Ported Revolver Barrels...Opinions Please

[loeman]

I'm sorry if this is a redundant topic. I've never had much interest in any modified S&W revolvers, or any other guns for that matter, but maybe I'm missing something. I've had the chance to buy two or three very nice ported Smith revolvers but have passed on them due to not knowing what I was getting into. Is it a definite improvement in recoil, does it affect the gun's value, performance? What do you think. I thank you for your thoughts.

This thread seemed to fit best here but mods should feel free to move to a more appropriate forum.

[uncleted327]

I have never had a revolver modified, but I have owned some factory ported Smith's, most notably a 586 L-Comp. The porting doesn't really reduce recoil as much as it minimizes muzzle flip. It does make a noticeable difference in that, however you do have an increase in how loud the gun is. As far as value, the factory ported guns seem to hold their value well. Aftermarket porting seems like sometimes it doesn't effect value, sometimes it reduces value, but almost never increases value is what I've seen. I like them myself and wouldn't shy away from a factory ported revolver.

[diyj98]

Unless it's factory ported, it lowers the value to me. It does help with recoil on the 460's and 500's, but I've never saw the need for it on 44 magnums or less. You're just getting more noise. Some porting and breaks make cleaning a little more time consuming as well.

[murphydog]

Factory porting doesn't affect value, and Mag-Na-Port does a nice job. With others it looks as though someone went wild with a drill press; that would be a negative on value.

I think porting may be worthwhile in some circumstances, such as long format target shooting like silhouette or "combat" matches or the really big bores, to reduce fatigue. On a defensive gun it's debatable - one hears about how porting increases muzzle blast and flash but my guess there's plenty of both with firing any revolver, especially indoors and in low light.

[buck460XVR]

I have a 686 Powerport. Nice shooting revolver. Does it need to be ported? Nope, I have two other 686s that aren't. A 4" and a 5". Still, the 6" Powerport is the most pleasant of all of them to shoot at the range. As for excessive noise.......moot point. No legitimate reason in the world to shoot a revolver without ear protection, other than a true SD situation, where you will never hear the gun anyway.

[Rpg]

You’ll find this topic discussed at length in other threads on this forum. If you search a bit, you’ll find them.

That said, you’ve passed on several ported guns. You’re not alone in passing on them: I’m with you.

The market for ported guns is much smaller than the market for the same gun without porting. Ported guns are generally worth less than an identical, unported gun.

I find ported guns to be unpleasant devices, producing prohibitive blast and noise without corresponding benefit in reducing muzzle flip or recoil.

I know big game guides who won’t guide hunters with ported guns.

Some folks seem to delight in the discomfort their ported guns inflict on fellow shooters, so if you want attention at the range, ported guns might be just the ticket.

[double-dipper]

I completely agree with what Rpg said! I would pass on a ported revolver as well unless I was getting it at a "yard sale" price.

[Chukar60]

I owned a ported 4” Dan Wesson 44 mag. Factory porting. Yes it helped with the muzzle jump, but the muzzle blast was incredible.
I will never have another ported gun, just my two cent opinion on them.

[lkabug]

I have several revolvers and semi-autos that are ported. No big deal. As stated, helps with muzzle flip but not recoil. Louder bang perhaps and more flash. I'm not sure they are really worth the extra cost and hipe.

[bigggbbruce]

Waste of a good piece of steel.

[cadmike]

I own a Smith & Wesson 629 powerport, have fired many thousands of rounds thru it over the years and can tell you there is absolutely no additional “muzzle blast” from this gun compared to any other. Also the comments about additional noise are pretty silly. Like if I was worried about noise I’d be shooting a bb gun. Almost as much noise and blast escapes thru the barrel cylinder gap on a revolver than thru any porting. YMMV with a semiautomatic.

I do not have experience with magnaporting but the Smith & Wesson powerport does a fantastic job reducing muzzle flip on higher end loads.

[Rick_A]

I had a 629 PowerPort. The muzzle stayed flatter, but the counter torque of the porting was tough on the wrists...and the increased blast and noise was rather undesirable.

[uncleted327]

Not sure how stating the absolute fact that ported guns are louder than identical unported guns is "silly". The man asked for facts about them and that's the one major negative I've seen...

[kraynky]

I once owned a ported Marlin Guide Gun, and it wasn't bad at all, being some 20" away from my ears. However I did shoot a buddy's ported Taurus 454 casull a few years back, and I didn't care for the caliber or the porting. I'm not a recoil junky, in fact, the only magnum handgun I own is a Blackhawk 41 mag, and I can only shoot it when it's wearing the big ugly Hogue grips. I don't think I'd buy a ported S&W unless it was heavily discounted. But some folks love them.

