Gun Decibels

Unlike the movies, a suppressed rifle (130-136 dB) is about as "quiet" as a Jet Engine. The basics are that a 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss. At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear. A Jet Engine is 140 dB, thunder is about 119 db, and lawnmower is about 90dB. An AR-15 or AK-47 is ≈155-165 dB. Suppressed ≈ 130-136 dB so loosely as loud as a Jet Engine. ℹ️ Info           ~ Aristotle Sabouni Created: 2017-10-05

The basics are that a 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss. At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear. A Jet Engine is 140 dB, thunder is about 119 db, and lawnmower is about 90dB.

An AR-15 or AK-47 is ≈155-165 dB. Suppressed ≈ 130-136 dB so loosely as loud as a Jet Engine.

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.

Hearing Protection

• Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB each
  • earplugs are better for low frequency noise, earmuffs are better for high frequency noise
• Combined, about 35 dB

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 Pistols

• .380 157.7 dB.
• 9mm 159.8 dB.
• .38 Spl 156.3 dB.
• .357 Magnum 164.3 dB.
• .45 ACP 157.0 dB.

Noise levels of Rifles

• .22 caliber rifle 130dB
• .223 (AR-15) ≈ 155.5dB
• .308 / 7.62mm (AK-47) ≈ 156.2dB.

Noise levels of Shotguns

• .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.

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🔗 More

Guns Guns are a tool. Gun prohibition is like the prohibition on drugs, alcohol or crime.

🔗 Links

• http://web.archive.org/web/20141223035603/http://www.silencertests.com/results.htm
• http://www.elcaudio.com/decibel.htm
• http://www.elcaudio.com/tablesforweb.pdf
• http://www.industrialnoisecontrol.com/comparative-noise-examples.htm
• http://www.noisehelp.com/noise-level-chart.html
• http://www.decibelcar.com/menugeneric/87.html

Tags: Guns