How loud is a rifle with a suppressor (silencer)?
With suppressors fitted and supersonic ammunition, two rifles produced peaks of 120 to 137 dB across the shooter's ears and an instructor position, compared with 148 to 161 dB unsuppressed. Suppressors cut peak levels at the ear by 17 to 24 dB, and with subsonic ammunition suppressed peaks were 100 to 132 dB.
- Level
- 120–137 dB peakunweighted peak sound pressure level
- Daily limit
- Impulse below 140 dB peakimpulse noise
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Peak levels across microphone positions (shooter's left and right ear, instructor 1 m behind) for .223 and .308 rifles with suppressors and supersonic ammunition (120 to 137 dB); subsonic suppressed 100 to 132 dB.
A suppressor slows and cools the expanding propellant gas, but it cannot remove the crack of a supersonic bullet or the noise of the action. Across a study of nine AR-15 rifles and 14 suppressors, suppression ranged from 7 to 32 dB, and under most rifle and ammunition conditions levels near the user's right ear stayed above 140 dB peak; the authors link the left/right difference to the AR-15's direct impingement design.
Reviewers conclude that a suppressor does not always bring peaks below 120 to 140 dB, and that marketing claims to the contrary should be treated with scepticism, particularly for short barrels or supersonic ammunition.
How dangerous is a 120–137 dB peak?
Peaks of 120–137 dB stay under the 140 dB impulse limit, but repeated impulses add to the daily dose and the UK and EU action values start at a 135 dB(C) peak.
| Rule | Peak limit | This sound |
|---|---|---|
| UK and EU lower exposure action value | 135 dB(C) | Above |
| UK and EU upper exposure action value | 137 dB(C) | Above |
| UK and EU exposure limit value; NIOSH and OSHA impulse ceiling | 140 dB | Below |
Protecting your hearing
Keep wearing hearing protection with a suppressed firearm. Combining a suppressor with subsonic ammunition gives the largest reduction.
Earplug and earmuff ratings (NRR in the US, SNR in the UK and EU) are lab figures; real-world protection is usually lower. How to read the ratings.
Questions
Does a silencer make a gun quiet?
No. Suppressors reduced peaks at the ear by 17 to 24 dB, leaving supersonic rifle shots at 120 to 137 dB peak; AR-15 levels near the right ear often stayed above 140 dB.
Do I still need ear protection with a suppressor?
Yes. Researchers recommend hearing protection even when using a suppressor.
Sources
- Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: dB_low/high: 120-137 dB suppressed; 148-161 unsuppressed.
Peak SPLs for the supersonic ammunition ranged from 120 to 137 dB in the suppressed conditions compared with 148 to 161 dB for the unsuppressed conditions.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: body: subsonic 100-132 dB.
Across microphone locations, peak SPLs for the subsonic ammunition ranged from 100 to 132 dB SPL in the suppressed conditions.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: faq: protection.
The use of hearing protection is still recommended even when using a suppressor.
Checked 2026-11-03. - The reduction of gunshot noise and auditory risk through the use of firearm suppressors and low-velocity ammunition, International Journal of Audiology (2018), author manuscript via PMC. Supports: summary: 17-24 dB reduction.
The suppressors reduced exposures at the ear between 17- and 24-dB peak sound pressure level
Checked 2026-11-03. - Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military, International Journal of Audiology (2016), PubMed abstract. Supports: body: above 140 dB right ear.
under most rifle/ammunition conditions, levels remained above 140 dB peak SPL near a user's right ear
Checked 2026-11-03. - Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military, International Journal of Audiology (2016), PubMed abstract. Supports: body: 7-32 dB.
Overall suppression ranged from 7-32 dB across conditions.
Checked 2026-11-03.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.