Is the 40SW too loud?

[Skunkhome]

If you have to pull your gun out hearing loss is the least of your worries.

BTW the most anti social handgun I have ever been around was the Ruger .30 Carbine Blackhawk. It was soundly above the pain threshold even if you backed off 25-30 yards. Incredibly uncomfortable to shoot with hearing protection.

 

[LoneStarWings]

I have shot a USP 40 contact inside a house without hearing protection and it wasn't particularly bad. In a self defense situation, the hearing damage would probably be the least of my concerns. Hearing a few shots of .40 indoors is probably less damaging that going to a rock concert or listening to loud music inside a car over extnded periods of time. .357 magnum is much much louder.

 

[lhump1961]

I think discharge indoors under duress would be like hunting...probably wouldn't even hear it.

 

[Warren Sear]

if you have to shoot anywhere in self defence you won't even hear the shot, I shot an armed robber 7 times from the front seat of my police car, with the gun inside the vehicle, 45 auto commander, and shot another guy outside with a 357 mag, never noticed the the sound.

Just because you might not notice the sound does not mean you will not suffer hearing damage.

 

[MarkC]

By actual test a .40 S&W will put out 157dB with 165gn Winchester factory loads. For interest's sake a .308 rifle puts out 158dB!

Use both plugs and earmuffs always. Once your hearing is gone you never get it back.

 

[lefty60]

When I was much younger (long time ago) and maybe only a little dumber, I fired a hot loaded .45 auto from inside of my car! The muzzle was also inside of the car!

I was stone deaf for about 24 hrs. !!!! My ears still ring!!

 

[Rastoff]

I have my hearing tested every year. I was in a room where a Glock 22 was negligently discharged. So, I can tell you quantitatively that one shot won't cause permanent hearing loss. At least it didn't for me.

That said, shooting without hearing protection is stupid.

 

[Skunkhome]

I think it is important to know that at least your hearing is perfect while you are laying in your hallway dying.
All joking aside, I think that just about any handgun is too loud to fire casually in a confined space without hearing protection. I have some subsonic .22 rimfire ammo that when fired in a rifle is so quiet you only hear the striker fall then the sound of the bullet hitting the target. That same round in my Beretta pistol has a report loud enough to produce pain.

 

[Honcho8531]

I want to bring something to "listen" to: Hearing loss in a gun fight is always a possibility, but so is death. which do you prefer?
All the dark humor aside, if you are going to shoot large amounts of ammo of any caliber in closed quarters without proper hearing protection then hearing loss will be your reward. If you just plinking in a indoor or outdoor range, best believe I will use ear protection.
In a real time shooting situation (i.e. combat) you need to hear whats coming your way so take the ringing in your ears. You can live and complain about it later.

 

[Honcho8531]

Not to detract from the loud 40 cal issue, I recently had a conversation with a shooting buddy about the 40 cal vs the 9mm and he too had issues with the loudness and recoil
I think my gun loudness is toned down from louder hardware.frankly, I cannot hear or feel much of either.
As far as out of the box, round for round performance, I would trade every 1 40 cal shot for 10 i have shot with the 9mm (that is saying allot considering I have put over 20 yrs worth of the latter down range).