heavenIsAlie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford
which is a better choice?
ported barrel vs compensator
- Thread starter heavenIsAlie
- Start date
I installed (dropped in) a ported barrel into my G21 and i was amazed with the results. A lot more accurate and easier to handle with hot loads. All though shooting from a retention postion(the hip) will blast you with gas and carbon. You can always swap the barrel back for defensive purposes or when you catch someone cheating at cards. 
I've heard guys at IPSC that shoot open talking about how their compensators won't work if the load isn't powerful enough to force enough gas down the barrel. When I heard that I assumed that meant it was the ports that redirect gas to reduce muzzle flip.
Compensators are different from ports in that;
Ports only vent gases out of the barrel to create down force, whereas comps are attachments added usually to the muzzle and have at least one baffle or a series of baffles that are more or less perpendicular to the axis of the bore through which the bullet passes after exiting the muzzle. The expanding gases slam into these baffles just behind the bullet as it transitions the comp and are then vented upwards, pushing the muzzle forward and down to compensate for recoil (flip). I have both ports and compensators on my IPSC race guns. Best of both worlds.
Yes, they do require hotter loads to work but it's more about gas volume than pressure, so slower powders are the norm to increase the size of the gas column. They do also add weight which may indeed soak up some of the recoil, but with weight comes momentum and inertia, which has to be overcome as the muzzle is lifting and settling. Too much weight added to the front of a gun is not a good thing if speed of recovery is important. That is why most modern comps are as light as possible.
Ports only vent gases out of the barrel to create down force, whereas comps are attachments added usually to the muzzle and have at least one baffle or a series of baffles that are more or less perpendicular to the axis of the bore through which the bullet passes after exiting the muzzle. The expanding gases slam into these baffles just behind the bullet as it transitions the comp and are then vented upwards, pushing the muzzle forward and down to compensate for recoil (flip). I have both ports and compensators on my IPSC race guns. Best of both worlds.
Yes, they do require hotter loads to work but it's more about gas volume than pressure, so slower powders are the norm to increase the size of the gas column. They do also add weight which may indeed soak up some of the recoil, but with weight comes momentum and inertia, which has to be overcome as the muzzle is lifting and settling. Too much weight added to the front of a gun is not a good thing if speed of recovery is important. That is why most modern comps are as light as possible.
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A ported barrel has the cut-outs in the barrel itself, before the muzzle. As a result, the gases are released before the bullet exits the barrel. This results in a reduction in muzzle velocity.
A compensator is placed after the muzzle of the barrel. As a result, there is no reduction in muzzle velocity, since the gases are not released until after the bullet has left the barrel.
A ported barrel can also be harder to clean than a compensator.
Compensators are generally considered preferable to porting.
A compensator is placed after the muzzle of the barrel. As a result, there is no reduction in muzzle velocity, since the gases are not released until after the bullet has left the barrel.
A ported barrel can also be harder to clean than a compensator.
Compensators are generally considered preferable to porting.
heavenIsAlie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford
i might just locate a ported barrel for my 229 (its extended already) just to see how it runs and how fun it is
