Porting on a SD gun is bad

[HiWayMan]

I recently aquired a Taurus M606 .357 snub nose with porting in a trade. I currently own a Taurus 651, also a .357 snub, without porting.

[/rant on/]
So there I was.....

practicing some SD drills at dusk last night. First problem, the muzzle flash from the porting blinded me worse than from my non-ported model. That really wasn't a surprise I guess. However, the second problem arose when I was doing some hip shooting. Thank God I was wearing my shooting glasses, because this little beast was blowing powder and shards of who-knows-what out of that porting and directly into my face.

I had never given it consideration before, but why would a manufacturer even offer this as an option in their line of self defense guns. This feature is just plain hazardous to the user. When the BG is close the last thing I want to have to worry about is if I'm going to lose my vision if I pull the trigger.
[/rant off/]

Does anyone see a purpose for this porting, or am I just getting bent out of shape over nothing?

 

[Old Fuff]

Nope ...

In my opinion you are right. I have, and sometimes carry Taurus revolvers, but not one of them has a ported barrel. I believe the purpose of the porting came about when they went to ultra-light revolvers chambered to use magnum cartridges - something else I don't carry either.

So now that I've seconded your motion stick to your guns. (Pun intended).

 

[P. Plainsman]

The rampant porting is the main thing that keeps me from considering Taurus snubbies; that, and the fact that so many of them are titanium.

I don't want ports on any revolver under 4" barrel length.

It's a pity, since no one has done more than Taurus in recent years to keep the chronically underserved big-bore snubby CCW market supplied. They've made five-shot .44 Specials, .45 Colts, .45 ACPs, . . . even .41 Mag titanium snubbies for the mentally ill. (Just kidding. ) The "ribber" grips on the Taurus Trackers function excellently. In short, Taurus has great ideas -- but they need to chill with all the porting!

 

[Black Snowman]

I picked up one of the Ti 455 in 45 ACP from CDNN recently. I'll probably use it as a CCW when I want something light to carry. 4" barrel, no porting and fixed sights. Regulated for 185 gr ammo.

Now that I've cleaned the sand out of the action it functions reliably. With so little weight you have to push the cylidner all the way open. Don't have to worry about battering the crane though.

The 2 inch stainless is also available without porting but all the others (4" and 6") are porting only.

I had a 669 and the only thing I didn't like about it was the comp. It made it real soft shooting but it also made it harder to clean. Patches would keep getting stuck in the chamber of the comp. This is more than the simple holes they have on the snubbies. Much more effective at reducing recoil and less flash. Take up a lot of space though. Can't really do a comp on a 2" barrel.

Defense, give me a solid barrel. If I need faster follow-up shots, I'll practice more

 

[sgt127]

Try this. You will have to reprogram yourself a little but... When you draw and go to the "hip Shooting" position, lock your fist into the bottom of your ribcage and rotate the gun 45 degrees outward in one motion. In other words, the ports will be blowing out to your side. I have taught this for years as an alternative to the tradional "Chapman speed rock". three advantages, if you are shooting an auto, theres no chance of the slide getting caught up in your jacket, in a sleeve etc and the brass goes straight down, no chance of it jumping back up at you. With ports, the bad stuff go's away from you. Its also very secure and snatch resistant. I've used this technique for years to simulate touching distance draw and fire drills. I haven't found a downside to it for me anyway. Good luck.

 

[crawfish]

. . . even .41 Mag titanium snubbies for the mentally ill. (Just kidding. )

I are one of these . I have a 425SSH4. I have it most of the times I carry.

stg127. I use to teach dependents when I was in the USN a two handed hold with both elbows tucked in. Puts the muzzle almost at center mass and is very stable for a newbe under stress. The first time I shot the 425 that way, first round I knew that would never work and I just naturally fell into the hold you describe. Only down side is the muzzle blast would rip you ear off in a no hearing protection situation. Hell you don’t hear the blast anyway during those times. I sure didn’t but people kept telling me to stop yelling.

 

[stans]

For years I have contended that porting was bad for defensive weapons, but many poo poo my thoughts on the matter. Porting is fine for competition and hunting guns, but as you have discovered, it can be a problem for defensive weapons.

 

[BluesBear]

Finally glad to see I am not alone in my disdain of ported short barrels.

I have owned several Taurus snubs all without porting. After shooting several that were ported I have sworn to myself to never own a ported one.

My not so humble opinion is that is you HAVE to have ports in a gun to make it even remotely shootable than maybe you need a different launching platform. But then I think an all steel j-frame is plenty light enough already.

Several of you out there in THR-land who have been chatting with me on the telephone these past six months know how I really feel about Uberleitenâ„¢ and Testostaniumâ„¢ guns.

 

[Old Fuff]

I find myself to be in total agreement with "Da' Bear." I have noticed that of late Taurus is putting out some snubbies and even Trackers without the ports. I see this as a welcome development. Maybe they got the word.

 

[tc300mag1]

I dont know why ports would be a bad thing When ya shoot the bad guy you also set him on fire he wont be hard for the cops to find ... look for the shot burning guy

 

[HSMITH]

Set screws, and permanent loc-tite. Never done it myself but I would before I lived with a ported revolver.

 

[Standing Wolf]

All my carry revolvers are ported. As far as I'm concerned, accuracy is paramount. Everything else can be dealt with after the accuracy has been delivered.

 

[Smoke]

Duh.

Smoke

 

[DHart]

I agree... no ports for me. Ports blow! ;-)

 

[Dr.Rob]

Porting is just fine if you like setting your OWN clothes on fire/powder burns etc.

I'd rather throw all that hot gas DOWNRANGE at wahtever I'm shooting at.

Heck shooting my snubby from the hip is pretty explosive without ports.

 

[FunGunner]

Well, a trick that was shown to me by Sully from Defensive Edge was when drawing on a BG at arms length range is to fire with the palm up from the waist. Meaning the ports are now at a different angle and the porting may blow upward and outward, instead of in your face. May not mean much, but just a thought on ported snubbies. I haven't shot many snubs myself but I have been looking at that sp101 real hard for a while now, and never get one with ports.

 

[Trebor]

I only want one hole in my barrel. Any more are unneeded.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

Ports can be a real pain to clean as well . . .

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
-------------------------------
I only want one hole in my barrel. Any more are unneeded.
-------------------------------

Amen!

If it needs porting (or a muzzle brake), I don't need it.