Porting on a .38 Snub - yea or nay?

[Dollar An Hour]

I've been snubnose revolver shopping and ran across a Taurus 851CHULT today. The cylinder is Ti not sure about the barrel, and although the website says they aren't factory ported, this one was, and I saw a magazine test that had it ported as well, so some of them certainly are.

The gun felt nice, I liked the trigger which is rare on small-frame revolvers. This trigger was better than any new Centennial S&W I've seen (not saying much) as they're incredibly heavy.

On one hand, seems porting is a good idea to lighten up the recoil from shooting +P ammo. On the other, I'm wondering if it's not worth the extra muzzle flash and bark? On the range is one thing, but a SD scenario in the dark would be ugly, right?

Or is it not such a big deal with a .38 snub which already has some degree of flash?

 

[pauli]

*i* wouldn't want it ported.

 

[scubie02]

I thought they did come ported from the factory now, but I have't looked at one recently. Most people seem to say they prefer the taurus triggers on the snubbie this days over the smith's. I should check one of the new one out sometime (my oldest snubbie is avtually a taurus but have't handled one of the new snubbies). I personally wouldn't opt for a ported barrel on a snubbie, but I guess if it comes with one it comes with one. They do tame recoil, but you're also losing some power, getting more blast, etc. Seems to be the rage with taurus these days though--my tracker 357 has it.

 

[1 old 0311]

It will bark LOUD, and give a BIG flash. Can tou try it out before you buy it?

Kevin

 

[Dollar An Hour]

It will bark LOUD, and give a BIG flash. Can tou try it out before you buy it?

Nope. Not worried about the bark at the range, and I don't shoot at night as far as the flash. But the whole point of a CC gun is that it could very well be used in low light situations and I doubt hearing protection would be in place.

Taurus is really into porting their guns, that's for sure.

A guy two benches over had a ported .300 Win Mag rifle... Man, I felt like grenades were going off.

I wanted to like the Centennials, but those triggers are AWFUL.

 

[Skofnung]

In a word:

Nay

 

[grimjaw]

Nay. I wouldn't think porting on a .38 snub is going to make it that much more controllable, but I don't have any evidence to back up that claim.

jmm

 

[Fatelvis]

nay

 

[Dollar An Hour]

So, if I don't want a Centennial because of crap trigger, and the porting is a bad idea I guess I either need to find a taurus that isn't ported, or find a used centennial/bodyguard with a better trigger.

Thanks.

 

[DHart]

A big "no way" on ports for a defense handgun.

 

[Brian Williams]

Not only NO, but NO

 

[Old Fuff]

I have several Taurus snubbies, and none of them are ported. In the '85 series I believe that the all-steel (blued or stainless) and Airweight (aluminum frame/stainless cylinder) models are available unported. Also check the fine print. They seem to be moving away from porting - at least on some models.

 

[Standing Wolf]

All my carry revolvers are ported.

If I ever need to fire one in self-defense, I'm not going to care about muzzle flash, muzzle blast, or the possibility of setting a jacket afire. I'm not going to care about anything but stopping the criminal instantly, if not sooner.

I've found porting reduces perceived recoil, and the less of that I have to contend with, the more accurately and quickly I can shoot.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I vote NO

 

[Jamie C.]

NO for me as well.

Snubbies produce enough flash without adding any extra holes in the barrel, and I have a hard time hitting what I can't see.


J.C.

 

[bpisler]

I had a taurus model 606 that was
ported,i could not tell much if
any difference between the 38's
i tried.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I considered getting my SP101 ported initially since that seems to be all Gemini Custom offers, but considering the length of the barrel and that there's truly no need for porting, I've decided to have Cylinder and Slide work on the gun's trigger - and nothing else - no porting, no beadblasting, zilch. I just can't figure why anyone would need to do that to a gun.

 

[rick_reno]

I wouldn't pay to get it ported because of the flash blinding at night, but if it's ported from the factory there isn't much you can do. Does anyone offer the service of undoing porting?

 

[HSMITH]

Insert emphatic profanity before "NO!!!!!" and you will have the answer I would give you if you asked me that question face to face. No porting on a handgun unless it is a compensated race gun for competition use only!!

 

[Obiwan]

No...in all cases...but especially this one

 

[Dollar An Hour]

If there seems to be an overwhelming majority of "NO" why did the folks at Taurus decide to do it? Do they think it'll sell guns to people who don't realize the downsides of porting a snubbie (flash & bang)?

 

[grimjaw]

If there seems to be an overwhelming majority of "NO" why did the folks at Taurus decide to do it?

Why manufacture a .17HMR snubnose revolver and advertise it as a concealed carry weapon?

Why does Taurus do any of the things it does? Maybe they intend to cash in on some trend, and porting the revolvers didn't cost that much.

jmm

 

[pinetree64]

NO! If you really like the gun and it is only available ported, so be it, but I wouldn't have a snubby ported.

 

[Old Fuff]

Taurus had a well known and highly respected pistolsmith heading up a custom shop operation for them. This gentleman was a strong proponent of porting, especially on lightweight guns chambered to use large or Magnum cartridges.

At the same time they were looking for something they could offer that Smith & Wesson in particular wasn't. From this perspective porting looked good. It wasn't particularly expensive to do, and it would set their line of product apart from those of competitors.

I think they are now starting to change their minds, at least when it comes to certain models. But changes usually don't happen quickly as long as they're parts (meaning barrels) that are ported and need to be used up. Also there are people that do like porting, and perhaps do pick Taurus because the model they are interested comes ported from the factory.

Mainly what they are trying to do is cut into S&W's market share, and to a lesser degree do the same with Ruger, (Note the new Taurus single action six-shooters and snubby big-bore revolver). If porting will help accomplish this they'll stay with porting. If not, future porting may be in doubt.

 

[BullRock]

I vote nay! I just purchased a Taurus .455, 4" Ti. ported. Why, I don't know! Price, I guess. I don't intend to carry it