You're out behind the property with a Ruger 10/22 and a brick of ammunition. Your nephew is working through his first magazine. Nobody in the group put anything in their ears, and the rifle barely makes your shoulder move. On the drive home your ears are ringing.
A .22 LR rifle produces about 141 decibels at the shooter's ear, which is loud enough to damage hearing. NIOSH recorded that figure while testing a bolt-action .22 with high-velocity ammunition, and OSHA sets the impulse noise limit at 140 decibels peak. The smallest round on the range lands one decibel over the line.
| Where you're shooting | What to wear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Backyard plinking, .22 rifle, on your own | Foam earplugs | 141 dB drops to a safe level with basic protection, and a pair costs about two dollars |
| Range day or teaching a new shooter | Electronic earplugs or earmuffs | You can hear range commands and coach a beginner without taking protection out |
| Indoor range | Foam earplugs under earmuffs | Walls and ceilings reflect sound back at you, and you're exposed to everyone else's centerfire rifles |
| Suppressed .22 with subsonic ammunition | Foam or electronic earplugs anyway | Suppressed levels can reach about 120 dB, which is under the threshold, though one supersonic round puts you back over the threshold |
How Loud Is a 22LR Rifle Compared to a 22LR Pistol?
A .22 LR rifle measures about 141 decibels at the shooter's ear, and a .22 LR pistol measures about 152 decibels. The same high-velocity cartridge runs 11 decibels louder out of a pistol. NIOSH took both readings with the microphone at the shooter's left ear, 0.35 meters off the centerline.
| Firearm and ammunition | Peak sound level at the shooter's ear |
|---|---|
| .22 LR bolt-action rifle, high-velocity | 141 dB |
| .22 LR bolt-action rifle, low-velocity | 140 dB |
| .22 LR pistol, high-velocity | 152 dB |
| .22 LR pistol, low-velocity | 140 dB |
A Shorter Barrel Makes a .22 Pistol Louder Than a .22 Rifle
Barrel length explains the 11 decibel difference. A rifle barrel gives the gun powder room to finish burning inside the barrel. A pistol barrel sends much of that powder out the muzzle still burning, next to your head. If you shoot a Ruger Mark IV or a Ruger Charger, the rifle number doesn't apply to you.
On low-velocity ammunition, the difference isn't as obvious. The rifle and the pistol both read at 140 dB.
Rifle and Pistol Readings Both Change With Different Test Conditions
Meter type, distance, ammunition brand, and where the microphone sat all changes the result for either platform. So treat the 140 dB as the floor instead of the average impulse noise volume.
Published measurements for .22 WMR are scarce. A .22 Magnum burns more powder than a .22 LR, so plan on a higher number.
Neither the rifle nor the pistol reads below 140 decibels in any configuration NIOSH measured. That 140 decibel figure carries a specific regulatory meaning.
How Many Decibels Cause Permanent Hearing Damage?
Permanent hearing damage from gunfire starts at 140 decibels peak. OSHA's noise standard states that exposure to impulsive or impact noise should not exceed 140 dB peak, and OSHA treats an unprotected exposure above that level as a serious hazard.
Impulse Noise and Continuous Noise Use Different Damage Thresholds
The 85 decibel figure also covers the continuous noise one can experience across an eight-hour workday. Gunfire is impulse noise, because a gunshot lasts a few milliseconds. The 140 dB peak limit applies at the range. Our guide to what dB level requires ear protection talks about how both thresholds are measured.
Every 10 Decibels Represents Ten Times the Sound Energy
Decibels run on a logarithmic scale, so small-looking gaps carry large amounts of energy. A .223 at 155.5 dB carries roughly 28 times the sound energy of a .22 rifle at 141 dB. That explains why a .22 feels mild next to a centerfire rifle and still sits above the threshold. The same scale puts a .22 pistol at more than ten times the energy of a .22 rifle.
One Exposure Over 140 Decibels Can Destroy Ear Hair Cells for Good
Impulse damage works differently from gradual wear. A single loud enough exposure can destroy hair cells in your inner ear, and NIDCD notes that human hair cells don't grow back.
No surgery or hearing aid can replace them.
Permanent damage from a .22 rarely arrives in one shot, though. That type of damage can build up when you think a single round feels harmless enough to skip earplugs.
Why "It's Just a 22" Costs Shooters Their Hearing
The "it's just a .22" belief can cost a lot of shooters their hearing. A .22 measures above the sound damage threshold while still feeling like the mildest firearm on the property.
