Porting of Revolvers

[Kid44]

Soliciting opinions of ported revolvers, both pro and con. Need to know what people think to make an informed decision. Considering having a .44 ported, either a 4" M29 or a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk. I have never fired a ported gun but have heard both "do it " and "don't do it".

 

[dwever]

I have two, a 3" barreled PC 586 L-Comp and a 7.5" barreled PC 629.

As far as I can tell, it makes virtually no difference on the L-Comp (black revolver) shooting just like my other 357's of similar weight and barrel length, but then I'm not shooting terribly hot loads either - maybe with hotter full house .357 Magnum's it would be noticeable. The 629 on the other hand shoves straight back in to my hand with or without the scope, I assume due to the porting.

 

[Blackbarry]

I have a ported 66-4, ported by S&W from the factory. It definitely helps with muzzle jump. What I find interesting is that S&W decided to place the front sight behind the top of barrel port and the last 1/2" of the 3" barrel is smooth without rifling. They could have done port slits adjacent to the front sight but didn't. Why? "Easier to manufacture" is the simple answer. But is it the correct answer??

 

[murphydog]

If possible, you may want to try a ported one side by side with yours before modifying. I have not shot enough ported guns to have an opinion but many don't like them, and especially when an original gun is altered. Personal preference rules here.

 

[gwpercle]

I used to shoot a lot of 45 acp in 1911's. Several years ago I bought a Taurus 455 revolver in 45 acp, it came with a factory ported barrel and rubber "gripper" grips. Now it seems to recoil a lot less than the 1911's, but I'm not sure if the "recoil" I'm perceiving from the 1911 is a combination of the slide slamming back, then slamming forward with the actual recoil of the fired round and the perceived recoil of the revolver is the fact it has, no slide, a soft rubber grip and the ports.
One thing for certain is a 5 shot , snub nosed ported 45 caliber belly gun, looks really cool. And the fact that rascal can shoot clover leaf groups at 25 yards just adds to it's coolness factor.
I think it does reduce muzzle jump but the only real way is to shoot one.

 

[Lt JL]

I have a 4' 29 that was magnaported. It's a heckuva lot less recoil, but the blast is considerable. My 3' 629 recoils much more, and has about 2/3 the blast, even with only an inch less barrel. It doesn't make a lick of difference to me as to which one I take woods walking.

 

[R*E]

I magna-ported a 3" model 65. The porting made the muzzle blast impressive. I don't much care for it, especially using it on an indoor range.

 

[Big Cholla]

And lastly consider if the porting is contemplated to be done on a handgun that will be used primarily for self-defense duties. If so, IMHO, DON'T! The muzzle flash projected upward at the first shot will significantly reduce your night vision even to the point of near blindness for some calibers. That will make subsequent shots near impossible to accomplish rapidly and accurately. The ports at the 12 O'clock position are the worse. But the ports aside top dead center are still very bad while shooting in low to no light conditions. I used to keep a Ruger SP 101 in my shop for potential customers to take out and try at night before putting ports into their self defense handguns. That SP 101 had two ports top dead center. It was awesome to watch being shot at night, but terrible for followup shots. After I closed my shop, I rebarreled that SP 101 back to OEM specs.

On the other hand if your handgun is for sport shooting only, by all means equip it with any port system you like. The higher pressure your cartridge develops, the more affect you will get from a muzzle port. ......

 

[jhcii]

Soliciting opinions of ported revolvers, both pro and con. Need to know what people think to make an informed decision. Considering having a .44 ported, either a 4" M29 or a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk. I have never fired a ported gun but have heard both "do it " and "don't do it".

I had ported in a .44 Mag 4" Titanium PD that blew up in my hand without injury and SW replaced it but I didn't take it back from the return gun shop. I used the money to leave that project of finding a ported lightweight .44 Magnum.

The Super Blackhawk was my first handgun I owned after shooting for the first time the SW 29 from 1970 or earlier in 6 and a half inch barrel. I had to get a .44 Magnum revolver for sure and the Super Blackhawk was there for me to get with my father acting as my buyer because I was under age.

I say avoid ports because they look ugly and don't do much for a real well balanced 4" 29 like this:

I love the Blackhawk from Ruger:

I just bought a Competitor .357 PC 686-6 and ports are NOT in it!

 

[andyo5]

Try shooting a ported revolver before porting yours. As others have said, shootability is improved by reduced recoil but is impaired by increased noise and muzzle flash. If you dislike recoil because it hurts your hand, try a pair of Pachmayr Gripper or Decelerator grips. They will solve that problem for you.

