Whats Louder?

[Jason30-30]

Yesterday At the range i was talking with a fellow that claimed 357 magnum was louder than 44 magnum. I would imagine that the 357's higher velocity might make the theory true. What do you guys think.

[Crawdaddy]

My guess would be that the length of barrel and porting would have more of an impact. All things being equal I would think the 44 would be louder simply because of more powder.

Look at it this way: Which is louder a firecracker or an M80?

[1Shirt]

Depends on the load being fired of course. If the 357 is shooting 38S wad cutter loads, and the 44 is shooting Kieth Max loads, would guess that the latter would be louder. The same is probably the same in reverse. And there is as stated, bbl length, porting etc.etc.etc.
1Shirt!

[telebasher]

Barrel length, bullet weight, type of powder all factor into the answer. My vote for loudest revolver goes to a Ruger Blackhawk in 30 carbine. Ear plugs and muffs and it still will bring out the flinches in me LOL.

[ku4hx]

Interesting gunfire decibel info here:
http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

But as hand loaders, we all would know how to stack the deck.

[waksupi]

Not louder, just a different frequency. Although I see by looking at the link, my initial thought is wrong.

Could you imagine a .30 Carbine revolver, with a muzzle break?

[HammerMTB]

My experience is the .357 is sharper
That is, the crack is "cracklier" instead of a big boom like a .44Mag.
But as has been said, it can be varied quite a bit by a number of circumstances that are not caliber specific.

[bbqncigars]

I'll add that the .357 Automag sounds nastier than the .44 Automag, and this is with almost identical powder charges. Although the larger one is pushing 100 grains heavier bullet.

[DLCTEX]

I fired my ported 480 Ruger Tarus one time without protection just to see what it was like. DUMB! I will never do that again except in a life or death situation, then I would be reluctant. It hurt!

[chuckbuster]

I know that if I want some "Elbow Room" at the public range (covered firing points) all I need is to fire a 3 shot group with my .416 Taylor

[303Guy]

Although the larger one is pushing 100 grains heavier bullet.

That means more of the powder generated energy has gone into the boolit so the muzzle blast will be less. It's a function of muzzle pressure plus remaining energy in the powder i.e volume at that pressure. But it is purely the muzzle pressure that determines the sound pressure level. Don't forget that going from 155dB to 158dB is doubling the sound pressure (it's hard to keep track of that fact when one looks at the sound pressure figures).

[swheeler]

From what I've experienced, with full power loads in both revolvers the 357 IS louder.

[williamwaco]

Don't know about decibels etc. I do know this:

I can shoot the .44 mag with mag loads with ear protection with comfort.

When I shoot the .357 with hot loads, even with ear protection - It HURTS.



.

[GRUMPA]

Yesterday At the range i was talking with a fellow that claimed 357 magnum was louder than 44 magnum. I would imagine that the 357's higher velocity might make the theory true. What do you guys think.

NEITHER!!! My ex-wife

[oldgeezershooter]

I had a Horton 3" Model 29 years ago and the rangemaster made me stop shooting it because of the complaints.

[trk]

Not louder, just a different frequency. Although I see by looking at the link, my initial thought is wrong.

Could you imagine a .30 Carbine revolver, with a muzzle break?

The Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine is loud enough! (without the muzzle break) !!


4 shots of .44 Mag, I've seen stated years ago, will give MEASURABLE, PERMANENT hearing loss.

When you ear drums meet in the middle it's TOO LOUD!

[mooman76]

A friend of mine bought a 357 mag and it had a fairly long barrel(6" I think) and when we shot it, it would make out ears ring with hearing protection on. My wife still complains about that gun and it was 20 years ago.

[mpmarty]

I get lots of elbow room at the range when I fire my 7.62 Nato AK with its muzzle brake. Between the noise and the high velocity brass coming out sideways it is impressive.

[Iron Mike Golf]

I fired my ported 480 Ruger Tarus one time without protection just to see what it was like. DUMB! I will never do that again except in a life or death situation, then I would be reluctant. It hurt!

Did the same with a Maw Deuce. Thankfully it was single shot.

[MtGun44]

.30 Carbine is really, really obnoxious, even with good hearing protection.

Neither the .357 or .44 mag bother me much with normal ear protection and I NEVER shoot
without it, so not really sure about the OP question.

Bill