Angle Porting: Yay or Nay?

[ArMa]

I was looking at my superx2 wondering if there was anyway to spend money on it and angle porting came to mind... its not that my shotgun has too much recoil, I'd just like it for the purpose of reducing muzzle rise. So anyone have any pros or cons?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

having flame shoot out of the barrel right by your front sight is a con, as well as increased blast and noise.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Nay. Too much for too little.

If you're looking for ways to spend money on that good shotgun, get a fitting and have a stock made to your specs.

Or, have a good smith take that trigger down to a clean sub 4 lb pull.

Or if it's barrel work you want, try an overbore and a long cone.

All of these will help direct that shot to the target in comfort, first priroity.

 

[HSMITH]

It works, no doubt about it and Angle Porting is one of the best. Cuts muzzle rise significantly and recoil enough to notice.

The downside is noise, and lots of it. Low light conditions and heavy loads will also blow fire right up into your line of vision.

I use light shot charge weights to lower muzzle rise, and better shooting to make up for less pellets, don't mean to sound like a dink when I say that but it really is the way I feel about it. Light recoil means more meaningful practice so skills mature faster.

BTW, I have a 7/8 oz load that is cycling my 3.5" SuperX2 as well as heavy target/handicap type loads. Recoil is OPTIONAL in shotgun shooting, pick how much you LIKE and see if you can get the job done with that level. My 8 pound gas operated X2 and 7/8 ounce of shot is nearly recoil free.........

 

[TrapperReady]

HSMITH is correct about the heavy loads. However, with light loads (as used in many clay games) it's not much of an issue. I shoot trap year-round, and shoot quite a bit in low light conditions (the lights at the club take forever to charge up).

Anyway, I've got a Browning 425 with factory porting on both (30") barrels. I've never once noticed a problem with flames. In fact, my wife borrowed it for a few rounds, and I watched quite carefully to see if there was any excess flame. There was none. This was all with 1 1/8 oz loaded around 1150 fps.

I did watch a guy with a similar gun "use up" some old hunting loads he'd found in the basement. They were obviously loaded hotter, and he did have some flames kicking out of the ports.

I can't speak too much to the increased noise, as my hearing is already starting to go, so I double up on the protection. Everything sounds pretty mild to me.

IIRC, Angle Porting isn't all that expensive for a single barrel. I even think that they've got some portable (pun?) machinery and can do it on-site at some of the larger events. The other stuff that Dave mentioned would probably end up costing more than the porting (although the felt effects would likely be greater). The stock-fitting would cost a LOT more.

 

[45auto]

I could never notice the difference and I've shot two, almost identical guns(if you can believe that), one with porting and one without.
An experienced friend of mine does feel a difference, so... that's why their still in business.

I shot them in skeet doubles where after the reduced muzzle flip(?) bbls are stopped in mid air, change direction and fire the second shot at the opposite end of the field- I'm supposed to notice??

I don't know how any one could notice reduced muzzle jump or at least maintain the reduction helped in shooting doubles in skeet or trap or any multiple bird presentation in different directions.

Single target presentations with two shots would be the best test. I've done that, but with two different guns so not a real test.
Again, nothing I could notice.

I may not be the best test subject anyway. Several of my friends are still trying to convince me that their 7- 7 1/2 lb GAS autos have less felt recoil than my 8- 8 1/2 lb O/U's and I'm still not buying that!