Shotgun Shooters, I hate ported barrels.
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Rpg
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They are particularly unpleasant for those standing to the side, rather than directly behind the gun.
You certainly don’t want to be in the field with someone carrying a ported shotgun.
You certainly don’t want to be in the field with someone carrying a ported shotgun.
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Very strong words that prove that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I personally own several shotguns with ported barrels. Without exception, every one of the ported barrel shotguns I own have one thing in common; they're designed for use in competition. In fact, I don't remember seeing a shotgun primarily intended for hunting that came from the factory with ported barrels. I'm sure someone will be able to find an example, but still, a hunting gun with factory ported barrels is probably the rare exception.
Now there is an all too common trait on some shotguns that do get me slightly irritated, and that is a break barrel shotgun intended for competition that comes from the factory with an automatic safety. Personally, I would never spend my money on a shotgun with one of these gizmos. However, I have allowed myself to get a little irritated when squadded with the owner of one of these abominable set-ups who can manage to forget to off-safe their gun after every single pull on an entire round of skeet or trap.
All the best.
Now there is an all too common trait on some shotguns that do get me slightly irritated, and that is a break barrel shotgun intended for competition that comes from the factory with an automatic safety. Personally, I would never spend my money on a shotgun with one of these gizmos. However, I have allowed myself to get a little irritated when squadded with the owner of one of these abominable set-ups who can manage to forget to off-safe their gun after every single pull on an entire round of skeet or trap.
All the best.
Paul in Nevada
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A lot of factory hunting shotguns come with ported barrels. Ported turkey tubes are very common.
I have a Mossberg made in the 90's that has ports on both sides of the rib about an inch behind the muzzle. I have shot this gun side by side with an otherwise identical shotgun without the ports. No noticeable difference in noise or concussion. My barrel is no harder to clean.
I have a Mossberg made in the 90's that has ports on both sides of the rib about an inch behind the muzzle. I have shot this gun side by side with an otherwise identical shotgun without the ports. No noticeable difference in noise or concussion. My barrel is no harder to clean.
All of my guns have 2 holes in the barrel. One in the back to insert bullet and one in the front to release the bullet. Larry
Great. I hope you didn't have to overpay for the special features.
Miracle Man
US Veteran
It's not really my thing but I believe it has practical applications.
My father would not allow ported shogun barrels at his duck club
to protect the hunting dogs, that can be very close to shooters.
A ported rifle at a outdoor, metal roof, range, is another, pet peave of mine !!
The GI "flash depressor" was there for a reason.
I'll stop here.
to protect the hunting dogs, that can be very close to shooters.
A ported rifle at a outdoor, metal roof, range, is another, pet peave of mine !!
The GI "flash depressor" was there for a reason.
I'll stop here.
Similar to barrels with Cuts Comps or the Ventilated Polly choke. Those items were very popular back in 1969 when I first started shooting skeet.
I will admit to having a ventilated Polly put on my 12G Ithaca pump. It was my only shotgun way back then and I used it for everything, Skeet,Trap,Hunting!
Photog
Member
I have the same issue with the automatic safety, especially in trap shooting. You build up a certain rhythm and to have someone forget to take gun off safe can mess with it. At one club I shot at, if you didn't shoot because your safety was on, it was considered a miss, and you you weren't allowed to call for another bird.Very strong words that prove that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I personally own several shotguns with ported barrels. Without exception, every one of the ported barrel shotguns I own have one thing in common; they're designed for use in competition. In fact, I don't remember seeing a shotgun primarily intended for hunting that came from the factory with ported barrels. I'm sure someone will be able to find an example, but still, a hunting gun with factory ported barrels is probably the rare exception.
Now there is an all too common trait on some shotguns that do get me slightly irritated, and that is a break barrel shotgun intended for competition that comes from the factory with an automatic safety. Personally, I would never spend my money on a shotgun with one of these gizmos. However, I have allowed myself to get a little irritated when squadded with the owner of one of these abominable set-ups who can manage to forget to off-safe their gun after every single pull on an entire round of skeet or trap.
All the best.
I have two ported shotguns, Browning BT99+, and Browning Citori Special Sporting Clays. Factory ported, and are strictly for the Clay bird fields. When you shoot 100-200 rounds a day, sometimes 2-3 days in a row, the porting is greatly appreciated. It also reduces the muzzle rise for quick follow up shots.
self ported Model 12
Many years ago I shot a few rounds of skeet with an international trap shooter champion who was using a Win Model 12 with no butt pad. He had drilled about (6) 1/8" holes on either side of the top of the barrel. Looked pretty bad, they were not spaced evenly or in line-but he had 5 rds. of 20 gauge and he would break the pigeon into smaller pieces then dust 4 of them with his last 4 shots. Never let up on the trigger, just pump fired as he acquired the pieces.
Its not the machine, its the man behind it.
