S&W 686 --- Powerported barrel or not?

P

pabigfoot

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I am currently planning to buy a S & W .357 Mag 686. I plan to use it for target shooting and some hunting (if target shooting shows promise). What are the pro's and con's for the powerported barrel from a noise and recoil standpoint? Is it really a valued feature? I am interested in first hand experience with this feature.

Thanks,
PABIGFOOT
 
I think porting the 686 .357 would be a waste of time and money.The kick with that full lug barrel isn't that bad.Also from the porting the noice level is even more and if you are under a roof unbearable.My 686 is a 4" barrel if you have a 6" the recoil would be even less.
 
NOt to mention, you have four or five holes that also will need to be given attention to, as far as cleaning and monitoring for any splits in the metal.
 
A BIG Marco-PoNO on ports, in my view.

Ports on anything less than a .44 magnum or hotter is a solution in search of a non-existant problem.

Opinions on ports differ, of course... my personal view is this... for a slight reduction in muzzle rise you pay more money, get a lot more blast, flash and noise, more cleaning effort, and much more limited re-sale market for the gun. That blast and noise is sent straight up into your line of sight and hearing (or up under your face if you shoot with a close retention position) and is more intrusive to you than going straight out away from you toward your attacker - where it belongs.

On a heavy magnum caliber hunting revolver (.44 mag, .454, 500), where the gun will most certainly be held extended fully away from your body and involve very heavy calibers, porting has it's place, for sure.

But I wouldn't have a ported revolver for defense use, even if it cost less money. In defense training, we learn to hold the weapon right close to our body (close retention position) when the attacker is physically very close. Then you would have to shoot the gun held near or against your waist... that would send blast and noise straight up into your face. Count me as no fan of ported defense revolvers.
 
I have owned 4 686s and the felt recoil was never a problem with any of them - all were non-ported versions. The main "annoyance" with the 357 , is the muzzle blast. The ported barrel would seem to make the blast even worse.
 
A BIG Marco-PoNO on ports, in my view. Ports on anything less than a .44 magnum or hotter is a solution in search of a non-existant problem. Opinions on ports differ, of course... my personal view is this... for a slight reduction in muzzle rise you pay more money, get a lot more blast, flash and noise, more cleaning effort, and much more limited re-sale market for the gun. That blast and noise is sent straight up into your line of sight and hearing (or up under your face if you shoot with a close retention position) and is more intrusive to you than going straight out away from you toward your attacker - where it belongs. On a heavy magnum caliber hunting revolver (.44 mag, .454, 500), where the gun will most certainly be held extended fully away from your body and involve very heavy calibers, porting has it's place, for sure. But I wouldn't have a ported revolver for defense use, even if it cost less money. In defense training, we learn to hold the weapon right close to our body (close retention position) when the attacker is physically very close. Then you would have to shoot the gun held near or against your waist... that would send blast and noise straight up into your face. Count me as no fan of ported defense revolvers.
Click to expand...

That pretty much covers my opinion also.

I have a 6", and 8" 686. I don't see how porting could help it shoot any better. Shooting hot 357 loads out of the 8" is VERY handlelable w/ minimal hand slap.

I have said it in another thread....porting looks cool.
 
I have ported some of my revolvers and................

there are some differences in performance. Fist, porting will reduce muzzle flip to some degree. Second, porting has, in my experience, NOT appreciably affected recoil in any great amount.

Shooting in low light or in the dark produces a lot of muzzle flash above the line of sight of the gun. Kind of fun to see but not if you are the shooter. I found that it really messed up my night vision for awhile.

The ports do need cleaning! And, for me, it was less than enjoyable probing those little ports with q-tips/pipe cleaners to get them squeaky clean.

I have only had 357 revolvers ported and, for me, what was gained was just not worth what I had to "pay" for what I got. Color me anti porting. :mad:
 
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