Porting Experience?

Dolphin · June 28th, 2008, 08:30 PM

This question is only directed to those who have actually owned ported handguns: Have you personally had any bad experiences or regrets about having the porting done? Please no conjecture, first hand experiences only.

QKShooter · June 28th, 2008, 08:45 PM

Yes, to first hand experience.
Check out Magnaport.
That would be the only handgun porting system that I would seriously consider since the ports are EDMed into the barrel in such a way as to direct the expelled gases in the least problematic direction. Plus they have decades long experience porting firearms...handguns as well as long arms.

Hopyard · June 28th, 2008, 08:47 PM

Yes. I had a S&W .40 ported. The job was beautifully done by Magnaport.
S&W handled the process for me. No problem at that end or with Magnaport.

I ported the gun because the muzzle tilt was bothering me. Whatever benefit gained, it was minimum, there are other ways to reduce the problem from using different ammo, to working out to build up the arm and wrist strength.

I have no problem with what I did as far as using the gun at the range. I seriously doubt that flash would be a problem in a home defense situation.

I clearly would not dare try to shoot it from a close retention position.

My take now would be that instead of spending the money on the porting, try to sell your gun and take the loss (made up by what you would spend to port) and get a new gun in a caliber you can better handle.

There is another downside to porting. Lots of grit gets inside the slide and I think it played a role in destroying one recoil rod and spring set. I think the grit worked into the mechanism --it was dual spring with reciprocating rods.
I then had to wait forever till S&W were able to sell me a new assembly.

I still shoot this gun, enjoy it, and constantly argue with myself as to whether to get a new holster for it or sell it.

Meanwhile, it is at the bedside for HD.

Cuda66 · June 28th, 2008, 08:57 PM

I used to have a ported Taurus Tracker .357; the only thing it did was make it louder, and they were a cast-iron (bleep) to clean, especially after firing unjacketed bullets.

I've fired a friend's G21C; I really can't tell any difference between my normal G21, aside from shooting once at dusk; then, those ports seemed to be a real good thing to completely kill your night vision...

I currently have only one ported handgun, a .500 S&W. It needs it.

AUTOMAG · June 28th, 2008, 08:57 PM

I had my Colt Delta Elite ported by Larry Kelly at Mag-Na-Port back in 1989 and it has been great ever since. In my opinion it did help tame down the recoil. The ports do tend to get very dirty though and need to be cleaned throughly with ever cleaning. That should be part of the cleaning anyway!!!

SelfDefense · June 28th, 2008, 08:57 PM

Can someone please extinguish my ignorance? Even google didn't help on this one very much.

What is porting a handgun?

QKShooter · June 28th, 2008, 08:58 PM

MAGNAPORT CLICK HERE - Read this page.

AUTOMAG · June 28th, 2008, 09:00 PM

Check out my photo in the above post. Porting normally reduces felt recoil by 15 to 20%.

Dolphin · June 28th, 2008, 09:02 PM

Do you guys have any experience with HybraPort by Gemini customs( Marc Morganti) I know he's in the guild so I would assume it's quality work?
Difference compared to Magnaport?

HotGuns · June 28th, 2008, 09:04 PM

I don't think its a good idea for a gun that one intends to carry concealed.

On a hunting gun, or a race gun, its fine.
The disadvantages outweigh the advantages for a gun that is to be tucked away most of its life in a holster.

As mentioned, you'd be surprised how much crud can build up in the ports.
Then there is the issue of fire and blast. The pressure can blow unburned powder particles right into the face and eye, and anything like lint that happens to be in the ports.
At night time, shooting a gun with lots of fire coming out of it will ruin your night vision. You'll see the flame on your eyeballs for a couple of minutes, completely ruining any chance of seeing in the dark.

As Hopyard already mentioned, shooting it from a retention position can be painful and result in flash burns.

Those are but a few of the reasons that most cops don't carry ported guns.

Of course, all of this is my opinion. What really matters is what you are happy with.

June 28th, 2008, 08:30 PM	#1
Dolphin Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 187	Porting Experience? This question is only directed to those who have actually owned ported handguns: Have you personally had any bad experiences or regrets about having the porting done? Please no conjecture, first hand experiences only.

