Porting Experience? - Page 3

SelfDefense · July 1st, 2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotGuns

It does not affect or alter the bullet in any way.

I certainly defer to your expertise, but I find it hard to believe that you can drill holes in a gun barrel and not affect the bullet in any way at all.

Quote:

It does not change the ballistics. The spin rotation is unaffected. It is not an issue. I have shot several high powered rifles out to 1000 yards and hit the target, so it dosent appear to affect that. The only way that the velocity may be affected is on a short barreled gun in which the powder burn is incomplete. Holes in the barrel will lower the velocity somewhat as compared to the same length barrel without them.

Make sense?

Sort of. Why would the velocity be affected in a short barrel and not on a longer barrel. How do the holes affect the velocity if the burn is incomplete?

The velocity will be lower with holes on equal length barrels only if the powder burn is incomplete when it reaches the holes? This seems to contradict QKShooter's response taken from the Magnaport website.

It seems the only downside to porting is singeing one's eyebrows, which begs the question:

Why do gun manufacturers not offer ported barrels on their firearms?

Hopyard · July 1st, 2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelfDefense

Why do gun manufacturers not offer ported barrels on their firearms?

SD-- I think some manufacturers do sell ported firearms, and refer to them as "compensated."

I could be wrong, so I'm sure someone will jump in if I am. Glock csells compensated pistols. Are these ported??

If so, that answers your question.

falcon1 · July 1st, 2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopyard

Glock csells compensated pistols. Are these ported??

Essentially, yes. So are the Smith and Wesson and Taurus makes, among others.

I will say I personally would not really want this on a carry firearm, but to each his own. What works for me may not be best for you.

Having said that, if I were to have it done on, say, a hunting revolver, Mag-Na-Port would be at the top of my list...they have stood the test of time, IMHO.

HotGuns · July 1st, 2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelfDefense

I certainly defer to your expertise, but I find it hard to believe that you can drill holes in a gun barrel and not affect the bullet in any way at all

Sort of. Why would the velocity be affected in a short barrel and not on a longer barrel. How do the holes affect the velocity if the burn is incomplete?

It takes some time for the powder to burn completely and this is entirely dependent on the burn rate of the powder. Gun powder burns at different rates. Generally, pistol powders burn quicker than rifle powders.

Lets say that the shooter is using "Bullseye" powder, which is one of the quickest burning powders. In a 6 " barrel it may burn completely.In a 4" barrel, some of the unburned powder is blown out the barrel, where it ignites when it hits the atmosphere. Its one of the reasons that shorter barreled revolvers have huge fireballs compared to the longer barreled revolvers.

If your barrel is "ported" then some of the unburned powder grains will escape though the ports because they are blown though them by the expanding gases of the burned powder. This can and will result in powder burns, powder residue in the eyes, and it feels like your face gets momentarily sandblasted.It can downright hurt...its the main reason that many people, myself included, don't recommend them for self defense use. On a target gun, or one that is used for competition, the porting can be of value because it reduces muzzle flip, decreases the time that it takes to get back on target and can make a hard kicking gun more pleasant to shoot. Since one is wearing ear and eye protection(or should be)and usually holds the firearm at arms length, the disadvantages of a ported gun are nullified, kind of like a jury can be.
Sorry...I couldn't resist.

Quote:

The velocity will be lower with holes on equal length barrels only if the powder burn is incomplete when it reaches the holes? This seems to contradict QKShooter's response taken from the Magnaport website. ?

Not really. The Magnaport process they are talking about is in reference to hunting guns and rifles. Since the powder is completely burned, there will be no loss of velocity...with the powder that they tested. Re-loaders have a multitude of gun powders that are available. The trick is to tailor the burn rate of the powder to the load you are using in that gun. Get a powder that burns to quick and you could actually lose velocity in a longer barrel. Get one that burns too slow for the length of your barrel and you will have big fireballs and not achieve the optimum velocity.

Quote:

It seems the only downside to porting is singeing one's eyebrows, which begs the question:

Why do gun manufacturers not offer ported barrels on their firearms?

They do. Most of them anyway. As already mentioned, they are called compensated firearms and they usually cost a bit more. There are advantages and disadvantages to them. As long as one understands that, it is not a big deal.

I have known several people though, that bought compensated handguns and rifles and ended up selling them because they didn't like them. One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that they are very LOUD. A shot is loud anyway. A ported or compensated barrel is spitting more of that sound right in your face. It can and will damage hearing if one shoots unprotected.

SelfDefense · July 2nd, 2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotGuns

It takes some time for the powder to burn completely and this is entirely dependent on the burn rate of the powder. Gun powder burns at different rates. Generally, pistol powders burn quicker than rifle powders.

Lets say that the shooter is using "Bullseye" powder, which is one of the quickest burning powders. In a 6 " barrel it may burn completely.In a 4" barrel, some of the unburned powder is blown out the barrel, where it ignites when it hits the atmosphere. Its one of the reasons that shorter barreled revolvers have huge fireballs compared to the longer barreled revolvers.

If your barrel is "ported" then some of the unburned powder grains will escape though the ports because they are blown though them by the expanding gases of the burned powder. This can and will result in powder burns, powder residue in the eyes, and it feels like your face gets momentarily sandblasted.It can downright hurt...its the main reason that many people, myself included, don't recommend them for self defense use. On a target gun, or one that is used for competition, the porting can be of value because it reduces muzzle flip, decreases the time that it takes to get back on target and can make a hard kicking gun more pleasant to shoot. Since one is wearing ear and eye protection(or should be)and usually holds the firearm at arms length, the disadvantages of a ported gun are nullified, kind of like a jury can be.
Sorry...I couldn't resist.