[THEmodelof1989]

Use the money instead to buy a reloading bench. That investment will be way more versatile than cutting extra holes in your barrel. You can load cartridges lighter and it will make a much bigger impact on recoil than cutting an unsightly and uneccasary hole in the barrel.

[cadmike]

Um ok. Well if you guys are so worried about noise then why are you shooting a .44 magnum?

[loeman]

Gentlemen, I thank you for writing your opinions. I know this topic has been discussed here many times but I needed some quick opinions due to seeing a beautiful, ported, Md. 19 with 2.5 inch barrel being offered locally. I've never been tempted by modified guns but this one did. In addition to being ported it obviously had work done on the action and trigger as they were as smooth and nice as I've ever felt. Much better than the 6 inch, Md 19-4 that I currently own. It also is in superb condition, but no box, docs or original stocks. Anyway, after reading your opinions and speaking to one of my shooting buddies I have decided to pass once again on a ported revolver. I'm going to hold out for a nice OEM, 2.5 inch Model 19. Might be just the thing for many, but I don't think its for me.

[Benchrest1]

Real men don't need no stinkin ports.

[steelslaver]

Its not a worry. But, it also doesn't mean anyone enjoys it. Things are loud enough with out the ports.

Other side of that coin is, "If your worried about recoil and muzzle flip why are you shooting a 44 mag?"

[Cal44]

Have any of you guys that say ported guns are much louder done a scientific measurement of the sound?

I'm talking two guns identical except one ported and one not side-by-side with a calibrated sound level measurement instrument.

I have a ported M60 and a non-ported M60 and I can't tell a difference in either muzzle blast or sound.

But I would have to used a sound level meter to be sure.

[gwpercle]

Porting is no big deal , in a 2 or 2.5 inch barrel length ...no louder .
I have a ported 2 inch 45 acp revolver..no difference in noise or flash blinding aspects . Does help keep the muzzle down with hot loads, I can notice the difference .
If the price was right and it passed a hands on look see , I would have been all over that 2.5 inch , ported and tuned model 19 like white on rice.
Gary

[colt_saa]

If you can get that Model 19 at a good price, it is a very fine revolver. It is not something I would pass on. You already like the action.

Mag-Na-Porting (and similar processes) will reduce muzzle rise when shooting FULL POWER ammunition, it does not reduce recoil and it is some folks misunderstanding of the actual functioning that creates a bit of the negative comments about porting

If you intend to only shoot 38 Specials, Mag-Na-Porting does not do much of anything. It needs the gas volume of real magnums to be effective.

Some folks dislike porting because to do what it does, propellant gasses are directed upwards.

If you are shooting at a covered/indoor range, this will increase the noise as the ceiling and shooting stall walls will reflect the sound back down and toward the shooting position. This is totally different out on the open

I have been shooting ported Magnum revolvers for decades. Much of the bad mouthing is more urban legend than fact. Folks that have never actually shot the various ported firearms but have already formed a dislike of them

Some folks will tell you that the muzzle blast will blind you if fired at night. This is simply not true. If that could happen, every revolver shooter would be blinded by the gasses that escape from the barrel/cylinder gap

You will hear stories that shooting from retention can set your cloths on fire. Again, if this were true, the B/C gap would have the same adverse effect

Porting is clearly not for everybody. However it is not the demon that some folks will try and make it out to be.

If you have the opportunity to test fire the revolver, give it a try and decide for yourself if the reduction in muzzle rise is worth any negatives you might perceive. Your personal experience is worth more than all of the internet Opinions combined

It is a shame that you are not local to me. I would let you fire a pair of 2 1/2" 66s for comparison.

[bigggbbruce]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

Mag-Na-Porting (and similar processes) will reduce muzzle rise when shooting FULL POWER ammunition, it does not reduce recoil and it is some folks misunderstanding of the actual functioning that creates a bit of the negative comments about porting

If you intend to only shoot 38 Specials, Mag-Na-Porting does not do much of anything. It needs the gas volume of real magnums to be effective.

Lot's of talk about getting velocity out of short barreled guns.

Then you loose energy by venting the gas out the ports that give you FPS.

I'd be interested in chrono results.

[cadmike]

Originally Posted by steelslaver

Its not a worry. But, it also doesn't mean anyone enjoys it. Things are loud enough with out the ports.

Other side of that coin is, "If your worried about recoil and muzzle flip why are you shooting a 44 mag?"

