- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- karma
In a recent thread, @Nonnie and others were talking about the volumes of various rounds. 140 dB is often given as the reference level for .22lr; however, I'm unable to get anywhere near that.
All measures taken using a BAFX dB meter in "peak" mode, using Federal 40 grain copper-plated ammo, and 3-4 round bursts were used to maximize the chance of getting a peak reading. Distance readings were taken firing directly at the meter (well, as directly as possible without shooting it).
Ruger MKII pistol, at muzzle: 118 dB
Ruger MKII pistol, at shooter's ear level: 115 dB
Ruger MKII pistol, at 10': 110 dB
Ruger 10/22 rifle, muzzle: 116 dB
Ruger 10/22 rifle, shooter's ear: 107 dB
At this point the batteries on my dB meter were getting flaky so I called it a day. Note that because of the greater muzzle length, for the rifle, the volume has already been halved at the shooter's ear level, compared to the muzzle.
I'll be happy to repeat this with 7.62x54r at some point in the near future, but for me the tl;dr is (as always), .22s are not that loud and with proper hearing protection I think they're fine for most people, including most people with simple tinnitus and no hyperacusis. I'm not encouraging people to take this up as a hobby, but some of us live in situations where varmints are a thing and guns are necessary. (Most recently we had a woodpecker waking us up at 4am every day; I will tolerate that for 2-3 days, then it's time to try to make pecker stew....)
I am able to get readings in nearly this same general range by clanking dishes together loudly...
All measures taken using a BAFX dB meter in "peak" mode, using Federal 40 grain copper-plated ammo, and 3-4 round bursts were used to maximize the chance of getting a peak reading. Distance readings were taken firing directly at the meter (well, as directly as possible without shooting it).
Ruger MKII pistol, at muzzle: 118 dB
Ruger MKII pistol, at shooter's ear level: 115 dB
Ruger MKII pistol, at 10': 110 dB
Ruger 10/22 rifle, muzzle: 116 dB
Ruger 10/22 rifle, shooter's ear: 107 dB
At this point the batteries on my dB meter were getting flaky so I called it a day. Note that because of the greater muzzle length, for the rifle, the volume has already been halved at the shooter's ear level, compared to the muzzle.
I'll be happy to repeat this with 7.62x54r at some point in the near future, but for me the tl;dr is (as always), .22s are not that loud and with proper hearing protection I think they're fine for most people, including most people with simple tinnitus and no hyperacusis. I'm not encouraging people to take this up as a hobby, but some of us live in situations where varmints are a thing and guns are necessary. (Most recently we had a woodpecker waking us up at 4am every day; I will tolerate that for 2-3 days, then it's time to try to make pecker stew....)
I am able to get readings in nearly this same general range by clanking dishes together loudly...