I rotate two ported J-frame revolvers through my normal street guns. I trust them, I've tested them to my satisfaction as regards throwing debris up and into my eyes. They are both keepers - the porting allows me to run comfortably, 38 +P ammo, and i one 38 +P+. Both are rated 357 which they will never seen. But neither are they confined to 38 Special only.

I shot the life out of a ported P365. I wanted to like it. I disliked the recoil impulse. I put a Wilson frame on it. I sold it.

The next ported auto I buy might do it for me.

The two revolvers make a noticeable difference in handling, not so much so in terms of noise. Yes, they are both louder than matching non-ported guns. I don't relish using one in tight confines - read that to be a bathroom cubicle perhaps. But then again, I don't relish the thought of ANY gun in there.

Your mileage may vary. That's my latest round of decisions.

 

I don't mind porting on my carry gun. If you want to port your Wilson that's up to you. Could make it harder to sell if you try to later on. Easiest route would be to trade the XL for a comped xmacro. I generally would prefer porting because it doesn't add any extra length.

 

There is no doubt that porting your carry gun introduces the possibility of you getting significantly injured if you have to shoot from retention.

I try to keep my carry guns without ports but I do have an EOS coming. So…..🤷‍♂️😁

Comps are great but aftermarket ones add some reliability concerns.

 

This is completely inaccurate. What exactly would injure you when shooting from close retention?

 

My two main concerns would be 1) debris hitting me in the eye or 2) foreign matter making it into the ports/comp.

 

If you train to rotate the gun over, which is way more comfortable on the wrist anyway, there is no possibility of anything hitting you in the eye.

 

I like them, but probably not the most practical for CQB situations.

 

at
I have a compensated Glock 43X that I carry. It holds down the recoil on a small gun and assists in getting back on target. Only adds about a half inch to the length so carries easily.

 

For an EDC...No.... Just no.... Train.... Find a weapon your can manage the recoil to your satisfaction and train...

JMHO...YMMV...

 

Ding Ding Ding!! Think we have a winner here! If you are not comfortable with the recoil, then find something else.

 

I like my carry guns stock simple. Currently that means irons with no comps or ports.

 

I carry my Staccato C2 limited edition which came with the Dawson ICE Comp. Thousands of rounds with no ill effects from the comp; very nice shooting experience.

 

Mike Pannone did a whole series on compact guns and comps. Glock 43X/48, Hellcat, Ruger, LCP Max, Shield Plus. His conclusion was they work.

 

I carried a 586 L-Comp for the better part of 2 years, and still carry it sometimes. I'm considering carrying one of my Fire Hawks. Yes, they really do reduce recoil and especially muzzle rise. Also, yes, they are louder and do throw up some flash. Just another choice to make.

 

I am sure that they work. The real question is what is the thinking for using them on EDC as opposed to just for range time.

And yes, totally get proper grip is more important. Since any sort of real world use for EDC will be chaotic is it a good idea to have a port or comp to give that advantage? Especially for ports, given the fragments that can come out when (potentially) shooting at retenation.

 

I feel like most of the information in threads about carrying ported or comped guns is just regurgitated info read off the internet by people who never shoot ported or comped guns. Test the gun, make sure it runs and that YOU are happy with its performance, shoot it from a compressed position and in low light, neither of which are actually that big of a deal and then carry away.

People discard performance while talking like they are going to get a french fry stuck in their port or catch on fire if they shoot from a compressed position.

 

Now, that’s funny, I don’t care who you are. I have a lot of ported carry pistols and never had a problem. I do have a ported HK. P2000SK in .357. My strategy is if I ever had to fire the weapon at night, everyone in the area would be blinded and I could execute my escape.

 

“Don’t carry a comp”

“SRO not duty rated”

Let the naysayers nay.

Like some astute posters above, try the thing you’re interested in and see if it’s for you. No issue with either comp or port just make sure they work and work for your intended purposes.

 

That’s a neat setup in a small package! Did you do the work yourself, or had someone do it? Regardless, I would feel quite safe if that was the only gun I could carry, which come to think of it, is the choice we make leaving home. Very nicely done!

 

My carry is a 365 macro . Porting has never bothered me and my trainer who is huge on legal aspects and leaving a gun 100% factory has no issues with it.

comp guns make 2nd shots faster

 

*

 

Do you think your questions generated enough OPINIONS. Allow me to review my opinion. I carry a Glock 43X that is a fairly snappy gun. I've trained with the 43X for years. It's not about managing the recoil. The compensator lets me get the gun back on target faster for follow-up shots if needed.

 

I might be in the minority here… but when it comes to an EDC item I’m after simplicity, reliability, and economy. God forbid I would ever be in a situation where deployment was absolutely necessary, but regardless of circumstance, there’s a good chance that pistol spends a long time in an evidence locker. I don’t want anything special or customized that could possibly be manipulated to paint me in a ‘negative’ light.

 

You are making an interesting assumption here… Do you train enough to perform at your best on demand, and have lots of luck to guarantee success? The evidence locker, with minimal due respect, can hold the gun of the deceased to…

A bit of humility will offer better odds than a gunfight, regardless of what you choose to carry…

 

I've only heard it once,maybe twice, about low light shooting. Alot of people don't think about twilight or night shooting and lots of crap comes down then. Shoot one after sunset to see if it will work for you before doing it. Porting and comps are different with the added flash depending how they're designed and the added muzzle contol. Muzzle flash is bad enough at night but heavy porting or a good comp can blind you for too long. Acquired a Shueman? hydridcomp 45 around 20yrs ago that worked great, but touched one off at twilight and there was no chance of a doubletap in a public setting. Yeah it's lots of fire in that setup but my sight didn't start coming back for a couple, 3 seconds. I'll take a 45 or 9 in a fullsize or commander size gun anyday

 

9mm or .45 muzzle flash at night is negligible. Also, most popular defensive ammo has some form of flash suppressant. You're more likely to blow night vision with splash back from a light than pistol muzzle flash.

However, touch off an 8" AR in the middle of the night for a good time

 

9 and 45 aren't bad but 357 can be a little rude to my eyes. We did night shoots for LE like an action match and we did a few dark houses at the club matches, so I have shot at night. The comp made a 357 look tame to me. I do have to say porting or a carry comp is probably mellower than this was.

I think mine had the comp too but it was decades ago, that's not my gun.

 

I think @ParrishGhost1971 hit the nail on the head. With ported guns there is a chance of lodging debris in yourself if you don't rotate the gun outboard when shooting from retention. It happened to me shooting blazer brass from a ported edc x9. Rotating the gun would have saved me a bloodied lip and a trip to the doctor

 

My Instructor turned me on to the can't hold even without ports. Feels more natural. I have a video of him shooting my old EDzc P365X with comp I can share.

 

Debris.

Hold a paper plate over the comp/ports.

About 1ft. above.
This will tell you if it is an issue.

 

I carry a paper plate in a cross straw holster, just in case

 

Edit: Does size of the ports matter for potential debris? Does it only happens in larger ports?

 

Does size of the ports matter?

To some extent. The larger in size and quantity the more off gassing.

 

I have a gucci Glock 19x with a Radian Ramjet. Its been perfectly reliable. I carry it fairly often. Its they only one I have though. Sometimes I flirt with sending my Staccato P to Monsoon for ports.