Porting a Barrel

The only ported shotgun that I haven't detested in some way is KlawMan's Browning XS skeet... Many ported guns are noticeably louder, which to me is a big drawback... I shot someone's K gun a while back that would blow fowling back at you from the top barrel to point that after a round my glasses had to be cleaned... I have no idea who did the porting on that gun, but it was pretty bad to get both fowling and hot gas directed back toward your face...
 
If you are going to shoot a ported barrel, try using a dirty powder like Promo. Not always, but often I get a look at a puff of smoke billowing out of the left side and it't kind of cool.
 
we each fired 25 shots without knowing which barrel was on
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What's important is: is your average score, over 1,000 rounds, higher with porting? You can't tell much with only 25 rounds. Only one of my comp guns isn't ported -- why, because it's one I never seem to use (it's a #2 back-up gun).
 
Barrel ports or muzzle brakes redirect the power gasses in a direction that does not add to or even cancels some of the recoil.
These powder gasses weigh just as much as the original powder charge that generated them.

With a target load, you have about 18-20 grains of powder and 580 grains of shot. The mass of the shot is responsible for almost all of the recoil so taking that 18-20 grains of powder out of the equation will barely be felt.

With rifle loads, you might have 45-50 grains of powder accelerating a 150 grain bullet. Removing the powder's contribution to recoil will be noticable.

As you get to the 4000+ fps varmint rifles, the powder often outweighs the bullet. A 100% effficient muzzle brake could theoretically make such a gun kick forward.

A muzzle brake might be effective in a shotgun for black powder loads, where the powder charge weighs 80-90 grains.
 
Consider that even if the affect on porting is negligible, does that slight reduction per shot in felt recoil result in a tangible effect if you are shooting 200+ a day for two or three days in a row. One miss is the difference between winning and not winning; getting into the finals and not getting in. I think, as I am far from being a competition shooter.
 
A muzzle brake may be noticeable with international trap loads which are only 7/8 ounce but are loaded to around 1400 fps, which means the powder to shot ratio is higher than normal target loads.
 
What's important is: is your average score, over 1,000 rounds, higher with porting? You can't tell much with only 25 rounds.
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You can tell whether there is a discernable difference in recoil and muzzle jump. Perhaps even more so because you are focused just on the recoil of the gun. This testing as well as owning and shooting ported guns leads me to the firm belief the technical benefits of ported barrels are over-stated. But if a shooter believes that the barrel porting is breaking more targets then the mental benefits are undeniable.

If you want to improve your scores getting your barrels ported is very, very low on the list of the things I would recommend. YMMV.
 
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Although I think we have strayed from the OP, I will add my two cents. I have learned in other aspects of competition, that the very fine details and differences that affect performance for the better or worse are only noticed by the more experienced individuals. I am an amateur when it comes to guns, and porting may not affect my performance at all, but when you get to higher levels of competition, EVERYTHING affects performance. I may not even be able to tell a 20 guage from a 12, if blind folded. I bet a professional could(or even experienced amateurs). If you change anything with the gun, drill holes in the barrel for instance, things change.
 
What's important is: is your average score, over 1,000 rounds, higher with porting? You can't tell much with only 25 rounds.
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You can tell whether there is a discernable difference in recoil and muzzle jump.
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It's often the indiscernible differences, the very subtile changes that can make a difference in performance. My scores are higher, especially in all-doubles events, with ported barrels. YMMV.
 
My scores are higher, especially in all-doubles events, with ported barrels.
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Is the gun one that you added porting to and changed nothing else? If so then you can make the point that porting is giving you better scores. But if it's a different gun, different stock, different load or some other change then any or all of these factors may equally be part of the improvement if not greater.
 
Is the gun one that you added porting to and changed nothing else? If so then you can make the point that porting is giving you better scores. But if it's a different gun, different stock, different load or some other change then any or all of these factors may equally be part of the improvement if not greater.
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PJR, FYI:
Both barrel sets of my Beretta 682x were ported after a ShockMaster was installed.
Perazzi Mirage was ported before the addition of the JS Air unit.
Perazzi SC3 was ported by the factory but has custom wood.
Perazzi MX8 is non-ported but has custom wood.
Remington 1100T (rainy day gun) has only been ported (2 barrels).

Only the 1100 has factory wood, the others have been altered. With my primary comp guns having recoil reduction systems, there isn't a noticeable change in recoil; however, I do feel that I can get on the second shot quicker with the ported guns. I've been using the same recipe reloads for years. As you mentioned earlier, it's hard to know how much is between the ears.
 
I am guessing that there is a difference between what you consciously recognize to be more recoil and what your body subconsciously recognizes.
 
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