Touche, fair enough. I guess I just don’t understand how anyone would notice any difference in noise, while wearing adequate hearing protection.

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by bigggbbruce

Lot's of talk about getting velocity out of short barreled guns.

Then you loose energy by venting the gas out the ports that give you FPS.

I'd be interested in chrono results.

I have fired many hundreds (perhaps thousands) of rounds through dozens of 357 Magnum Firearms compiling just such data for various brands and projectile weights. I have also done this for other calibers

There are many factors that alter muzzle velocity to a greater degree than Porting . . . B/C gap, Chamber dimensions, bore diameter, rifling style, etc.

Porting is just another of those factors that makes little changes. In some instances the ported revolver was faster than it's non-ported counterpart. I only had 1-3 examples of each firearm style to derive the average muzzle velocities from

The Remington 125 SJHP 357 Magnum ammunition (RTP357M1) is the largest of the studies using more than one example of each firearm in most all measurements

Starting off with the Revolver the OP is looking to purchase

Remington 125 SJHP 357 Magnum ammunition leaves the un-ported 2 1/2" model 66 at 1285 FPS while it departs the Mag-Na-Ported 2 1/2" Model 66 at 1247 FPS and the 2 1/2" Model 19 at 1264 FPS.

The same ammunition leaves a 2 1/8" Model 60 at 1211 FPS while it departs the Quad port 2 1/2" Perfomance Center Model 60 at 1176 FPS. It makes 1122 FPS from a 1 7/8" non-ported Model 340

From the Factory Mag-Na-Ported 3" Small Hunter pictured in my previous post this ammunition makes 1322 FPS

The 3" Model 66 F-comp gave us 1283 FPS

The 3 1/2" Model 27s hit the mark at 1370

A 3 1/2" El Patron SA revolver gives us 1382 FPS

This loading makes 1391 FPS from the 4" Model 27

1477 FPS from the 5" Model 627

The 5 1/2" Model 627 gave us 1367

1530 FPS from a 6" Model 27

1776 FPS is achieved with a 10" T/C Contender (I know it is a Patriotic velocity)

It hits 2049 FPS from a 18" Model 92 Lever action

[LEO918]

Deduct $100 per hole on value.

[HamHands]

Originally Posted by bigggbbruce

Lot's of talk about getting velocity out of short barreled guns.

Then you loose energy by venting the gas out the ports that give you FPS.

I'd be interested in chrono results.

With comparable sized barrel throats and cylinder gaps between a 3" and 6.5" barreled Smith revolver... with the same loads, grain weight, same manufacturer with the same lot numbers... at best you get on average 30fps +or-(5)fps per inch of barrel. For instance if a 6.5" Revolver produces 1400fps with a particular load... a 3" barreled Revo with all the above being the same will clock out to around 1295fps from what I've witnessed in Revolvers/Pistols...YMMV... I've never owned a ported gun so I cannot tell or vouch for the differences with that.

[HamHands]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

I have fired many hundreds (perhaps thousands) of rounds through dozens of 357 Magnum Firearms compiling just such data for various brands and projectile weights. I have also done this for other calibers

There are many factors that alter muzzle velocity to a greater degree than Porting . . . B/C gap, Chamber dimensions, bore diameter, rifling style, etc.

Porting is just another of those factors that makes little changes. In some instances the ported revolver was faster than it's non-ported counterpart. I only had 1-3 examples of each firearm style to derive the average muzzle velocities from

The Remington 125 SJHP 357 Magnum ammunition (RTP357M1) is the largest of the studies using more than one example of each firearm in most all measurements

Starting off with the Revolver the OP is looking to purchase

Remington 125 SJHP 357 Magnum ammunition leaves the un-ported 2 1/2" model 66 at 1285 FPS while it departs the Mag-Na-Ported 2 1/2" Model 66 at 1247 FPS and the 2 1/2" Model 19 at 1264 FPS.

The same ammunition leaves a 2 1/8" Model 60 at 1211 FPS while it departs the Quad port 2 1/2" Perfomance Center Model 60 at 1176 FPS. It makes 1122 FPS from a 1 7/8" non-ported Model 340

From the Factory Mag-Na-Ported 3" Small Hunter pictured in my previous post this ammunition makes 1322 FPS

The 3" Model 66 F-comp gave us 1283 FPS

The 3 1/2" Model 27s hit the mark at 1370

A 3 1/2" El Patron SA revolver gives us 1382 FPS

This loading makes 1391 FPS from the 4" Model 27

1477 FPS from the 5" Model 627

The 5 1/2" Model 627 gave us 1367

1530 FPS from a 6" Model 27

1776 FPS is achieved with a 10" T/C Contender (I know it is a Patriotic velocity)

It hits 2049 FPS from a 18" Model 92 Lever action

Nice post! Thank you for that! That 18" 92 is about on par with a 16" barreled 7.62x39... That makes for a nice camp/brush gun for sure!

