Should I have this S&W ported?

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20nickels

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Hi all,
I recently purchased a LNIB S&W 386 SC/S in 357 mag. It is an approximately 23 oz. gun and with the 2.5" barrel disappears nicely into the hip. Recoil isn't bad with 158 gr. XTP's under 5.1 of Unique, but is brutal with magnums which was expected.
I've read many conflicting opinions on compensating. Some love it, some hate the noise/flash and yet others claim it did not work for their gun. I do reload and shoot lead for practice though I could stick with jacketed if it gums up the comp too much. This may be a pipe dream, but I would like to load with mid to high magnum level 125-130 gr XTP's for SD with a low flash powder (suggestions please). I just assume that a light and fast bullet is needed to work the comp anyway. Tks ahead, Nickels.
 
Porting != compensators.

I've generally found that the first doesn't work while the other "kind of" works. Both appraisals are subjective and I couldn't back them up on a bet.

Straight porting seems to offer more flash and annoyance than compensators generally do IMO.

Put me down for "NO" and "no", for ports and comps, respectively.

However, honesty would compel me to note that I just bought a 629 with ports and have been having a good old time with a 627 with compensator. On the later, I prefer the comp to the whatever-it-is they give you to screw onto the barrel if you're not using the comp - it manages to actually look goofier than the comp does.
 
Ports and comps. Honestly, I didn't realize there was a difference. So comps are detachable and ports are just that, making holes?
 
The more you practice, the less the recoil will be noticed. Stay with the Unique load and gradually work into the magnum range.

I personally have no use for ported guns. If you can't handle the load, get a lighter one. With practice most loads are managable.

Good luck
 
Try this experiment. Imagine you are in a close quarters confrontation. Put your shooting hand on the middle of your chest and point your imaginary gun (or trigger finger) to the side. Think about where the flames will go when you fire a ported gun from that position.

I sold my ported carry guns after a tactical class in which it was very clear that at close quarters, I would have singed my beard if I did not hold the gun away from my body.
 
Ports and comps. Honestly, I didn't realize there was a difference. So comps are detachable and ports are just that, making holes?
Click to expand...

I'm no expert on the matter but I believe that comps have expansion chambers and may or may not be removable - more or less synonomous with "brake". The "porting" on certain Taurus models is actually closer to comps than simple porting. Comps work by capturing a portion of the "ejecta" which transfers forward momentum to the compensator.

FCSA did a series of tests some years back and found that the direction of the ports had diddle-all to do with the effectiveness. The Vais had ports full circumference and forward and worked better than most. 'Course what works for .50BMG might not be applicable to .357.
 
No way. I hate porting on revolvers - they are loud enough from the cylinder gap without adding porting. What if you ever have to shoot the gun without hearing protection? Or like the man said, belly shoot someone and get a face full of blast? Just use a load that you can shoot comfortably without overkill, or get a heavier gun. I've had crap fly in my face from the ports on a Taurus - it's obnoxious. I think that the Raging Bull would be one of my 3 or 5 favorite guns if it didn't have the ports - I'm trying to figure out how I can fill them in with steel somehow without screwing up the gun.
 
No! It's loud and something else to clean. Switch to 158gr LSWCHP .38 Special +Ps - they are all you need and more, but should be more controllable. A great carry round is the Remington R38S12 version, but the ballistically equivalent, but harder lead (... and a lot cheaper!) Georgia Arms variant in reloaded brass is great for the range. If that bothers you, try some Hogue .500 Magnum grips (S&W Accessories)... they'd look and work better than porting/comping!

Stainz
 
Looks like the Nays have it. Won't port.

Stainz, Do the 500 grips fit your L frame? Their website says so, but I though it was a misprint.
 
Here is my 296 sporting one of my two pair 0f .500 Magnum Hogues. They fit that L-frame perfectly. They feel great in recoil control, no more backstrap whack of course, but not so great for the pocket holster. Oddly, they fit the K/L/N & X-frames. Hmmm, rain today... grocery shopping is done (Senior Citizen discount day!)... I may try them on my 642 J-frame...

IMG_0713.jpg

Stainz
 
Magnaport is who I had in mind, but unfortunately I know so little about it that I appealed to the wheelgun hivemind.
 
If you port it you'll be sorry. I know. I had a S&W Model 19 ported years ago. This was my favorite revolver and I got caught up in the porting craze.

First, it made no noticeable difference in recoil, was a lot louder, if you didn't hold it at arm's length you would be peppered with powder and gas when you shot it, if your gun is stainless or nickel it will smoke up the front sight so you can't see it. I could go on and on about why not to port.

If you had some of the big bore hand cannons, maybe it would help with the recoil in those but the other problems would still be there. And, yeah, Larry Kelly at Mag-na-port did mine.
 
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