Just firing any kind of handgun at arms length without hearing protection, even a .22, is very loud and will make your ears ring for days.
Nah. A .22 is a loud pop and no more. Even a .25. Get up to a .40 and you sure want to use ear protection (in an enclosed environment). In the open? It’s not so bad (but ear protection is recommended).
When I go shooting (my .40), I use ear plugs plus over the ear protection. Can’t hear next to nothin (which is a good thing).
“Just firing any kind of handgun at arms length without hearing protection, even a .22, is very loud and will make your ears ring for days.”
I never had a problem when outdoors. Indoors? I would never fire a gun without good hearing protection. . . unless it was a matter of life or limb of course.