WayneFloyd wrote:"the flash of the gun, either ported or not will virtually blind you after the first shot"
Guess I have had a different experience. I own a Taurus Tracker TI .357. Its ported. Used it at a night shooting class on a range and in a shoot house. Class started at sunset and lasted till 10:00 PM Fired over 500 rounds. Never affected my night vision or at least I never noticed a difference. I was never blinded by the flash.
I like the ported revolver as it helps me keep the sight on target for the next shot.
Your mileage may vary.
Regards Wayne Floyd
In a range environment, you are dealing with constant flashes from yourself and the others that are shooting. Try walking out in your back yard at 2 am, stand there for about 20 minutes to get your eyes adjusted, then fire one shot at your fence. Then see if you can even make out the details on the fence immediately afterward. You might be ok after 20 seconds, but that is a long time.
Hell I was running steel plate stages in less than 20 seconds the other day and that was 6 to 9 targets and 20+ rounds downrange. If you are the victim of an attack, 20 seconds is going to be more than enough to get killed.
My entire point is that your ability to get back on target will probably be a LOT less important than how well your first shot is aimed. Especially when you are suffering from loss of night vision.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
mekender wrote:
In a range environment, you are dealing with constant flashes from yourself and the others that are shooting. Try walking out in your back yard at 2 am, stand there for about 20 minutes to get your eyes adjusted, then fire one shot at your fence. Then see if you can even make out the details on the fence immediately afterward. You might be ok after 20 seconds, but that is a long time.
Hell I was running steel plate stages in less than 20 seconds the other day and that was 6 to 9 targets and 20+ rounds downrange. If you are the victim of an attack, 20 seconds is going to be more than enough to get killed.
My entire point is that your ability to get back on target will probably be a LOT less important than how well your first shot is aimed. Especially when you are suffering from loss of night vision.
Mekender - agreed - the first shot is the most important one. I am sure you are probably right - it does have some effect on one's night vision. I am just saying I was not blinded and was able to acquire my targets after the first shot. It was not easy but it was doable.
I would try your suggestion but since I live in the city it might scare the neighbors
WayneFloyd wrote:"Wayne, what's the barrel length of your gun?"
308Mike - its a 4 inch barrel
Regards, Wayne Floyd
Hmmmmmm, on a 4" barrel, I would imagine porting would help with the recoil, but might not have any effect on muzzle blast - which depending on load, may be considerable.
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON
A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.
I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
WayneFloyd wrote:"the flash of the gun, either ported or not will virtually blind you after the first shot"
Guess I have had a different experience. I own a Taurus Tracker TI .357. Its ported. Used it at a night shooting class on a range and in a shoot house. Class started at sunset and lasted till 10:00 PM Fired over 500 rounds. Never affected my night vision or at least I never noticed a difference. I was never blinded by the flash.
I like the ported revolver as it helps me keep the sight on target for the next shot.
mekender wrote:
In a range environment, you are dealing with constant flashes from yourself and the others that are shooting. Try walking out in your back yard at 2 am, stand there for about 20 minutes to get your eyes adjusted, then fire one shot at your fence. Then see if you can even make out the details on the fence immediately afterward. You might be ok after 20 seconds, but that is a long time.
Hell I was running steel plate stages in less than 20 seconds the other day and that was 6 to 9 targets and 20+ rounds downrange. If you are the victim of an attack, 20 seconds is going to be more than enough to get killed.
My entire point is that your ability to get back on target will probably be a LOT less important than how well your first shot is aimed. Especially when you are suffering from loss of night vision.
Mekender - agreed - the first shot is the most important one. I am sure you are probably right - it does have some effect on one's night vision. I am just saying I was not blinded and was able to acquire my targets after the first shot. It was not easy but it was doable.
I would try your suggestion but since I live in the city it might scare the neighbors
Regards Wayne Floyd
Most impressive small arms related thing ive ever seen was a full squad of marines lighting up the night with their M-16's, a SAW and parachute flares launched into the sky. Luckily it was a force projection demo and not my neighborhood getting invaded, but nevertheless it was damn impressive.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
mekender wrote:most night shootings are going to be ether parking lot encounters or defense of your home.
I wasn't specific with my situation. I live in a major American city next to a tough neighborhood and walk a lot. The most probable situation for me would be at night in a street-lit alley or street. Defense of the home in my case is extremely unlikely given the building (condo building and a huge hassle to get in unnoticed) compared to street problems.
I own a 3 1/16" barrel SP101 and have shot it at night to see the flash. I wanted to know how bright my bedroom would become if I have to let fly. With 125 gr. pills and a big load of W296 it is a flame thrower. With Blue Dot it is worse. With AA#9 the fireball was tolerable. Some powders flash a lot more than others. That said, if you are concerned about the 6' long X 2' wide flame you will send out, use ammo with the newer low flash powders; it makes a huge difference. Porting isn't going to make a bit of difference where perceived flash is concerned during a hostile encounter. Even in a big city at night senario, you are gonna be flash blinded. Try out different types of ammo in a not so well it range or out door shooting area just after dusk. You have to do it if you want to know what you will be dealing with.
mekender wrote:personally i think anything above a .22 is going to be bright enough to completely destroy any night vision that you might have had.
Possible, though my admittedly anecdotal data refutes that, at least partially. Neither a government model 1911 nor a 4-inch S&W Model 28 (loaded with .38spl) were enough to make me lose my night vision when my friends and I were test firing them at 11pm on a pitch black mountain.
mekender wrote:personally i think anything above a .22 is going to be bright enough to completely destroy any night vision that you might have had.
Possible, though my admittedly anecdotal data refutes that, at least partially. Neither a government model 1911 nor a 4-inch S&W Model 28 (loaded with .38spl) were enough to make me lose my night vision when my friends and I were test firing them at 11pm on a pitch black mountain.
Not that it really applies. Just sayin'
i wouldnt consider that invalid at all, my concern is that in a SD shooting situation, can you see well enough to use the sights or to even see your attacker clearly?
Personally, ive only fired a 9mm at night, and it was enough to leave spots in front of my eyes for several minutes.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
mekender wrote:i wouldnt consider that invalid at all, my concern is that in a SD shooting situation, can you see well enough to use the sights or to even see your attacker clearly?
Well, I could still see the sights on the Model 28, but my 1911 has the low profile GI sights on it, so they're pretty much impossible to see at night anyway. At least they were until I marked the front one with white paint (after the night shooting experience, sadly).
