Is a ported gun that much louder?
- Thread starter KCabbage
- Start date
Regular Joe
New member
I really get bothered when I am forced to resort to physical science in refuting the opinions of others. Well, here goes:
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/40sw.html I'm linking to results for .40 S&W just because it has become so popular. Other calibers are listed below those tables. Let's assume that you have a Glock with a 5" barrel. Porting knocks you back to 3", which costs you an average of 10% of the power. That's not the end of it. There is another inch of rifled bore in front of the port. You stopped gaining velocity when you vented the gas through the port. This can only mean that the drag induced by that last inch of rifling will cost you even more velocity. Now, your ported service sized .40 is less powerful than a stock Glock 26, which was much more concealable to begin with.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/40sw.html I'm linking to results for .40 S&W just because it has become so popular. Other calibers are listed below those tables. Let's assume that you have a Glock with a 5" barrel. Porting knocks you back to 3", which costs you an average of 10% of the power. That's not the end of it. There is another inch of rifled bore in front of the port. You stopped gaining velocity when you vented the gas through the port. This can only mean that the drag induced by that last inch of rifling will cost you even more velocity. Now, your ported service sized .40 is less powerful than a stock Glock 26, which was much more concealable to begin with.
grumpycoconut
New member
You got a point there Critter but the bunny ears of doom could help you out if you were in a ground fight and you couldn't put muzzle to meat. Shove the top of the slide into any part of him and let fly. Muzzle gasses can be nasty. Or better yet, Evil Knuckle Head wraps his paw around your slide in a disarm attempt. BBQ fingers anyone? Either way, If my choice is between getting dead and getting a bit parbroiled I say give me mine medium rare.
Ya ever balance an empty cartridge box over the ports and crack one loose?
It may be dumb as dirt but it looks cool and is always good for a chuckle (I mean an object lesson on the evils of ported guns).
Ya ever balance an empty cartridge box over the ports and crack one loose?
It may be dumb as dirt but it looks cool and is always good for a chuckle (I mean an object lesson on the evils of ported guns).
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grumpycoconut
New member
Hey Joe,
[tongue in cheek] Who are you to intrude physics into a philosophical conversation? [/tongue in cheek]
So you lose a bit of kick but you gain control and speed of follow up shots. Me thinks I would rather not be shot with a rapid flurry of rapid and well aimed shots. Of course me also thinks I'd rather not be shot with even a slow flurry of well aimed shots. Getting shot just plain hurts. Don't ask me how I know this. (I might just tell you)
Either way I'm perfectly happy with my "C" and I will not allow your demon mathematical witchcraft sway me from my flaming bunny ear of doom induced bliss.
In a more scientific vein, I have to argue with your conclusion. Poking two little bitty holes in the top of the barrel is in no way equivalent to lopping off a few inches here and there. Gas may be vented upward but most if it will still try to get out of the big hole in the end of the pipe rather than try to squeeze thorough them little holes. That tells me that the bullet is still getting some push even past the vents. If I understood the data you linked us too correctly the test shows at worst a 200 fps difference between a 2" thompson contender barrel and a 4" "real gun" barrel. The data you present is interesting and informative and stuff but nowhere as catastrophic as all that.
Anybody out there have chrono numbers on 2 matched guns, one with ports and one without? I'm too lazy to look it up myself.
[tongue in cheek] Who are you to intrude physics into a philosophical conversation? [/tongue in cheek]
So you lose a bit of kick but you gain control and speed of follow up shots. Me thinks I would rather not be shot with a rapid flurry of rapid and well aimed shots. Of course me also thinks I'd rather not be shot with even a slow flurry of well aimed shots. Getting shot just plain hurts. Don't ask me how I know this. (I might just tell you)
Either way I'm perfectly happy with my "C" and I will not allow your demon mathematical witchcraft sway me from my flaming bunny ear of doom induced bliss.
In a more scientific vein, I have to argue with your conclusion. Poking two little bitty holes in the top of the barrel is in no way equivalent to lopping off a few inches here and there. Gas may be vented upward but most if it will still try to get out of the big hole in the end of the pipe rather than try to squeeze thorough them little holes. That tells me that the bullet is still getting some push even past the vents. If I understood the data you linked us too correctly the test shows at worst a 200 fps difference between a 2" thompson contender barrel and a 4" "real gun" barrel. The data you present is interesting and informative and stuff but nowhere as catastrophic as all that.
