Ported barrels?

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kmw1954

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I have been looking at a used pistol, semi auto that has a ported barrel. Is there an advantage to this? Simple explanation for doing it.
 
Use? Caliber? Any specific requriements? Target sights, etc? There's more than just porting when buying a handgun. I've had them ported, but with a specific purpose for doing it.
 
This is a 45acp with a 3.5" barrel. I do not need it I don't think but it's already done. Why it was done you'd have to ask the person that did it.
 
A ported barrel helps with recoil for sure,,,but it makes the gun louder....

I hunt with a Taurus Raging bull .454,,,Its ported from the factory. I can shoot it with one hand with no problem. I wouldn't try it if it wasn't.....
 
Porting reduces muzzle rise for quicker followup shots. Gas force up means force down via Newton's laws.

They also help to reduce felt recoil, though that might be by reducing the bullet speed a little.

Either way, it is a bit more pleasant to shoot ported guns.

They might increase blast a little (might not be that noticeable to some folks).

You definitely want to keep any body parts away from the ports. The gas is hot and under very high pressure.
 
I've owned several semi automatic competition guns with compensators on them (porting of sorts). They work best on the smaller calibers with lighter bullets such as the 9's and 38Supers, etc. With larger calibers they simply aren't as efficient when it comes to reducing muzzle rise between shots. Selecting the best powder for the load makes a difference also. With the right load and caliber the gun is pretty stable and allows faster follow up shots. They are more useful for shooters who shoot timed events at steel plates. I once had a Glock in 40 cal that had a ported barrel (a 23C) and it was more hype that good results. I really couldn't tell the difference between that gun and my model 23 without the ported barrel...other than the muzzle blast. It was much worse with the ported barrel.
 
I know that porting is used with the big bore revolvers like the 44mag.

Just thinking if this is something that would be beneficial or not. I have shot a friends gun that is just like this that was not ported and it fired and felt fine. Again this gun has already been ported so it's not like I would be paying to have it done, someone else already did that.

Though I have never fired a gun that has been ported I seem to believe the upward muzzle flash can be distracting? Having thoughts here just unsure how to express it.
 
Porting generally reduces muzzle jump...especially in a fixed frame gun like a revolver. Its a debate on whether it affects recoil or not...personally, I think it does not...

I have fired a couple of 1911's that were ported...( I think in 4" or 4.25" )...and yes, I did get more gas back towards my face and it was a little distracting ....same thing on a couple of 1911's with compensators. On a semi auto the reduction of muzzle jump is less than a revolver ...and I agree with the post that said it may slow the bullet a little...

I shoot 1911's all the time in a 5" ...no porting or compensators in .45acp and 9mm.../ my primary competition gun & carry gun is a 5" in 9mm.../..I like the balance, sight plane, feel & weight of a steel 5" gun / its what I am used to... and in my late 60's, I have considered going to a 1911 for carry in a 4.25", but I don't want an alloy frame so its only 4oz or so lighter --- and at 6'5" and 290 lbs ....will I really notice 4oz, or even 8oz...No.. I have stayed with a 5" gun...because I just shoot them a lot better than a 4" or 4.25"...

But if I wanted a 3 1/2" 1911, I would be concerned about muzzle jump slowing down my follow up shots... / ... so I might consider porting ...and just deal with the distraction....but only if I really wanted that 3 1/2" gun....
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I own a variety of browning shotguns with ported barrels ...and it really reduces muzzle jump in 12ga and 20ga. I like it in shotguns..but that is very different on 9 lb guns in 30" barrels. The only ported revolver I own is a 3" S&W in .44 Mag. Its an RSR gun, the Trail Boss, a 629 model...and the porting makes it easier to shoot by reducing some muzzle jump...but the gas & noise is big time distracting with full power loads ...
 
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Thank you everyone!
This gun in question is a model I've been looking for and the price seems right or is at least in the ballpark of what I was looking to spend. Just don't feel quite as comfortable as I'd like because of the porting. Think I will have to sleep on this and ponder some more as I'm still not certain this is the way I should go..
 
I got a ported XD9 in a trade and I like it a lot. Many critics discount the value of porting in light calibers but it does make a noticeable difference to me. It might be all in my head, but it does seem to help.
 
"...Simple explanation for doing it..." Mean you don't need to install an aftermarket compensator. Doing that alters how the slide works and you have to fiddle with springs.
"...it may slow the bullet a little..." Nope. In the microseconds between the time the bullet passes through the compensator and the gasses follow, the bullet is already out of the barrel. It has all the speed it's ever going to get. The gases do nothing but push the muzzle down.
"...a .45 ACP with a 3.5" barrel..." That'd be more of a consideration than the porting. Muzzle blast isn't going to be pleasant no matter what you do.
 
T. O'Heir said:
"...it may slow the bullet a little..." Nope. In the microseconds between the time the bullet passes through the compensator and the gasses follow, the bullet is already out of the barrel. It has all the speed it's ever going to get. The gases do nothing but push the muzzle down.
Click to expand...

You're wrong. You're confusing ports with a compensator. They are two different things.

PORTS, holes in the barrel, bleed off gas pressure while the bullet is still accelerating down the bore. Reducing this pressure reduces the bullet's speed. This is already well known. Glock even says so in their instruction manual for their 'compensated' pistols (i.e. the ones with ports) stating that in these pistols bullet velocity will be reduced. The number they give is 30 fps. https://gundigest.com/article/ported-barrel-reduce-recoil

IPSC/USPSA competitors also know this when they get holes drilled in their barrels (popple holes) and they have to increase their powder charge to reach the same speed because of the velocity loss from venting gas from the barrel while the bullet is still in the barrel.

A compensator, the thing attached to the end of the barrel, does not reduce bullet speed.
 
If the porting is not "factory" it degrades resale $'s. Hand guns or shotguns porting does not have a major impact on muzzle jump. -- minor issue.

.02. David. :)
 
I have a S&W 640 .357. I had it ported after I tried to complete a qualification course with the round you want to carry must also be the round with which you qualify.
 
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