Many years ago I shot a few rounds of skeet with an international trap shooter champion who was using a Win Model 12 with no butt pad. He had drilled about (6) 1/8" holes on either side of the top of the barrel. Looked pretty bad, they were not spaced evenly or in line-but he had 5 rds. of 20 gauge and he would break the pigeon into smaller pieces then dust 4 of them with his last 4 shots. Never let up on the trigger, just pump fired as he acquired the pieces.
Its not the machine, its the man behind it.
My Classic Doubles Skeet is ported and the one thing I do agree with is cleaning the ports, pita, but worth it.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
You see porting mostly in 12's and some 20's (I have a 425 20 gauge that's ported) But I've never seen a 28 or 410 ported! Browning seems to port more of their guns (including some semis) than Berretta.
Ivan
Ivan
I shoot about 7,000 clay targets per year and would never want a ported gun. Muzzle blast bothers me much more than recoil. I’ve stayed away from Brownings because nearly all their dedicated clay guns are ported.
In fact, I’m amazed by some of the horrifically ugly gizmos that some clay shooters vandalize their guns with in the pursuit of reducing felt recoil. If it bothers you that much, maybe you should take up golf instead.
In fact, I’m amazed by some of the horrifically ugly gizmos that some clay shooters vandalize their guns with in the pursuit of reducing felt recoil. If it bothers you that much, maybe you should take up golf instead.
Valmet
Member
I detest any gun with a ported barrel- be it a shotgun, handgun or big bore rifle.
Echo40
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Porting makes very little sense to me on firearms chambered in low pressure cartridges.
It makes sense on super magnum Handgun cartridge and high-powered Rifles, but a 12 Gauge Shotgun? 12 Gauge has a extremely low peak operating pressure of 11,500psi. IMO, you need at least 3x that amount for porting to have any notable recoil-dampening effect.
It makes sense on super magnum Handgun cartridge and high-powered Rifles, but a 12 Gauge Shotgun? 12 Gauge has a extremely low peak operating pressure of 11,500psi. IMO, you need at least 3x that amount for porting to have any notable recoil-dampening effect.
Each to His own.
Any set up that diverts the escaping gas at the muzzle to the side and back towards the shooter and bystanders is going to be 'loud'.
The century old Cutts Compensator & Choke did the same thing and they were and still are very loud to the shooters standing around on the SC, Trap or Skeet coarse.
But recoil reduction was the idea of the vents and it does work. Variations of port size, shape and angles abound.
Reducing recoil in a 12ga using 1 1/8oz loads is a good thing when shooting 250+ rounds in one day on a coarse.
A well fitting shotgun is another helpful component to reducing felt recoil and it doesn't make any noise.
Lots of vented shotgun bbl's on the Skeet and SC ranges where I shoot when the modern guns are pulled out. Yes they are loud and catch your attention.
But most of us use older stuff with lighter loads and somehow manage.
I personally don't care for the ported bbl's on any firearm.
Just don't like the looks and from there on I don't have any use for the feature.
But lots of people do it seems or just like the gun and the ported bbls come along as a factory thing and they accept it as it is.
The century old Cutts Compensator & Choke did the same thing and they were and still are very loud to the shooters standing around on the SC, Trap or Skeet coarse.
But recoil reduction was the idea of the vents and it does work. Variations of port size, shape and angles abound.
Reducing recoil in a 12ga using 1 1/8oz loads is a good thing when shooting 250+ rounds in one day on a coarse.
A well fitting shotgun is another helpful component to reducing felt recoil and it doesn't make any noise.
Lots of vented shotgun bbl's on the Skeet and SC ranges where I shoot when the modern guns are pulled out. Yes they are loud and catch your attention.
But most of us use older stuff with lighter loads and somehow manage.
I personally don't care for the ported bbl's on any firearm.
Just don't like the looks and from there on I don't have any use for the feature.
But lots of people do it seems or just like the gun and the ported bbls come along as a factory thing and they accept it as it is.
Well, there is only one reason to drill holes in your barrel, and that is to reduce recoil, and the effects it has on the shooter. The amount of recoil reduction depends on who you talk to, or what you read on the Magnaport ads. It makes no difference to me if you want to bugger up your nice K-80 or Perazzi MX8 trying to get a few percentage points in recoil reduction.
I am not a proponent of porting, adjustable stocks, choke tubes, Cutts compensator ( potato on the end of your barrel ) or other gizmos ( soft touch comes to mind ). If recoil reduction is your goal, go see a stock maker and have a stock made or yours tweaked. I bet 80% of all shooters have a stock that does not fit them. Worse than that is they have an adjustable stock that they frequently adjust, and thereby create a new gun.
I shoot a Ljutic LTX that was stocked by Paul Hilmer, and a Perazzi Grand America also stocked by Paul Hilmer. The Lujitic has 40 points of constriction, and the Perazzi was rechoked by Herb Stratemeyer to .012 and .032 for doubles.
Nothing moveable or adjustable. I shoot release triggers, and fill my stock removal holes with lead shot for added weight.
I have the utmost confidence in my equipment, and if I do my part and put the gun in the right place, the target breaks every time
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