[Groo01]

Groo here
There is the rub, are you a collector or a shooter?????????????????
I have many ported guns , some it does little , some like my
50 Alaskan encore pistol with 650gr 50bmg bullets [SSK]
would be un-shootable without...
The ports causes less rotation of the grip saving the web of the thumb.
If you don't have this problem [like the magnum thumb]
you will not need it.
As for sound the ports come AFTER the bc gap and just inboard
of the muzzel.
There just is not that much difference. [maybe sound from the celling
but shoot ganster style will get the same results]
Most of my heaver kicking mags are ported and they work "For Me"

[wbraswell]

Boo on ported barrels. Boo, I say.

[BillBro]

Does the 629 V Comp fall within the bounds of this discussion? I'm in lust with this gun and have on several occasions had my finger on the buy button but always back out because I'm not a comp type of guy at all, but this is a different type of design isnt it? The comp being removable means that the actual comp is an add on type piece right?
Anyone who can offer opinions on this gun please come forward, and help me spend some money. I'd most certainly immediately relegate it to permanently taking up space in the box it came in.
Sorry to hijack the thread, I was just looking at that gun again and then found this thread.

[sandog]

Buck460 and cadmike are right on. There is a lot of superstition and hearsay about ported guns.
I had a model 629 magna ported some years ago, and two friends had identical unported guns.
I would crank out 300-400 rounds of ammo, a 260 Keith gas check at 1200 fps., and we'd go shoot it up, mostly at 200 yards or so.
Mine was the more pleasant one to shoot for sure.
Was it louder ? A bit, but when you're wearing hearing protection, like you should be, it was no big deal.
The unported revolvers are pretty loud too, in case you haven't ever noticed.

I currently have one ported gun, a Performance Center Shield in .40.
In the semi auto section here and on other forums, guys that obviously don't have one will tell you that they are so loud that you'll be banned from ranges, that the ports will add hours to your cleaning time, that they'll blind you are night so bad you won't be able to see again until the next morning, and that they set your clothes on fire if the gun is held in close to the body.
The guys that have one, like me, will tell you that all those assumptions are very, very false.
Shooting 180 grain HST's out of this little pistol would not be fun without the ports. With the ports it feels like an 9mm.
Takes me all of 10 seconds extra time to wipe the powder fouling away from the ports and the slide cuts with solvent on a rag, what comes out of the ports at night is nothing compared to the flash that comes out of the muzzle, doesn't set your clothes on fire, and if it's any louder I can't tell it. It does make for a pleasant shooting pistol that I can shoot better, and get back on target quicker.

Some of you seem to equate ports with abortion, devil worship, clubbing baby seals and incest.
If you don't like ported guns, just don't buy one. But enough of the fallacies and misinformation.
Two or three small ports aren't the same as a fully compensated Race gun. No blinding flash, no ear shattering blast.
Just a sweet shooting sidearm that you can get back on target quicker.

[CAJUNLAWYER]

well this thread has told me that some like them and some don't. I'm trying to digest that. And quite frankly I disagree with that proposition and am not afraid to state it. So if any of you want to argue with me bring it on.

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by BillBro

Does the 629 V Comp fall within the bounds of this discussion? I'm in lust with this gun and have on several occasions had my finger on the buy button but always back out because I'm not a comp type of guy at all, but this is a different type of design isnt it? The comp being removable means that the actual comp is an add on type piece right?
Anyone who can offer opinions on this gun please come forward, and help me spend some money. I'd most certainly immediately relegate it to permanently taking up space in the box it came in.
Sorry to hijack the thread, I was just looking at that gun again and then found this thread.

The majority of the V-comp equipped firearms that Smith and Wesson has shipped over the last half century and more come with a false muzzle that can replace the V-comp. Yes, half a century, the V-comp was first introduced in 1957 on the Model 41s. Though the cool name of V-comp had not yet been invented

The V-comp works much the same way as the Mag-Na-Port style of barrel porting. However the V-comp is effective with cartridges that have less pressure. The difference is that the V-Comp directs a much larger volume of gas than a small barrel port

There are some longer barreled V-comps that are not removable.

image courtesy of Smith and Wesson