Thread: Short barrels and decebels

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Of course, but a can does not automatically make it hearing safe either, in fact it probably wont unless you run subs exclusively.

Anyway, is there a point where db increases dramaticly? like velocity loss, bugger all for the first couple of inches and more for each inch after that?

Or put more simply,how short could I go on a 308 without "Having" to use a can just to be able to use it.

1. You will always need earmuffs without a suppressor to not cause hearing damage with a 308.
2. Couldn't give you a length but i'd guess that with really good earmuffs you could go pretty bloody short.

I consider my 308 hearing safe with it's suppressor - but it does depend on the environment. For example I fired one shot at the range without earmuffs once (after shooting it in the field and seeing it was fine) - and holy fuck it was bad. Because you're surrounded by hard surfaces and the sound just crashes straight back into you after bouncing off everything. In thick bush it may be nearly the same if you're surrounded by a lot of trees.

Shooting it out on an open field I don't consider it to be causing any damage at all from everything I read, and I was quite paranoid about it. I probably should get a meter and measure it at some point to be sure.

I guess my logic is if i'm shooting it a lot (targets or rabbits) I wear my earmuffs. If i'm hunting and "might" fire 1 shot at a deer, then I don't. But if I didn't have a suppressor I would.

Edit - and you can get over-barrel suppressors that only go 8 or 10cm forward of the muzzle. So you can chop 3-4 inches, put one of them on and the rifle will be the same length but FAR quieter. So there really is no reason not to use a suppressor on something like a 308.