Decibel levels for firearms

[General Pain]

Some common firearm loudness levels are:
22 rim fire rifle 126dB SPL
30/30 rifle 158dB SPL
12 gauge shotgun 3-inch magnum 157dB SPL
.357 magnum 164dB SPL
A whisper is approximately 20 dB, conversational voice is closer to 60 dB. A vacuum cleaner is on the order of 80 dB, a motorcycle approaches 115 dB. A fighter plane on take off roll cranks out about 140 dB, which is quiet compared a firearm enthusiast's environment. A 12 Gauge shotgun is a 156 dB wonder, as is a typical 40 S&W pistol. A 44 magnum is approximately 164 dB and all of those big ported rifles tip the scale at over 170 dB. The threshold for pain is 130 dB and hearing loss, trauma, occurs at 160 dB. Ear protection reduces the dB level that reaches our eardrums. A good set of ear muffs cut noise by 40 dB, which brings that big ported blaster down to 131 dB. Keep in mind the threshold for pain is 130 dB. Slip in a set of ear plugs under those mouse ears, and another 30 dB is clipped, getting down to a the soothing sound level of a chain saw

If some has a more complete list it would be appreciated

[General Pain]

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

[waiting4something]

Good post. It's something I always take for granted. I figuired as long as I had ear plugs in I was golden. Guess not.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

Good post. It's something I always take for granted. I figuired as long as I had ear plugs in I was golden. Guess not.

Not necessarily -- I left the Army with tinnitus I didn't have when I joined. Though strangely enough, I can still hear dog whistles!