Porting on a .357 mag. Good, bad, indifferent?

[Boats]

After waaaaayyy too much consideration, I have decided that my next handgun will be a revolver, my first in 15 years. First time around was with a six inch Colt Python I inherited from my grandfather. That revo is now with my kid brother because I never warmed up to its muzzle heavy feel.

My next .357 mag will be a three incher. After hefting many 2.5, 3, 4, & 5 inch wheelguns and buying nothing, I decided that the three incher was the best balanced for my tastes without compromising too much velocity or ejecting ability.

One huge problem has been an overabundance of stainless revos on the market. Since I do not like bright guns, my eyes have gravitated to a wheelgun I have only seen in pictures--an S&W 586-L-PC. This is a fantastic looking piece, with the right balance of weight, color, capacity, and "tacticality" (front tritium insert). My other contender is a Ruger GPF-331. I could save money with this choice, but I lose a round and I like the cylinder catch and looks of the Smith better.

My only questions are concering porting and price of the Smith. I have never owned a ported version of anything. The concept of it is sound and reduced muzzle flip is always welcomed, but what is porting like in reality? Is it a huge distraction to have gases ported into view? It is not exactly like I will just find one of these laying about to test somewhere, so on a related note, what do you think the OTD price of one of these revos is? Can you suggest an alternative to the 586-L package other than the aforementioned Ruger? Remember, three inch full lug barrels in blue over carbon steel only please.

 

[Gordon]

I used to port everything, 4 or 5 .357s. Now I wouldn,t think of it on anything other than .454 casuall.

 

[stans]

I am not a fan of porting on a handgun that will be used as a defensive weapon. Firing such a weapon close to your body can send hot gases and particles staight up toward your face. Porting does help on a handgun that is to be used in competitions such as bowling pin or IPSC where fast shooting is required.

 

[Bulldozer]

I really liked porting for the reduced recoil effects until I fired a 2-inch 357 (Taurus M617CH2) as soon as it cleared the beltline from the hip on a whim. Scorched the hell out of a perfectly good Izod golf shirt, a nice Nautica belt, and chinos. To make matters worse, the wife was there behind me -- and still "ribs" me about the incident.

 

[caz223]

The only revolvers I would port are in the super magnum class and already have 8 inch barrels. (Power ported.)
On autos, a power ported 220 sport isn't in bad taste at all. (Steel plates, etc.)
On a 3 inch gun, porting is kinda counter-productive.
On a 3 inch magnum used for self-defense, it's really not wise.

 

[HSMITH]

Porting on a gun that is strictly for use on the range only. I dearly hate porting on a handgun, I see no reason for it what so ever. I feel if you need or want porting you are looking at too large/powerful of a handgun.

If you ever needed that handgun you could be blinded and/or deafened by it, especially if fired in a hallway or something.

Porting makes them insanely loud, and with most all loads the muzzle flash in your direct line of vision will blind you temporarily. You could be permanently injured by the noise easily, and also by the flash if circumstances are just right. It would beat dying but I see no reason to risk it.

 

[prisoner6]

I have a 3 inch ported gun, and dearly love it. After reading here about all of the horrible things that happen to everyone when they shoot ported guns, a friend and I took my 3 inch ported and 3 inch non ported to the range to see how bad it really was. After shooting both, we found the ported gun to be much faster for follow up shots as expected. The ported gun was also much louder. As for the rest, the flash and gases from the barrel-cylinder gap were enough to outdo the flash from the ports. Would I put the ported gun knowingly right under my chin and fire it? Nope. Would I with the other? Nope.
Just a matter of taste I guess.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've had several guns ported and crowned by http://www.magnaport.com

It helps reduce perceived recoil, and doesn't adversely affect accuracy. My two-inch carry gun is ported. I assume if I fire it close to clothing, I'm going to end up having to throw away the clothing—but easier to replace clothing than my life.

I still haven't found an easy way to clean the ports. I soak a length of string in Hoppe's No. 9, push it through a port, and pull it back and forth. It gets them reasonably clean, but somebody ought to make a gadget for the task.

 

[Prodigalshooter]

I had a Taurus Tracker with porting, it did seem to lessen recoil a bit , but was much louder and had a lot more muzzle flash. I decided I didn't care for it after awhile, gave it to my son.
I'd say it's a personal thing, though on a heavy, large caliber hunting revolver, it would probably be an asset.
My .02.

Standing Wolf, go to the local tobacco shop, where they sell pipes and pipe cleaners. They sell a little (tiny) bottle brush looking thing, that I used to good effect with my ports (and some Hoppes).

 

[joeoim]

Porting

I shot the first ported pistol I ever saw. A Smith .357 6".
Same as I was carrying. I was startled by how much louder it was, but it held the muzzle down. The wind was blowing and on my fourth shot I got a face full of burning powder. That was enough for me.
Some one on TFL (I think) posted that they had an attempted carjacking (trying to get in passenger door) and he pulled his CCW that was ported and reached over and shot the BG. His wife (in passenger seat) got burned and deafened from the gasses coming out the ports.
I've passed up some good deals on hanguns through the years because they were ported.

YMMV

Joe

 

[bpisler]

I had a taurus 606 2" 357 and except for the flash from the ports with slow burning powder it wasn't good for much.