Suppressors — Why You Still Need Hearing Protection
Silencer-equipped AR photo courtesy The Silencer Shop.
OK, you’ve paid the tax stamp and acquired your new suppressor (aka “silencer” or “moderator”). Do you still need to wear earplugs or muffs? Absolutely. Even with that expensive new “can”, your rifle could be generating over 140 decibels (dB) of noise — about the same as as an unmuffled 9mm pistol shot. That’s loud enough to create permanent hearing loss with repeated exposure.
Firearms Are Loud: 140 dB to 175 dB
Audiology group ASHA explains: “Exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-dB level. A small .22-caliber rifle can produce noise around 140 dB, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound over 175 dB. Firing guns in a place where sounds can reverberate, or bounce off walls and other structures, can make noises louder and increase the risk of hearing loss. Also, adding muzzle brakes or other modifications can make the firearm louder. People who do not wear hearing protection while shooting can suffer a severe hearing loss with as little as one shot[.] Audiologists see this often, especially during hunting season when hunters and bystanders may be exposed to rapid fire from big-bore rifles, shotguns, or pistols.” Source: ASHA, Recreational Firearm Noise Exposure.
Suppressors, On Average, Reduce Noise Levels about 30 Decibels
In an article for Ammoland, gunwriter Sam Hoober says that you can expect about 30 decibels (dB) of noise reduction from the average suppressor: “Looking at a few different products, SilencerCo attests their suppressors reduce the sound pressure of a 9mm gunshot to anywhere from 125.7 dB to 131.5 dB, depending on the model. Advanced Armament Co, another popular supplier, attests a 23 dB to 33 dB reduction or down to 127 dB. Liberty Suppressors, another manufacturer, attests a reduction of 24 dB to 38 dB, depending on model and other factors. In short, we can presume something on the order of 30 dB of attenuation as an average.”
Using that 30 dB number you can quickly discern that you’ll still need hearing protection — good hearing protection — when shooting any suppressed firearm (even a .22 LR). “Spikes of 130 dB and more can result in permanent hearing damage instantly”. Source: NRA Blog.
The Myth of the “Quiet” .22 LR
The NRA Blog notes that “many rimfire shooters, particularly those using the beloved .22 Long Rifle cartridge, argue that the small .22 LR caliber doesn’t produce enough sound to damage your hearing”. So, is that really true. or is it a myth?In fact, a .22 LR can be much louder than you think — a .22 LR pistol can produce sound levels of 134 dB. That’s well above the normal human pain threshhold.
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Sound Levels for Common Noises: 9mm Luger pistol: 160 dB Jet aircraft engine (near): 140 dB .22 LR pistol: 134 dB Normal human pain threshold: 120 dB Noisy Nightclub: 110 db Riding Motorcycle at 65 mph: 103 db Power Lawnmower: 95 dB Hearing damage possible: 85 dB (sustained for 8+ hours) Ringing Telephone: 80 dB Normal conversation: 60 dB |
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The Risk of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be progressive and irreversible. If you are a shooter, this is serious business. As the NRA Blog cautions: “You may not even realize you’re harming your hearing. Hearing loss occurs gradually, and can go effectively unnoticed until symptoms become severe. By then, the damage is done.”
Nobody wants to go deaf. But we often see shooters without effective hearing protection when they are walking around a few yards behind the firing line. That’s bad — even if you are away from the firing line, gunshot noises can damage your hearing. You MUST use effective hearing protection every time you go to the range. Good foam earplugs costs mere pennies but they can prevent deafness in your later years. Many folks also wear muffs over plugs.
Similar Posts:
- Why You Still Need Hearing Protection When Using Suppressors
- Even with Suppressed Firearms Hearing Protection is Important
- Say What? Why You Need Effective Hearing Protection…
- The Risk of Hearing Loss — How to Protect Your Hearing
- Don’t Read This Article (If You Want to Become Deaf Someday)
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Tags: ASHA, Decible, Moderator, Silencer, SilencerCo, Suppressor
Regarding the .22 LR figures above: It would be interesting if the figures in decibels were included for a .22 rifle as well. Most shooters will agree that a .22 pistol is much louder than a .22 rifle. That may be erroneous. It may be that the muzzle of the rifle is just farther from the ears.
While some suppressed firearms may generate an impulse noise greater than 140 dB and thus not be hearing safe, implying that all suppressed firearms are not hearing safe by misapplying continuous noise thresholds is irresponsible.
EDITOR: Not sure you read the entire article. We state the ASHA standard that the ONE-Shot (spike) damage level is 140db, and that can be exceeded even with suppressors in place. The point is made that, with large cartridge, high-noise-level rifle shots, even with a suppressor of typical noise reduction capability, you can still end up OVER the 140db one-shot threshhold. And, we are told by the team at Thunder Beast Arms, that standardized testing of some other brand’s suppressors showed noise reduction around 25 Db. The point is, that even with a single shot, you could be close to the injury level. The other thing to consider is that at a match you may have non-suppressed rifles going off frequently near you. That may be of no concern to a hunter, but we certainly would advise shooters to test the true noise level of their firearms.