Are people blowing these guns out of proportion? I went *display case* shopping yesterday with a friend and eyeballed a very nice Springfield compact sized V10. He said that ported guns have too much upward flash that affect your sight when making consecutive shots. What about using low flash ammo?
Compensated/ported handguns
- Thread starter Spirex288
- Start date
Well, I just bought a V10 Ultra Compact this week and I got back from the range about an hour ago. In low light, they have quite a flash. However, it really isn't enough to blind you or make it impossible to regain your sight picture. In fact, it isn't as obnoxious as the Smith 629 ported Trail Boss I had. I jokingly referred to the blast as a quarter stick of dynamyte going off in your face. I was over stating the issue.
There are advantages and disadvantages to porting, but they aren't the beast some would have you believe. The porting does reduce the muzzle flip and I kind of like that. I have no problem with consecutive shots.
There are advantages and disadvantages to porting, but they aren't the beast some would have you believe. The porting does reduce the muzzle flip and I kind of like that. I have no problem with consecutive shots.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Spirex288:
I haven't personally fired a ported handgun but the horror stories he told made me think twice. He fired a Glock 19C and the gun literally sprayed him in the face everytime he shot. It may be just that gun and not everyone that is ported.
How is the accuracy of the V10?[/quote]
I'm a great believer in porting of larger calibers (.357 Mag or above). This applies especially to revolvers.
9mm's just don't recoil that much. I have picked up a Glock 19C (got a super deal on it), but would have preferred the non-compensated model.
Ported guns are louder. As far as solid matter being ejected from them...never felt any, but the G19 manual does mention this.
I haven't personally fired a ported handgun but the horror stories he told made me think twice. He fired a Glock 19C and the gun literally sprayed him in the face everytime he shot. It may be just that gun and not everyone that is ported.
How is the accuracy of the V10?[/quote]
I'm a great believer in porting of larger calibers (.357 Mag or above). This applies especially to revolvers.
9mm's just don't recoil that much. I have picked up a Glock 19C (got a super deal on it), but would have preferred the non-compensated model.
Ported guns are louder. As far as solid matter being ejected from them...never felt any, but the G19 manual does mention this.
I have a ported Taurus M605 .357 MAG.
The recoil of this pistol was so fierce, that it tore the webbing of my shooting hand the first time I shot it. It went back to the Taurus custom shop to get ported, the very next day! It is fine now.
The pistol, and I are great friends now!!! I also recomend porting for snub pistols of large caliber.
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Just as there is no such thing as too much fun,
there is no such thing as owning just one gun!!!
Off my meds (quit smoking), armed to the teeth, and loose on an unsuspecting society!!!
The recoil of this pistol was so fierce, that it tore the webbing of my shooting hand the first time I shot it. It went back to the Taurus custom shop to get ported, the very next day! It is fine now.
The pistol, and I are great friends now!!! I also recomend porting for snub pistols of large caliber.------------------
Just as there is no such thing as too much fun,
there is no such thing as owning just one gun!!!
Off my meds (quit smoking), armed to the teeth, and loose on an unsuspecting society!!!
I have a ported 629 and like it a lot. I have not noticed any blinding gases. The recoil reduction is a plus.
I have shot ported Glocks and 1911s. While the recoil reduction is a plus, in every case there was noticable flash at some point and time. I would not recommend them for defensive/carry roles because of this. Remember, Murphy's law says you wil be blinded in that dark alley when you need your sight the most.
Erik
I have shot ported Glocks and 1911s. While the recoil reduction is a plus, in every case there was noticable flash at some point and time. I would not recommend them for defensive/carry roles because of this. Remember, Murphy's law says you wil be blinded in that dark alley when you need your sight the most.
Erik
Can anyone tell me HOW MUCH better a compensated pistol is in recoil reduction (e.g. with a "hybrid" compensator) than just a simple porting job? Is it that much difference? For example, would a hybrid compensator make the gun much more rapidly shootable than say a Springfield V10 or V16? Seems to me that porting ONLY reduces muzzle flip, but does nothing to reduce actual recoil, whereas a true compensator reduces both, no?
Kentucky Rifle
New member
My wife's new Taurus Total Ti .38 snubbie is ported. She says that she can't really tell any difference between that and my S&W Chief's Special. However, she is using non +P loads. I think that if she was using the +P she would be able to sense a difference. Also, for some reason, the Taurus has less of a muzzle blast.
Will
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Mendacity is the system we live in.
Will
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Mendacity is the system we live in.
From the reveiws that I've read in the gun mags, they seem to reflect the same points...that porting DOES help reduce flip and to a lesser degree felt recoil. The degrees of which are dependent upon the gun, type of porting and ammo. Therefore, nobody can give a standard percent figure for the amount of decrease in recoil; unless they include all of the previous information, which even then is somewhat subjective.
The two only drawbacks, three if you use a real expansion chamber port. That is, an expansion chamber port will add some weight to your carry piece and might affect pointing characteristics/balance. This won't be a problem w/the Magnaport or variations to the "whale blow hole" type of porting: But then again, they won't work nearly as effectively as large expansion chamber ports.
1. Porting can cause gasses to eject out the ports toward the face. This has already been addressed. Only wish to add that this depends upon the direction in which the ports are drilled....Some are canted back, while others are canted forward. Others straight up.
2. Porting increases the loudness to the one holding the gun. Why? Because the explosive gasses are directed closer to the ears, rather than away. I do not know if this matters in a small room where sound reflection is high.