A .22 Can Feel Harmless Because the Recoil and Blast Are Mild
A .22 puts no concussive pressure wave against your chest, and the recoil is mild enough that you never build a flinch. From feeling alone, it doesn't seem like you've crossed 140 decibels until it's too late and you've caused damage to your ears.
Ringing Ears After a Session Means Damage Already Happened
You wouldn't realize the damage to your ears until you notice a dulled, muffled feeling and ringing after your session. NIDCD describes that temporary hearing loss as something that usually clears within 16 to 48 hours, and notes that long-term damage can remain after the symptom fades. That quick recovery can lead most people to think that shooting a .22 isn't doing damage to their hearing, but you'll probably start with a lower hearing baseline in your next session.
Plinking Sessions Run 300 Rounds Instead of 40
A centerfire range session might run 40 rounds, while a .22 plinking session runs 300 or 400, because the ammunition is cheaper and the rifle feels great to shoot. But that safe feeling can deliver the most unprotected exposures to your ears. Our post on the risks of shooting without hearing protection talks about what that exposure accumulation can do over the years.
A Right-Handed Rifle Shooter Loses More Hearing in the Left Ear
That same noise exposure can affect your ears unevenly. A right-handed rifle shooter loses more hearing in the left ear, because your left ear faces the muzzle while your own head shadows your right ear. Our post on shooter's ears talk about how that asymmetry can show up on an audiogram.
It's common to skip protection on a .22, but it's also a careless choice. ASHA reports that 70 to 80 percent of hunters never wear hearing protection.
One setup does bring a .22 under the noise threshold.
Does a Suppressor Make a .22 Hearing Safe?
A .22 gun can be better for your ears only with subsonic ammunition. NIOSH recorded a suppressed .22 rifle at 120 to 122 dB and a suppressed .22 pistol at 118 to 128 dB, which puts every one of those configurations under 140 decibels.
Subsonic Ammunition Removes a Crack the Suppressor Can't
Your suppressor design, your barrel length, and your ammunition velocity decide whether your own setup gets under 140 decibels.
The difference comes down to velocity. Standard-velocity .22 LR travels above the speed of sound, roughly 1,125 feet per second, so the bullet produces a sonic crack in flight. No suppressor removes the sonic crack, because the crack happens out past the muzzle.
Subsonic .22 LR loads stay under the speed of sound. Target Barn's decibel testing recorded suppressed subsonic loads at 109 to 115 dBZ from a rifle and a pistol, measured one meter from the shooter. Many subsonic loads lack the power to cycle a semi-automatic, so expect to work the bolt or the slide by hand.
Researchers Haven't Confirmed That Suppressors Are Hearing Safe
Even at 118 dB, one supersonic round can put you back over the noise threshold, especially if you're shooting in the box or your suppressor needs service. Hearing researchers couldn't confirm the marketing claims of suppressors.
Tip: Wear earplugs with your suppressed .22 anyway. Foam earplugs cost about two dollars and remove the guesswork about your own setup.
If you follow suppressor legislation, our post on the Hearing Protection Act explains where the law stands. For an unsuppressed .22, there are better and cheaper ways to get hearing protection.
Choosing Hearing Protection for 22LR Plinking and Range Days
Because a .22 sits within a few decibels of the threshold, you don't need the highest-rated protection on the market. What separates a backyard plinking session from a range day is whether you need to hear anything while you're protected.
Foam Earplugs Cover a Backyard Plinking Session
Plinking alone puts no demand on your hearing between shots, so basic protection does the whole job. AXIL's foam ear plugs are rated at 31 dB SNR, the Single Number Rating you'll see alongside the US Noise Reduction Rating. A pair costs about two dollars in bulk.
Best for: Solo plinking, and guests who forgot their own hearing protection.Tip: A foam earplug only reaches its rating if you roll it down thin, pull your ear up and back, insert it deep, and hold it for about 20 seconds while the foam expands. Skip the holding step and you're wearing a fraction of the number on the package.
A Range Day Calls for Protection You Can Hear Through
A range day changes your hearing protection requirement, because you need to catch a cease-fire call and talk to the person next to you.
The X30i Earplugs use a mechanical toggle to move between full protection at 19 dB and a hear-through mode at 16 dB with foam tips. The X30i needs no battery or charging, and the toggle flips with gloves on.
Best for: Range days where you want to hear a range officer without taking an earplug out.The GS Extreme 3.0 earbuds are rated at 21 dB NRR with foam tips. The circuit compresses incoming sound at 85 dB and amplifies safe sounds up to five times. Runtime is 40 hours in hearing enhancement mode.
