I am contemplating buying a 38 special with a 2 or 3” barrel.

Are they brutally loud? I had a 380 and one shot without hearing protection would do hearing damage.

I just want to be able to shoot it once or twice out trapping or hiking without my ears ringing for days.

It will be with a barrel that short

loud and kick like a mule.
Sold mine and got a 9mm.

Yes, it will be an ear-ringer.

Im guessing you are talking revolver also? Which means it will be loud.


Mac

Put a pair of these in your pocket, whichever gun you choose.

https://proears.com/product/audiomorphic-ear-plug/

Yes a revolver. I have a Glock 9mm. Sounds like I should stick with that.

all centerfire handguns are going to be loud , shorter the barrel worse it is.

some are more blasty than others , 40 S&W , anything magnum , 357sig , are more concussive those run at a higher pressure

if you didn't like 380 , 38 is going to right close to the same.

now if you get a trapper carbine with 16 inch barrel and run light 38spl loads , the longer barrel will help some.
take it a step further and put a suppressor on it and you can get to hearing safe

All firearms that are discharged will be loud enough to cause hearing issues. Use hearing even with .22 rimfire.
Snubnose or short barrel will be loud. I have one and shoot 110's and 125's out of. Loud yes, fun, most definitely.
I even use hearing protection when in a deer stand.

Sarge

I recommend never testing firing your pocket 9mm from the drivers seat of the truck without hearing protection.
that is a lot of concussion in a little cab
I tried it 1 time , yes the window was down.

I recommend you use the power and weight of the truck to evade if possible

that said in the moment of adrenaline you might not notice so much , you do what needs doing to stay alive, but yeah you are going to hurt your hearing

now the 5 inch barrel 8 inch suppressor SBR running sub sonic 9mm is not too bad.

If you get one, I would recommend getting it in . 357 Mag. You can shoot . 38 Specials out of it or use the 357 for more thump.

Agreed

My memories is rusty, 5.5 grains of unique with a 148 gr wad cutter

That was a smith 37, 2 inch barrel

Double charged one once, dang that was a handful

Yup, 38 for practice and 357 for when it gets real. You won't notice the noise if it's really for real.

Even a .22 lr in a pistol can ring your ears. I suggest something like my ruger mark 2 with suppresor but its not compact.

It will be loud. you can get a little longer barrel and shoot some low power loads like wad cutters.

I shoot 38/357 a lot and yes it’s going to ring your ears no matter what all that said some loads are louder then other at least to my perception anyways but even the quietist is going to likely damage your hearing somewhat, even some of the so called suppressor ready ammo will even when running a can definitely if your not running one, it’s just not as bad

Huh, I didn’t hear what you said. If I could go back, I would use hearing protection with air rifles.

The only pistol I shoot without ear protection is a FN semi 22lr with a suppressor. This is my trap line pistol

Beat me to it, lol.
And they were loud!

It is louder when you are at the other side of it, but then you would have other things to worry about

Those look cool. I might buy.