A gunshot is about 160 dB at the location where the gun is fired, although the exact level varies based on the specific type of firearm. The loudness someone perceives depends on the distance from the gun being fired and whether the gun is fired inside or outside.

A gunshot is what we acoustics professionals would call a “point source”. The sound originates from a single point, and then travels spherically in all directions. Gunshots fired outdoors (which is a “free field”) will decrease in sound energy by 6 dB every time you double the distance from the noise source. As a practical example, the sound level decreases about 40 decibels by the time it travels 20 feet (from 160 dB to 120 dB) away from the shooter.

A firearm fired indoors or under a metal roof at a gun range loses sound energy at a slower rate, because any barriers reflect the sound back towards the noise source. This reflection is why an outdoor gun range that adds a roof may go from a tolerable noise situation to one that needs sound reduction. The metal roof above and the concrete below reflect sound back at the shooter and create a reverberant field, allowing sound energy to build up without a proper sound absorption treatment. For a similar sound level article, read more about how loud is a drum set!

According to studies done by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), if you are consistently exposed to noise louder than 85 decibels, you are likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). And then ANY exposure to noise that is over 140 dB can cause permanent hearing damage. Most pistols and rifles clock in at 160 dB or higher… that’s 20 more dB than a jet engine taking off!

How to Soundproof an Indoor Shooting Range

Most indoor shooting ranges are made of hard concrete walls or they’re constructed with cinderblocks filled with concrete. While this addresses soundproofing the building to the outdoors, it actually amplifies the noise inside, even with proper ear protection. This is because the noise is essentially locked in and has nowhere to go. For a properly soundproofed indoor range, your primary focus will be installing acoustical treatment to protect those inside from that amplified noise.

The key to making the inside of a gun range more acoustically bearable is to reduce the reflective noise. To do this attach 1” furring strips with masonry screws about 2 feet apart along the concrete walls and ceiling. Between the furring strips you should adhere 1” thick EcoVerb Roll, our acoustical cotton roll liner as a backing. The 1” version of this material comes in 200 sq ft rolls 4 feet wide by 50 feet long. Once the EcoVerb Roll is adhered, use decking screws to add a propylene bead board material called BlocknZorbe. BlocknZorbe sound panels are lightweight, durable and easy to clean, in addition to being effective at reducing reverb and reflective noise. They’re very easy to screw into the furring strip or directly to the wall/ceiling. These panels are great for a vareity of projects, like a soundproof kennel for dogs or other unique spaces. The best place to add your acoustic material is near the sources of the noise, so immediately above the shooter, or on the walls of the shooting box to the left and right. The more absorption you add to reflective surfaces in your gun range, the more you’ll reduce reverb and overall noise. To summarize, here are the steps we recommend taking to soundproof your indoor shooting range:

Steps to Soundproof an Indoor Shooting Range

1. Line ceilings and walls with acoustic liner like the EcoVerb Roll
2. Add additional sound absorption to the inside of the shooting box area with BlocknZorbe sound panels

How to Soundproof an Outdoor Shooting Range

When thinking about soundproofing for an outdoor range your primary focus is often on reducing noise for neighbors. Nothing makes life difficult for a gun range like PO’d neighbors. If your range doesn’t have walls or other structures, that means the sound doesn't reflect to bother shooters (open air = no reflections back), however it can easily be heard by anyone nearby. If you’re in a mostly secluded area with only a few neighbors to appease, it may be easier to just sort out the problem with individual neighbors. Institute limited shooting hours, send them gifts at holidays, or even soundproof their homes with soundproof window inserts or a soundproof fence for their backyard.

Many outdoor ranges use roofs to add shade and protect the area from rain. The downside is these (often metal) roofs are TERRIBLE for noise. Because of the metal overhead, the sound is reflected down off the roof and onto the concrete floor which is also reflective. This creates a ping-pong effect that exacerbates the noise for the shooter. To prevent this add BlocknZorbe sound panels to the entire underside of the roof. BlocknZorbe is waterproof and the charcoal version is UV stable, so it lasts forever outside. BlocknZorbe on the roof will “soften” the metal so it better absorbs the sound, creating a partially soundproof ceiling. Proper coverage can reduce noise up to 10 dB.

One way to keep sound inside the range is to use a full or partial range baffle. Smaller ranges can do this with an earth berm, but for larger ranges you’ll most likely need a continuous wall. These baffles should be made with a minimum 10 gauge aluminum steel covered with a minimum of 1 inch soft wood. While baffles are great for keeping sound from leaving the range, they make the range itself louder by reflecting the noise back inside. To reduce these reflections add BlocknZorbe to your baffles near the shooting areas. This will catch the first noise reflections and help reduce overall noise in the range. To summarize, here are the steps we recommend taking to soundproof your outdoor shooting range:

Steps to Soundproof an Outdoor Shooting Range

1. Reach out to your neighbors and try to work out an agreement with them (this is the easiest way to make everybody happy)
2. Line the inside of the shooting box area with BlocknZorbe sound panels
3. Build full or partial range baffles

Shooting Booths

Shooting booths or boxes installed in each lane can really reduce sound levels for individual shooters even further in addition to acting as an impenetrable barrier. Shooting booths can be a good fit for pistol ranges, but typically are not recommended for rifle ranges. By covering the booths with BlocknZorbe sound panels, you can further reduce sound by surrounding the shooter with a “container” of sound absorbing panels that catch the early sound reflections before they can reach the rest of the range.

Your soundproofing needs depend on a lot of variables. Are you indoors or outdoors? How big is the range? Where are you located? What is your clientele? We understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to soundproofing. We've helped dozens of gun ranges with soundproofing solutions, and if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution for your range, give us a call and tell us about your space and we’ll help you build a tailored plan to keep the peace while your patrons focus on hitting the bullseye.