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Ported revolvers...
- Thread starter Citadel99
- Start date
Most premium SD ammo is flash-suppressed. I've fired my MagnaPorted 2 1/2" 686 on an nearly blacked out indoor range with Federal and CorBon loads, which make barely noticeable sparks. The older, hot, 125 gr. loadings produce a huge fireball from the muzzle and BC gap, and the ports, but the blast from the ports seems to be the least of the three.
jack pringle
New member
when wringing out my snubby, ported, 41 mag, i did some night shooting. observed some magnum fireballs.
then, i began wondering what these humongous flashes looked like from the muzzle end. could there be an advantage to me? suspect they would be fierce indeed from that perspective. would the BG be more blinded than i ? moot point if i get off the first shot.
yep, ordinary ammo does flash in revolvers, ports or no.
as suggested, try the SD ammo, several varieties. shoot some into a wet medium. won't prove much, but, you will feel better about your choice. thats a plus.
then, i began wondering what these humongous flashes looked like from the muzzle end. could there be an advantage to me? suspect they would be fierce indeed from that perspective. would the BG be more blinded than i ? moot point if i get off the first shot.
yep, ordinary ammo does flash in revolvers, ports or no.
as suggested, try the SD ammo, several varieties. shoot some into a wet medium. won't prove much, but, you will feel better about your choice. thats a plus.
For a self-defense firearm, also consider the possibility of having to fire the piece close to the body as in a firearm-tetention position: left hand extended to ward off assailant-gun in right hand close to the chest. The ports are pointed right at your face!
Also consider the added effects on unprotected ears in a have-to-shoot situation, possibly inside a building, etc.
I personally don't want a ported self-defense firearm even if it is a 50 BMG caliber.
Also consider the added effects on unprotected ears in a have-to-shoot situation, possibly inside a building, etc.
I personally don't want a ported self-defense firearm even if it is a 50 BMG caliber.
Eric Larsen
New member
Testing 5 snubs, 2 ported vs 3 without...showed no visual difference while shooting Mag loads and 38+P's in Flash.
All produced quite abit of muzzle flash.
A good porting job (magna, weigand etc) will reduce your velocity by not more than 5%...usually closer to 3%.
If the ports are directed/angled up and away from the shooter, it lessens the risk of "getting sprayed" while shooting close to the body.
In mag loads it has reduced muzzle rise from 'a little to more than 1/2" depending on the gun, ammo and shooters perception.
In my experience a ported snub in 357 is a good option to consider. YMMV
Shoot well
All produced quite abit of muzzle flash.
A good porting job (magna, weigand etc) will reduce your velocity by not more than 5%...usually closer to 3%.
If the ports are directed/angled up and away from the shooter, it lessens the risk of "getting sprayed" while shooting close to the body.
In mag loads it has reduced muzzle rise from 'a little to more than 1/2" depending on the gun, ammo and shooters perception.
In my experience a ported snub in 357 is a good option to consider. YMMV
Shoot well
Coltdriver
New member
I have recently decided to pick up a j frame and am enjoying the hunt for one though I have not purchased yet.
One of the interesting aspects of .357 fireball blasting is that you turn on the strobe when you commence shooting!
One of the interesting aspects of .357 fireball blasting is that you turn on the strobe when you commence shooting!
Eric is right on, Current premium carry ammo is flash supressed.
Magnaporting directs any gas out and away from you.
Recently I was at the range with a buddy that carries a stainless steel bodyguard (mod.649?) and although my 442 is about 5oz lighter we both consistantly got tighter groups with my gun, although we did not have a timer it appeared to both of us that the ported alloy j was easier and faster to keep on target during rapid fire.
I also shot off 10 rds with each gun from a close rention position (elbow locked against side shooting slightly above waist level)
and I felt some heat under my chin with both guns, both appeard about the same. My guess is I was fealing the blast from the BC gap.
