Been considering having my SP 101 ported and wonder if it actually would be worth the $$ to have it done. Thoughts from those that have done it would be appreciated.
Would porting help
- Thread starter Fox Mike
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contender
Ruger Guru
Personally, I prefer to use different loads, over trying to make a gun something it isn't. I've shot several ported guns and while the process works,, I personally wouldn't spend the money.
OP
In 38 sp it's manageable and I can handle it but the 357 mag is a little 'much', hence the question.
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- Apr 3, 2012
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How long is the barrel? I don’t think porting helps much on really short barrels.
Just shooting .38’s makes much more sense. IMHO.
Just shooting .38’s makes much more sense. IMHO.
contender
Ruger Guru
I often have ladies who have very little to no experiences in shooting. They enjoy the .38 Spls when properly taught. But unless they are VERY comfortable,, we never allow them to shoot .357's. And yes,, it's from our SP-101's. We also teach them to get a quality SD ammo to carry for the "just in case" event.
In general,, if they actually have to use it,, they won't feel the recoil due to the stresses of the event.
Personally,, I'd enjoy shooting the heck out of the SP with .38's. Clean it good, and load it with your choice of .357 mag SD stuff & forget about it. Spend the money you'd spend on porting,, to buy more ammo!
In general,, if they actually have to use it,, they won't feel the recoil due to the stresses of the event.
Personally,, I'd enjoy shooting the heck out of the SP with .38's. Clean it good, and load it with your choice of .357 mag SD stuff & forget about it. Spend the money you'd spend on porting,, to buy more ammo!
OP
Sounds like good information. With the short barrel I have no problem with the 38. Perhaps looking for a 357 with a little longer barrel might be my answer. In 357 the short barrel is a handful, shootable, but a handful.
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Mag-Na-Port. It works.
contender
Ruger Guru
Magna-porting does work. But just like almost everything,, there is a trade-off. Muzzle flash going upwards,, and obscuring the front sight picture, is one. But the noise is much louder for the shooter.
FM,, what barrel length are you shooting now?
FM,, what barrel length are you shooting now?
A brake will help with recoil, where porting will help more with muzzle flip. Why 357 mags from the short gun?
DGW1949
Hawkeye
FWIW;.....The .357 Mag revolver gained it's reputation while being fired from heavy N-Frame Smith with an 8-3/4" barrel. In other words, THAT was the standard, so anything less that has come along since is...well, it's less, AND much harder to shoot....And yes, I'm well aware that the "usual" .357 being carried by LEO became a 4" K-Frame or Colt D-Frame. Myself, I was issued a 4" Security-Six way back when. It took me one range session with that thing to learn that launching full power .357's out of a .38-size revolver which has a half-length barrel was not my idea of an efficient fighting gun......My point to all this is that I can't imagine having to use a 5-shot snub nose loaded with full power .357's to defend myself with. That, and I'm 99% certain that "porting" it's barrel would not make one iota of difference other than make it even more obnoxious....But it's your gun and your butt on the line.
Just my .02 .
DGW
Just my .02 .
DGW
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Porting does reduce the recoil jump. It is nice. However, you reduce the bullet velocity ever so slightly, and if you hold the gun close to your body, you will probably feel the flash and maybe receive some personal burn.
Had my S&W model 29 8 3/8 in .44 mag ported
It makes a difference
Lots of pistols have porting options
Makes spectacular night shot
V of fire and cylinder bypass glow.
OP
2.25"
contender
Ruger Guru
I have a 3" you could try out.
I have a couple of 'Magnaported' (6" barrel) revolvers. It makes the loud even LOUDER. Maybe worthwhile for range or hunting handgun but I certainly wouldn't consider it for a 2-3" SD handgun.
I carried an SP101 3.?" 38 SP for several years. My arthritic hands didn't like the +P loads so I found standard loads that had adequate terminal performance. Winchester 'Silvertip' HP is a great load for the short 38's and it's easy to control.
I carried an SP101 3.?" 38 SP for several years. My arthritic hands didn't like the +P loads so I found standard loads that had adequate terminal performance. Winchester 'Silvertip' HP is a great load for the short 38's and it's easy to control.
Just get some lightweight Lehigh's. They kick less and make a mess out of anything you hit.
With a 2.25" barrel you are barely making use of the additional powder available in the 357 mag as it is. If you port the barrel you will lose about another 3/4" of effective length, and make even less use of the additional powder charge of the 357 mag. I would just shoot 38's and be happy. In the end, the minor velocity gains of the magnum in such a short gun just aren't worth the added recoil and the additional time it will take to get back on target for the 2nd or 3rd shots.
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Exactly!!! If you really need to feel the recoil just get a 460S&W snubby. You can always load your 357 brass to comfortable levels with lightweight bullets.
OP
Thanks for all the information and suggestions. From the replies, porting is no longer going to be considered.
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....wise decision......
Paul B
Hunter
I only have one gun that is ported, an old model Ruger Super Blackhwk I got into on the cheap because a previous own had it Magnaported. I shot a comparison test using a new model Super Blackhawk vs the old model and frankly saw little or no difference in recoil between the two. Loads use in the test were Winchester 240 gr. factory and my usual Elmer Keith loads using 22.0 gr. A2400 and a nominal 240 gr. cast bullet that runs 250 gr. in my alloy. The old model was noticeably louder and I was using plugs plus a good set of hearing muffs at the time.
Paul B.
Paul B.
