does porting help short barrel guns

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have a number of ported guns one is an Sp101 with the 4 port system
also..
The porting does not reduce the kick of the gun but does reduce the
rotation ,, this will lessen the kick in the web of the hand.
As to the flash-- some shooters are spoiled --- when I started
shooting seriously the 357 could light up the range like a flashbulb..
We just learned not to look at the flash but at the target [ like you
do to see the front plate on at car at night]
With the Rem express you really did not need a light after the first
shot as the flash would light the target ,sights, backstop, and most
everything else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[S&W Prince]

I have a question. I have a S&W M&P 340 .357 and my question is can I get that short little barrel ported to cut down on the kick, plus it looks cool. Number 1.) is it possible 2.) who could do something like that! Thanks in advance guys! Joe

 

[F75gunslinger]

Also keep in mind that as a SD revolver, you may be required to use the gun in a manner that doesn't let you hold the gun out from your body. Bad enough that the cylinder gap will put out some flame,but porting just adds another place where you can get burned. For me, I'll either deal with the recoil or shoot something else.

 

[S&W Prince]

But can it be done that you know of. Thanks for your response

 

[Paul105]

Prince,

Yes it can be done -- here's one option.

Mag-na-port International--The Mag-na-port Process: Handgun Porting

It's a very personal decision. Some like it, some don't.

Good Luck,

Paul

 

[hangnoose]

ACTUALLY NO! RECOIL CAN'T BE REDUCED, WITHOUT CHANGING THE LOAD.

YOU CAN: lower FELT RECOIL by re-directing the gasses/energy impulse via porting, reduce muzzle flip, increase recovery time & decrease time between shots & is why you see porting on many race guns.
Porting does come with a cost of increased noise/flash/velocity loss & a danger of frying your face if fired with the ports facing you. I had 2 Rugers (a 5" 357 Redhawk & a 3" sp101) get the Jack Weigand hybra port package, 4-5 in line holes from muzzle to breach/ action,trigger work,timing,bead blast finish, new sights, etc. YES they shot faster/smoother/more controllable, BUT you were not popular at the range & I broke an overhead light at an indoor range. If you fired it straight up without eye protection you would likely be blind. They have a place in competitive shooting, not so much for S/D IMO.

 

[S&W Prince]

Thanks so much guys for the response. The barrel on those 340 M&P's are so short, like 1.89 or something I just wasn't sure if it could be done!

 

[Paul105]

Here's some Jerry Miculek video on Magnaporting.

Jerry Miculek talks about Mag-na-porting – Gun Nuts Media

Got to 12:00 min for Scandium J Frame 1 7/8"

FWIW,

Paul

 

[Paul105]

Go to 12:00 min on video for Scandium J Frame 1 7/8",

14:45 Min on video for "muzzle flash" info.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[gwpercle]

I have a Taurus 455. 2 inch ported barrel , 5 shot revolver, in 45 acp.
Remember felt recoil is very subjective.
But in MY experience, shooting the 455 along with a AMT Hardballer (stainless steel 1911), the 455, which is just a bit larger than a J-frame S&W, recoils less, enough to be noticeable to me, than the 1911 which is a full size 1911, with a 5 inch barrel, it is larger and heavier than the 455. This is with the several different brands of 45 acp ammo, fired in both guns side by side.
My son in law also noticed the difference. He was surprised...as has always been said , a heavier, semi-auto should have less recoil than a lighter , revolver...Guess What ???? It didn't happen... I'm not going to post that porting works, just that in my case it sure seems to make a difference. If I could get another Taurus, I would want the porting on it !
Gary

 

[keithherrington]

My primary carry gun is ported...

I have two carry guns: a 3" Model 586 L-Comp and a 2.5" Model 686. Both are 7 shot revolvers.




In both I use Remington's 125 grain 357 Magnum Golden Saber, a mid-range low flash load designed for use in short barrel revolvers. Nominal MV is 1250 fps. I never use lead loads in the L-Comp to practice but instead use a load using the Hornady XTP that has the same POI as the Remington load and whose recoil is indistinguishable from the factory load. Lead loads are reserved for the 686+, and most are 38 Special 158 grain loads that have the same POI as well.

In my opinion, the arguments concerning flash and muzzle blast are not a factor, given the loads I use. Using other loads I can not comment on. However, I can comment on the benefit of the porting on my L-Comp. It significantly reduces muzzle flip and makes the followup shot much faster. I feel a distinct difference using the same load when shooting both guns side by side. The L-Comp's recoil however is not reduced as much as it is redirected into the palm of my hand. The gun comes back more than it flips up. Some may object to this. I do not.

Having both guns gives me great flexibility in terms of practice ammo used and since both actions are done by the Performance Center, and to me feel identical, shooting one is like shooting the other.

Keith

 

[Pisgah]

Also keep in mind that as a SD revolver, you may be required to use the gun in a manner that doesn't let you hold the gun out from your body. Bad enough that the cylinder gap will put out some flame,but porting just adds another place where you can get burned. For me, I'll either deal with the recoil or shoot something else.

Right on.

Years ago, a buddy and I were curious about the "muzzle flash will blind you" idea, and we undertook some pretty extensive shooting of full-house .357 loads in a ported SP-101 at targets in complete darkness, using an extensive variety of commercial loads and handloads. We got some phenomenal fireballs, but instead of being blinded we found that the flash actually HELPED in conditions of total darkness, to such an extent that we both concluded we'd carry only the "flashiest" ammo we could find. Lighting up the target, even if the light is muzzle flash, is a big advantage in night shooting, folks.

