FNP-45 Tactical gets a new Gemtech Blackside 45!

[srt-4_jon]

most good 9mm suppressors are hearing safe. For the 45, the Osprey and Tirant are both hearing safe when dry

[blueorison]

Hearing safe is for you to decide.

It is relative shooter to shooter. There is a relatively "safe" threshold, but, again, this threshold does not apply to all, especially young children.

[soap_box]

Personally, I just take my hearing aids out and all my cans are hearing safe. But hey! That’s one of the reasons I have to wear the darn things. Shoot safe guys and gals.

[jgreenberg01]

Hearing safe is for you to decide.

It is relative shooter to shooter. There is a relatively "safe" threshold, but, again, this threshold does not apply to all, especially young children.

That is true to an extent. While different people may feel comfortable at higher dB levels than others, OSHA actually defines what "hearing safe" is. They are primarily concerned with continuous noise levels at the work place, however they also discuss momentary or impulsive bursts, ie: gun shots. Here's an excerpt from an OSHA guide:

Noises are considered continuous if the interval between occurrences of the maximum noise level is one second or less. Noises not meeting this definition are considered impact or impulse noises (loud momentary explosions of sound) and exposures to this type of noise must not exceed 140 dB. Examples of situations or tools that may result in impact or impulse noises are powder-actuated nail guns, a punch press or drop hammers.

The entire article can be found here:
http://www.oshax.org/info/articles/decibel-levels

And if you want all the technical data from OSHA's website, it's here (the part covering gunshot type sound level is 3 sections from the top and is labeled 1910.95(b)(2)...):
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp ... &p_id=9735

A .45acp being fired with a dry Gemtech Blackside is typically in the range of 140-143 dB measured at the shooter's ear. Fired wet, it was measured in the 128-130 dB range.

Silencerco claims that their Osprey will reduce the sound level of a .45 to 132dB when fired dry and 123dB wet. The folks over at http://www.silencerresearch.com tested it but I don't have a paid subscription to view their results.

[blueorison]

Correct. Expounding; OSHA can define all they want; they are just a bunch of people who agreed on a value. Even values at and slightly under 140 db is not hearing safe. It will still cause the ossification within your hearing structures leading to damage and loss of hearing sensitivity.