Ported CCWs

[shep854]

There seems to be a trend to build carry guns with barrel ports, supposedly to help manage recoil and muzzle flip. HOWEVER, to me this looks as if it would be a grave safety hazard. If the gun is fired from a retention/Speed Rock position close to the body, the blast and hot gases have to be blown into the face and upper body, with possible severe injury.

Are there any other thoughts?

[El Tejon]

Fie, you and your logic and practicality. We have gun magazines to sell with cool looking fireballs when we are not writing about beach volleyball or hot rods.

[tc300mag1]

well think about firing it at night also this was done in our ccw class in a closed dark range after first shoot good luck i could see a thing and i was farther in the back bad ideal if you ask me ... muzzle flash is bad enough with out the ports

[Standing Wolf]

My carry gun has a ported barrel because I believe accuracy is the single most important criterion. I'd rather hit what I'm aiming at than reduce noise and muzzle flash.

[nemesis]

My carry gun has a ported barrel because I believe accuracy is the single most important criterion. I'd rather hit what I'm aiming at than reduce noise and muzzle flash.

When did barrel porting become a means of greater accuracy?

[waktasz]

I wouldn't want to fire a ported gun from a retention position at contact range

[BluesBear]

I have a 2" 445 Taurus .44 Special withOUT the ports. I have shot it side by each with a ported 445 and I can't tell the difference in recoil or muzzle flip. I have done the same thing with a friends ported and unportes Taurus 2" .357s. Personally I can't tell a nickle's worth of difference between ported and unported in ANY revolver with less than a six inch barrel.
To me the real advantage is on hot loaded .44s and bigger with long barrels.

But it seems that many people with these new fangled ported snubbies swear by them. They're the "in" thing to have right now. :rolleyes:

Ports on handguns just make them louder and increase muzzle flash.
Plus I don't want anything more flying up in my face than is absolutely necessary.

Just my 2% of a Susan B. YMMV

[critter]

Shep, I'm with you! I DO NOT want a snub ported carry piece. Maybe on a long barreled, hard kicking hunting handgun like a FA in .475 Linebaugh I fired the other day though.

[farscott]

I have three .357 Magnum Ruger SP-101's, two that have Weigand Hybra-ported two-inch barrels and one with an unported three-inch barrel. I have been shooting them since 1995, so I have close to a decade's worth of experience. The ported revolvers have much less muzzle jump and much less perceived recoil. In fact, the ported guns seem to recoil downward!! I have fired these with 158-grain Magnum loads (on the order of several hundred times) from the protected position without harm. The worst that has happened is a bit of lead and/or jacket spitting from the ports.

The biggest downsize is the increased sound pressure level from the ported guns. They are really loud. Plugs and muffs loud.

I really think the downside of ported guns is more exaggerated than real.

[Jack T.]

I really think the downside of ported guns is more exaggerated than real.

I agree. And am currently trying to swap a G31 for a G32c (hint hint) to replace my G23 as my fulltime carry gun. . .

On the other hand, if you don't like a ported gun, you can replace the barell with a non-ported one.

[Sean Smith]

I think the upsides AND downsides of ported guns are exaggerated. :neener:

All the horrible 3rd degree burns, flash-blindness and blast effect injuries never materialized when shooting my Glock 20C. But the recoil reduction didn't seem worth the noise and lost muzzle velocity to me, either. Maybe there is more payoff with wee magnum revolvers, but excatly how much good does the extra powder charge do when you've got about 1" of effective barrel length?

:confused:

[El Tejon]

Sean, you've shot your ported 10mm from retention and no burns?:eek: Talk about iron skin.:cool: What did your shirt look like?:confused:

[shooter58]

My wife's carry gun is a ported Model 85 Taurus. I have fired it from the retention position multiple times and in low-light conditions (I, too , was concerned about the drawbacks). I found that the muzzle flash was increased to a degree, the noise was greatly increased, but I received no burns at all. It made my shirt dirty from powder particles, etc. but, no burns. I think we are over-rating the problem.

[Sean Smith]

Sean, you've shot your ported 10mm from retention and no burns?

It is called not pointing the holes that fire shoots out of at yourself. Very challenging concept. ;)

[El Tejon]

Especially in a fight.:uhoh:

[sturmruger]

I have shot several differant revolvers that are ported, and can honestly say that there is a big difference in my opinion. The recoil feels more sudden or quick. It is more of a straight back punch then up and down movement. When shooting slowly I have not noticed any improved accuracy, but when shooting quickly the amount of time to require the sights and target is speeded up considerable. I have a litte S&W 637 that I would love to have ported. I shot Series70's S&W snubby that was ported and it was allot easier to shoot then my little .38.

