Best hunting load and gun for NO HEARING PROTECTION

[DrCaveman]

What say you

I feel that my 38 spl keith target loads (158-170 gr, 850-950 fps) in a 4" barrel are my limit for a full cylinder without muffs. Thats kinda pushing it

My 45 colt (4.75" barrel) trail boss loads (255 gr @ 750 fps) are also about the top end

357 mag loads are deafening to me. 45 colt unique 8.5 gr also. 44 mag i havent shot much but i think it may be too much. 460 magnum, no way

Seems to me that 41 mag might be a little better...but 200 gr at 1300 fps, its still gonna disorient

I know this is a question asked a million times in a different way, but im wondering if you all have found potent loads at a reasonable decibel level.

Maybe the 45 colt with 300 grain at 650? Accurate in an SAA?

Thanks

Edit: if im just overly sensitive, thats fine, let me know

[Lonegun1894]

I am curious as to what responses you get. I have shot various things enough (and done hearing damage in the process) to where I block out the noise. I still wouldn't recommend this to be a habit, knowing what I have done to my hearing, but understand why you want this. I hunt without hearing protection, except for a suppressor on my .22LR now, but still use .357 Mags, .44 Mags, .45 Colts, and even a 14" .223 Contender and a 10" .30 Herrett, but you get the idea. I don't think you can decrease your muzzleblast enough to be comfortable without slowing the bullets velocity enough to be fairly ineffective. I guess this would depend on your intended game too, but you didn't specify so I'm assuming we're not talking squirrel and rabbit. I think your options are either use hearing protection, or do as I do and just accept the muzzleblast involved. However, please use hearing protection at the very least while practicing, because you will fire much more and do more damage on the practice range than hunting just due to the round count if nothing else.

[Catshooter]

I find the 45 auto 230 to 255 grain loads (no more than normal max) to work ok.

If you shoot right handed you can always stuff the left ear with a plug. The opposite ear usually leads and takes the brunt of the damage.

That's about top end for me.


Cat

[chsparkman]

I now take my electronic muffs with me into the field. I find if I turn them up I can hear movement in the woods much better and when I shoot my ears don't ring. It's a little cumbersome but worth it to me.

[gtgeorge]

I now take my electronic muffs with me into the field. I find if I turn them up I can hear movement in the woods much better and when I shoot my ears don't ring. It's a little cumbersome but worth it to me.+1 on this. I have found myself doing exactly the same the last couple years and appreciate the sounds I have been missing.

[gunarea]

Hey DrCaveman
For me, either IMR 4227 or Alliant 2400 in a 44 will get the job done with a boom rather than a sharp pop. Our Florida deer are no match for light 44 loads using these propellants and a 215gr Keith type SW. Pig killing here demands much more whump and I do that with heavier slugs. A 315gr cast pushed with 2400 at 900fps drops pigs, even big ones. After several trips out west, I would agree with using power muffs, if only to keep my ears warm. The deer I saw in Oregon, North Nevada and Washington state looked very 44able. Wish I knew how they tasted, I hunt with handgun and never once got a shooting opportunity.

[bobthenailer]

i have 2 pairs of electronic earmuffs for hunting or when shooting matches ! , ear plugs and sometimes plugs with muffs any other time . i hunt with a FA 454 casull and hearing protection is a must for hunting or shooting anytime. FME some powders have more muzzel blast than others in the same burn rate but you would have to experment and find a Decible meter to test noise differences but in any case all should need some type of hearing protection.

[tazman]

I now take my electronic muffs with me into the field. I find if I turn them up I can hear movement in the woods much better and when I shoot my ears don't ring. It's a little cumbersome but worth it to me.

Good idea. I damaged my hearing years ago with a 357 mag and will have problems for the rest of my life. If the electronic muffs have amplifiers built in I could see how that would help as long as there is a cutout for loud noises.

[brtelec]

The electronic muffs are nice. They not only protect against the loud noise they allow you to turn up the volume on normal sound. Having hearing damage from decades of abuse to my ears this is nice. However with the law changes in Arizona that took place in 2012, we can hunt with suppressors now. That took care of that in regards to rifle hunting for me.

[garym1a2]

My guess is a lonnnng barrel rifle with a heavy boolit going slow. I am thinking a Handi-rifle in 45-70 with a big bullet and the speed low with a fast powder. Maybe Trailboss?

[Piedmont]

Veral Smith of LBT molds has written on this. What he does is deep seats a heavy .44 bullet and loads to relatively high pressures with a fast powder in .44 magnum cases. What he says happens is there is a quick pressure peak, combined with a long distance from the base of the bullet until that base has passed the barrel/cylinder gap, then what pressure is left bleeds off out of the gap until the bullet has exited the barrel and this results in a low muzzle pressure.

The low muzzle pressure makes for less noise. The other factors are important too, because you will be getting some noise out of the B/C gap. Using the heavy .44 bullet gave him decent power and using a .44 gave him a strong gun to begin with (unlike, say, a .45 Colt SAA) to load to high pressures. Velocities aren't high, but that is why he uses a heavy, blunt .44 bullet--it still hits hard.

I have not tried this yet but did notice NATO ball 9mm ammo wasn't as loud as I thought it should be from my 4" 9mm revolver. It had the high pressure and long bullet jump to clear the forcing cone. I don't know what type of powder the factory used though (how fast burning it was).

It is an interesting subject.

Brian Pearce has commented many time that low noise is one reason he likes the factory equivalent .45 Colt loads. They operate at low pressure, somewhere in the 14,000-16,000 psi range.

[DougGuy]

I can't believe someone actually posted a thread wanting a quiet hunting boolit. No words.

[ole 5 hole group]

All I can tell you is you'll be paying (in today's dollars) approximately $6,000.00 every 3 to 6 years for hearing aids, if you're lucky enough to live to be older than 65/70.

If you've been in the Service, then it's no financial cost to you, as the VA will take care of that but still, not a good idea if you can prevent it.

[Doc Highwall]

Just to let you know a 22lr out of a (RIFLE) is 140 Decibels well above what it takes to damage your ears.

[chajohnson]

I've been shooting since I was age 7 (NRA small bore), thru military school, and then into the service (Air Force - Security Police). Later, in civilian law enforcement as well. All involved shooting competitively, usually on a team, and also lifelong hunting and hand loading. I've always used hearing protection, except in combat. Something about the adrenalin seems to shut down some senses. Had my hearing checked at the VA Hospital a few months ago and for a 65 year old my hearing is normal. Moral of this is if you take care of your hearing with protection it will continue to work well.

[DrCaveman]

Thanks for the useful responses. Ive seen the charts showing various decibel levels of different calibers, supressed and non-supressed. To say the least, i was unimpressed with the levels of reduction even with a 22. The numbers still showed pain and moderate damage

I am wanting to set up a little test, since i have access to some high quality sound meters. All decibel readings are not the same... Certain frequencies can do more damage than others, and also, hearing loss in certain frequencies is more of a detriment than others.

I wanted some suggestions regarding gun and load, and i think Piedmont has pointed me in a good direction. Also i will shop around for some good electronic muffs.

I mixed sound for live music shows for years, and so that might have made me more sensitive than some. I surely sustained a bit of hearing loss, but nothing like an old fella shooting matches for 30 years with no muffs, and shoeing horses on the side. The only guys my dads age i know that need aids are also the most avid shooters.

Amazing to remember that we neved used plugs or muffs when plinking as a kid. No wonder we saved the 7mag for last, and only shot it about 3-4 times

Hey, i just want to throw in that i hunt waterfowl with no plugs, no prob. Thats with 2-4 guys shooting 12 gauges. Something about that is less damaging than pistols. Probably mostly barrel length and lack of cylinder gap, but maybe the fast shotgun powders help the issue

[NavyVet1959]

My hearing tends to just be impaired to the frequencies that are around the ones of my wife's voice. Unfortunately, not completely deaf to those frequencies since some of her noise still gets through. :(

[robertbank]

My hearing is damaged. We used to shoot indoors all the time as kids with .22lr thence as I got older hunting birds in Alberta. Damaging your ears is just not worth it. Ringing in your ears was considered normal back in the day after a day iof shooting Northern Mallards.

Wear muffs of some kind. Having a constant ringing in your ears is not fun and if you are lucky enough to have your life partner with you turning the tv set up is not an option.

Take Care

Bob

[JHeath]

I can't believe someone actually posted a thread wanting a quiet hunting boolit. No words.

I can believe it. My ears have rung non-stop for the last 35 years because of a .38 snubbie. Noise management is a major issue for a lot of us.

As noted above, I am pretty sure correctly, the issue is muzzle pressure. Longer barrels with faster powder and heavier bullets. I think Veral Smith is right.

If I return to hunting I'll probably wear earplugs. Depending on the kind of hunting. But I won't be out there with a .30 Carbine Blackhawk, I know that.

[osteodoc08]

My 1894 CB 45 colt with powder puff TB load and 255gr LRNFP is about as quiet as it gets for me. That and Colibri out of my Remington 41 TargetMaster.

[ironhead7544]

A long barreled TC Contender pistol might work. I loaded up some 300 gr 44 Magnum ammo for my 77/44 Ruger bolt action. Used Unique but any fast burning powder might be OK. Very quiet.

There are earplugs with a valve in them that closes when hit with noise. Might try those.

Some states allow hunting with suppressors.

[fecmech]

My hearing tends to just be impaired to the frequencies that are around the ones of my wife's voice. Unfortunately, not completely deaf to those frequencies since some of her noise still gets through. :sad:
That is normal. I read somewhere as men age they loose hearing in the upper frequency ranges and as women age their voices rise in pitch. Just nature taking care of business!

[NavyVet1959]

The electronic muffs are nice. They not only protect against the loud noise they allow you to turn up the volume on normal sound.

Yeah, as long as you remember to put them on before pulling the trigger. A few weeks ago, I was measuring the decibels at various places around my house from my 10mm fired in my garage. On the last shot, I had the muffs in one hand and the gun in the other hand and fired into my backstop. Both hands were in front of me on the gun no less. I realized I had made a mistake before the trigger was pulled, but the signal had been sent to my finger to pull the trigger and I could not cancel the signal. My ears were ringing for over a week. A 10mm inside a garage is LOUD.

[subsonic]

The quietest pistol I ever fired was a 14" Contender .357max shooting .38 148gr wadcutters. It was more quiet than a .22 rifle for some reason. Made a weird "floop" noise.

[HollandNut]

I had a time passing my retirement physical from the Navy , I was a Gunner , plus all those years of the constant noise on a ship underway , had come to haunt me .. My hearing was gone in one ear at 6500Hz , the other at 7000Hz .. I have had tinnitus since I was 17 and joined the Navy . Forty years of ringing ears is no fun .. A shotgun is about the only thing I shoot without hearing protection , unless I'm carrying the 9mm on our property to pop any rattlers that come walking by ..

[Artful]

Thanks for the useful responses. Ive seen the charts showing various decibel levels of different calibers, supressed and non-supressed. To say the least, i was unimpressed with the levels of reduction even with a 22. The numbers still showed pain and moderate damage.

I am wanting to set up a little test, since i have access to some high quality sound meters. All decibel readings are not the same... Certain frequencies can do more damage than others, and also, hearing loss in certain frequencies is more of a detriment than others.
Very few sound meters respond to the rapid pressure rise of a gun shot - this will help you see if your equipment is up to the task
http://www.silencertests.com/standards.htm
http://silencertalk.com/2209-method.htm

I wanted some suggestions regarding gun and load, and i think Piedmont has pointed me in a good direction. Also i will shop around for some good electronic muffs.
You will find with foam ear plus and electronic muffs you can turn up the muffs to hear normally and be protected in most cases keep in mind that multiple methods used together are no additive (28 NRR plugs + 20 NRR muffs won't equal 48 NRR total protection)

I mixed sound for live music shows for years, and so that might have made me more sensitive than some. I surely sustained a bit of hearing loss, but nothing like an old fella shooting matches for 30 years with no muffs, and shoeing horses on the side. The only guys my dads age i know that need aids are also the most avid shooters.
That may be because a lot of us just refuse to admit we need help and just talk louder to our friends [smilie=1:

Amazing to remember that we neved used plugs or muffs when plinking as a kid. No wonder we saved the 7mag for last, and only shot it about 3-4 times

Hey, i just want to throw in that i hunt waterfowl with no plugs, no prob. Thats with 2-4 guys shooting 12 gauges. Something about that is less damaging than pistols. Probably mostly barrel length and lack of cylinder gap, but maybe the fast shotgun powders help the issue

YOU ARE DAMAGING YOUR HEARING BY DOING THAT


For someone who is professional aligned with music, I find some of your statements to be ignorant.

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml



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 — 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.


Sources of noise that can cause hearing loss include motorized equipment, firecrackers, and small firearms, all emitting sounds from 120 to 150 decibels as in impluse.

Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can and will cause hearing loss.

The louder the sound, the shorter the time period before noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) can occur.

Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss.

But long term noise above 75 will damage your hearing, it doesn't harm your hearing in a big way, right away.

But the damage is cumulative and irreversable and you should be wearing hearing protection if exposed to loud noise.

But the Standard for "hearing Safe" short duration impulse noises are set as 140 db for impulse noise by the agencies involved.

Any Suppressor that changes the pressure level to below 140 db "can" be considered as "safe".

Of course the more reduction the better.

And I know a lot of people who shoot thinking 22 rimfire, shotguns, etc. are safe and they are not.

For people who have not been exposed to the Logarithmic scale of sound measurement let me post some classic's

0 db - Threshold of hearing - Don’t hear anything sound proof room
10 db - Broadcast studio interior or rustling leaves - 1/32nd as loud as conversation
20 db - Quiet house interior or rural nighttime - 1/16th as loud
30 db - Quiet office interior or watch ticking - 1/8th as loud
40 db - Quiet rural area or small theater - 1/4th as loud (and what our ears enviromentally were developed for)
50 db - Quiet suburban area or dishwasher in next room - 1/2 as loud
60 db - Office interior or ordinary conversation between two people in quiet environment - Ordinary Conversation
70 db - Vacuum cleaner at 10 feet away from you
NOTE - hearing damage by continuous levels can start above 75 db
80 db - Passing car at 10 ft. or garbage disposal at 3 ft - 4 times as loud
90 db - Passing bus or truck at 10 ft. or food blender at 3 feet. - 8 times as loud
100 db - Passing subway train at 10 feet or gas lawn mower at 3 ft. - 16 times as loud
110 db - Night club with band playing or Chainsaw, 1 meter distance- 32 times as loud
120 db - Threshold of pain instant pain ringing of ears- 64 times as loud as conversation (twice as loud as night club)
140 db - Jet aircraft, 50 meter away
ref'd links
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hear...ges/noise.aspx (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/noise.aspx)
http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/TableOf...sureLevels.htm (http://www.sengpielaudio.com/TableOfSoundPressureLevels.htm)

Some measurements of real world sounds measured @ http://www.silencerresearch.com/deci...ce_library.htm (http://www.silencerresearch.com/decibel_reference_library.htm)

Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun 94dB to 98dB
Ruger 10/22 Hammer Falling on an Empty Chamber 102-103.5dB
Ruger 10/22 Bolt Drop on an Empty Chamber 112-113dB
Browning Buckmark Hammer Falling on an Empty Chamber 107-110dB
Browning Buckmark Bolt Drop on an Empty Chamber 112-112.5dB
Colt AR15 635 Style Upper Bolt Drop on empty chamber 114-119dB
Black Maxx Paintball Gun shot with paintball 116.5dB to 119dB
Black Maxx Paintball Gun shot without paintballs 126dB
Mossberg 44US Target Rifle 26" Barrel CCI Subsonics 128dB to 129.5dB
Mossberg 44US Target Rifle 26" Barrel CCI CB Longs 121.7dB
Mossberg 44US Target Rifle 26" Barrel Remington Subsonics 129dB to 131dB
All these measurements were done with Mil-spec sound meter 1 meter from object being measured.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?226724-Suppressor-%28silencer%29-questions

As far as hunting with a quiet weapon - Bow and Arrow / Crossbow number one choice
Firearms - smallest bore with largest accurate projectile at below transonic speeds with least amount of powder to launch it and ideally using a sound suppressor on the end of the barrel.

Look into 300 Blackout/Whisper suppressed/silenced pistol/rifles using heavy boolit subsonic loads
38/357's single shot/carbine using heavy bullet subsonic loads and suppressed.
Even 44 or 45 using heavy bullet subsonic suppressed again not a wheel gun.
Note the larger the bore size the larger the amount of air moved and the harder to be quiet.
a subsonic 22LR sounds much quieter than a large 45 "killer bee" whizzing by.

Here's what you would get with 44 spl subsonic suppressed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GSBaMadO88

[Artful]

The quietest pistol I ever fired was a 14" Contender .357max shooting .38 148gr wadcutters. It was more quiet than a .22 rifle for some reason. Made a weird "floop" noise.

The more quiet than a .22 rifle is because usually people shoot high velocity 22LR that goes faster than the speed of sound and causes a miniature sonic boom as it goes down range - the .38 was subsonic and all of the powder was probably used up before it left the muzzle of the 14" barrel.