Anybody out there have chrono numbers on 2 matched guns, one with ports and one without? I'm too lazy to look it up myself.
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S&W-Keeper
New member
Oh yea,I shot my buddies .357mag. 2 1/2" model 66 today at the range. It is an attention getter. I have a snubbie ported .44mag.that will also make the people around you take notice.
You guys are great 
Even know porting a powerful gun sparks my curiousity, I think i'm going to pass for now.
I shot up some wet packs today with my fo-fo mag
and when I was done I figured hey I might as well rapid fire this beast and see what I can do. I loaded up the mag with 4 180gr. Federal semi-jacketed hollow points which travel out of the barrel at atleast 1600fps, stood 10-15ft away and lit up a 10"x12" stack of newspapers. With a two handed grip I dumped them as fast as I could pull the trigger and all of my shots hit the center of the paper having no more than a 4-6" spread. I was pretty impressed Conclusion...no porting necessary.
Some people say the 180gr. loads are softer recoiling than the heavier loads, but I do not find that to be true. I shot 240gr. and 250gr. loads as well and the 180gr. load had the most kick.
I will say that porting can most definately be a help with 1 handed shooting.
-I typed up at least a paragraph on how truely awesome the Desert Eagle is and how wrong it's bashers are, but I think it deserves its own thread so I erased it.
Have a great fourth of July everyone!!
Even know porting a powerful gun sparks my curiousity, I think i'm going to pass for now.
I shot up some wet packs today with my fo-fo mag
and when I was done I figured hey I might as well rapid fire this beast and see what I can do. I loaded up the mag with 4 180gr. Federal semi-jacketed hollow points which travel out of the barrel at atleast 1600fps, stood 10-15ft away and lit up a 10"x12" stack of newspapers. With a two handed grip I dumped them as fast as I could pull the trigger and all of my shots hit the center of the paper having no more than a 4-6" spread. I was pretty impressed Conclusion...no porting necessary.Some people say the 180gr. loads are softer recoiling than the heavier loads, but I do not find that to be true. I shot 240gr. and 250gr. loads as well and the 180gr. load had the most kick.
I will say that porting can most definately be a help with 1 handed shooting.
-I typed up at least a paragraph on how truely awesome the Desert Eagle is and how wrong it's bashers are, but I think it deserves its own thread so I erased it.
Have a great fourth of July everyone!!
Huntergirl
New member
Porting makes a difference in barrel rise, follow up shots and recoil. Is it Louder? YES!
customizedcreationz
New member
I wouldnt worry about it in a DE, because its not like your going to carry that big monster for a carry gun anyways !
Cabbage,
The short answer is no. But many will argue otherwise. The bullet shot has the same powder charge as any other you shoot. That will not change with a ported firearm. However the "perceived" sound will be louder since the gas coming out the ported firearm is closer to your head ...
But the shot itself is no louder than the one shot from a non ported firearm.
The short answer is no. But many will argue otherwise. The bullet shot has the same powder charge as any other you shoot. That will not change with a ported firearm. However the "perceived" sound will be louder since the gas coming out the ported firearm is closer to your head ...
But the shot itself is no louder than the one shot from a non ported firearm.
mrMONEYman
New member
When shooting my Glock 17c and my friend's regular Glock 17, I do notice a difference in the noise department. The compensated glock does seem louder.
I know that I can shoot the regular G17 w/o hearing protection and come out ok. But when I shoot the G17c w/o hearing protection - it hurts! My hearing will usually be impaired for half the day or even longer.
p.s. - I wear hearing protection most of the time, if I can.
I know that I can shoot the regular G17 w/o hearing protection and come out ok. But when I shoot the G17c w/o hearing protection - it hurts! My hearing will usually be impaired for half the day or even longer.
p.s. - I wear hearing protection most of the time, if I can.
Money man,...
I would suggest you use hearing protection ALL THE TIME. There is nothing worse than getting old and wishing you had used hearing protection when you could have and just chose not to...
If I had come in contact with myself as a young man... I would have pimp slapped myself for not useing hearing protection...
I would suggest you use hearing protection ALL THE TIME. There is nothing worse than getting old and wishing you had used hearing protection when you could have and just chose not to...
If I had come in contact with myself as a young man... I would have pimp slapped myself for not useing hearing protection...