I like magnaporting on these small guns, IMOP the difference in controlability far outweights any negatives.
Magnaporting directs any gas out and away from you.
Recently I was at the range with a buddy that carries a stainless steel bodyguard (mod.649?) and although my 442 is about 5oz lighter we both consistantly got tighter groups with my gun, although we did not have a timer it appeared to both of us that the ported alloy j was easier and faster to keep on target during rapid fire.
I also shot off 10 rds with each gun from a close rention position (elbow locked against side shooting slightly above waist level)
and I felt some heat under my chin with both guns, both appeard about the same. My guess is I was fealing the blast from the BC gap.
I like magnaporting on these small guns, IMOP the difference in controlability far outweights any negatives.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
The only problems I've ever had with Magnaported revolvers—long-barreled and short- alike—are cleaning crud out of the ports and scraping lead off the exterior of the barrels above the ports. I've never been able to perceive a difference in muzzle flash in daylight or dim light. I wouldn't carry ammunition with plain lead bullets defensively, so I wouldn't worry about shaved lead.
Lead bullets and MagnaPort - My own experience is limited. I had to find 200 rds. of .38 Spec. for CCDW Instructor quals,(indoor range, no mags allowed) and the only thing available quickly were some really rotten 158 gr. DE wadcuter loads. I fired 180 in the quals, and had no leading at the ports (hard bullets, light loads, perhaps) but the accuracy was miserable - 8-12" groups at SEVEN yards, when the gun would simply make big holes at that distance with hot 125 gr. Remingtons. I talked to the junior Mr. Kelly at MagnaPort on another matter and threw this in as curiosity. His guess was that the gas passage, although it didn't throw lead, was enough to upset the soft base of the bullet and cause it to wander. I had no lead bullets in .38 at the time, and my reloading stock since then has been all 125 gr. and 158 gr. JHPs. Kelly didn't state it definitely, but IMO, ported guns are JHP country.
Don't care for it. Why add to problem (unless you publish gun rag)?
Whatever ammo you decide to carry is more important. Test your ammo. Quality control varies. Last class I did the Corboom, HydrShok and Golden Knife produced enormous, gunragesque fireballs. Check your ammo yourself--don't forget your white lab coat.
Whatever ammo you decide to carry is more important. Test your ammo. Quality control varies. Last class I did the Corboom, HydrShok and Golden Knife produced enormous, gunragesque fireballs. Check your ammo yourself--don't forget your white lab coat.
Preacherman
New member
To add to what Critter44 said: A few years ago, a friend of mine was driving with his girlfriend late one night, and pulled up at a traffic light in an inner-city area. A local scumbag decided that this was a good night for a hi-jack, and yanked open the passenger door. My friend was quick on the uptake - and on the draw! - and levelled his .38 Special snubbie across the car, into the BG's body, and fired one round, which effectively ended his assault. Unfortunately, his snubbie had a ported barrel, and the gases escaping from the ports went straight upward into his girlfriend's face, searing her nostrils and causing damage to her left eye. It took six months of medical treatment (including plastic surgery) to repair the damage.
Basing my decision on this experience, and on the possibility of having to fire from a retention position close to my body, which would point these ports up at my face, I've decided never to carry a ported firearm for self-defence. However, I still hunt with them, as under those conditions, self-inflicted flash-burns from the ports are unlikely.
(BTW, Critter, I think we'd get burned even with an unported revolver if fired from a close-to-the-body retention position: the flash from the cylinder/forcing-cone gap would still get to us, I think.)
Basing my decision on this experience, and on the possibility of having to fire from a retention position close to my body, which would point these ports up at my face, I've decided never to carry a ported firearm for self-defence. However, I still hunt with them, as under those conditions, self-inflicted flash-burns from the ports are unlikely.
(BTW, Critter, I think we'd get burned even with an unported revolver if fired from a close-to-the-body retention position: the flash from the cylinder/forcing-cone gap would still get to us, I think.)