 

[jhcii]

Ported Barrel with .429 diameter 240 grain bullets

Rifle .444 1970's 444 Marlin 22" Bbl five shots

Rifle .44 Magnum 1894 Marlin with .444 Marlin (both same bullet .429" diameter for pistol or rifle) atop two (below two are .22 and .35 Rem Marlins):

I bought a ported Marlin .444 along with the ported .450 Marlin so popular in the early 2000s. No ported rifles exist in my entire rifle category except for muzzle flash suppressed military like M 14 or M 4 or other.

The big deal with ports in pistols or rifles is blast is doubled and recoil is more manageable. To me noise is worse than recoil.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

.... barrel is smooth without rifling. They could have done port slits adjacent to the front sight but didn't. Why?...

It sounds like that first type you describe is S&W's "Power Port". That short smooth portion of the barrel is actually a small expansion chamber.

The theory, I think, is this helps to reduce the felt recoil and blast by lengthening the dwell time - it slows down the gases and spreads them out. It's a fluid dynamics thing.

Simple holes or slits in the barrel don't have this ability to slow anything down or spread it out. Therefore, the blast in particular, is more pronounced and violent.

 

[jhcii]

It sounds like that first type you describe is S&W's "Power Port". That short smooth portion of the barrel is actually a small expansion chamber.

The theory, I think, is this helps to reduce the felt recoil and blast by lengthening the dwell time - it slows down the gases and spreads them out. It's a fluid dynamics thing.

Simple holes or slits in the barrel don't have this ability to slow anything down or spread it out. Therefore, the blast in particular, is more pronounced and violent.

It's similar to the SOCOM 16 with expertise in managing recoil with ports while keeping velocity out of the gutter arena, here is a Springfield Scout with a compensator but not the same type as the SOCOM 16 which has a barrel shorter with the chamber patent thing for managing recoil and gassing the bullet to near same velocity as the Scout Springfield above.

These chamber compensator muzzle brakes work when required for SHORT barrels.

 

[M1A]

I had my 4" 629-1 magna ported and found target acquisition greatly improved. I used it in magnum IPSC style 48 shot competitions. It makes a difference.

 

[Rpg]

I will not own another ported revolver (or rifle).

In the past , I've owed three: thankfully, I located the proverbial 'greater fool' who bought them from me resulting in only a modest loss.

The muzzle blast and increased noise of ported weapons isn't worth the very modest reduction in recoil or muzzle flip.

Don't screw up a nice M 29.

If you can't resist, port a Ruger.

 

[MichiganScott]

The club I shoot at has a covered range outside. We just cringe when someone shows up with a muzzle brake. The flash and bang bouncing off the roof can be physically painful if the gun is big enough.

FWIW, I have Decelerator grips on mine. I like the looks of the target grips, but the Pacs shoot easier.

 

[Goblin]

I personally don't notice an increase in muzzle blast, but definitely a marked reduction in muzzle flip in my 6" Anaconda. I'm a believer, but you need to consider the reduction in resale value. Not an issue for me since I only believe in buying, not selling, guns.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I have a model 10 that I ported. It is a single .125 x .75 port on the top just in front of the sight. I have it angled back at 5*. I was amazed at the difference it made. The recoil is like a BB gun.

 

[Groo01]

And lastly consider if the porting is contemplated to be done on a handgun that will be used primarily for self-defense duties. If so, IMHO, DON'T! The muzzle flash projected upward at the first shot will significantly reduce your night vision even to the point of near blindness for some calibers. That will make subsequent shots near impossible to accomplish rapidly and accurately. The ports at the 12 O'clock position are the worse. But the ports aside top dead center are still very bad while shooting in low to no light conditions. I used to keep a Ruger SP 101 in my shop for potential customers to take out and try at night before putting ports into their self defense handguns. That SP 101 had two ports top dead center. It was awesome to watch being shot at night, but terrible for followup shots. After I closed my shop, I rebarreled that SP 101 back to OEM specs.

On the other hand if your handgun is for sport shooting only, by all means equip it with any port system you like. The higher pressure your cartridge develops, the more affect you will get from a muzzle port. ......

Groo here
You and I have opposite ideas about the flash from the port.
I shot the REM express 125gr 357 "flame throwers"
from ported and non ported guns and see little difference.
The thing is to shoot at night enough to get use to the flash and
how to look "through it"[like reading a license plate at night
when the on comming car has the lights on.]
Can be done.
You "young whipper snappers" are spoiled with low flash powders and auto loaders.
We even learned to use the flash to find other targets
and align the sights after the first shot!!!!
Even 2 c cell flashlights are heavy when you us then to shoot LOL.

 

[44wheelman]

I dont shoot my 45 with a comp more. The flash in the face is enough to want to make me flinch... not something I like doing when I'm shooting for groups at 25yds.