Loud or LOUD

[swampthing]

I shoot a .44mag. 12" Encore, handloaded to 1200fps. Curious as to the noise from the big bores at subsonic velocity[1070fps in my area] any quieter/easier on the ears? just as loud? worth it to drop velocity?
I know I don't need 1200fps and am considering droping down to sub-sonic speeds in efforts to save my ears a bit. I like those BIG bores .475"-.500" especially with a load around 850-900fps. but I don't know if they are any quieter than what I am shooting.

[Ken ONeill]

It will be a few decibels lower, but you should be wearing hearing protection everytime you shoot anyway. Yes, I do mean when you're hunting, too.

[pozoutdoors]

I load my .45 acp encore to 1100 fps and it has less blast than my brother's .22 mag. rifle. This is the reason I got the .45 acp barrel. You should wear ear plugs. But, I know how it is while hunting. I WON'T fire my .44 without ear plugs any time. But, they are full power loads.

[45-70.gov]

also  go  up  in  bullet weight  if possible

my  44 speacial  with  280  grain  are  REAL quiet in a handi rifle

also  i shoot  38s  in  180  grain  at  800 fps  in a handi
quieter  than  a 22 lr   and will penetrate  22 inches of  wet phone books


load  some  down......my  1100   fps  in revolver  isnt  too loud  [44@280]

[Tom W.]

Good ear protection and you won't care about the noise.

[tripper]

Invest in, even a cheap pair, of electronic ear muffs that shut down the noise level. They have worked well for me, both in noise reduction and hearing inhacement well hunting.
Have a blessed day.  Trip

[buck460XVR]

Invest in, even a cheap pair, of electronic ear muffs that shut down the noise level. They have worked well for me, both in noise reduction and hearing inhacement well hunting.

+1....and on cold days in the woods, they keep your ears warm.

[ratgunner]

Years ago I had a .454 with a comp. barrel.I shot at a running deer in the brush with no hearing protection on,three shots and I could'nt hear right for a few hours. And I was only shooting mild loads.

[Redhawk1]

Any time I handgun hunt, I wear my Walkers Game muffs.

[eye shot]

Same here, Walkers Game Muffs.

[Heavy C]

It will be a few decibels lower, but you should be wearing hearing protection everytime you shoot anyway. Yes, I do mean when you're hunting, too.

+1  You can save your ears, and keep the speed.  I won't shoot 22's without hearing protection.  I've seen too many guys suffer from damaged hearing.

[Blackhawker]

If you don't want to worry about it very much longer, keep shooting your guns without hearing protection.   

[poncaguy]

I wear my electronic ear muffs most of the time now, kindy creepy in the woods, I hear all kinds of monsters walking in the woods and strange sounds.......