Thread: How loud is a 9mm

Originally Posted by Toby

Shotgun with a insert that goes in the barrel to take 9mm. might get a .357 one at some stage too. should be good for a laugh.

In an urban environment, yeah thatll be reasonably loud.

If it's loud enough to leave your ears ringing when shooting without hearing protection, consider it loud If you look on YouTube you'll find tons of 9mm shooting, yup it makes a sharp noise.

9mm in a rifle is louder than a .22 but what did you expect.

Google said average speed is 1100-1300 so I expected it to be around the same noise level as a .22lr. Glad I asked cause this isn't the case

Originally Posted by Toby

Google said average speed is 1100-1300 so I expected it to be around the same noise level as a .22lr. Glad I asked cause this isn't the case

Yeah theres more powder needed to get a 115-124gr pill moving at that speed, so more gas breaking the sound barrier so more booooom. At least thats how I think it works.

Usual unsuppressed peak sound pressure levels, measured 1m left of the muzzle;

9x19 mm pistols, c. 160-163 dB

9x19 mm SMG/carbines, c. 155-158 dB

.22 LR pistols, c. 155-158 dB

.22 LR rifles, c. 139-143 dB

Regards!

Tuukka Jokinen
Ase Utra sound suppressors

9mm is a fun little round to reload. I found a cast .358 150gn LRN sized down to .356, with a subsonic load of about 4.2gns of Unique was uber accurate and still grunty enough to cycle the action. Factory stuff is way louder.

Reloading may be worth while. If I can get subs working it'll be hella fun smoking sparrows out the window

Careful with the firing zone , you never know who is peeking in your window.
I've made some shot shells with .357 "they're fun till you put your eye out" hehe lucky I was wearing eye protection as they bounce back off wood rather than embed.

FYI @Toby lives in Wairoa. What happens there is a bit different to the rest of the world

Originally Posted by Toby

Would the pistols be louder due to a short barrel?

YES. the longer the barrel means lower gas pressure (expansion), the cooler the gases and more done by the work done by the gases. All this adds up to less pressure at the muzzle when the bullet exits thus less noise.

Toby, how long is the insert and is it rifled?

Just a thought, even if the insert is rifled there is still gonna be some play in the chamber so you may battle to get a zero unless you secure the insert to the chamber somehow.