porting a .357?

[sendtoscott]

I saw a used S&W 686 (6 shot, unfortunately, not 7) w/ a 6" ported barrel. I've heard less than wonderful things about porting a barrel - I wouldn't pay extra for it but should I be bothered if a used gun already has it? I've heard it messes up your night vision, but I've also heard that any gun will do that anyway.

[DoubleAction]

The porting are choices made by individuals who want to use high velosity ammunition but want to reduce the muzzle flip that occures during recoil.For every handgun that I have with ports or comps,I have it's twin that is without.

[dzrtram]

Please read this. Porting is one of the very worst things you can do to a .357 mag. I have a very beautiful 3.5 inch 627. The bluing is almost Python quality. When I had some work done on it I was talked into Mag na Porting it. The first time I shot it I could not understand why my face was stinging. Then when I went to reload I noticed the front sight was all leaded up. The .357 operates on so much pressure that it peels lead and spits lead and smoke back in your face. Mag na Porting ruined my beautiful gun. Had my son been out of law school at the time I would have sued. Night blinding from the flash is far worse than an unported gun. Whoever tells you it isn't has not carried and used a ported, short-barreled handgun as a duty gun. The flame goes up in front of your face. Just think about it for a minute. I once saw a demonstration of a ported pocket gun fired from a pocket vs. an unported pocket gun fired from a pocket. The ported gun caught the jacket on fire because the flame goes up. Yes, the unported gun could too, but usually not because the flame spits out in front of the jacket pocket, rather than being trapped inside the pocket. Same problem firing from inside a car or a draped window, etc. There is no really felt difference in felt recoil in the .357. I hope you don't ever Mag na Port your gun. Notice that the Dan Wesson .445 is ported in FRONT of the front sight. Good luck

[dzrtram]

DA, I wish I had known that, but I don't think it was available then. This was a long time ago. You wouldn't happen to have a picture of the Weigand porting, would you? I would like to see the difference.

[DoubleAction]

dzrtram;Go to my msn community site,there you will look for the S&W 640 Weigand and the S&W 629 Weigand with the Scope mounted on top.The 629 has ports on both sides of the front sight pointed at an angle away from the muzzle in a V pattern,4 ports to each side.The Combat 640 goes the length of the barrel but only displays the flame above sight level which is not noticable.From what I understand,Weigand and Shuman ( A rocket propulsion scientist) worked together in designing the porting of the revolvers.I agree strongly that these guns should not be fired from inside a pocket,we preach the gospel on that issue.See page 2 on the Dubbleakshun's Guns page . www.msnusers.com/GUNMENII/

[dzrtram]

Thanks, DA,
I do remember seeing a hybra poted ruger when weigand first started doing this. I'm pretty much of the opinion that porting is only for toys used in competition, but if it works for you, that's all that matters. ;D

[DoubleAction]

That was his "Tame The Beast" package.He also did the Taurus revolvers,which I think he had a contact for so many to do for Taurus until they began doing their own.

[dzrtram]

DA, you have good taste. My pocket gun is a S&W 642 with Barami grips. www.gunaccessories.com/Barami/index.asp
This is the finest setup I've ever seen. Beats a holster all to pieces. I also have larger than average hands. The Baramis cause my finger to hit more correctly on the trigger than any other grip. This is because my finger usually wraps around the trigger, and the Barami grip stopped this.