What exactly is the ported barrel supposed to accomplish? My wife is planning on buying one and asked that question. I rented a regular 9mm Shield at the range today and she LOVED IT!!

Keeps the barrel down a little but the best addition on the PC model are the sights

IMHO, the ports on a regular 9mm are mostly for show and to meet the current fad. The do reduce the muzzle rise a little, but at the expense of more blast and flash.
The compensators used in competition are much more effective at keeping the muzzle down on the high-pressure, longer barrel USPSA Open pistols.
Definitely try before you buy.

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Science plus Art

Will a ported barrel need a slide with slots in it?

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Oh yes indeed.
More effective is to get an extended threaded barrel and use a screw-on compensator.

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Science plus Art

I don't agree with a ported barrel on a self defense gun. Hot gasses could singe, plus added flash. On a target or range gun sure. I wish S&W offered a choice for the PC pistols.

I really like the trigger and sights (FO) on my PC, seems a slight bit less of muzzle flip as well. Yes it has a little flash, had the range officer (dimly lit indoor range) watch me shoot and he shot it as well. Said he had no real concerns about it. Frankly neither do I.

That said, flash can exist and the barrel/slide will definitely get dirtier than a std Shield. All is fine with me as I love shooting my PC. Others may have enough concern to stay with the original model.

And yes if one has questions and can shoot it before buying that is never a bad thing.

I just got a PC in 9mm and have had no issues with it. The muzzle blast coming out of the ports at low light in the range don't bother me at all. It shoots great and I carry it...

Ports make you more likely to need serious hearing enhancements when you get older or fire a few shots, whichever comes first..........

I do not own one but I shot one, the night sight model. It is a very soft shooter. I definitely would buy one but I already have a single stack. Trigger is awesome. Some might even say too range worthy to be carry worthy. The one I shot had almost no take up on the trigger. Sweet gun. I didn't think the port flash was any worse than what I see from the muzzle.


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No problems with mine. The flash is hardly noticeable. To get singed not likely, you would have to put your head over the muzzle then the blast goes to the sides. The trigger and sights are great. The people who don't like them probably don't own one. LOL

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Endeavor To Persevere

We have 4 Shield's, 2-9's and 2-40's. One each of the 9 and 40 are PC's. We don't notice any flash from the porting when we shoot the guns, and the porting helps a little bit with the time to get back on target, but I would not call the difference huge there.

The bigger pluses of the PC version, at least to me, are the trigger and the fiber optic sights. We both really notice the trigger when going from the non-PC to the PC versions. Less creep and more crisp.

They all shoot well, but I think the PC version is for sure worth the extra money.

I haven't found any of this to be true, I own one, and have put several hundred rounds through it, after dark, held up close against my body, etc.
I wish people would only comment on ported Shields if they actually own one, if you have one, you'd be singing a different tune. Nobody here that has a PC model has anything bad to say about them. They do have a much better trigger than other Shields.
S&W does offer a choice, if you don't like ports, just get a regular (non ported ) Shield.
The ports really do help controllabillity, and getting back on target faster. My PC .40 is almost as pleasant to shoot as my daughter's 9mm.
A 9mm in a PC gun would be nice indeed, the quickest of the Shield's to get back on target, and the most pleasant for extended shooting sessions.

A plus for the night sight model is that it come with 3 magazines instead of 2. And don't forget the current smith rebate that gives you 2 more mags and some ammo

I have one of the Performance center ported 9's.

I shoot at an enclosed, dimly lit range. The flash is no worse than any other gun I shoot, and that's a somewhat embarrassing number.

Does the porting do a lot? Meh, not really that I notice.

Is it an issue if the gun is fired from a very close distance to the body?

Potentially yes, derbies from the ports could be projected into the eyes for example. Anything is arguable. For that matter the same argument can be made if a J-frame revolver is fired too close to the body.

I bought it because of the enhanced trigger which provides a superior trigger pull in my opinion.

What I had planned to do was buy the gun, then pick up a non-ported barrel for it to use as a CCW gun.

Fact is, I don't need to - the ported shield is just fine for carry as it is.

Love my PC 9mm....great little gun.