I am planning on making a trip down to Ahlmans (www.Ahlmans.com ) to dop off a few guns that I would like worked on. I am going to have some trigger work done, porting and maybe a scope mounted on my Security six.

[Smoke]

I wouldn't want to shoot a revolver from a retention position either.

My Kimber Ultra Carry made things a little warm, first time I tried that too, Who'd a thunk a shorter barrel could cause a problem? :what:

Ported barrels are a defenite NO for me for defensive purposes.
When I start giving Jarrett or Leatham a run for their money, I'll consider porting for competitive purposes.

Smoke

[another okie]

I have a ported Taurus 85. One of my buddies has a non-ported. I perceive a lot of recoil difference. I have not noticed any loss of night vision. You'd think there must be some, but it happens so fast that maybe I'm not noticing it. The ported gasses do go in a V shape around the sights, so if you are looking directly at the sights and target they're not directly in your line of vision, at least with this gun. I don't have any other ported guns. If there is some loss of night vision I find the tradeoff for quicker follow up shots acceptable.

The biggest factor in flash and loss of night vision is the type of ammo, not the porting. Find a low-flash ammo. Until you check it, you will not believe how much difference there is among brands of ammo. Cor-Bon and Proload are often low-flash, but it varies from caliber to caliber how much flash suppressant they put in. The only way to know is to shoot in the dark and write down which ones are brighter.

[cratz2]

I owned a ported Taurus 38 (very light weight CHULT version) and I feel that the porting helps a bit... I'd still rather put up with a bit of extra flip or recoil than having the holes there on a carry gun most likely to be shot at less than full arms length.

Also owned a comped Witness in 40. It was plenty accurate so I'd have to guess that the comp/ports didn't have much of an adverse effect on the accuracy. But it also meant that I would never carry it... ended up with about a 1.5" longer slide than a standard full size Witness or CZ.

Buddy of mine that has a G29 and shoots Georgia Arms ammo also has one of those barrels that's about .75" longer and has two or three port slits... I know I can tell the difference between the unported and the ported barrels. Not that it really makes the gun a really great pleasure to shoot, and isn't likely to make a shooter tolerate one barrel while not being able to stand the other barrel, but if trying to rip off three shots ASAP and stay reasonably on target, the ported barrel absolutely makes that easier.

Overall, I'd rather not have ports on a carry gun, but I wouldn't be deathly afraid of a carry gun that was ported.

[dairycreek]

Not only for getting your face blasted but also because I just hate to clean them dadgum little holes. Good shooting;)

[Standing Wolf]

When did barrel porting become a means of greater accuracy?

In general, the more recoil, the less accuracy, especially on subsequent shots.

[Kurt S.]

I often carry a Taurus like the one cratz2 was talking about. I'll have to try shooting it from a retention position to see what happens. I have compared recoil side-by-side with my full weight S&W M36 and the recoil from the Taurus is noticeably lighter, despite the difference in weight. I tried Gold Dot 125 Grain +p's, 158 Grain LHPs, and 130 Grain FMJs.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

My P229 in 357sig has enough flash (and loud) without adding to it by porting it. Never seen a ported SiG, though. Mine works just fine the way I have it now, though. I wouldn't screw mine up on a whim.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[George Hill]

When firing a ported gun from retention, the trick is to rotate the top of the gun away from you so you.
This will require a lot of training and conditioning to avoid any powderburns and new tatoos on your side or in your armpit.
Such things might prove helpfull on full sized magnums... but on a PDW I wouldn't bother with them myself. As noted before... they are really not doing much for you anyways.

[Sean Smith]

In general, the more recoil, the less accuracy, especially on subsequent shots.

