uymike9
Member
I am wondering what the consensus is here. If you found a S&W you wanted would this stop you from getting it? What are the effects of Porting the barrel?
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
Ported Barrels Pro's and Con's
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FloridaFlier
Member
I won't say unequivocally no difference, but not a whole lot, depending on the gun. Porting on a hot snubbie or 3" barrel it wouldn't bother me. A 4" or longer barrel, especially with a full underlug, would make the porting a whole lot less valuable to me. Like rubber grips, if you need it, use it.
StatesRightist
Member
FloridaFlier said it well.
I'll add a few things:
1. It definitely reduces the number of potential buyers.
2. The burn yourself, fireball the size of the sun drivel is just that, drivel.
3. I've owned ported guns of all types. The shorter the barrel, the less the effect in my opinion. Rifles use this technology the best. A 3" .44 is going to be a hoss, porting will not make it tame.
4. The porting like S&W does on it's Comps is the best, otherwise shooting typical reloads does a number on your front sight in terms of filth.
You can expect a 10-20% difference in general in a handgun, a more pronounced effect in a rifle, only you can decide if that's a huge difference to you.
I'll add a few things:
1. It definitely reduces the number of potential buyers.
2. The burn yourself, fireball the size of the sun drivel is just that, drivel.
3. I've owned ported guns of all types. The shorter the barrel, the less the effect in my opinion. Rifles use this technology the best. A 3" .44 is going to be a hoss, porting will not make it tame.
4. The porting like S&W does on it's Comps is the best, otherwise shooting typical reloads does a number on your front sight in terms of filth.
You can expect a 10-20% difference in general in a handgun, a more pronounced effect in a rifle, only you can decide if that's a huge difference to you.
Photog
Member
I have fired several pistols that were ported and the only difference I find is in noise level increasing (even with muffs on it, it can be unpleasent), more difficult to clean, especially with lead bullets, and nickle plating will commonly flake.
My personal rule of thumb is this, if I really want the gun, I will find out the cost of a replacement barrel and the cost of it being installed, and deduct that cost from the purchase price. That is the only way I will purchase such a gun. I have probably lost out on a few good ones, but that is the way it goes. And, I will not buy a factory ported gun, unless it is a rifle that I can have the barrel shortened on.
My personal rule of thumb is this, if I really want the gun, I will find out the cost of a replacement barrel and the cost of it being installed, and deduct that cost from the purchase price. That is the only way I will purchase such a gun. I have probably lost out on a few good ones, but that is the way it goes. And, I will not buy a factory ported gun, unless it is a rifle that I can have the barrel shortened on.
I have a 3" 29-10 that has been Mag-na-ported, it has their "dual trapezoidal" ports and, IMO, it makes a very noticeable difference in felt recoil and muzzle jump. The gun is surprisingly tame, more pleasant to shoot than a friends 7.5" Redhawk when fired side by side with the same ammo.
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i carry daily a 3"657 thats been ported...excellent shooting and its one of my best!
StatesRightist
Member
......and there you have it Mike9, it depends on the user. You'll never really know to you shoot a ported gun.
David Sinko
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Avoid the porting if you have any intentions of formally competing with it. Porting is not allowed in IDPA and will put you in Open division in most of the other gun games.
Dave Sinko
Dave Sinko
onemanwolfpack
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Jayhawkhuntclub
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I think of the ported barrel kind of like I think of the IL. It's not something I need and it's not something I want. I would buy a gun with an IL way before I bought one with a ported barrel. It's just my perception and I reserve the right to change my mind at a later date. Maybe someday I'll find a deal on one and realize I was all wrong
chaim
Member
It wouldn't be an outright deal breaker for me, but I don't want ports. They certainly are a consideration and make me less likely to buy a gun, and this is especially true on a self defense gun. I've liked the concept of the Taurus Tracker since its inception, unlike many (though I haven't seen that much Taurus bashing here) I am a fan of Taurus handguns. I've considered it many times. I don't have one yet, and the ports are a big part of the reason (that and the general unavailability of aftermarket wood grips).
