[DJCharlie]

Do ported/compensated barrels effect accuracy or velocity of the bullet?

[stans]

Velocity will not decrease if you do not shorten the barrel or port the barrel itself. Velocity will decrease slightly with porting. Neither seem to affect accuracy if done correctly. If done incorrectly, the gun will not be accurate.

[dairycreek]

What stans says is all true. However, where you gain something there is also something to lose. While comped guns give you somewhat less muzzle flip they also IMHO give you a much sharper and irritating sound when shot. Even when wearing shooting muffs the sharper sound is noticeable. I must hasten to add that I am particularly sensitive to sound anyway but it sure is irritating. I also do not enjoy cleaning out the gun gunk from the little holes but that's purely personal. Good shooting;)

[cratz2]

Hrmm... I was of the understanding that porting an existing barrel would yield slightly reduced velocities... Maybe not dramatically reduced, but somewhat reduced.

The noise thing is a consideration. If you're dealing with a racegun and you want the quickest possible second shot, but you ALWAYS have your ears on, then comped guns make sense to me. But for a guy wanting to daily carry a 357 Magnum that he may one day have to fire in a small room or inside a vehicle with no hearing protection... I want no part of it.

Still, just my $.02. :p

[Sean Smith]

Ports and compensators are different things.

Ports are basically just holes drilled in the barrel. They reduce muzzle jump, but also cost you some muzzle velocity and increase noise and blast effect.

Compensators are actual gizmos attached to the muzzle of the gun. They won't reduce muzzle velocity, but will make the gun alot louder, and the efficient ones can DRAMATICALLY reduce apparent recoil (not just muzzle jump).

[eerw]

if you have a 5" barrel and port it...you will have some loss in velocity as you are bleedng gas off before the bullet leaves the rifling..if you add a comp to your 5" barrel, you shouldn't lose and velocity as the compensation is after the bullet travels the full length of the barrel..

the muzzle flip will be less if the compensation is efficient. the noise is louder due to some of the gasses coming out straight up vs. away from the shooter downrange. With that comes some muzzle flash and some debris..powder, etc.

accuracy shouldn't be affected as I have seen some compensated NRA action guns do 3/4 inch at 50 yards...