Better not tell that to silouette shooters and handgun hunters. :D

[Walosi]

I swore I was going to stay out of these "port storm" threads, but they're almost as much fun as bear threads. My best "fightin' carry gun" is a tuned, MagnaPorted 2 1/2" 686. I have fired a variety of the main carry loads through it, under different conditions, and found that both the pros and cons, while there, have been, well, over-emphasized.
1) NOISE - a round that produces 40,000 lbs. of pressure also produces a given amount of sound. Dunno decibel range, but a ported gun redirects enough of it upward to give the perception of more noise. A 40,000 round is "plugs and muffs" loud indoors or out.
2) FLASH - the "brightest" round I have fired in .357 is the 125 gr. Remington rm357M1. You can fire this round in a darkened range, and never notice the flash from the ports. Why? The bright fans from the BC gap and the fireball from the muzzle wash it out completely.
3) BLAST - it is there. I've shot it form the pocket of and old, ragged nylon windbreaker. Hard to tell whether the blast from the muzzle or BC gap does the nost damage. The cotton pocket lining showed black marks from the ports, but no holes. Firing the gun with an old target draped along my arm, and over the gun, makes confetti, and a shredded section of about 4 sq. in. over the ports. With the target paper about 18" above the ports, the damage is some 40% of the damage at near contact. I know, that isn't scientific. If you want scientific, drape a wet 'phone book over the ports :rolleyes:
4) DEBRIS - soot, with jacketed bullets. Lead bullets spit more, as the bullet base (depending on hardness, pressure, etc.) is upset while passing the ports. Accuracy, in my gun, is lousy with lead, very good with jacketed.
5) RECOIL and MUZZLE FLIP - I've shot mine next to an un-ported twin. Felt recoil is only slightly reduced. Flip is greatly reduced, and worth having the porting done, for my uses. After a great deal of practice, I don't "recover" for the next shot. Everything is still there and in focus for the next shot. If I can just fight off the "blinking eye reflex", I won't even lose the front sight.

That is just my experience, for the six years I've been shooting the gun. Adjustments can be made for some of these "problems" such as using flash-suppressed ammo. Most of the premium grade ammo sold as Personal Defense Ammo has a flash suppressent. My gun, my experience. YMMV, Watch out for Low Bridges, Keep the Faith, and Happy Trails, but keep shooting :)

[shep854]

The responses have been very enlightening. I've never shot a ported/comped gun, but I can easily see how muzzle flip can be reduced. I've also read reports that the flash in low-light conditions is actually above line-of-sight when shooting at arm's length. What is surprising is that some of you have shot from a close-in retention position with little discomfort. I suppose that can vary with gun and load used.

That said, I'll amend my opinion from "opposed to" to "personally uncomfortable with."

Thanks all.

[BluesBear]

I do agree that Mag-na-Ports trapazoidal vents do more to control muzzle flip than just drilling three holes on each side of the front sight. Mag-na-Ports are easier to clean too.

[magsnubby]

I agree with Walosi pretty much point for point. I have a Taurus 606 ported 2 1/2 in .357. It's been my CCW since '99. Porting only redirects the recoil, it dosen't really reduce it. Mine has almost no muzzle flip, it comes stright back. It's actually more pleasant to shoot than my Ruger SP101.

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

A revolver in the retention position.

Hmmm. What about the cylinder gap? I see much more flash (and soot and metal) from there than the ports. Well, except for P95s raging lunatic.

I have ported and unported revos and autos. The porting does help with recoil and muzzle flip.

I'll take my chances with burns. Accuracy may be more important :)

[riddleofsteel]

The effect of the Hybraports on my SP101 shooting full house 125 grain Remington or Federal SJHP's on the first shot is negligable. However, the effects on the next four shots are extreme.
Having fired the same hot rounds from a non-ported SP101 and a Hybraported SP101 I can tell you this;

1. I can tell little, if any, difference in either of the firebreathing little monsters as far as flash or potential damage to clothing ect. The front of a snub nose .357 is a pretty dangerous place ports or not.

2. I can put all five rounds in the ten ring rapid fire with my Hybraported SP101. With the non-ported model I can do a vertical string centered on the target at best.

I will continue to select my Wegand "Tame the Beast" conversion (with ports) of the SP101 .357 DAO over the non-ported one when I reach for revolver to conceal.

[Marcus]

I often carry my Mag-na-ported 1006 10mm with no reservations. Shooting at dusk with 175gr. Silvertips the flash from the ports is just barely perceptible,the muzzle flash drowns it out. That really isn`t bad either. As far as firing from retention positions goes I`ve always trained to rotate the gun slightly away from my body to help prevent the slide from catching on clothing anyway. A bonus is that it points the ports away also. A slight cant is all it takes. Other than it being a bit louder when fired under a roof I don`t even notice the ports. They do cut down on muzzle flip,if not recoil. I`m able to keep full power loads on target just about as fast as I could FBI loads in my 10mm Witness. Marcus