I have both versions of the Shield which I have shot extensively. I have never been blinded or powder burned because of the porting. Maybe it could happen on other guns, but on the PC Shield it hasn't been an issue. Just an urban legend I think. I know one could buy the standard Shield and then upgrade the trigger and sights, but just get the PC model and be done with it. For the little extra money you get the better trigger, better sights, and maybe a little less muzzle flip.

I'd say from watching these threads since i bought my PC when it came out; seems most of us who own one really like it and are happy with our purchase.
And some of those who don't own a PC have their reasons for not buying one. Which is their right of course.

So if one shopping around shares the concerns of the "non-PC" crowd then a std Shield can be a great gun to go with.
And for those who are interested in a PC, judging by what us owners think go ahead and give one a try.

I have both a ported Shield and a Shield with an Apex Sear. Trigger pull weight is similar, triggers are nice in each, and feel similar enough.

I like the FO sights over the contrast sights-- easier to see the target.

I didn't care for the porting because of what I'd read but in outdoor or dimly lit indoor, the naked eye does not see the extra flash from the ports. Filming in 30fps, you'll see it in 1 frame.

I've read the ports ARE louder, but when I share the lanes with others shooting .40 or .45, a ported 9mm is not a concern.

I wear in ear and ear muffs for hearing protection, but you make me curious about any decibel differences between the ported and non ported Shield barrels... I'll find out next range trip.

Thanks for your replies!!!

I think the porting of any handgun under an 8" barrel is about worthless. I just don't see where it provides any benefit. My 3" 629 is magna-ported and I honestly can't tell a difference. Still kicks and rises just like any other 44mag.

Although, if a handgun is going to be ported, a revolver would be the much better choice. I won't even say how I really feel about porting an auto such as the Shield, but I will say it's purely a marketing pitch playing on the new "tacticool" fad. I'm sure quite a few novices will pay the extra money for the cool factor, but it's good to hear most folks here bought them for the other features, not the porting.

The only thing I can see a ported auto accomplishing is a guaranteed longer cleaning session. To each their own though, and enjoy what you like. The more people who don't like something just leaves more for those who do.

Yep bought mine mainly for the trigger (i am not one to mod a gun w/ after market parts) and the FO sights. Sure i like the looks of the porting, but that took a back seat to the rest.

And yes porting adds a little more time to a cleaning session, but I'm talking minutes not hours so no biggie for me.

my .02 anyway

My S&W 640 357 mag with 2-1/8 barrel is louder and has more muzzle flash than either of my ported Shields. Get over it. If you don't like a ported Shield don't buy one. No need to continually run them down when you don't own one and probably never will. Post about something you do like.

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Endeavor To Persevere

Went shooting with my BIL for the first time yesterday. We traded Shields, I have the model with tritium sights and no safety, and he has the PC, ported with hi viz sights. By the time we left, I had decided that I'm going to trade in my other Shield with the white sights and buy a PC. It was that good.

Talldog they are that nice! I love the fiber optic sights. I also really like the trigger on my ported Shield. Very nice and its also very accurate for the size gun it is!

It will likely reduce muzzle rise to some degree and theoretically allow for slightly faster follow up shots. To what degree is subjective. I've seen reviews comparing the regular and PC versions stating the reduced muzzled rise is minimal or hardly perceivable. Others coming to the opposite conclusion.

And remember that the reduced muzzle rise from porting does comes at the cost of less bullet velocity and therefore less energy being transferred into the target, which to me is not a very good trade off, especially in a 9mm.

There is also the possibility for powder residue and debris to be ejected through the ports. This isn't a concern at all at the range, but could be a potential issue in some type of close-quarter defense situation where you must fire from some type of retention position. I've seen a couple of videos of people firing the PC shield from a very upright posture/low hold retention stance at the range(and of course wearing safety glasses) and then declare that there are absolutely no concerns, but I've seen reports from way too many well respected, high profile defensive shooting instructors who have witnessed problems firsthand when conducting close-quarter shooting drills with ported guns to dismiss it. They subsequently all recommend against a ported handgun for defensive purposes. Plus, if you have ever participated in or even just watched a close-quarter force-on-force class, you'll see some very odd shooting position employed and the same applies to actual defense situations.

The trigger is considered by most to be "better" on the PC version, but these are concealable close-quarter defense pistols rather than target guns and the regular version is more than adequate for that task. The regular trigger might actually be better since I believe it is slightly heavier which is preferred on defensive weapons IMO.

