Real acoustic exposures are presented on the basis of a classification of impulse noise using different sound pressure time patterns/courses. The collection of examples is supplemented by the presentation and analysis of impulse noise measurements during the use of bolt setting guns under various operation and set-up conditions as well as during the practice use of guns. Additionally, results of studies which were carried out in cooperation with an acoustics measurement division of the German military are presented. Immission levels from impulse noise caused by the repeated use of a typical weapon were measured on a sample of volunteers both outside and inside the ear muffs. The resulting rating of the noise immission leads to the determination of the maximum number of permissible impulse events which vary substantially dependent on the rating method. When compared with the rating based on the equal energy concept, the number of permissible impulse events must be reduced by a factor of 30 when the impulse measurement method is used. Relative to the standardized measurement according to DIN 45635-34 for the noise emission of bolt setting tools, the number of driving processes during the real-life use of these tools should be reduced by a factor of 100, for example, under various operation and set-up conditions of the real.