dB levels like a Jet Engine

[bountyhunter]

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.

IMHO, I would not choose the .357 round for self defense because of the danger of over penetration. I use a 686 as a defense gun but load it with 128 grain .38 +p defense rounds.

 

[bountyhunter]

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.

I distinctly remember the thud of the shock waves into my chest from the .44. I have heart problems so I left quickly as I was not sure this kind of penetrating energy could not induce an arrythmia.... I was not going to stay and see.

 

[bountyhunter]

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.

How about a gift certificate for a hearing aid?

 

[bountyhunter]

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?

I wear the best muffs (30dB NRR) and silicone rubber inner plugs available.

 

[bountyhunter]

I have a 3" 357 and indoors it is absolutely louder than a 4" 44 magnum.

Maybe. I know some complain the .357 has a sharper "crack" sound as opposed to the loud "boom". I found the .357 SIG round to be at least as offensive as the .357 magnum.

 

[feralmerril]

Loud is the .256 magnum followed by the .22 jet. I have both.

 

[310nightguard]

recently my gun club installed an extension to the canopy over the shooting benches on the outdoor range. It keeps muzzles from being able to rise above hill at 100 yards.

The side effect to this is that the canopy now reflects a lot more noise and shockwave from the gun shots. My 454 now moves papers around on the shooting benches. I am courteous enough to leave several spaces between me and any other shooters because the shockwave really reaches out there.

 

[old bear]

How about a gift certificate for a hearing aid?

As I have just been forced to price a pair for myself at $5,000.00 I'm afraid I will have to stay with my offer of free plugs.

 

[4330Inroute]

A short barreled .357 is bad but the worst I've experienced was a Ruger with a 4 5/8" barrel chambered for the .30 carbine.

I know all about the crickets in your ears mine at times sound like a cicada at mating time.

 

[Skeeziks]

I know all about the crickets in your ears mine at times sound like a cicada at mating time.

That's what I have...the cicadas. It's constant...always there. It's just that it's worse (or more noticeable) at certain times. Like right now, for example.

I'm glad this thread was started...'cause it got me to thinking. I wear muffs when I'm on the Snapper riding mower. But when I'm done mowing and I shut down the motor, my ears are ringing when the muffs come off just as if I hadn't worn them. I notice a lot of you wear both plugs and muffs together....
I think I'll try it and see if there's any difference.

Thanks.

 

[cowboy117]

IMHO, I would not choose the .357 round for self defense because of the danger of over penetration. I use a 686 as a defense gun but load it with 128 grain .38 +p defense rounds.

Smart man!

 

[ColColt]

My "crickets" or whatever you want to call that consistent never ending pitch in your ear(s) started when a dump truck pulled beside me at a red light and backfired. I was in a Super Beetle with the widows down. If felt like someone stuck a pencil through my ear. I figured the ringing would go away but two weeks later it was still there so, I went to the doc. He looked inside and did some tests and told me the hairlike projections(forgot what he called them) were standing on end vibrating and that the noise may go away soon or it could follow me to my grave. Since that was 1972, I think it will be the latter.

Some 8-10 years later it was, of course, still there. A shooting buddy and myself went to an outdoor range to try out some new loads in our rifles. I had a 270 Winchester and some Lee Sonic Ear Valves back then, no muffs, as they had always worked well. That day they chose to stop. The first round I fired sounded like I had no ear plugs at all. Apparently, whatever was inside them keeping the high frequency noise of gunfire down had quit working and once again, more ringing. That, fortunately, did go away but the left ear still rang and I feel confident it always will .

I remember about 20 years back taking a hearing test and was told I needed not one but two hearing aids. I explained how I only needed one since I had that one bad ear. However, they told me the other one needed help too since apparently it was trying to kick in where the other had fallen down "in it's duty". So, I asked how much they cost. This was a long time ago and they were $1100 back then...each. I can imagine what they are now and the bad part is, insurance or Medicare will not pay but a little for them.

If anyone saw the movie, "See no Evil, Hear No Evil" with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder remembers how Wilder couldn't hear good either. He heard like I do now. Dog may sound like frog or selfless may sound like shell fish to me. Maybe we all need to go to sling shots.

I'm not concerned about penetration with the 357 as I think a good 125 gr JHP will open sufficiently to stay 80% of the time in a BG. Living alone in a brick two story I don't think I'd get into trouble using one if my ear ever recuperated.

 

[pangris]

This line of discusson is one of the reasons I decided to bite the bullet and get a suppressor for home defense. I don't want to blow out my ears, my kids ears, my wifes, etc if I ever have to shoot inside without protection.

Its a hassle and a $200 donation to the feds, but... for those who have serous hearing problems - how much is your hearing worth?

 

[.460Fan]

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.

Yeah I'm one of the jerks, guilty as charged. I don't do double hearing protection, just doesn't bother my ears that much.

I commonly break out the .44 mag Desert Eagle for 8 rounds. With 185 grain Remington UMC SPs, even with a 6 inch barrel it will shoot a really good flame and put it anywhere I want it. It brings the range to a grinding halt every time.

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).

Reminds me of my 460V. Shot that one at an indoor range too. It was really sweet. I felt the overpressure from the porting on recoil and it sounded like an explosion. I had a pair of foam plugs in case I wanted double hearing protection. lol Man that thing is a wild ride.

 

[MK]

Loud is the .256 magnum followed by the .22 jet. I have both.

I was just thinking, one of the loudest pistols I've shot was
one of those little .22 magnum derringers. Not a lot of "blast"
per say, but it's very high pitched and sharp.. Really whacks my
ears after a while. The run-o-the mill .40 S&W I often shoot is
not exactly quiet..

 

[ColColt]

Speaking of hearing protection, I need some better muffs. I usually rent the ones at the range and they do an admirable job but, I don't know the dB rating of them. I need something better than 25-28 dB rating but don't want to spend $250 for something over my ears either. There should be a cap put on what you can and can't shoot in an indoor range. Howitzers are for outside.

 

[cp1969]

I just don't like shooting around other people, whether inside or out. But shooting inside is not something I enjoy, even if I have the range to myself. Guns were meant for the outdoors.

I would think the muffs the Navy uses on the flight deck of carriers would be the cat's meow, if you could get your hands on them.

 

[LVSteve]

My Model 65 with 125gr "low recoil" ammo is pretty loud. However, outside the loudest I have ever heard would be a 300 Remington Ultra Mag or a 30-378 Weatherby, both with muzzle brakes. Two guys were sighting in for elk season last year while I was plinking with my milsurp a few benches along.

 

[jessegpresley]

I double up.

I have a pair of Pro Ears NRR 33 Dimension 1 Pro Mag electronic muffs. They were about $300.

Under those I wear EAR Inc. custom molded plugs. They took molds of my ear canals at a gun show about 3 years ago. They were about $80.

An ounce of prevention...

 

[310nightguard]

Check out the db reduction ratings on hearing protection; those cheapo disposable foam plugs have some of the highest ratings available. No need to spend a lot of money.

If you still want to be able to hear sounds on the range and communicate, buy a set of Pro ears type amplified muffs and wear them over the disposables. You can then amplify all of the voices, etc and be extra protected for gun shots.

Caldwell makes a set that is pretty good for about 40 bucks.

I find it fascinating to listening to other people talk to each other on the range and the ridiculous things "know it alls " say to each other.