Now that IDPA allows superfluous holes in gun barrels, I was thinking of a ported pistol. I could just have my existing #2 gun cut, but where's the fun in that?

I see the PC M&P 9 2.0 5" Ported Barrel and Slide 11824.
Question, are the ports effective in reducing recoil and or muzzle rise?

All I have to compare to is an early m&p 4.25 solid barrel and a 2.0 5" ported sku: 11825 both in 40sw and I can't say I feel the difference in recoil but that only amounts to 38fps average with a 165gr hst load but split times on target are slightly faster do to less muzzle rise but also the longer sight radius and green fiber front sight . I black out the rear red fiber rods . Bullet placement is also better firing fairly fast at 15 yards with the ported model 10 shots fired .

My wife is 68 and small at 5-2 , her CC's are ether a p365xl or her old kimber ultra 9mm and does not mind the recoil so I guess it's not an issue for her . Ported barrel will have more cleaning too and a bit less velocity with the same length barrel . You old handgun could swap in a apex semi fit treaded barrel , easy to fit and pick a single port comp if used for speed matches or carry if the added OAL is not an issue.

Ported guns make no friends on the fireing line.

Don’t stand beside someone shooting a ported gun without good hearing protection.

I have a 5" ported CORE and a non-ported 5" Storm Lake barrel for it. With standard pressure 115gr I feel no difference. With standard pressure 124 gr, I'm not sure I perceive any difference.

With 124gr NATO and 147gr I do feel a difference but it not significant when I'm in an indoor, slow fire range.

After a box or two with the ported barrel, the front site is pretty dirty as well as the area around the ports.

There are plenty of YT vids comparing velocities of ported vs non-ported.

Also there appears to be some debate on the use of lead bullets in ported barrels. I never shoot plain lead bullets so I don't worry about it.

Ported guns are LOUD and so as pointed-out make no friends on the firing line. With the concussion and flash also might produce flinch or momentary blindness in an indoor range setting making practice a chore.
That said, they do work and if you reload and make your gun generate extra gas for the ports to act on, you can get more reduction in muzzle rise and recoil.

Boy, cleaning a SS ported 40 S&W M&P barrel sure does take a lot more time & elbow grease, in my personal experience...!

Cheers!

P.S. Might have to do with me obtaining other appropriate barrels for my M&Ps...?

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

I have shield (3.1") ported and unported. The difference was undetectable.

I've shot 5" M&P ported and non-ported side by side. There was a distinct impact / improvement reaquiring the target.

As noted, ported is a lot dirtier, louder, etc.

If I ever got another for regular use, I'd want a non-ported barrel to swap between based on the days task.

Ported handgun in normal carry cartridges may be 5 to 8db louder depending on the cartridge and porting locations and even the number of ports. But when compared to a non ported barrel both hurts your hearing if fired with out hearing protection ? I'll be darned if I noticed any difference as I wear ear plugs and muffs if in an indoor ranges or shooting house . Outdoors in the open it's muffs or ear plugs so sound is not an issue unless I near some guy with a comp on a high power rifle then I tend to back well of . Nothing like a screw comp blast you can feel like a soft slap to the face .

Do what ever you want , each of us have a choice .

I don't find a ported barrel a big deal to clean as some do . Maybe some shooters issues are more sensitive then others to cleaning and more challenged to the several DB higher levels .

Down load a DB app to your phone if it can handle that high a db level or buy a DB meter as many don't cost much - 20 bucks just remember to back off some as few read higher db than 130db. Hey a 22lr fired from a 2" barrel can hurt your hearing.

Let me fire my 4" dw un-ported revolver with one of my old 170gr hot 357mag long barrel hunting loads at an indoor range and every one steps back to see what I shot or if it blew up . ha