Does PORTING Cost You Performance?

Published on November 5, 2022
Duration: 10:39

This video compares the ballistic performance of Hornady Critical Defense 125-grain .357 Magnum rounds fired from two four-inch revolvers: a ported Taurus 608 and an unported Ruger GP100. The test reveals a significant difference in bullet expansion and penetration, with the unported barrel yielding superior results despite a lower average velocity. The speaker, an experienced firearms instructor, was surprised by the outcome, highlighting how even a small velocity difference can impact terminal ballistics.

Quick Summary

A test comparing ported and unported four-inch .357 Magnum barrels revealed that the unported barrel achieved significantly better bullet expansion and less penetration in gel tests. The unported Ruger GP100 averaged 65 FPS faster than the ported Taurus 608, leading to optimal performance for Hornady Critical Defense ammunition.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Setup
  2. 00:14Test Overview: .357 Magnum Performance
  3. 00:30Clothing Barrier Setup
  4. 00:54Ammunition: Hornady Critical Defense 125gr FTX
  5. 01:03Firearm Comparison: Ported vs. Unported Barrels
  6. 01:06Ruger GP100 (Unported) vs. Taurus 608 (Ported)
  7. 01:41Velocity Testing: Ported Taurus 608
  8. 02:31Velocity Testing: Unported Ruger GP100
  9. 03:00Velocity Data Analysis
  10. 03:38Gel Testing: Ported vs. Unported
  11. 03:44Gel Test: Ported Taurus 608
  12. 04:22Gel Test: Unported Ruger GP100
  13. 04:42Gel Test Results Analysis
  14. 05:07Expansion and Penetration Differences
  15. 06:37Projectile Examination
  16. 07:50Projectile Measurements
  17. 08:46Conclusion: Porting Impact on Performance
  18. 09:13Final Thoughts and Future Tests
  19. 09:52Outro and Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Does porting a barrel affect firearm performance?

Yes, porting a barrel can affect firearm performance. In a test comparing a ported Taurus 608 to an unported Ruger GP100 with .357 Magnum rounds, the unported barrel achieved higher velocities and significantly better bullet expansion in gel tests, suggesting porting can sometimes hinder optimal terminal ballistics.

What is the difference in velocity between ported and unported .357 Magnum barrels?

In a test using four-inch barrels, the unported Ruger GP100 averaged 65 FPS faster than the ported Taurus 608 when firing Hornady Critical Defense 125-grain .357 Magnum rounds. The ported barrel averaged 1314 FPS, while the unported barrel averaged 1379 FPS.

How does barrel porting impact bullet expansion in .357 Magnum?

Barrel porting can negatively impact bullet expansion. A test showed that a .357 Magnum round fired from a ported barrel failed to expand properly in gel, tumbling and penetrating deeper, while the same round from an unported barrel expanded significantly, indicating the velocity loss from porting was critical.

Which type of barrel, ported or unported, is better for self-defense with .357 Magnum?

Based on a gel test with Hornady Critical Defense .357 Magnum, an unported barrel demonstrated superior performance. The unported barrel achieved better bullet expansion and less penetration, which are generally desirable for self-defense effectiveness, compared to the ported barrel which showed poor expansion.

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