Do Ported Barrels Affect Ballistics?...How Much & In What Ways?

Published on June 5, 2026
Duration: 10:15

This video investigates the impact of ported barrels on firearm ballistics, specifically muzzle velocity. The test compares a ported 3-inch Grizzly revolver against unported 3-inch and 2.5-inch Colt Python revolvers using .357 Magnum and .38 Special +P ammunition. Results indicate that porting can reduce overall velocity, potentially more than a reduction in barrel length alone.

Quick Summary

Ported firearm barrels can measurably reduce muzzle velocity. Tests comparing a 3-inch ported Grizzly to unported Colt Pythons showed lower average velocities for both .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum rounds with the ported barrel. This velocity loss can be comparable to or greater than the difference seen from a shorter barrel.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Test Setup
  2. 00:22Firearms Used: Python vs. Grizzly
  3. 00:36Test Objective: Ballistics Impact
  4. 00:40Ammunition: .357 Magnum & .38 Special +P
  5. 00:47Comparing Barrel Lengths
  6. 00:54Chronograph Setup
  7. 01:22.38 Special +P: 3-inch Unported Python
  8. 01:52.38 Special +P: 3-inch Ported Grizzly
  9. 02:17.38 Special +P: 2.5-inch Unported Python
  10. 02:42.357 Magnum: 3-inch Unported Python
  11. 03:12.357 Magnum: 3-inch Ported Grizzly
  12. 03:40.357 Magnum: 2.5-inch Unported Python
  13. 04:09Analyzing .38 Special +P Data
  14. 04:37Porting vs. Barrel Length Effect (.38 Spl)
  15. 05:57Analyzing .357 Magnum Data
  16. 06:56Porting vs. Barrel Length Effect (.357 Mag)
  17. 08:20Conclusion: Porting's Impact on Ballistics
  18. 08:54Final Thoughts & Discussion

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ported barrels reduce firearm velocity?

Yes, ported barrels can reduce muzzle velocity. In tests comparing a 3-inch ported Grizzly revolver to a 3-inch unported Colt Python, the ported barrel resulted in lower average velocities for both .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum rounds.

How much velocity does porting affect?

The effect varies, but in one test, a 3-inch ported barrel showed a velocity reduction comparable to or greater than that of a 3-inch unported barrel versus a 2.5-inch unported barrel, suggesting porting can significantly impact velocity.

Does porting affect ballistic consistency?

While not the primary focus, the data suggests porting might influence consistency. The 3-inch ported Grizzly showed a slightly higher variance in velocity for .357 Magnum compared to the 3-inch unported Python, though the 2.5-inch unported barrel was the most consistent overall.

Is the velocity loss from porting significant for practical shooting?

For practical purposes like hitting a target, the velocity differences observed from porting are generally not significant enough to cause a noticeable difference in terminal ballistics. However, it does demonstrably affect measured velocity.

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