Deafening! I used my .450 last year and did bag a buck. Shot it thru the heart (not its frontal area) at about 10 feet. The buck went about 30 yards. This was the very first time I shot the gun without ear protection, wow, ears were ringing for hours. Mine is the guide gun, short barrel-ported. Looks neat, handles great, kicks like a mule, layed that deer out, it is deafening. I love it.