There’s no denying that guns are loud. Even miles away, the bang and sonic boom of a pistol or revolver are distinctly audible. Gunshots are distinguished by their distinctive sound because of the chemical reactions that occur as the bullet leaves the gun’s chamber. These reactions produce different sounds at different moments of bullet discharge.
The bang of a revolver
A gunshot, is a loud, distinctive sound. It is similar to that of a shotgun. The bang of a gun is caused by the decompression of high pressure in the gun barrel. This high pressure is caused by the bullet passing through the barrel. As the bullet travels through the barrel, the gun’s cartridge spins, creating a ‘bang’ sound.
Depending on the caliber of the firearm, revolvers can produce a loud bang. They are often the loudest type of handgun. However, some handguns produce a lower decibel level.
The sonic boom left by a suppressed gun
When a bullet is fired from a suppressed gun, the sonic boom is a common sound that a suppressor aims to reduce. This noise is similar to that of jets and space shuttles, but on a much smaller scale. In the case of a rocket, the boom would rattle windows and knock spoons off walls. But the sonic boom produced by a bullet traveling at supersonic speeds is much louder, as it contains baby sonic boomlets that generate even more noise.
The most advanced suppressors are capable of eliminating propellant gas noise, but the bullet’s sonic boom and cycling of the action still generate a significant amount of noise. This is why rifles with bolt-actions are best for quiet hunting. In addition, single-shot rifles can help shooters manage noise, especially if they shoot subsonic bullets.
The sonic boom left by a cracking whip
Cracking whips produce a loud noise. The cracking of a whip creates a mini-shockwave, which breaks the sound barrier and produces a sonic boom. Cracking whips have a cracker, which can be made of horsehair, twine, string, nylon, polypropylene, silk, polyester, or any other material.
A sonic boom occurs when an object traveling through air reaches a high speed. The shock waves caused by the resulting explosion are louder when an object is bigger and heavier. The higher the speed of the object, the larger the sonic boom is, and the stronger the shock wave. It can cause tremors and break glass.
The blow back function of a gas gun
The blow back function of a gas gun causes the gun to be extremely loud. This is because the piston has to expand when it hits the gearbox, which creates an incredibly loud noise. Regular maintenance of gas guns can help reduce their noise level. This can be done by cleaning parts and applying grease to the gas seals and moving parts.
Gas guns produce noise because the cartridge case is forced to move under the pressure of the powder. Some guns also have loose bolts, which causes some blowback. The amount of blowback a gun experiences depends on the design of its blowback mechanism and how well it controls the bolt movement.
The Seneca Gun
The Seneca Gun is a mysterious and loud boom that rattles coastal communities. It occurs without warning and leaves no trace as to where it came from. The next one will probably send frantic calls to emergency management agencies and rekindle front porch debates about what causes these aberrations. Theories range from offshore storms to meteoric explosions.
It can be heard at any time of year, but it is often more loud in the fall and winter, during temperature inversions. These temperature changes create a sound channel and reverberate against the dense air near the ground. It is unknown how the gun is produced, but scientists have speculated that it is a result of weather patterns and ocean currents.
The Coconut Effect
The Coconut Effect is an interesting theory that explains why guns are loud. A long time ago, it was common practice to bang two coconut halves together to make the sound of horse hooves. The effect worked so well that it became part of the public consciousness, even when better sounds were available.