A far as the sights, the vast majority(90+ %) of civilian defense shootings take place at very close distances. Most inside 3-5 yards. At those ranges, those "upgraded" sights won't likely be of any advantage since you should probably be utilizing theat focused shooting at those ranges.

If this is intended to be a concealed carry/self-defense pistol, my recommendation would be to stick with the standard model.

To me, ports on Shield don't accomplish anything. Get the regular model and love it.

Porting a Shield seems like the stuff we used to add to cars to make them 'go faster' that really weren't anything but eye appeal.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I wear plugs in and muffs over when shooting metallic - the concussion from someone next to me with a ported gun is painful. Large bores in an inside range are brutal....and I'm about half deaf due to college days of Jimi at volume 9 with headphones on.......................

I have fired over 150 rounds with it and no problems!! As for the porting I do think it helps with recoil and flip a bit. My wife sure likes this gun!!

Thanks for reporting back. I figured she'd like it. I have a PC (ported) shield in 45 that I'm smitten with. Honestly, I don't feel it has any more noise /flash than similar short barreled 45's I own. Recoil is quite manageable too. Sights and trigger alone make it worth the extra price of admission.

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Dave

I have to disagree. When I was shooting on Saturday, I started with my non-ported Shield, and on the first shot, an abrasion on the bottom of the thumb on my shooting hand opened up. I put a band-aid on it and was able to continue, but it functioned as a recoil indicator for the rest of the session. I felt every shot with my Shield, but when I switched to my BIL's ported Shield I didn't feel anything. That and the hi viz sights is what made me realize I want one.

Like hexnut said, get over it.
Some guys that don't own a ported Shield are continually bad mouthing them, they are not a fully compensated race gun.
The two small ports are not causing any of the problems the detractors say about them, if they were, we who own the PC's would have said so.
Are there any benefits to the ports ?
My PC is in .40, and I don't have a non ported Shield in the same caliber to compare, but my PC .40 Shield is more pleasant to shoot than my Full Size M&P .40. Less recoil and less muzzle rise out of a smaller lighter pistol, so yes, I'd say the ports DO accomplish something.
Maybe the guys that complain about the PC models wish they had got one, but since they didn't they choose to denounce them instead, rather than provide correct info about them.
If you don't own a PC, and haven't shot one from various positions, etc., please refrain from commenting about them.
The argument I really like is how much more difficult the ported Shield is to clean.
What is around the ports in the barrel and the cuts on the slide is powder fouling only. Put some solvent on a rag, and one swipe and it's clean. It takes me an extra 5 seconds to clean than my non ported autos.

I never understand why this particular topic always becomes so contentious and eventually devolves into an uncivil argument. I can see this thread heading in that direction.

This is a forum and as such, there will be discussion and debate. It should remain civil and respectful. There will be opposing opinions posted as there should be. It shouldn't be personal or taken personally.

Numerous well respected instructors such as Massad Ayoob, Michael de Bethencourt, Grant Cunninghm, Marty Hayes, Chuck Haggard, Mike Moore and Dr. Gary Roberts have all advised to avoid choosing ported guns for defensive roles as well as stated they have witnessed firsthand the potential problems of ported weapons actually demonstrated in classes.

If someone is asking about the Shield, I assume it's for concealed carry/personal defense and I respond accordingly. I don't understand why someone would choose it as a range/target pistol, but maybe they do.

If I knew nothing about the issue and was looking for answers, I would be much more inclined to listen to what well known professional defensive shooting instructors had to say on the matter vs the opinion of anonymous internet gun forum posters, but maybe that's just me. If I was a beginner, I would want as much information and as many different perspectives as I could get to further my knowledge and understanding to make informed decisions. That seems like a common sense approach to me, but everyone is of course free to do as they see fit. Irregardless, no disrespect intended and I think none shown and I expect the same in return.

Another 200 rnds through it without any problems of any kind. I no longer own a Shield 9mm. It is now property of my wife LOL. She loves it!! Now I think I need the same ported model in a .40!! The FO Sights and trigger are worth it and then some!!

Us anonymous internet gun forum posters actually own the PC shield and have personal experience with it verses those who only read what others might have to say. These experts have lumped all ported guns in one category and many of them probably have no personal experience with a ported shield as well. It gets ridiculous what length some of these haters of ported guns will go to, to make people think like them. Its as if they should have the right to tell us how to spend our money and what we should like.