Pros:
-Reduces recoil
-Reduces muzzle rise
Both mean being quicker back on target for faster follow-up shots
Cons:
-They foul up and are a pain to clean
-They increase noise
-They increase muzzle flash, which can be a real problem on a defensive gun
-They lower the velocity of the round. They make the barrel effectively 1/2-1" shorter, resulting in slower velocity v. a true x" barrel. This lowers the power of the round a bit, and on a short barreled .38 or .357mag can be the difference between expansion or no expansion with JHP rounds.
Pros:
-Reduces recoil
-Reduces muzzle rise
Both mean being quicker back on target for faster follow-up shots
Cons:
-They foul up and are a pain to clean
-They increase noise
-They increase muzzle flash, which can be a real problem on a defensive gun
-They lower the velocity of the round. They make the barrel effectively 1/2-1" shorter, resulting in slower velocity v. a true x" barrel. This lowers the power of the round a bit, and on a short barreled .38 or .357mag can be the difference between expansion or no expansion with JHP rounds.
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AveragEd
Member
I dislike porting for all the reasons mentioned above. Remember, that for porting to be effective in reducing recoil, it must bleed off pressure and any time you reduce pressure, you reduce muzzle velocity and, accordingly, downrange energy.
I own a 6" 686-3 PowerPort that I bought strictly because they were discontinued and might become valuable some day. It turned out to be unfired, so I still haven't shot it. But I did own both a 6.5" 629-4 Classic and a 6.5" 629-5 Classic PowerPort and honestly couldn't tell any difference in felt recoil. But oh, boy - was there ever a difference in report and dirt! As it was also an MIM gun, I sold the 629-5.
Ed
I own a 6" 686-3 PowerPort that I bought strictly because they were discontinued and might become valuable some day. It turned out to be unfired, so I still haven't shot it. But I did own both a 6.5" 629-4 Classic and a 6.5" 629-5 Classic PowerPort and honestly couldn't tell any difference in felt recoil. But oh, boy - was there ever a difference in report and dirt! As it was also an MIM gun, I sold the 629-5.
Ed
It all depends on what the gun is, there are certain models that it has no effect on the collectability/ value of it.
Eric
shawn mccarver
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Yes, it would stop me. I see no need for such, and despite what many will say, close in type shooting could result in hot particles up in your face or eyes. See Clint Smith's article concerning this in American Handgunner or Guns, I think. You just do not need porting to control recoil in any normal handgun caliber.
Dirtman
Member
S & W, 686PP, 357 Mag
I have a 686 PP 6" barrel revolver. It shoots great, as far as recoil, it's very light. I'm not sure if it's due to the weight or the porting. Probably a little of both. The flash out the port would probably be a little bright at night. I've never shot it in the dark. Whatever.... it's a fun gun to shoot though I don't shoot it often.
My wife has a TRR8, 357 mag that also is a light recoil weapon without PP. She loves shooting it and making lots of noise!
I have a 686 PP 6" barrel revolver. It shoots great, as far as recoil, it's very light. I'm not sure if it's due to the weight or the porting. Probably a little of both. The flash out the port would probably be a little bright at night. I've never shot it in the dark. Whatever.... it's a fun gun to shoot though I don't shoot it often.
My wife has a TRR8, 357 mag that also is a light recoil weapon without PP. She loves shooting it and making lots of noise!
Cpo1944
Member
My one and only ported gun was a short barreled 357 and the flash would blind you at night so bad a second shot was impossible. It`s someone else`s now, and there are no more ported guns in my safe.
stumper
US Veteran
For a defensive gun I would stay away from them for all of the reasons mentioned - noise, flash - personal safety when firing close to your body, etc. One other factor that I ran into - some years back I picked up a small frame Rossi with a 2" ported barrel - in 357 mag. It had adjustable sights on it but I could never get them regulated for off hand shooting. The gun always shot low with full power loads off hand. One day my brother was shooting it and I was standing along side watching. I watched as each shot the barrel not only did not recoil upwards, it went down a bit. Recoil was rearward with a twist but the muzzle went down. It did not do ith with 38spl loads, just the magnums. I think I sold the gun to my brother that day...
