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Ported Barrels vs compensators

4.4K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  BigMichael1926  
#1 ·
Hello Everyone, looking for people that had experience with ported barrels vs compensators.

I have played around with compensator and usually like the recoil impulse of them and generally feels more pleasant to shoot vs no compensator.

Does ported lend itself to a similar experience as the compensators or different shooting experience?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I used to be big into comps and porting over 30 years ago.

Like anything else, it can turn into a rabbit hole.

Design has a significant impact.

Is the porting just holes or jet nozzles? Are they all the same size or each one gets progressively larger? How many ports?

On comps, expansion chambers or holes? Side chambers or not? How many chambers?

Then of course there is the full meal deal with both, ports AND comps.

You start mixing all of that up and sometimes porting is more effective, buy usually the comp is.

To paint a very broad brush, by having the extra weight of the comp at the end of the barrel, overall I’d say the comped gun will usually shoot flatter. But like most things in life, there are exceptions.
 
#3 ·
oh wow okay i did not know all of that, as you said it seems to be turning into a rabbit hole of sorts!

Not sure what jet nozzles are vs porting but i wanted to port my beretta 92fs barrel instead of putting a threaded barrel with a compensator

I think the porting would be about 6-8 holes

on comps i used to dabble in side ports too but not i only have the top cut out and usually it is 1-2 BIG holes
 
#4 ·
The jet nozzles are funnel shaped.

Let‘s say the hole which starts from inside the barrel is 1 mm in diameter. Then it funnels out to 3 mm when it reaches the top of the barrel. Sort of like your garden hose nozzle but in reverse. The sizes I used where totally made up for example sake.
 
#10 ·
The Beretta is set up perfectly for porting, so that is the direction I would lean towards with it. I have several comped and ported 9mm pistols, and while I think a true compensator is going to give you the most effect, a good ported set up, like V8s or Monsoon Lucky 7 or Dimebags, will get you very close to the same benefit as a single port comp for 9mm applications, with less hassle and investment. You will also likely see benefit of lowering the recoil spring weight by a couple pounds after the porting, as the ports, like a comp, take energy away from the recoil cycle.
 
#16 ·
OOOoooo i got you, im gonna go and google some of those suggestions you gave out to me! I want to go with the beretta option because of the exposed barrel no need to send in the slide as well.

Best part i think im going to get a few beretta barrels and try out different porting on which feels the best for me.

Good looking thanks!
 
#15 ·
I have a few of both styles and can't say I'd buy another but I like what I have, and both have their plus and negative attributes.

Porting doesn't add weight but on mine gets the front sight dirty double quick. FO sights get black on my Ruger .357 Blackhawk and then there's a concern that the heat may melt the FO?

My Springfield V-16 recoils a bit less than my 5" 1911's and it's pretty well accepted that a bit of velocity is lost on Springfield's many ports on the V-16 but the added weight and length is an issue but it's a fun gun to shoot none the less.

A Comp is IMO better at reducing recoil but part of the effect is the extra weight at the muzzle, and on the down side adds length and weight.