Porting on a .38 Snub - yea or nay?

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Another NO vote... ported barrels vent very hot gasses up at very high velocities (that's the whole idea). At the extreme close ranges at which most defensive shooting occur, some sort of retention shooting position is usually warranted. Most of these leave the top of a 2" revolver barrel pointed towards part of the shooters anatomy. Now, a little flash burn might not be the end of the world if a BG is trying to bash your skull in with a claw hammer, but it really ruins a range day when your practicing, trust me.
Porting and/or compensators are best suited for competion guns and longer-barreled hunting-type revolvers that fire heavy loads. A case or two of ammo and proper technique will reduce felt reciol of a .38 snubbie more than any amount of porting, and ruin a lot fewer t-shirts!

DanO

 

[gunfan]

I vote

NO! It is a royal PITA for target practice, and in .38 S&W Special it won't help that much. I call it "gilding the lilly." It makes no sense.

Scott

 

[pezo]

I shoot magnum's out of snubbies and without porting . I say nay on the porting in .38, its a very easy round even in +p out of a snubbie. To much blast and possibly in your face if fired at close range with porting (defesne shooting.)

 

[B36]

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?

I have and do test guns by shooting them from jacket, coat pockets--do not want ported pocket guns!

 

[DHart]

Mastro... Gemini ports like crazy for one reason... it's a good profit center for Gemini. Some buyers think it makes for a cool and desireable package and will pay the money.

Ports can be beneficial on heavy magnum hunting guns, but for defense guns, they're a bad idea! Try selling a ported vs. unported used gun sometime... most buyers who know better will avoid them. Look at the responses in this thread!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Better to throw all that hot gas at the bad guy rather than up towards your face.

I don't like porting.

 

[model 649]

Why?

Josh