Muzzle Blast and Barrel Length

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buckchaser

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I would like to add a 308/30-06 to my "arsenal" for use in thick cover on deer, moose, elk, etc. It will be topped with an Aimpoint, but I want iron sights as a backup should the sight be damaged on a hunting trip (at times I am camping out for a few days to several days).

I've become very partial to the Tikka T3 based on a season of use and the Battue with the 20 inch barrel is attractive. That said, the conventional 23 inch barrel versions can also be ordered with iron sights.

What type of difference in muzzle blast/noise am I likely to experience with the shorter barrel? I always use hearing protection while practicing, but not while hunting.

The shorter rifle would be very handy in the thick cover I hunt, but I have no desire to repeat a hunting experience where I fired a Browning A-Bolt 280 Remington with muzzle porting and had my ears ring for hours.
 
Ear damage. No matter what. 308/30-06 is going to make your ears ring no matter what the length. Asking someone for an audible difference would be rather hard... Maybe someone with a decibel reader could tell you ? As for in the field, both will suck... lol... Why not try some electronic headphones ?
 
The 308 is also noticeably louder at 20 inches.
I once had a 308 with a 18.5 inch barrel and like you, I got it for hunting. But after quite lot of shots out of it using ear protection, I decided there was no way I wanted to fire even one shot in hunting, with bare ears.
For all practical purposes, a 22 inch barrel is not really a handicap for bush hunting.
 
H4831 said:
The 308 is also noticeably louder at 20 inches.
I once had a 308 with a 18.5 inch barrel and like you, I got it for hunting. But after quite lot of shots out of it using ear protection, I decided there was no way I wanted to fire even one shot in hunting, with bare ears.
For all practical purposes, a 22 inch barrel is not really a handicap for bush hunting.
Click to expand...

Agreed!!
 
The thing one needs to remember is that not only is the muzzle closer to your ears, but the muzzle pressure, and therefore the noise impulse, is higher out of the shorter barrel.

I used a 20 inch 375 H&H for a while as a backup rifle for a few years while guiding. It was remarkable how loud it was without ear protection, which you certainly could not use. When protecting someone, you need to be able to hear everything going on around you.

The Sako Handi-Rifle in 375 H&H has an 18 1/2" barrel, and is even more blatantly obnoxious. Fearsome is a good word to describe it.

Ted
 
Every shot taken without hearing protection is permanently damaging your ears. You just don't notice at first, then it's too late. I hunt with electronic muffs or the valve type plugs. Then 20" barrels are no problem.
 
Wow Ted, and 18-1/2 or 20" 375 would definitely be a boomer!! Worst I have dealt with was an 18" 340 WBY, and I didn't like it at all. That WBY made no sense at all to me, I would rather have a short 45-70 for close range backup.
 
Does anyone happen to have links/info on low profile electronic noise reducing gadgets? I value my hearing, but there is no way I can do my style of hunting wearing conventional hearing protection.
 
ht tp://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml
Table 2. CENTERFIRE RIFLE DATA
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18 _" barrel155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel156.0dB
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel157.5dB
.308 in 24" barrel156.2dB
.30-06 in 24" barrel158.5dB
.30-06 in 18 _" barrel163.2dB
.375 — 18" barrel with muzzle brake170 dB
 
I've been shooting a RA Compact in 308 a fair bit lately and for the first time without ears on last week shooting a buck and I don't recall it being bad at all. But as you know it tends to go that way in the heat of the moment.

edit- forgot to say 18" bbl for those that didn't know
 
Juster said:
ht tp://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml
Table 2. CENTERFIRE RIFLE DATA
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18 _" barrel155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel156.0dB
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel157.5dB
.308 in 24" barrel156.2dB
.30-06 in 24" barrel158.5dB
.30-06 in 18 _" barrel163.2dB
.375 — 18" barrel with muzzle brake170 dB
Click to expand...

Wait a second. 7mm in 20" is close to 243 in 24"?
Is that chart open for everyone to edit?
 
You can go with a shorter barrel and opt for a "linear muzzle brake"..fantastic for noise mitigation away from the shooter. Also believe to be moderate muzzle dampening. I've personally had good luck with S&J Hardwares brakes.

I use one on my 223 for coyote hunting and truly love it.

Cheers
 
I have the gun site scout in 308 with the shortest barrel. I think it's 16.1 inches. It came with a brake from ruger. That was really loud and you could feel the blast even when shooting it. I put an ar10 half birdcage flash suppressor on it inverted and it's much quieter. I bought it more for the handy length as it gets carried lots but not shot much.
 
So now we need to consider barrel lengths and even chamberings based on how loud they will be?

I take one rifle shot a year without hearing protection - I don't ever recall hearing the shot and have never had "ringing" in my ears. One shot/year. Perspective. "But, but even one shot can damage your hearing!..." Ok.

In my opinion we should all spend less time on the interwebs listening to people analyzing all of the "dangers", and more time shooting.
 
Andy said:
So now we need to consider barrel lengths and even chamberings based on how loud they will be?

I take one rifle shot a year without hearing protection - I don't ever recall hearing the shot and have never had "ringing" in my ears. One shot/year. Perspective. "But, but even one shot can damage your hearing!..." Ok.

In my opinion we should all spend less time on the interwebs listening to people analyzing all of the "dangers", and more time shooting.
Click to expand...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1311751-Hearing-Protection-necessary


I was 17 or 18 first time I fired a .270, and my ears rang for hours afterwards. It was years before I had it pounded into my that I need to wear hearing protection ( by gunwriters, not my peers). Now in my 50's, I have permanent ringing and enough hearing loss in both ears to qualify for hearing aids. I will never know what it's like to have perfect hearing again, or not have that ringing in the background.

Auditory exclusion is the reason you don't hear that shot fired at game, but that's your brain blocking out the sound; your ears are still being damaged.
 
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