Protect your hearing.

[dennishoddy]

We have new members asking questions about which MZ brake to use on their guns. They work wonders for reducing recoil, but the noise level is exponentially louder than a standard muzzle blast. Most brakes will require double ear protection. Plugs and muffs.
I post the following for your review and consideration.
You don't want to suffer permanent hearing loss .....trust me.

Gunfire Noise Level Reference Chart
Below we have listed critical data describing peak sound pressure levels produced by firearms used in shooting and hunting sports. A serious byproduct of this exposure is sensory-neural hearing loss, which cannot be restored to normal. With the introduction of MUZZLE BRAKES and PORTING, the risks of hearing loss dramatically increase. Use this chart as a reference guide for promoting the need of using adequate hearing protection.

Notations
Keep in mind that conversational speech is approximately 60-65 dB, and the threshold of pain is considered to be 140 dB. According to Dr. William Clark, Ph.D. senior research scientist in charge of the NOISE LABORATORY at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, the damage caused by one shot from a .357 magnum pistol, which can expose a shooter to 165 dB for 2msec, is equivalent to over 40 hours in a noisy workplace. Dr. Krammer, Ph.D., Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana has documented the following pressure levels.

Table 1. SHOTGUN NOISE DATA (DECIBEL AVERAGES)

.410 Bore 28" barrel
150dB
26" barrel
150.25dB
18 _" barrel
156.30dB
20 Gauge 28" barrel
152.50dB
22" barrel
154.75dB
12 Gauge 28" barrel
151.50dB
26" barrel
156.10dB
18 _" barrel
161.50dB
Dr. Krammer continues to say that shotgun noise averaged slightly more that 150dB. This is approximately 14dB beyond the threshold of pain, and more than sufficient to cause sudden hearing loss with complications.

Table 2. CENTERFIRE RIFLE DATA

.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18 _" barrel
155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel
155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel
156.0dB
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel
157.5dB
.308 in 24" barrel
156.2dB
.30-06 in 24" barrel
158.5dB
.30-06 in 18 _" barrel
163.2dB
.375 â€" 18" barrel with muzzle brake
170 dB
Krammer adds that sound pressure levels for the various pistols and ammunition tested yielded an average mean of 157.5 dB, which is greater than those previously shown for shotgun and rifle noise levels. There was also a greater range, from 152.4dB to 164.5dB, representing 12 dB difference, or more than 10 time as much acoustic energy for the top end of the pistol spectrum. It should be noticed that this figure of 164.5 dB approaches the practical limit of impulse noise measurement capability inherent in most modern sound level meters.

Table 3. CENTERFIRE PISTOL DATA

.25 ACP
155.0 dB
.32 LONG
152.4 dB
.32 ACP
153.5 dB
.380
157.7 dB
9mm
159.8 dB
.38 S&W
153.5 dB
.38 Spl
156.3 dB
.357 Magnum
164.3 dB
.41 Magnum
163.2 dB
.44 Spl
155.9 dB
.45 ACP
157.0 dB
.45 COLT
154.7 dB
The above averages are for all types of ammunition used in these firearms, and should be considered fairly representative. No wonder we hear numerous reports about hearing loss as a result of firearms including acoustic traumas that take hearing completely as a result of one shot. Imagine what the noise levels must be when we incorporate muzzle brakes or porting into firearms, or have a gun explode near the ear due to malfunction.

OUR WARNING IS SIMPLE AND IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF EACH SHOOTER. AS THE SOUND PRESSURES INCREASE, SO DOES THE RISK OF PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. IF YOU INCORPORATE A PROCEDURE INTO YOUR SHOOTING THAT INCREASES THE SOUND LEVEL, YOU ALSO INCREASE THE RISK OF HEARING LOSS TO YOURSELF AND POSSIBLY THOSE WHO STAND NEAR YOU. BE SURE TO USE ADEQUATE EAR PROTECTION WHEN USING A FIREARM AND BE CAREFUL OF THOSE NEARBY. LAWSUITS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR GUNFIRE NOISE THAT HAS RESULTED IN HEARING LOSS. ALWAYS CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL AUDIOLOGIST, OTOLOGIST, OR OTOLARYNGOLOGIST WITH YOUR HEARING PROBLEMS. Hearing loss is not fun and can be prevented.

Compliments of www.earinc.com

 

[twss]

One decibel is one tenth of one Bel. One Bel is twice as loud as the previous. So every 10 decibels means the noise increases by twice as loud. So if conversations take place at 65 decibels and and a 357 is 164.3, or approximately 100 decibels louder. That means that a .357 is perceived to be about 1,024 times as loud as an ordinary conversation. NOT 2.5 times as loud as the numbers would appear. It can be very easy to do permanent hearing loss like was stated above. If your ear protection has an NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) of 30 Db, you will perceive the sound to be about 1/8 as loud as it actually is.

Just some food for thought.

And the Bel was indeed named after Mr. Alexander Graham Bell.

 

[poopgiggle]

Also keep in mind that hearing loss cannot be self-diagnosed, so you won't notice anything happening.

 

[dennishoddy]

Also keep in mind that hearing loss cannot be self-diagnosed, so you won't notice anything happening.

Well, you kind of can. Watch the volume indicator on the TV. When it starts needing to go up a number or two on a regular basis, and your wife is wearing double ear protection, (plugs and muffs) in the same room, one can pretty much ASSUME, there may be some slight hearing loss.
An audiologist is the best way though.

 

[shootingbuff]

Dennis - great thread. Safety is always good to bring up and a lot of folks dont think much about hearing protection. Usally when you bring it up the response is uh? Eh? What? Did you say something?

Interesting between the -06 and the 7Mag. I would have to assume it is due to the smaller 7Mag bore. Though even then I would had thought a short bbld 7Mag would be louder than an -06 of longer bbl.

Actually I would think a larger bore would not be as harsh or at least less crack. Interesting indeed.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Also just another reason why mufflers should be legal, and easily attainable.....

 

[shootingbuff]

You wont be able to hear me on my bike........

 

[Iggie]

Also just another reason why mufflers should be legal, and easily attainable.....

Gov. Fallin passed the bill to allow hunting w/ suppressors on property you own or are a guest on. Not leaps and bounds but a step in the right direction

 

[dennishoddy]

But you still have to pay the feds and wait untill some gubberment employee decided to grant permission, and then carry the permit anywhere the supressor goes, even if its not mounted on your personal firearm.

 

[Iggie]

But you still have to pay the feds and wait untill some gubberment employee decided to grant permission, and then carry the permit anywhere the supressor goes, even if its not mounted on your personal firearm.

Very true. I think these requirements should be abolished and make it at most like buying any other firearm.

 

[shootingbuff]

But you still have to pay the feds and wait untill some gubberment employee decided to grant permission, and then carry the permit anywhere the supressor goes, even if its not mounted on your personal firearm.

Well it is a start and if others follow suit then maybe ther ewill be a round two. Hey Fallin for prez

 

[jacksimonton]

Tinnitus is an ordinary matter if you don't wear earplugs at the time of shooting and others. I love electronic earplugs so much to generic. Generic earplugs blocked the sound, but electric earplugs don't block the noise, it gives a limited sound to our ear according to our ability.

https://www.bigearinc.com/product/electronic-hearing-protection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeMNnjPBsjU