Lawton Gun Shop Seeks Help to Build a Range

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

D. Hargrove

Sharpshooter
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Messages
5,556
Reaction score
6,437
Location
Hulen
Darn Dennis, did ya write your dissertation on gun noise? Now ya got me looking to build a gun noise chart for no reason other than to be able to toss it out there on the forum if asked. Smarty pants... lol
 

dennishoddy

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
84,543
Reaction score
61,799
Location
Ponca City Ok
Darn Dennis, did ya write your dissertation on gun noise? Now ya got me looking to build a gun noise chart for no reason other than to be able to toss it out there on the forum if asked. Smarty pants... lol
I've spent most of my life in digital electronics where decibels decide if your systems live or die. As well as working in the noisy environments where those systems exist, aka US Army, Manufacturing machine tool facilities, and the last 16 years in a coal fired power plant before retiring. Those darned decibels took a toll on my ears.
 

Pokinfun

The Most Interesting Man in the World
Special Hen
Joined
Feb 15, 2013
Messages
3,757
Reaction score
1,506
Location
Southern
copied from another forum

Facts on noise levels:

1. Decibels measure sound pressure and are logarithmic. That means that only a 3db increase almost doubles sound pressure, a 6db increase quadruples sound pressure, etc.
2. Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
3. Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
4. Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.
5. At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.
6. There is also the more extreme ‘acoustic trauma’, which is an immediate loss of hearing after a sudden, exceptionally loud noise such as an explosion.

Comparative noise levels and length of time for damage to occur
Jet engine taking off 140 dB Instant damage
Thunder/Ambulance siren 119 dB 3 minutes
Hammer drill 113 dB 15 minutes
Chain saw/Earphones/Concert 110 dB 30 minutes
Bull Dozer 105 dB 1 hour
Tractor/Power tools 96 dB 4 hour
Hairdryer/lawnmower 90 dB 8 hours

Noise levels of firearms:
.22 caliber rifle 130dB
.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. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.
.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.
.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.
.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.
 

D. Hargrove

Sharpshooter
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Messages
5,556
Reaction score
6,437
Location
Hulen
Pokinfun - You just won a cookie for having it on the ball tonight. Great link, I browsed it and will of course commit it to memory. Thanks again.
 

Perplexed

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
15,757
Reaction score
10,578
Location
Tulsa
Did the author of that chart of decibel levels of various sound sources state the distance of the recording device from the sources?
 

Pokinfun

The Most Interesting Man in the World
Special Hen
Joined
Feb 15, 2013
Messages
3,757
Reaction score
1,506
Location
Southern
Did the author of that chart of decibel levels of various sound sources state the distance of the recording device from the sources?
After reading the essay about measuring decibel levels, they seem to make an adjustment for it to be at the shooters ear.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom