Guys,

I've been working on a .376 Steyr for a while. Is built on a re-heat treated 1909 Argie. Has a 22" Douglas barrel. I think it is a #4 contour. Got it second hand with a couple of hundred rounds through it. In very nice shape (by bore scope).

Intent is as a useful field gun. Is mounted in a Hogue Overmould stock and will be rust blued.

Finished the custom double square bridge-like QRW mounts for it save for the ends. Waiting on an eBay-purchased tapered cutter to finish those. Mounted a 1.8-5.5 Zeiss Conquest on it.

Got impatient to shoot it, so put together a moderate load of 65 grains H335 behind 225 gr Hornadys. Should be in the 2700 fps range with that barrel length. Pressure of the load is fine.

But ... WOW ... is this fella LOUD!!! Recoil isn't bad but it has PLENTY of blast and noise.

Is this typical for the .376 Steyr with a shortish barrel?

The 7mm-08 is like that.

George

Must be a function of powder choice. The loudest rifle I had the misfortune to experience was a Ruger International in 308 Win. It was totally obnoxious with whatever load the young man was firing.

I don't know. I do have a couple of 9,3x62s, a .375 H&H, a .376/.416 Steyr Improved, a .416 Rigby, a .458 AR, and a .470 NE ... an none of them are as UNEXPECTEDLY loud as this fella.

The .375 H&H with 235 Speers at nearly 3000 fps and the .416 Rigby w 350 Barnes Xs at 2700 fps are not as bad. The bigger bores have a different sound ... may actually be louder but are deeper throated so they're not as "obnoxious."

Was very surprised and wondered if anyone else had noticed something similar.

i find it to get better with more h335!
benchmark is my prefered powder for the steyr, in less limiting times ..

Try a stick powder and see if it is quieter.

Not to pick a point but do you wear muffs? I had an instance where a slightly odd comb height was lifting my right muff an amount enough to make my ear ring but not enough that I noticed it as I prepared to shoot. Just a thought.

Used the same custom fitted ear plugs I use with all rifles. Stock is exactly the same as the .376/.416 Steyr Improved (Aagaard).

So I don't think that is the problem

My shooting bench in on my side porch. Even my wife who was in the house commented that what I was shooting was unusually loud.