Where does sound of a firing a gun come from?

[Running Arrow Bill]

Am curious. If one fires a gun inside of a vehicle or building, BUT the muzzle is outside of the structure, is the sound about the same as if you fired it in the open, outside? Thus, the sound comes from the muzzle, not the rest of the gun??

The practical point is that if someone shoots a predator inside their home, I imagine that one would be DEAF for a while due to the percussion effects.

Anyone have any real information on the above?

Thanks,
Bill

[puma guy]

Am curious. If one fires a gun inside of a vehicle or building, BUT the muzzle is outside of the structure, is the sound about the same as if you fired it in the open, outside? Thus, the sound comes from the muzzle, not the rest of the gun??

The practical point is that if someone shoots a predator inside their home, I imagine that one would be DEAF for a while due to the percussion effects.

Anyone have any real information on the above?

Thanks,
Bill

I can only tell you that I know for a fact shooting from my blind with the muzzle outside the structure is far, far less loud on my ears than if the muzzle is inside. Inside a building the sound bounces back.

[Gunner4640]

Am curious. If one fires a gun inside of a vehicle or building, BUT the muzzle is outside of the structure, is the sound about the same as if you fired it in the open, outside? Thus, the sound comes from the muzzle, not the rest of the gun??

The practical point is that if someone shoots a predator inside their home, I imagine that one would be DEAF for a while due to the percussion effects.

Anyone have any real information on the above?

Thanks,
Bill

As long as the muzzle is out of a confined area the sound would be the same, except for echos etc if you're around buildings etc. Yep the sound comes from the muzzle end only. I've never fired indoors without being hearing protected. But have fired outside without hearing protection. Also in the heat of the moment I doubt you would even hear the shot indoors with (adrenalin - sp?) flowing cuz you would be focused on the BG. just my opinion.

[Panda]

Rapidly expanding gasses cause the noise.

[The Annoyed Man]

Rapidly expanding gasses cause the noise.

Nope. It's from the little "tick" of the firing pin against the primer.

[puma guy]

Rapidly expanding gasses cause the noise.

If the projectile velocity is above 1126 fps there is also the sonic boom.

[android]

On a rifle with the bolt close, the brass expands slightly and basically seals the breach momentarily, so most of the sound pressure is out of the muzzle.

Revolvers have the cylinder gap, so you will get sound from there and the muzzle. That's why it's stupid when you see suppressors on revolvers in the movies.

[esxmarkc]

Man I can tell you from experience that if you are 16 years old and driving down a dirt road and stop, lean over, roll down the passenger window, get your borther's .44 mag out of his glove box and sit back up in the driver's seat, aim said .44 hogleg at said armadillo for 5 minutes and set that canon off at said armadillo with the muzzle well inside the truck cab you will miss said armadillo by 10 feet and you will walk around for a week going:

Is that the phone? I think the phone is ringing. Someone get the phone. Someone at the door? Izzat the doorbell again? I hear the ice cream truck!

[DoubleJ]

I'd say from Shooting IDPA matches that it's still pretty loud, no matter what side you shoot outta!

[03Lightningrocks]

I can only tell you that I know for a fact shooting from my blind with the muzzle outside the structure is far, far less loud on my ears than if the muzzle is inside. Inside a building the sound bounces back.

Hahaha... I made the mistake of having the muzzle inside my blind ONCE, and only once. Never again!! It was so loud, I thought I had shot myself...LOL.

[TexasGal]

This thread reminds me of the argument for not using a 357 for home defense. Shooting it indoors in the dark leaves you deaf and blind. Of course it's ok if you ascribe to the one shot does it theory.

[Dave2]

Mostly from gas expanding out the muzzle end and the sonic boom of the bullet. If you're shooting a semi or full auto, there's a bit of sound from the action cycling, but I've read that it's not too loud.

[LTUME1978]

Amen to the sonic boom. I got a chance to go with a friend to Bayou Rifle and shoot at 1000 yards. One person sits in the pit and marks the target after each shot while the other shoots. It is amazing how loud the bullet is when it passes by even at 1000 yards, had to have my ear plugs in even in the pit.

[alvins]

which is why i enjoy my supressors.

[talltex]

Man I can tell you from experience that if you are 16 years old and driving down a dirt road and stop, lean over, roll down the passenger window, get your borther's .44 mag out of his glove box and sit back up in the driver's seat, aim said .44 hogleg at said armadillo for 5 minutes and set that canon off at said armadillo with the muzzle well inside the truck cab you will miss said armadillo by 10 feet and you will walk around for a week going:

Is that the phone? I think the phone is ringing. Someone get the phone. Someone at the door? Izzat the doorbell again? I hear the ice cream truck!

As teenaged boys, we used to go out at night and shoot jackrabbits while driving around the dirt roads ( yes, it was illegal to road hunt even way back then...just another example of my misspent youth)...no problem with .22 rifles...decided to pop one with .357 mag revolver one time--got muzzle and cylinder gap blast...that was the ONLY time!