The comments about smaller calibers and noise
got me to thinking ... which is always dangerous.
I agree the smaller high pressure calibers are sharper, more piercing, hard on the ears etc. But if you have ever fired a full-house .357 handgun in an adrenaline producing situation, from my experience, you do not hear the noise. Your ears don't ring. The sound does not affect you like it does when on the range punching holes in paper.
Now I am not saying there is no physical damage. I am saying that the immediate consequences are not the same.
Which is why when I choose a pistol to carry it is never based upon how loud it may or may not be.
When I practice with the same I shoot a lot of .38 Special mid-range loads. 
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Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.
The comments about smaller calibers and noise
by Gunner 
, St Louis, Sunday, January 07, 2024, 20:43 (118 days ago) @ JimT
Pressure and bullet speed both add to the noise....kinda the same comparison as you are making is hunting. All the years hunting, a lot with short barrel handguns and sometimes with small bullets moving very fast out of 20 inch rifle barrels, only one time have any of them rung my ears. 2003 hog hunt with you, 6 inch 41 Magnum Freedom Arms M83, 270 gr lead bullet load rang my ears bad. Majority of hunts I have no memory of muzzle blast or noise. Really the only time I wear ear protection while hunting is if I am close to someone who is about to shoot like during my annual group hog hunt.
Gunner
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https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!
Agree......nt.
by Creeker , Hardwoods, Monday, January 08, 2024, 11:54 (118 days ago) @ JimT
.