Decibel difference between 10.3" - 14.5" - 16" - 20" ARs?
- Thread starter Soli
- Start date
definatly between the 10.3 and the 20" but not so much between the 14.5/16.... and very little between the 16 and 20"
it is not so much the noise as the concussion that gets me, one reason why the kx3 are somewhat popular on the shorties....
it is not so much the noise as the concussion that gets me, one reason why the kx3 are somewhat popular on the shorties....
It also depends greatly on the direction of the noise, guns with comps are alot louder when standing to the left/right/rear than ones without.
Personally I have a feeling that even with a 20" you're still going to need muffs. I have shot my sks with a 20" barrel (it is 20" isn't it?) and it still leaves a nice ring in my ears, but it was bareable at the time.
Since then I always wear ear protection, especially when shopting indoors.
Personally I have a feeling that even with a 20" you're still going to need muffs. I have shot my sks with a 20" barrel (it is 20" isn't it?) and it still leaves a nice ring in my ears, but it was bareable at the time.
Since then I always wear ear protection, especially when shopting indoors.
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Only if you want to keep your hearing. Wear plugs, always, hell 22LR will make you go deaf after enough rounds.
I remember not particularly enjoying the loudness of my 20" AR, though I could bear it in open environments... so it appears my propensity for shorter barrels will inevitably lead me to purchase a rimfire upper.
Thank you for the information, fellas.
Thank you for the information, fellas.
10" 5.56 bangsticks are just obnoxiously loud! One of the things I love about 'em and what makes 'em so much fun! Even with muffs, they're pretty loud. In an enclosed space, with no ear protection you're looking at permanent deafness!
My 14.5" M4s aren't nearly as loud, but you still want ear proctection, even when shooting at an outside range if you're standing in a stall. Echos are loud!
Not a big difference between the 14.5 & 16, but there is a definite difference between a 10/10.5/11.5 & a 16.
Major difference between a 20" and the shorties in terms of decible level! Even the 20" can be loud, especially when shooting from an enclosed stall. Couple of years back was using an outdoor range that had a covered roof on the firing line and plywood dividers to create stalls. Accidentally forgot to put my muffs back into place and fired one round. Between the noise of the round going off and the amplification of it by the stall's sides, I was immediately hit was nausea and had a sharp ringing in my ears. Made me stomach sick and had the ringing for two days. Obviously some hearing damage was done, but I definitely learned my lesson! Plugs and muffs since then!
One of the things I love about 'em and what makes 'em so much fun! Even with muffs, they're pretty loud. In an enclosed space, with no ear protection you're looking at permanent deafness!My 14.5" M4s aren't nearly as loud, but you still want ear proctection, even when shooting at an outside range if you're standing in a stall. Echos are loud!
Not a big difference between the 14.5 & 16, but there is a definite difference between a 10/10.5/11.5 & a 16.
Major difference between a 20" and the shorties in terms of decible level! Even the 20" can be loud, especially when shooting from an enclosed stall. Couple of years back was using an outdoor range that had a covered roof on the firing line and plywood dividers to create stalls. Accidentally forgot to put my muffs back into place and fired one round. Between the noise of the round going off and the amplification of it by the stall's sides, I was immediately hit was nausea and had a sharp ringing in my ears. Made me stomach sick and had the ringing for two days. Obviously some hearing damage was done, but I definitely learned my lesson! Plugs and muffs since then!
this is a good question. I will have to measure it next time we do sound testing.
I will agree with all that the blast from the shorties is noticably larger than a longer barrel. Is this a "perception" issue due to the muzzle being closer to the shooter's body? Not sure. True test would be to measure the sound pressure with the various bbl lengths with all other things being equal (ie: muzzle location, ammunition lot, sound meter location).
Boltgun
I will agree with all that the blast from the shorties is noticably larger than a longer barrel. Is this a "perception" issue due to the muzzle being closer to the shooter's body? Not sure. True test would be to measure the sound pressure with the various bbl lengths with all other things being equal (ie: muzzle location, ammunition lot, sound meter location).
Boltgun
