[tom kelly]

Noise is measured in decibels, 0 to 185 dB. You can look up the chart on Google. Normal conversation is @ 60 dB, and Gunfire ranges from 140 dB for small cal. Pistol to 168 for the M-16 and up to 175dB. For a howitzer cannon, also, the length of time you are exposed to dB. Noise above 85 dB the threshold for damage to your hearing. The higher the number of dB. The shorter the exposure time. e.g., Firing a .50 cal. BMG the time limit before the hearing is damaged is @ 7 to 10 seconds. Firing a 20 round mag. of 5.56 without hearing protection should be adequate to sustain some damage to ones hearing. tom kelly