Does porting a revolver affect muzzle flash at night?

[Spells]

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.

[mekender]

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.

and that would be a parking lot encounter wouldnt it?

poorly lit.
cars and other metallic objects all around that will reflect light toward your eyes.
the possibility of bright lights shining in your face (car headlights).
possibility of VERY dark areas that would really screw with your night vision.

a bright flash of a gunshot will completely screwball your night vision.

[Aglifter]

Concealed carry magazine did a comparison between the unported and ported versions of Gemini's work - I own the non-ported gun used in the article. Frankly, an SP 101 really doesn't recoil that much, even w. Buffalo Bore's super loads -- also, look for flash suppressed powders.

I really like Buffalo Bore, and carry their ammo in my guns, and have always been v. impressed w. their quality, etc.

[Spells]

I read the article, I don't think it addressed the difference in flash WRT to shooting in darkness.

I personally feel the recoil in a gun that small with .357 in it, so if there's no difference in eyesight I'd just as soon have the faster second shot. It sounds like there's not an appreciable difference in flash.

[Aglifter]

Hmm... Duane, the author, didn't end up liking the porting -- guess he didn't put it in the article, but his concern was more about burning himself... Not sure if that's really legitimate, as I would think any gases ported out of the barrel would be the same as those coming out of the cylinder gap.

[Spells]

Yeah, he didn't mention disliking it. I find the concern about burns irrelevant because:

1. That's not a serious injury in an emergency.
3. If it was a training thing where guys practice in unconventional positions, it might be legit, since you don't want to get burned all the time in training, BUT
2. There's no record anywhere I know of where somebody said, "I did this in training and I got burned because of porting." This always seems to be an untested hypothetical concern.

The barrel and cylinder gap either makes a big ass flash or a slightly different shaped big ass flash depending on porting. If you're shooting with the gun near/against your body having a non-ported gun is not going to protect you.

As for eyesight, it sounds like there's no consensus on porting being a detriment. I may ask the GC guys if they've tested it out.

[SeekHer]

One thing we were taught that at night it is better to keep one eye closed if you know you’re entering into a brighter lit environment as it will help you gain you night vision back…like when a car is approaching…

Any barrel will give you some degree of muzzle flash as that is dependent whether the powder will have burnt itself out before getting to the end of the barrel…Short barrel will of course show more flash then longer barrel will…

Porting a barrel, which I favour greatly by the way, not only directs the bright light straight from the barrel but upwards as well so of course more flash will be noticeable but the amount of flash will still be nearly the same…

I have ported every one of my centerfire barrels, shotguns, rifles and pistols…I even have my varmint barrels, like .220 Swift, .22 Hornet, .224 Win ported, not for recoil reduction--as it is minimal to start with--but for muzzle control…Flip is almost eliminated and that means I can get on target for my second shot that much faster or see where my bullet actually struck…

The usual scenario is that you will train with reduced loads to increase your proficiency and accuracy with that specific handgun and carry full house loads with you…The reasoning is that you will probably not feel the recoil as your adrenalin is flowing and your tunnelling—concentrating on the threat intensely…After shooting a lot of reduced loads shoot of a cylinder of hot house so you know where they are shooting to and then forget about them in practice…Shoot with the reduced loads and carry the hot rounds with you…

[Aglifter]

I don't have my SP101 w. me, but I'll try shooting a "flash-suppressed" 357 and a regular one at night from my Python this weekend.

[WayneFloyd]

"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

[308Mike]

Wayne, what's the barrel length of your gun?