How does a ported barrel affect energy/velocity?

BarbC

BarbC

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A question arose the other evening over .357 fired out of a ported barrel vs. .38 special +p out of a non-ported barrel.

Assuming 125 grain bullet out of non-ported barrels at 50 yards:

.357 Energy = 441 Velocity = 1261

.38+p Energy = 220 Velocity = 891

Would shooting a .357 out of a ported barrel reduce the output to the near equivalent of .38+p out of a non-ported barrel?
 
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No. The .357 will still be trucking along substantially faster than the .38 +P (assuming that it would have done so to begin with).

Sorry that I don't have time to dig out the figures that I've got from chrono reports, but 'porting doesn't appear to have a terribly huge effect on velocities. You can shoot two otherwise similar guns - one ported and one not - and get remarkably similar velocities. I tend to think that porting is absurd and unnecessary on most defensive handguns, but can't justify this on the basis of velocity-loss alone: such is minimal.
 
As Erich said you won't lose much if any velocity from the ported barrel.
Porting on comp guns is OK,but wouldn't use it for defence especially at night.

Ken
 
What the others have posted. Negligible decrease in velocity. Huge increase in dissatisfaction with shooting ported firearms, though.

I would not own a ported barrel because I find the blowback of hot particles and gases to be annoying at minimum, and potentially unsafe.

Every ported gun that I've owned has sent hot particles back in my face, and all over my hands and arms. Not every shot, but most. It got to the point where I sold the three ported guns I had out of sheer anger and frustration.

I suppose that porting would be appropriate on a S&W 500, but I do not suffer from testosterone poisoning and feel no compulsion to purchase a S&W 500, a Ford F350 Diesel 4x4, or a Hummer of any description.

Noah
 
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Ok, thanks. The person has a .357 ported gun and says it reduces recoil and I said why wouldn't you just shoot .38+P out of it?
 
That's what I do. 38 Spl+P.

Porting seems to reduce muzzle climb, but not so much recoil IMO. Perhaps there's the perception that recoil is reduced simply because the firearm in question is no longer climbing as far into the air.

I really can't tell, because it hard to pay attention due to the hot particles of burning powder and gases hitting my hands and face. They are a distraction of sorts . . .

Noah
 
Barb,I'd say he shoots the magnums out of it for the extra speed and better stopping power.It would reduce felt recoil with the porting.


Ken
 
Porting works for muzzle "flip".
A "brake" works for "recoil".
Both operate by re-directing the combustion gasses. And both have more dramatic results the higher in pressure the load being run is. So, a .357 will net more benefit than a .38 Special. Same way a .38 Super draws more benefit than a .45ACP with a muzzle brake. The porting may or may not(?) cause an issue on a S/D gun? A muzzle brake increases gas blast next to and for the shooter typically. Negligible velocity losses. With shorter ported barrels being slightly more affected.
 
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Most of the handgun vents are designed to vent the gases up at the muzzle end the theory being that this energy will push the muzzle down.
If the vents point to the rear they could, using this theory reduce the push to the rear, unfortunately that’s where you are standing, hence not a great idea.
People who shoot in rapid fire events usually use ported or compensated barrels. At some high level of proficiency the reduced muzzle rise may help. At my level, it makes no practical difference.

If you look a the muzzle brake on say a Barrett 50 BMG here: Barrett Rifles
You will see a very effective recoil reduction tool. It is carefully designed to have a small area of safety just behind it covering the shooting team. Do not stand to the side of this thing when it’s fired.

On my 10/22s a good muzzle brake makes no practical difference in muzzle movement but IMO improves accuracy slightly and certainly makes it much less noisy by dispersing the sound.
 
When people talk ported guns they seem to leave out who designed the porting system? Not all are the same. Some seem far better than others, particularly in small, lightweight guns.
 
Two of my carry guns are Mag-na-ported. It works well and best with high pressure guns, hard kicking guns. The downer is that high pressure guns are loud and porting makes them even worse.
 
I have one ported (Magna-port) gun, a 6" 29-3 Silhouette. For the purpose intended, 200 meter metallic Silhouette, it does help with muzzle flip. Since you are under a time frame to get all your shots off, that is a help as you have more time for sighting and trigger control.

On both my Browning shotguns, BT99+ trap gun and Sporting Clays O/U, the porting does seem to help with recoil and muzzle control. The O/U Sporting Clays Browning has less felt recoil that my CZ 20 Ga. O/U that is not ported.
 
John Sobieski said:
I'm not sure I understand the objections some have to using ported guns for self-defense, especially when comparing two .38 revolvers with short barrels. I've not experienced any out of the ordinary "blowback" of particles or gasses when firing the 642 PowerPort revolver compared to my memory of firing an old Model 640. However, I've only fired these guns after first bringing them up to eye level.
Click to expand...

Your last sentence was spot on, IMO. If forced into a situation where one must fire from position 3 (firing hand tucked high and tight against the side of the chest), I would hate to have to do it with a ported barrel. Even with an unmodified barrel, the amount of muzzle blast you catch in the face is very, very noticeable. Porting would just plain make it very nasty. :eek:
 
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