Does porting a revolver affect muzzle flash at night?

[Spells]

I fired a Ruger SP101 recently and liked it a lot, except for the recoil with full power .357. I know Gemini Customs does porting but I'm wondering if it would blind me in the most likely scenarios where I'd need a gun, at night.

I've read conflicting opinions that:

1. Porting directs flash between your eyes and what you're looking at, which can impair vision worse than standard muzzle flash.

OR

2. The flash from the cylinder and barrel of a snubby magnum revolver is enough that porting isn't going to make an appreciable difference.

I assume somebody has tried shooting both in low light and knows the answer. Anybody?

edit: sorry if this is the wrong subforum. I was asking because this would influence my decision in a concealed carry weapon.

[clyde621]

The best way to save your night vision is to find the most efficient burning powder load for your gun. Go thought several loads and fire them at night. If you have a shor barrel gun don't go for the hot loads all you are doing is burning powder at the end of the barrel. Just my $.02 from my experience. BTW there are loads out for snub nose.

[mekender]

the flash of the gun, either ported or not will virtually blind you after the first shot.

[eocoolj]

From what i understand, porting a self defense gun is not something you really want to do. With a gun like that, it is somewhat likely that you would be firing it in a position other than your classic range stance. With the gun at an odd angle and/or very close to your body, the chance of getting burnt by the burning gas coming out of a ported barrel is there.

I'm no expert in defensive rounds, but if .357 is too much you in a compact revolver (as it is for many people), why not load with a .38 special +P.

[Spells]

From what i understand, porting a self defense gun is not something you really want to do. With a gun like that, it is somewhat likely that you would be firing it in a position other than your classic range stance. With the gun at an odd angle and/or very close to your body, the chance of getting burnt by the burning gas coming out of a ported barrel is there.

I almost addressed this in my OP. Super-flammable clothing (which I don't wear) aside, this isn't something I'm really worried about. If you're in enough of a spot that you're shooting at somebody, risk of skin injury is not something to take seriously.

I'm no expert in defensive rounds, but if .357 is too much you in a compact revolver (as it is for many people), why not load with a .38 special +P.

I could, but I like options and would prefer to know in advance what I should rule out. For example, somebody could say, "38 +P isn't bad at night as long as your barrel isn't ported." I can't test myself because I can't un-port a gun.

[Spells]

the flash of the gun, either ported or not will virtually blind you after the first shot.

Sorry for possibly dumb questions, but you didn't elaborate. Do you think any gun will do this, or are you ruling out .357 as a defensive caliber at night, or is it barrel length or something else specific to this particular weapon?

[mekender]

most night shootings are going to be ether parking lot encounters or defense of your home.

try this tonight when it gets real dark in your bedroom, take 10 wooden matches, use a rubber band to bundle them together.

sit upright on your bed with your arms outstretched toward your bedroom door and looking toward your hands (with the lights out) and strike the match bundle. once it lights, quickly drop it into a bowl of water and then try to see if you can make out ANYTHING near the door.

now take all necessary precautions before you try this so you dont burn the damn house down.

ok, so you have done that, now imagine the flash about 20 times brighter and accompanied by smoke and a very loud noise. most likely, you will not hear the shot you fire, your body shuts off your auditory processing because it isnt needed.

my guess is, the matches will be sufficiently bright as to make sure that you cannot see a damn thing once the light dies out.

the burst of flame out of the muzzle of your gun will be much brighter and much more intense.

you will suffer similar effects in a less enclosed space like a parking lot, but the effect will be reduced a bit.

[FelixEstrella]

Short barrel + full-house 357 load = unburned powder --> BIG ASS FLASH.

Perhaps Corey "I wear my sunglasses at night" Hart was on to something.

[mekender]

Short barrel + full-house 357 load = unburned powder --> BIG ASS FLASH.

Perhaps Corey "I wear my sunglasses at night" Hart was on to something.

personally i think anything above a .22 is going to be bright enough to completely destroy any night vision that you might have had.

[morsetaper]

personally i think anything above a .22 is going to be bright enough to completely destroy any night vision that you might have had.

Prolly right, but I think that between the muzzle, porting, and cylinder flash, recovery time would be shorter with any autoloader.