As to the issue of muzzle flash:
Those who have experimented w/the same guns and ammo combinations out of ported and non-ported barrels have said the following. Night vision is pretty much gone after the first shot out of either barrel. It does not matter if it is ported or not. If the flash is enough to cause the pupils to constrict and night vision to be lost w/a comp, it w/do the same w/out a comp. You have muzzle flash from both. The amount of flash is somewhat insignificant considering that recovery time is still going to take a long time in relation to a combative scenareo.
The amount of ambient light available, is a factor, however, if the situation is bright enough to not cause temporary light induced blindness, the extra flash from porting is pretty much ignored if you are used to shooting the gun on a regular basis. It may be noticably more if you are new to the gun, or paying attention to the flash, but eventually it is a moot point as you become accustomed to shooting it. Hope this helps.
robert
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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)
The two only drawbacks, three if you use a real expansion chamber port. That is, an expansion chamber port will add some weight to your carry piece and might affect pointing characteristics/balance. This won't be a problem w/the Magnaport or variations to the "whale blow hole" type of porting: But then again, they won't work nearly as effectively as large expansion chamber ports.
1. Porting can cause gasses to eject out the ports toward the face. This has already been addressed. Only wish to add that this depends upon the direction in which the ports are drilled....Some are canted back, while others are canted forward. Others straight up.
2. Porting increases the loudness to the one holding the gun. Why? Because the explosive gasses are directed closer to the ears, rather than away. I do not know if this matters in a small room where sound reflection is high.
As to the issue of muzzle flash:
Those who have experimented w/the same guns and ammo combinations out of ported and non-ported barrels have said the following. Night vision is pretty much gone after the first shot out of either barrel. It does not matter if it is ported or not. If the flash is enough to cause the pupils to constrict and night vision to be lost w/a comp, it w/do the same w/out a comp. You have muzzle flash from both. The amount of flash is somewhat insignificant considering that recovery time is still going to take a long time in relation to a combative scenareo.
The amount of ambient light available, is a factor, however, if the situation is bright enough to not cause temporary light induced blindness, the extra flash from porting is pretty much ignored if you are used to shooting the gun on a regular basis. It may be noticably more if you are new to the gun, or paying attention to the flash, but eventually it is a moot point as you become accustomed to shooting it. Hope this helps.
robert
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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)
I always felt that for self-defense purposes, a ported gun is not a good idea for a couple of reasons:<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>There is always the possibility that you might end up in a struggle over your weapon and be forced to fire at point blank range. Depending on the angle of things, you could shoot your attacker and at the same time have flames flying in your face -- burning or even blinding you. And if the attacker has a partner, you're not going to be in any condition to that on the second attacker.
<LI>Most crimes are committed at night so that the BGs can use the cover of darkness. If you fire at an intrudor in your home in almost complete darkness (not low light but almost no light -- after making sure that your family is accounted for), the flash will blind you for at least 2 or 3 seconds (maybe more) before you can start seeing things clearly again. If you miss (or even if you didn't) the intrudor can use that time to attack you with either a gun, or knife, or whatever, before you had a chance to fully regain your sight. Remember, a 21 foot room can be covered in a second or two. </UL>
I think that ported guns have a place for hunting, as a trail gun, and for shooting under circumstances where you have more control over things (meaning, the lighting, the distance that your target is away from you, etc.), but not for self defense purposes.
If someone wants a .357 for self defense but can't handle the gun unless it is ported, then they should stick to a .38 special. A well-placed shot with a .38 is better than a well placed shot with a .357 that might leave you burned,, blind or temporarily unable to see and unable to defend against a second attack.
If a .38 special is too much, then there's always the .32 mag (and so forth down the line). Bigger is not better if you can't handle it.
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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD.
<LI>There is always the possibility that you might end up in a struggle over your weapon and be forced to fire at point blank range. Depending on the angle of things, you could shoot your attacker and at the same time have flames flying in your face -- burning or even blinding you. And if the attacker has a partner, you're not going to be in any condition to that on the second attacker.
<LI>Most crimes are committed at night so that the BGs can use the cover of darkness. If you fire at an intrudor in your home in almost complete darkness (not low light but almost no light -- after making sure that your family is accounted for), the flash will blind you for at least 2 or 3 seconds (maybe more) before you can start seeing things clearly again. If you miss (or even if you didn't) the intrudor can use that time to attack you with either a gun, or knife, or whatever, before you had a chance to fully regain your sight. Remember, a 21 foot room can be covered in a second or two. </UL>
I think that ported guns have a place for hunting, as a trail gun, and for shooting under circumstances where you have more control over things (meaning, the lighting, the distance that your target is away from you, etc.), but not for self defense purposes.
If someone wants a .357 for self defense but can't handle the gun unless it is ported, then they should stick to a .38 special. A well-placed shot with a .38 is better than a well placed shot with a .357 that might leave you burned,, blind or temporarily unable to see and unable to defend against a second attack.
If a .38 special is too much, then there's always the .32 mag (and so forth down the line). Bigger is not better if you can't handle it.
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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD.
I have a V10, that I bought back in 97.It's my primary summer carry gun. The ports are effective in keeping the muzzle down and the recoil is similar to a 5" 1911. The arguments/myths about muzzle flash blinding you/burning you/disorienting you are silly. I've shot this pistol and any of a number of compensated IPSC pistols in low light/darkness and none of them come close to the flames that come out of every orifice of a .357 snubby. No one says don't carry those, do they....?