Sound / Hearing Risk Estimator

Estimate likely peak impulse-noise ranges and view conservative hearing-risk guidance.

Approximate estimates only. Do not use this tool for safety-critical decisions and do not treat any output as hearing-safe.

Calculator

Caliber family
Barrel length bucket
Environment
Muzzle setup (broad category)
Common load (secondary effect)

Estimated peak impulse noise

160-167 dB

Estimates only. Do not rely on this output for safety decisions.

Load profile: 62gr (M855)

This estimate sits in impulse-noise levels that are commonly cited as potentially harmful. Use proper hearing protection and avoid treating any setup as safe by default.

Use proper hearing protection and review muzzle blast tradeoffs before making setup decisions.

Methodology and lookup table

Table shows estimated peak impulse ranges by barrel bucket for the selected caliber, environment, muzzle setup category, and load profile. Load is treated as a secondary modifier versus environment and muzzle setup.

Model inputs and effects: barrel bucket applies a primary length adjustment, environment applies an indoor/outdoor adjustment, muzzle setup applies the largest category adjustment (including suppressed), and load applies a smaller caliber-specific modifier.

These are broad range estimates, not instrumented measurements for a specific firearm or ammo lot.

Barrel bucketEstimated peak range
10.5 in and under165-172 dB
11.5 to 12.5 in163-170 dB
13.7 to 14.5 in162-169 dB
16 in160-167 dB
18 in and over159-166 dB

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