Example with full power subsonic 357 mag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_DIhiIEY0M

[prs]

Type 1 Sound Level Meters with peak hold are expensive and rare. We lose high frequency hearing first, regardless the frequency characteristic of the noise, because our inner ears have the higher frequency responding hair cells arranged at the entrance to the inner ear (oval window); this is sometimes referred to as the foyer carpet effect. By the time you notice loss of hearing, there has been a tremendous loss of outer hair cell tissue and much diffuse damage that will progress more rapidly. Ear muffs are fair alone and less so if thick eye glass temples are worn. Foam plugs are great if seated so that the outer surface is level with or just deeper in ear than the tragus (hardly anyone wears them properly). Muffs and plugs are excellent although the dB attenuation will register small, the few dB attenuated from the top represents a great deal of energy, every 3 dB represents a doubling of energy.

prs

[pmer]

The quietest pistol I ever fired was a 14" Contender .357max shooting .38 148gr wadcutters. It was more quiet than a .22 rifle for some reason. Made a weird "floop" noise.

Same here with a 14 inch Contender in 44 Magnum. No barrel cylinder gap must be plus. But still hearing protection is habit we all should be in.

If you don't want battery powered muffs there are those ZEM brand muffs. They use a hollow tube called a "sound chamber" to pick up normal levels of sound but block the loud sounds. They are smaller and lighter than electronic muffs and no batteries are good where I hunt up here in the cold. There not as clear and crisp as electronic ones though.

[DrCaveman]

Ive already tested myself to show that i cant hear above 16kHz. Sensitivity all the way down to 10kHz is very low, it takes a lot of SPL for me to hear it

Below that is where i would like to try to reduce the loss. Everyday activity (driving in traffic, blowers/air compressors running at shop, loud kids in the pizza parlor playground, bustling coffeeshop, etc) can cause damage over long durations.

Artful: i appreciate your concern, and am familiar with the charts and references you have provided. What they do not differentiate between (and the intent of the OP) is the difference between various particular loads and barrel lengths (other than the shotguns). Even in the shotguns they do not say whether it is skeet loads or turkey loads. One is a 'bit' louder than the other

I have NO DOUBT that a different powder and bullet choice can produce different loudness from the same gun. I hope there is no agrument there

So, it is my hope to pinpoint some loads that minimize the sound exposure, in the event that i use this load hunting or in defense against 2 or 4 legged predator. I also want to maximize the effectiveness of this load.

Im planning to use a bruel & kjaer meter like the one shown in the video link. I have a few ideas up my sleeve involving 357 magnum 6" revolver and 45-70 handi rifle. I dont expect the revolver to do that well because of all the good reasons already stated. Obviously neither one will be full power...far from it

[smoked turkey]

I have damaged my hearing big time over the years. I now guard what I have left by wearing ear plugs that do a good job of noise reduction. I also use Walker Game Ears when I think to get batteries for them. They have the added benefit of amplification which can work in your favor many times. I would not recommend going shooting or hunting without adequate hearing protection because of what I and all those who try to communicate with me put with daily. NOT WORTH IT to damage your hearing.

[Artful]

I have NO DOUBT that a different powder and bullet choice can produce different loudness from the same gun. I hope there is no agrument there.

I agree 100% - and the fast burning and less powder you use the quieter it gets.

So, it is my hope to pinpoint some loads that minimize the sound exposure, in the event that i use this load hunting or in defense against 2 or 4 legged predator. I also want to maximize the effectiveness of this load.

Again Heaviest boolit at below transonic speeds. If you limit the speed you can only increase the payload to bring up the available energy to your load.

Im planning to use a bruel & kjaer meter like the one shown in the video link. I have a few ideas up my sleeve involving 357 magnum 6" revolver and 45-70 handi rifle. I dont expect the revolver to do that well because of all the good reasons already stated. Obviously neither one will be full power...far from it
You might find this helpful
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/ear_prot.html

I would probably skip the 357 and concentrate on the 45-70 handi rifle. As I recall the twist is 1:20 (you'll need to confirm), so at 1000 fps it should stabilize 1.4 in long projectile - and depending upon design that could be 500+ grains. You'll want either a large hollow point or blunt nose to transmit maximum energy to whatever target it hits.

[AlaskanGuy]

Iron head....

I would love to "hear" about these... Do you have some experience with earplugs of this type??? It sure would be nice to get something like this if I knew who made something that really worked well.... I use muffs now, but would love something small and not so cumbersome...




There are earplugs with a valve in them that closes when hit with noise. Might try those.

[bobthenailer]

My wife has found that starting the conversation with "GUN" usually gets my full attention !
I have been a Auto Tech most of my life , and 4 years on the line at VW Westmorland assembly plant. and as a active shooter for 40+ years usually shooting two to three day a week.

[sixshot]

Don't bet on the VA helping a vet get hearing aids, I've been trying for a long time (aircraft mechanic) & they won't help me.

Dick