The belief that the small .22 caliber rimfire round is quiet enough to be fired without hearing protection is a dangerous misconception. While the noise from a .22 rifle or pistol is often perceived as a “pop,” this impulse sound is still far louder than the threshold for immediate and permanent hearing damage. The definitive answer is that you cannot safely shoot a .22 without proper hearing protection.
The Acoustic Reality of the .22 Caliber
Sound intensity is measured on the logarithmic decibel (dB) scale, where a small numerical increase represents a massive increase in power. The threshold for instantaneous, irreversible hearing damage from a single sound exposure is 140 dB. Standard high-velocity .22 Long Rifle (LR) ammunition typically registers between 140 and 150 dB at the muzzle, which is sufficient to cause immediate trauma.
To put this in perspective, a jet engine taking off generates about 140 dB. The sound produced by a standard .22 LR shot is comparable to or louder than these industrial-level noises. Even the quieter subsonic .22 LR ammunition, which avoids the sonic crack of the bullet, still produces a muzzle blast measuring between 120 and 135 dB. This level is loud enough to cause temporary hearing loss and contribute to long-term hearing degradation with repeated exposure.
How Instantaneous Noise Destroys Hearing
The damage caused by a gunshot is a form of acoustic trauma, which affects the delicate structures deep within the inner ear. The cochlea contains thousands of tiny sensory cells known as hair cells. When a sound impulse exceeds approximately 140 dB, the sheer pressure wave physically over-stresses and damages or destroys these microscopic hair cells.
A milder exposure can result in a Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS), which is a muffled feeling or ringing that eventually subsides as the hair cells recover from fatigue. However, the high-impulse noise of a gunshot most often causes a Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS), which is irreversible hearing loss. This permanent damage occurs because the destroyed hair cells do not regenerate in humans. A common side effect of this damage is tinnitus, a chronic ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears.
Variables That Affect .22 Sound Exposure
The actual decibel level of a .22 shot varies based on several specific factors related to the firearm and ammunition used. The type of ammunition is a major variable, with high-velocity rounds often exceeding the speed of sound and creating a secondary sonic boom. These supersonic rounds typically register between 145 and 155 dB. Conversely, subsonic rounds are intentionally loaded to stay below the speed of sound, eliminating the sonic crack and resulting in a quieter report of 120 to 135 dB.
The length of the firearm’s barrel also significantly influences the noise level. A rifle’s longer barrel allows the expanding propellant gases more time to cool and dissipate before exiting the muzzle, which helps reduce the noise. In contrast, a .22 pistol, with its much shorter barrel, releases these high-pressure gases closer to the shooter’s ear, resulting in a louder peak noise that can measure up to 157 dB. Furthermore, the environment dramatically affects sound exposure, as an indoor shooting range amplifies the muzzle blast exponentially. Hard walls and ceilings cause sound waves to reverberate, increasing the total acoustic energy and making the environment far more hazardous than an open outdoor range.
Why Protection is Always Required
Given that even the quietest .22 ammunition exceeds the threshold for hearing damage, the use of hearing protection is non-negotiable for every shot fired. Protection devices are rated by their Noise Reduction Rating (NRR), which indicates the decibel reduction they provide. Shooters should aim for a device with an NRR of 25 dB or higher to reduce the impulse noise to a safe level below 140 dB.
Protection comes in two primary forms: passive and electronic active. Passive protection, such as foam earplugs or traditional earmuffs, provides a physical barrier that reduces all sounds indiscriminately. Electronic active protection uses microphones to amplify safe, low-level sounds like voices and range commands, while instantly suppressing any harmful impulse noise. For maximum protection, it is often recommended to “double up” by wearing foam earplugs beneath earmuffs.