June 28th, 2008, 08:45 PM	#2
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Runthegun, USA Posts: 18,785	Yes, to first hand experience. Check out Magnaport. That would be the only handgun porting system that I would seriously consider since the ports are EDMed into the barrel in such a way as to direct the expelled gases in the least problematic direction. Plus they have decades long experience porting firearms...handguns as well as long arms. __________________ *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.

June 28th, 2008, 08:57 PM	#4
Cuda66 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: minnesota Posts: 80	I used to have a ported Taurus Tracker .357; the only thing it did was make it louder, and they were a cast-iron (bleep) to clean, especially after firing unjacketed bullets. I've fired a friend's G21C; I really can't tell any difference between my normal G21, aside from shooting once at dusk; then, those ports seemed to be a real good thing to completely kill your night vision... I currently have only one ported handgun, a .500 S&W. It needs it. __________________ One man's theology is another man's belly laugh. --RAH

June 28th, 2008, 09:04 PM	#10
HotGuns VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4,531	I don't think its a good idea for a gun that one intends to carry concealed. On a hunting gun, or a race gun, its fine. The disadvantages outweigh the advantages for a gun that is to be tucked away most of its life in a holster. As mentioned, you'd be surprised how much crud can build up in the ports. Then there is the issue of fire and blast. The pressure can blow unburned powder particles right into the face and eye, and anything like lint that happens to be in the ports. At night time, shooting a gun with lots of fire coming out of it will ruin your night vision. You'll see the flame on your eyeballs for a couple of minutes, completely ruining any chance of seeing in the dark. As Hopyard already mentioned, shooting it from a retention position can be painful and result in flash burns. Those are but a few of the reasons that most cops don't carry ported guns. Of course, all of this is my opinion. What really matters is what you are happy with. __________________ AR. CHL Instr. 'It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ'. Patrick Henry

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June 28th, 2008, 08:47 PM	#3
Hopyard Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: College Station Posts: 909	Yes. I had a S&W .40 ported. The job was beautifully done by Magnaport. S&W handled the process for me. No problem at that end or with Magnaport. I ported the gun because the muzzle tilt was bothering me. Whatever benefit gained, it was minimum, there are other ways to reduce the problem from using different ammo, to working out to build up the arm and wrist strength. I have no problem with what I did as far as using the gun at the range. I seriously doubt that flash would be a problem in a home defense situation. I clearly would not dare try to shoot it from a close retention position. My take now would be that instead of spending the money on the porting, try to sell your gun and take the loss (made up by what you would spend to port) and get a new gun in a caliber you can better handle. There is another downside to porting. Lots of grit gets inside the slide and I think it played a role in destroying one recoil rod and spring set. I think the grit worked into the mechanism --it was dual spring with reciprocating rods. I then had to wait forever till S&W were able to sell me a new assembly. I still shoot this gun, enjoy it, and constantly argue with myself as to whether to get a new holster for it or sell it. Meanwhile, it is at the bedside for HD.

June 28th, 2008, 08:57 PM	#5
AUTOMAG Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 73	I had my Colt Delta Elite ported by Larry Kelly at Mag-Na-Port back in 1989 and it has been great ever since. In my opinion it did help tame down the recoil. The ports do tend to get very dirty though and need to be cleaned throughly with ever cleaning. That should be part of the cleaning anyway!!!

June 28th, 2008, 08:57 PM	#6
SelfDefense Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,372	Can someone please extinguish my ignorance? Even google didn't help on this one very much. What is porting a handgun?

June 28th, 2008, 08:58 PM	#7
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Runthegun, USA Posts: 18,785	MAGNAPORT CLICK HERE - Read this page.

June 28th, 2008, 09:00 PM	#8
AUTOMAG Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 73	Check out my photo in the above post. Porting normally reduces felt recoil by 15 to 20%.

June 28th, 2008, 09:02 PM	#9
Dolphin Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 187	Do you guys have any experience with HybraPort by Gemini customs( Marc Morganti) I know he's in the guild so I would assume it's quality work? Difference compared to Magnaport?