porting a barrel and slide

[Saltwater60]

i know this improves accuracy and I understand how it works. I guess what I am wondering is it worth doing in a 3" Springfield xd. I like the gun and I'm quite accurate with it. Part of my reason for doing it is accuracy won't hurt, other part is lets face it it looks damn cool, also I was looking to remove some weight. So with those considerations in mind is it worth $400.00. Or do I just buy a browning .22 1911 or some more ammo. What's your thoughts guys. I'm clueless in this area of guns. Well practically. As always thanks.

 

[Arjuna]

Four hundred dollars could get you this, just saying

S&W M&P9 Shield 9mm Performance Center

 

[Criticalt]

Although it looks cool, I dont believe it will add that much performance to that gun.
My friend has a ported G20(as does Darth), its cool but I cant see any difference from my G20.

 

[JaguarJaguarGolf]

I've never found that porting improves accuracy. I think the original purpose was for recoil/control. I don't shoot anything bigger than 30.06 rifles or .44 magnum handguns so I've never found the need for recoil help. Porting makes guns louder.

 

[Saltwater60]

That's what I thought. I just wanted some expert opinions. Thanks guys.

 

[HEX]

i know this improves accuracy and I understand how it works. I guess what I am wondering is it worth doing in a 3" Springfield xd. I like the gun and I'm quite accurate with it. Part of my reason for doing it is accuracy won't hurt, other part is lets face it it looks damn cool, also I was looking to remove some weight. So with those considerations in mind is it worth $400.00. Or do I just buy a browning .22 1911 or some more ammo. What's your thoughts guys. I'm clueless in this area of guns. Well practically. As always thanks.

Well, lets back up a bit. There are advantages and disadvantages to porting, but your initial statement of that it improves accuracy isn't true; at least not directly. In fact especially on very short barreled guns, as you describe, the disadvantages are potentially even greater than that of a firearm with a longer barrel.

The primary function of porting is to reduce muzzle flip /recoil impulse, which can make it easier to make more accurate follow up shots but does not effect the inherent accuracy of the gun. That said, less weight is going to increase muzzle flip so on such a short barreled gun it's debatable how much performance you'd either be gaining OR losing in terms of recoil control.

Porting also makes a firearm seem louder to the shooter, so in a self-defense gun that can be another disadvantage.On top of that , porting can be bad on a self defense gun in terms of where the muzzle flash is directed, as well as potentially being a problem if shooting is required from unusual position conditions.

Then we've got reduction of bullet velocity. Now, this is a very debatable topic because most chrono studies will show the reduction by porting to be fairly insignificant, but the shorter your barrel is the more you sacrifice bullet velocity to begin with.

I could get a LOT more technical here, but perhaps it's just easier to say that it's really not a very good idea on the gun you're talking about. Porting is a great thing to have for the right job and on the right tool, but on that gun I would very much say there's no point. You mention also the esthetics (just for looks) but it's worth keeping in mind perhaps that when you heavily modify a gun just for looks you're never going to get that cost returned and you'll have a hard time finding someone who wants exactly that should you ever want to sell it. I'm all for doing nice work on nice guns.. but this a common XD after all.

 

[Toecutter]

I've got a drill and hack saw that says you can port it for less then 400

 

[Darth]

Although it looks cool, I dont believe it will add that much performance to that gun.
My friend has a ported G20(as does Darth), its cool but I cant see any difference from my G20.

It definitely helps with the G20C and Buffalo Bore loads. No question.

It doesn't improve accuracy, it allows for faster follow up shots.

$400 is outrageous.

 

[Acer-m14]

I have a drill .. 5 bucks a hole ..

 

[Saltwater60]

Sounds good. Case closed. Leaving it as is. Thanks.

 

[Mk44]

Not on a 3" barrel. Use that money on something else.

 

[dsdmmat]

I had a glock .40 S&W long slide that was ported. It belonged to my 2nd ex wife glad I got rid of that woman and her guns.