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Endeavor To Persevere

After reading this thread I had to take mine from the safe after 6 months and go out back and fire her... 2 mags 5 rounds each ran perfect, trigger is excellent, but it was loud.

Just thought this post by hexnut was worth repeating, and, as a side note, it is always worth being cautious about following direction of "experts" in any field. My over 55 years experience with firearms, over 10 as an armorer and instructor, has proven to me: 1. You never really know for certain until you experience it yourself; and 2. One real life experience / test is worth ten thousand "expert" opinions.

I like ports, thinking about porting my CS9 and 3913TSW. I also like manual thumb safeties, and magazine disconnects --- wow, the ultimate firearms heresy according to some "experts"

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DAV Life Member

Is there something unique about the Shields porting so that the concerns these various experts raise is not applicable?

All anyone has to do is look at a picture or watch a video of a PC Shield being fired to see how the ports vent. There is nothing extraordinary about them. They vent in a V pattern which presents no concerns when firing from extension, but potentially could cause some very serious problems when fired from a high/tight retention position where you must cant/tilt the pistol and subsequently align the inside row of ports with your face. Not guaranteed to occur or even necessarily likely to occur, but still worthy of concern and with no real practical self-defense benefit gained from the ports, I would ask why risk it.

That's simply my opinion. I have no issues if someone disagrees with me as long as they are respectful about it and I am by no means on a crusade to make someone think like me or trying to dictate what gun anyone purchases. This is a forum not an affirmation club and I am participating in the debate-discussion.

The PC Shield is just another tool to me. I neither love nor hate tools. I have absolutely no personal feelings towards tools. I do want people to make informed decisions and have an understanding of the different perspectives when the objective is finding the best tool for the job of self-defense. There is pretty much a consensus among defensive shooting instructors in the recommendation of avoiding ported guns for defensive use. Anyone is free to blindly dismiss that if they wish, but I don't believe that would be very wise and think it prudent to learn why exactly they advise against them if they don't know or understand why. And they very well may still select a ported gun despite the potential concerns, but I think a whole lot of people are selecting ported guns with very knowledge about them.

I liked my first one enough to buy a second one. Nothing succeeds like success. Give it up X didn't you get in trouble for this last time. Having never shot a ported Shield you sure know every thing about them LOL

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Endeavor To Persevere

As Dennismn so correctly points out "For that matter the same argument can be made if a J-frame revolver is fired too close to the body". Wonder why those experts that show outrage over ports on the Shield never manifested itself against those that carry revolvers for self defense, as hot gasses escape from the gap between the front of the cylinder and the barrel, as anyone who has ever let their fingers get close to that area well knows.

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DAV Life Member

There are no alternatives with the revolver and you do indeed have to mind the revolver B/C gap in certain instances-such as with how you grip the weapon and holding it against the torso, but there is no need to cant the revolver when shooting from retention as you have to do with an autoloader. Disrupting vision is the primary concern and you would have to hold the revolver pretty much completely sideways and abnormally high to remotely become an issue with venting towards the face and eyes.

If ifs and buts were fruits and nuts we would all have a merry Christmas. The two small vents on a shield are on the side were the gas comes up in a V not straight up. The pistol would have to be held cocked to one side as well. And having shot my PC in the dark I guarantee you there is NO vision loss. Like I stated before my S&W 640 357 mag has way more muzzle flash. Oh yeah I really like that gun as well. Seems 100% of the people on this site who own Shield PCs love them. A very small percentage of people who don't own them are the distractors. Haters gonna hate.

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Endeavor To Persevere

I bought my new M&P 9 Dhield PC two days ago entirely based on the sights. I had bought a standard 45 Shield a week before, and my 70 year old eyes forced me to spend $120 replacing the standard sights. The 9 Shield PC only cost $70 more than the standard one. That more than paid for the sights.

When I shot it, I considered the trigger and ported barrel to be minor pluses (my 45 Shield has a pretty good trigger itself). I really didn't notice any negatives with the port. Anyone who thinks the port vent on the Shield is dangerous should NEVER shoot a .357/.44 Magnum revolver. Or even stand behind someone who is shooting one.

I'm extremely satisfied with the pistol.

I have to admit I didn't even realize it had a ported barrel untill late in my inspection. Many new guns now have fake porting slots.