Another "Adventures in barrel porting" sighting!

[awp101]

I was digging around that auction site that caters to Brokegunners for some double action revolver action and found...this. Now it's not to the level of the Tactical BFR with new style barrel porting but it's an odd choice IMO.

port2 by awp101, on Flickr
port1 by awp101, on Flickr

At least these appear to be clean, chamfered and tapered!

My guess is this was easier to set up than the Mag-Na-port style or any of the others that are on either side of the top of the barrel? I vaguely recall seeing some semi-autos done this way but not an almost 10" revolver...

[Deleted]

It appears to be "Hybraporting", originally developed by Jack Wiegand, IIRC. It's reputed to be highly effective, but hell on the eyes in dark & semi-dark environments. Its pretty cool to watch someone touch off one of these beasties though: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgAu7xMKtCU

[awp101]

Interesting, thanks!

For a hunting revolver it makes some sense although it would probably be Hell on any scope that was mounted too far forward. Wouldn't be real fun in a close retention situation either but that goes for any porting I suppose.

[seancass]

On a racing gun, these might be called Popple Holes. I have no idea where the name comes from. They definitely work as you would expect.

However, these are LOUD!!! Crazy loud! Ear damaging loud. Certainly the caliber plays a part, but if you're shooting 357 hunting load without ear protection, it's going to make your ears ring for a bit. In my experience with similar firearms, I would never put these on a hunting gun. But, I'm not as experienced as some. And my ears still work!

Edit: I just learned that a man named Popplewell pioneered this style of porting(to whatever extent, i don't know). He was drilling holes directly(vertical) into the barrel instead of using a comp(which throws more gas/noise back at the shooter)

[awp101]

I wasn't thinking about the lack of earpro when hunting and the difference that would make, I was just thinking about muzzle flip reduction. Having been on the wrong side of a .357 when it went off without my plugs in* I don't want any part of firing a PORTED .357 without plugs. The one above is a .41 and I can't imagine it being any better.



*I was ~5-7' to the right and ~2-3' ahead of the muzzle when my Grandfather fired his 6.5" Llama. Totally my fault as I wasn't paying attention to him while he was paying attention to the target. I honestly think the only thing that hurt more from a sound standpoint was the time I was tasked to work an M2 range and forgot my earplugs. And that's counting 2 Metallica concerts (1991-1992) and 1 Motorhead concert (2009)...

[JM]

Oct 19, 2016 21:03:13 GMT -5 @358156hp said:

It appears to be "Hybraporting", originally developed by Jack Wiegand...

I believe you are correct from what I recall. Check out these folks: www.geminicustoms.com

[Alaskan454]

That type of porting is supposed to work well in handguns that use a range of different powder speeds, it allows the gas to escape over a wider time scale instead of only in one location. I haven't had one personally but that's what I've read.

[awp101]

I know it's not a large pic, but what about this style?



It looks like there's ports along the front sight as well as the usual location near the top of the barrel?

[awp101]

I don't suppose the porting in the above post could be filled after drilling and tapping the holes could they? My gut says no but there may be a trick that would let it happen. Maybe d&t then braze the fillers in?

[Deleted]

I used to see advertisements for jigs that made the last type of porting. We used to have a local guy who offered it too. This appears to be the drill press version. I've also seen a number of revolver barrels ported on a mill. The ports were huge!