But, as to your point -- I'd sincerely hate to fire any short-barreled ported gun close-in to me. The danger is not only the burn -- the blast can tear a substantial wound when it is at near-contact range, serious and painful enough to put you at an extreme disadvantage in a fight. We actually tested this using a chuck roast wrapped in denim and, trust me, that blast left a nasty-looking mess you'd not want duplicated anywhere on your body.

 

[F75gunslinger]

I have a Taurus 455. 2 inch ported barrel , 5 shot revolver, in 45 acp.
Remember felt recoil is very subjective.
But in MY experience, shooting the 455 along with a AMT Hardballer (stainless steel 1911), the 455, which is just a bit larger than a J-frame S&W, recoils less, enough to be noticeable to me, than the 1911 which is a full size 1911, with a 5 inch barrel, it is larger and heavier than the 455. This is with the several different brands of 45 acp ammo, fired in both guns side by side.
My son in law also noticed the difference. He was surprised...as has always been said , a heavier, semi-auto should have less recoil than a lighter , revolver...Guess What ???? It didn't happen... I'm not going to post that porting works, just that in my case it sure seems to make a difference. If I could get another Taurus, I would want the porting on it !
Gary

You're comparing apples and oranges here. A full sized 1911 is obviously heavier than a J frame. But in shooting, almost half the total weight of the gun is moving. Recoil impulse front and back from the slide will mask true recoil, as the spring takes a good portion of it to unlock and move the slide.

 

[DR505]

FWIW - My agency does not allow us to carry ported firearms. The danger of injury when shooting with the weapon close in to your body trumped all other considerations. YMMV

 

[gwpercle]

You're comparing apples and oranges here. A full sized 1911 is obviously heavier than a J frame. But in shooting, almost half the total weight of the gun is moving. Recoil impulse front and back from the slide will mask true recoil, as the spring takes a good portion of it to unlock and move the slide.

That's why I said " I wasn't going to say porting works "
We still found it odd that the heavier semi auto SEEMED to recoil more than a small revolver..... I have always been told/read , semi auto, heavier gun , and recoil spring of semi auto will "soak up " felt recoil ...and it appeared to us just the opposite happened. The small revolver recoiled or impulse less. Doesn't seem right . Strange things happen with recoil or felt recoil or whatever you call it !
Gary

 

[flintsghost]

Porting does one thing for sure. It ruins the collector value of the gun, if any exists. A secondary thing is to lower the resale value. From the standpoint of shooting it you make it a 1.) excellent sourse of light at night and 2.) a great cigar lighter 2 foot in front of the muzzle and 3.) louder than ears can stand on the street ( assuming you use ear protection on the range.)

My experience using handguns and rifles that have been ported or had muzzle brakes installed (same basic idea) is that if you feel you need porting to be able to control the recoil then what you really need is a lower caliber weapon. Weighted and ported guns in IPSC aside. In IPSC the times to shoot are so small and the money on the line so large that a port might give you a microsecond advantage in competition and decide a match with a lot at stake.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

FWIW - My agency does not allow us to carry ported firearms. The danger of injury when shooting with the weapon close in to your body trumped all other considerations. YMMV

Good point. I don't know of single LEO agency or military group that issues ported guns. Lives are on the line. If there was some advantage to ported guns wouldn't the Navy SEALs, the FBI, and the Army Deltas have it? They could have anything they wanted. The fact that the Pro's don't tells you something.

 

[Mehutch]

As it is everyone has different likes and opinions of everything. So far I have read all this:
Laser sights = (con) bad stuff - (pro) love them
Porting = (con) never, ruins value - (pro) It works well
Plastic guns = (con) Hell no - (pro) love them
Short barrels = (con) Never want one - (pro) perfect length
Barrel markings = (con) Never buy a gun with 'Tactical' on the barrel - (pro) so what it's cool
Barrel lights = (con) They can spot you better - (pro) Great idea
and on it goes. Well love the differences, I am glad we like different things, guns, and ammo. It makes life that much more fun. In my opinion.

 

[pittpa]

the blast can tear a substantial wound when it is at near-contact range, serious and painful enough to put you at an extreme disadvantage in a fight. We actually tested this using a chuck roast wrapped in denim and, trust me, that blast left a nasty-looking mess you'd not want duplicated anywhere on your body.

Hopefully you have the photos. Poor Chuck.

 

[pittpa]

As it is everyone has different likes and opinions of everything. So far I have read all this:
Laser sights = (con) bad stuff - (pro) love them
Porting = (con) never, ruins value - (pro) It works well
Plastic guns = (con) Hell no - (pro) love them
Short barrels = (con) Never want one - (pro) perfect length
Barrel markings = (con) Never buy a gun with 'Tactical' on the barrel - (pro) so what it's cool
Barrel lights = (con) They can spot you better - (pro) Great idea
and on it goes. Well love the differences, I am glad we like different things, guns, and ammo. It makes life that much more fun. In my opinion.

Was all that in this thread? Whatever you do, just love the gun you're with.
I just figured out I can spend a buck-fifty-five to Magnaport my J-frame and if I don't like the flash or the noise, I can shoot lead bullets in it until the ports clog up and be back where I started. Kind of an expensive experiment. Unless someone near SW PA will let me shoot their ported J-frame with 357. Preferably a scandium. I'll bring the 340.
P.S., regarding the barrel light...I took my Python to the range with a 140 lumen light on a rib-mount rail, and my lead target load (148 gr, 2.8 gr WST). We shot in the dark and after 1 or 2 rounds, the smoke reflected the light (think high beams in thick fog) to the point where I could not see 10 feet away. If you use a light, maybe you should test your defense ammo in the dark.