not experienced any issues related to hearing damage. Most likely because because of the lane dividers, however IMO doubling up on the hearing protection is an adequate method of protection at indoor ranges. BTW, if you think a 357 Magnum is loud, you should be in the lane next to the 500 Magnum. First time I experienced that I probably levitated a full 3 feet off the floor. Now when one of those beasts is in use I just step back from the shooting bench and wait it out.

 

[ColColt]

One of the points I was trying to relate to was the fact that I had been seriously considering a revolver lately since I was hit with the nostalgia bug and thought it would be great to own one again since my first one(1972) was a 357 Highway Patrolman. I've had a few since then like the 25-5 45 Colt and 4 inch M29 but can't recall ever shooting them indoors so, hearing that .357 was quite a revelation. I may just stick with 9's and 45's. I wish I had the 45 Colt again.

The 686's are beautiful pistols in all configurations as as are most S&W revolvers but, if I were to use one for HD, I'd have second thoughts after experiencing that the other day. With a bad left ear already, I can't chance loosing it anymore and want to keep my right one. It's not fun listening to crickets 24/7 for the past 35 years but, I've grown to live with it...don't want to have stereo crickets-one ear is enough.

 

[murphydog]

The decibel scale indicates a doubling of the "loudness" with every 3 dB interval. I always use plugs and muffs indoors, you never know what your range neighbor has brought...

 

[Engineer1911]

The indoor range I go to allows rifle shooters up to 30-06. The nearest outdoor range has a roof and 8' to the plywood ceiling.

XP-100 clears space real quick. No pluggee, no shootee

 

[pangris]

I have a 3" 357 and indoors it is absolutely louder than a 4" 44 magnum. I double up with plugs/muffs when firing magnums indoors, and the only time do that is if a wanna be gangsta is making shotgun like patterns at 20 feet holding a 9mm sideways. THEN I will pull out a 3" 357 or 4" 44, run the target down to 75 feet and shoot a group. They typically leave shortly there after.

 

[Nframe357]

As someone who has used the 357 magnum to save my life and the life of another officer I can tell you that IF you ever need to fire a weapon is defense of your life you will not hear the report or see any flash, period. I shoot my 357's at our local indoor range all the time, it never fails to draw attention. 357 is way louder than a 44 mag anyday, it's much sharper.

 

[bountyhunter]

I always double up on hearing protection and have not experienced any issues related to hearing damage. Most likely because because of the lane dividers, however IMO doubling up on the hearing protection is an adequate method of protection at indoor ranges. .

With all due respect, it certainly is not. Best muffs are 30dB NRR, add very good inner plugs and you may attain a net reduction from both of about 40dB. If you think 130dB waves are not damaging, I invite you to do some research.

And for the record, I have been at indoor ranges when some fleabrain starts blasting away with a .44 magnum next to me and I could actually feel the shock waves knocking my gun off line as I aimed.

You can feel the pressure impulses pressing on your ears, which is called "threshold of pressure" which is just below "threshold of pain". Believe me, anytime you hear a sound and feel pressure in the ear, your hearing is being damaged.

 

[bountyhunter]

The decibel scale indicates a doubling of the "loudness" with every 3 dB interval. I always use plugs and muffs indoors, you never know what your range neighbor has brought...

Actually, acoustic power doubles with every increase of 3dB. Perceived loudness by the human ear roughly doubles every 10 dB or so (depends a little on frequency).

 

[bountyhunter]

As someone who has used the 357 magnum to save my life and the life of another officer I can tell you that IF you ever need to fire a weapon is defense of your life you will not hear the report or see any flash, period. I shoot my 357's at our local indoor range all the time, it never fails to draw attention. 357 is way louder than a 44 mag anyday, it's much sharper.

There is a known "shock reflex" of the three bones of the inner ear in cases of severe noise impulse that can help the ear from having the bones shatter. They "relax" and separate a bit for an instant. The lack of perceiving the blast or remembering it is due to adrenaline/fear at the time of protecting your life.