Noise level concerning .32, .36, .40 cal

[rabjr]

All things considered equal except calibers, which one would shoot the quietest?

I'm probably searching for something unattainable here but, with all three calibers in say a 38" barrel and using a 10-15 grain load with the appropriate roundball, I'm assuming the .40 would not be as loud as the smaller calibers due to it's heavier weight, or am I mistaken on that?

 

[bwhoffman]

I would go with the largest bore, all other things being equal. it will give a larger volume for the gases to build into.
I was shooting 30 grains 3f all weekend, in my 32" .40 and my pards son was shooting 30 gr 3f in his .50 with patches I supplied (we are shooting the same patch) to .50 sounded like nothing! the guy next to us on the trail was shooting 25gr 3f in his 32 and hit had a noticable loader report than my .40

 

[rabjr]

Thats what I thought. You ever try a lower charge in your .40 and notice the sound of it?

Was kinda hoping to come up with something I can shoot a little more often and thin the squirrel population out without getting the neighbors annoyed.

 

[BrownBear]

Noise level varies at the low end, depending on whether your charge is pushing the ball fast enough to break the sound barrier. I bet it's not with that 30 grain charge in a 50, but put it in a 32 and you'll get a definite CRACK. Keep dropping the charge till you go below the sound barrier and there will be a sudden and dramatic drop in noise in any caliber.

At the high end, things are going to get extra noisy any time you stuff so much powder down the bore that it's not burned completely by the time the bullet exits. Not as noticeable drop in noise when you start reducing at that end, but there is a difference there, too.

I'm too deef to notice noise changes in between the two extremes.

 

[bwhoffman]

Swampy, I often shoot our tie breaker target on trail walks with my pistol measure, its set at about 17gr. quiet, and deadly accurate at 20 yds.
pretty much if you get powder upto the flash channel, she's gunna go "phtt" and leave a nice little round hole where you wasa thinkin itd go!

God I love my .40!

 

[Tinker2]

If I want quietest, I put oatmeal (uncooked) over the top of
my powder. Small amount of powder and four or more
times ( volume ) of the oatmeal.


Tinker2

 

[rabjr]

Thats what I was hopin to hear Brett, thanks!

 

[nchawkeye]

Ya'll remember what Turner Kirkland said about hearing a muzzleloader, said when it starts to crack, you have passed the speed of sound...When you keep adding powder, the added noise of the boom, drowns out the crack....So like stated, keep the velocity below the speed of sound and you keep the noise down....Kind makes you wonder what a .32 would sound like with about 10 grs of fff...

 

[Roy]

out of a 44" barrel on a wet day it sounds like an air gun :haha:

 

[rabjr]

Yeah but it's to heavy! A .40 will be lighter. :haha:

 

[Roy]

you aint kiddin :surrender:

 

[Russianblood]

I have noticed that flintlocks in general are quieter than caplocks. Just popping a cap on an empty barrel is louder than shooting my Brown Bess with a 90gr charge.

 

[Zonie]

GET THE BOOTS!
The only way a Brown Bess shooting 90 grains of powder could be quieter is if you forgot to put priming in the pan or a flint in the cock. :rotf:
zonie

 

[Urban Coyote]

.32 Caliber Noise Level

The question was asked, maybe this helps.

 

[wiscoaster]

....

Was kinda hoping to come up with something I can shoot a little more often and thin the squirrel population out without getting the neighbors annoyed.

Hah!! Wish I could do the same to the rabbits around here. It's incredible how much damage they've done to my landscaping this winter. Never seen anything like it. Unfortunately, it's against municipal code to discharge a firearm here, so I could be arrested. Have to just live with the damn rabbits.