Shooting ranges
Noise in shooting ranges
Typical noise levels from firearms
Noise control measures
Noise in shooting ranges
Shooting ranges come in many shapes and sizes and can exist both outdoor and indoors. Whatever the range, a number of different types of firearms can be used on them.
The nature of firing a firearm is such that it produces very high peak sound pressure levels even with small calibers. These peak levels cause impulsive sound to reach the inner ear and because of the characteristics of impulsive type sounds, i.e. very high sound levels occur in a matter of microseconds, our ears are more prone to hearing damage than with sounds emitted from operating machines.
The human ear has a protective mechanism, called the aural reflex, which activates in about 25 milliseconds when sudden loud sounds reach the ear. This reflex is said to be capable of reducing the sound volume by up to 8dB.
In the case of firearm shots research has shown that under open field conditions, a typical rifle shot at four metres lasts up to four milliseconds. It follows therefore that the aural reflex is unable to afford a degree of protection against hearing damage caused from firearm noise.
The second part of the problem lies in the fact that because of the extreme high noise levels involved, even when hearing protectors are worn correctly, the amount of protection afforded may not be sufficiently adequate to protect the wearer against hearing damage. This is particularly true when shooting larger caliber weapons.
In addition, lead and lead contaminants may be present in the breathing zone of the shooter following the firing of a weapon. Lead contamination is absorbed into a person’s body through inhalation or ingestion and enters the blood stream. Lead is toxic to the body and because it is ototoxic (or toxic to the ear) it has a synergistic effect (i.e. the total effect is greater than the sum of the two) on hearing loss.
Typical noise levels from firearms
Some typical noise sources from firearms include:
Outdoor range
| pistol cal. 22 @ 10 m to the side | 127 - 129dB peak(C) |
| rifle cal 7.62 mm @ 2 m to the side | 154 – 158dB peak(C) |
| rifle cal 5.56 mm @ ear level | 156 - 157dB peak(C) |
| revolver cal .38 @ ear level | 149 – 153dB peak(C) |
Indoor range
| pistol cal .38 @ approx. 1.5 m behind | 145 – 147dB peak(C) |
| pistol 9 mm @ approx. 1.5 m behind | 147 - 149dB peak(C) |
| 12 gauge pump action shotgun | 150 – 151dB peak(C) |
Noise control measures
There are no legal engineering noise control measures that can be taken. Wearing appropriate personal hearing protectors is of the utmost importance.
Choose personal hearing protectors appropriate for:
- the noise levels produced
- type of weapon being fired
In the case of larger or more powerful calibers there would be a need for wearing earplugs in combination with a top of the range earmuff. This is particularly important in circumstances where a large number of rounds are to be fired.
Last updated July 27, 2005