Not really. The Magnaport process they are talking about is in reference to hunting guns and rifles. Since the powder is completely burned, there will be no loss of velocity...with the powder that they tested. Re-loaders have a multitude of gun powders that are available. The trick is to tailor the burn rate of the powder to the load you are using in that gun. Get a powder that burns to quick and you could actually lose velocity in a longer barrel. Get one that burns too slow for the length of your barrel and you will have big fireballs and not achieve the optimum velocity.

They do. Most of them anyway. As already mentioned, they are called compensated firearms and they usually cost a bit more. There are advantages and disadvantages to them. As long as one understands that, it is not a big deal.

I have known several people though, that bought compensated handguns and rifles and ended up selling them because they didn't like them. One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that they are very LOUD. A shot is loud anyway. A ported or compensated barrel is spitting more of that sound right in your face. It can and will damage hearing if one shoots unprotected.

Thanks for a very understandable explanation. You nullified my ignorance.

4my son · July 3rd, 2008, 11:33 AM

I have a ported barrel for my G21 but it's a different caliber. The standard barrel chambered is 45 acp, and the ported one is for .400 CorBon. I wasn't looking for a ported barrel, but it was what was available within my budget at the time. The nice thing is the ports are after the front sight, so no blacking out of my high tech, super expensive Testers model day glow painted sight.

Being different calibers, I can't really give an accurate comparison, but I'd say it's noticeable, I do believe the 400 is a slightly higher pressure round.

I shot it at night one time to see, I as able to keep focused on the target for follow up shots.

That's just my experience with this particular ported barrel on that given day.

Your results may vary.

QKShooter · July 3rd, 2008, 02:22 PM

Actually the Chronograph handgun tests show negligible to no velocity loss with Magnaport. Just FYI

"The Magnaport process they are talking about is in reference to hunting guns and rifles."

HotGuns · July 3rd, 2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Actually the Chronograph handgun tests show negligible to no velocity loss with Magnaport. Just FYI

I dont doubt that at all, with what they tested.
A few years ago me and friend chronoed a Colt Anaconda .45 that had been magnported. He was interested in the velocitry loss...or lack of.

We showed no loss with the loads that were loaded with Unique, but some with loads that had AA#5 in them. Its wasnt enough to matter really, but it was consistently about 25 FPS less. We just figured it was due to the slower powder. One thing we noticed, the end of the barrel turned black after a box of shots. We chalked it up to Unique being a dirty,sooty powder anyway.

Since most porting is pretty close to the end of the barrel, I figure that most guns show little to no loss...on the longer barreled guns anyway. This was an 8inch. It may show more on the snubbies, but I never was iinterested enough in a snubbie to try it.

For practical purposes if there is any loss it probably isnt enough to matter.

gasmitty · July 3rd, 2008, 07:59 PM

I have a lightweight Taurus (.38 snubby) that's ported, and even with +P loads the porting is unnecessary, IMHO. I'd really prefer it without. .357 might be a different story!

Redneck Repairs · July 3rd, 2008, 08:13 PM

IMHO if your gonna port then magna port . With that said few handgun round actually benefit from it other than operator confidence . Simply put most calibers we use dont generate enough gas pressure to benifit from porting . oO( you guys running 10mm/.41 mag and up set down lol ) . for all run of the mill handgun , most run of the mill rifle , (and god knows the fella who figgers out how to cheaply weld back ported shotguns will make a mint ) porting is a confidince mod . If you feel better with your gun ported by all means do it or buy it .

July 3rd, 2008, 11:33 AM	#26
4my son Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Out side of Richmond, VA Posts: 1,435	I have a ported barrel for my G21 but it's a different caliber. The standard barrel chambered is 45 acp, and the ported one is for .400 CorBon. I wasn't looking for a ported barrel, but it was what was available within my budget at the time. The nice thing is the ports are after the front sight, so no blacking out of my high tech, super expensive Testers model day glow painted sight. Being different calibers, I can't really give an accurate comparison, but I'd say it's noticeable, I do believe the 400 is a slightly higher pressure round. I shot it at night one time to see, I as able to keep focused on the target for follow up shots. That's just my experience with this particular ported barrel on that given day. Your results may vary. __________________ "fundamental principle of American law that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any individual citizen." [Warren v. District of Columbia,(D.C. Ct. of Ap., 1981)] If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand

July 3rd, 2008, 02:22 PM	#27
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Runthegun, USA Posts: 18,776	Actually the Chronograph handgun tests show negligible to no velocity loss with Magnaport. Just FYI "The Magnaport process they are talking about is in reference to hunting guns and rifles." __________________ *Support Our Troops* How Very Fortunate You Are To Have Two Arms To Put Into A Ward 57 T-Shirt. DC MEMBERS ~ PLEASE BUY A WARD 57 SHIRT. Click Here.

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July 3rd, 2008, 07:59 PM	#29
gasmitty Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 85	I have a lightweight Taurus (.38 snubby) that's ported, and even with +P loads the porting is unnecessary, IMHO. I'd really prefer it without. .357 might be a different story!

July 3rd, 2008, 08:13 PM	#30
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,064	IMHO if your gonna port then magna port . With that said few handgun round actually benefit from it other than operator confidence . Simply put most calibers we use dont generate enough gas pressure to benifit from porting . oO( you guys running 10mm/.41 mag and up set down lol ) . for all run of the mill handgun , most run of the mill rifle , (and god knows the fella who figgers out how to cheaply weld back ported shotguns will make a mint ) porting is a confidince mod . If you feel better with your gun ported by all means do it or buy it .