How far do gun shot noises travel?
Is there a certain distance away I'd have to be from a gun being fired to not hear it? Does it change with different surroundings? Is it different depending on the type of gun?
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Answers ( 1 )
A handgun shot can be heard for a distance up to a mile. However, that sound may not be recognized as a gunshot. Even from a close distance many people assume the sound is a car backfire or fireworks. Someone who heard gunfire before would more easily recognize the sound within a few hundred feet.
A rifle sound might be heard reasonably up to two miles, but a lot depends on the type of rifle and load, and the amount of vegetation, trees, the terrain, and the atmospheric conditions. The sound does diminish over distance but a rifle report might be recognized for a much longer distance. The louder the sound of the gun, the longer the distance.