Best for: Teaching a new shooter, or hunting small game where you want to hear movement in the brush.Indoor ranges call for a step up regardless of caliber. If your .22 session is indoors, consider wearing foam earplugs under your earmuffs.
You can compare ear plugs and electronic earbuds by rating and runtime, and guide to understanding NRR explains both ratings. If your nephew is the one shooting, our shooting range tips for beginners cover the rest of their first session.
Is a 22 Quieter Than a 9mm? A Caliber Decibel Comparison
Yes, a .22 is quieter than a 9mm, by about 19 decibels from a rifle. A .22 LR rifle measures around 141 dB and a 9mm pistol around 159.8 dB, which puts the 9mm at roughly 80 times the sound energy.
| Firearm | Peak sound level |
|---|---|
| .22 LR rifle, high-velocity | 141 dB |
| .22 LR pistol, high-velocity | 152 dB |
| 12 gauge shotgun, 28-inch barrel | 151.5 dB |
| .223 rifle, 18.5-inch barrel | 155.5 dB |
| .308 rifle, 24-inch barrel | 156.2 dB |
| .38 Special | 156.3 dB |
| 9mm pistol | 159.8 dB |
The .22 LR figures come from NIOSH testing at the shooter's ear, and the centerfire figures come from E.A.R. Inc's gunfire noise reference chart, which uses different measurement conditions, so read the comparison as approximate.
Every Caliber on the Firing Line Exceeds 140 Decibels
A .22 LR is the mildest round on the chart and still clears 140 dB, and a .22 pistol lands within a decibel of a 28-inch 12 gauge. Caliber changes how far past 140 you go, so a .22 and a 9mm both call for earplugs. Our full breakdown of how loud a gunshot is across calibers has the extended chart.
Common Questions About 22LR Decibels and Ear Protection
How many decibels is a 22 LR?
A .22 LR rifle measures about 141 dB peak at the shooter's ear and a .22 LR pistol about 152 dB, per NIOSH testing. Figures vary with ammunition, barrel length, and meter placement, so treat 140 dB as the floor.
Do you need ear protection for a .22?
Yes. A .22 LR produces peak levels at or above OSHA's 140 dB impulse limit, which is where a single unprotected exposure can cause permanent damage.
Is a .22 louder than a 9mm?
No. A 9mm pistol measures around 159.8 dB and a .22 LR rifle around 141 dB. Both sit above the 140 dB damage threshold, so both call for hearing protection.
Is a suppressed .22 hearing safe?
Sometimes. A suppressed .22 firing subsonic ammunition has measured 118 to 122 dB at the shooter's ear in NIOSH testing, below 140 dB. Supersonic ammunition adds a sonic crack the suppressor can't remove, so hearing researchers still recommend earplugs.
How far away can you hear a .22?
Far enough that neighbors well past your property line will hear the shot. Open ground and calm air carry the sound further, while trees, wind, and buildings cut the sound down. There's no single distance. If neighbor noise is your concern, subsonic ammunition and a suppressor lower the report most.
What happens if you shoot a .22 without ear protection once?
Most likely your hearing goes dull and your ears ring for a few hours to a couple of days, and our guide to ringing in your ears covers that symptom in detail. One session won't deafen you, and there's no repair mechanism, so each session adds to the one before it.
Do kids need ear protection for a .22?
Yes, and more than adults do. A child shooting a .22 has a full lifetime of hearing ahead and no way to recover what a session takes. Compliance among young shooters runs low, with 62 percent of youth reporting they never wear hearing protection while hunting, so the adult on the line supplies the earplugs.
How to Set Up Hearing Protection for Your .22 Sessions
The .22 is where most people learn to shoot, and .22 sessions run longer than any other. That combination puts the highest round counts in front of the shooters with the most hearing left to lose, which means you need a setup you'll stick with.
Keep a Bulk Bag of Foam Earplugs in Your Range Bag
Buy foam earplugs in bulk and leave the bag in your range bag permanently, so there's a pair for you and a pair for whoever forgot theirs. If you're teaching someone, add electronic protection, which pays for itself the first time you coach a beginner without taking anything out of your ears.
Tip: Restock the bag at the start of every season instead of when you run out.
Put Your Earplugs In Before the First Round
Earplugs go in before the first round and stay in until the last case is picked up. Protection you'll keep in for a full two-hour session does more for your hearing than a higher-rated pair you take out every time someone talks to you.
You can shoot .22 for the next forty years and hear every word at the dinner table afterward. Browse AXIL's shooting hearing protection to find the pair that fits how you shoot.
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