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Poll: Porting is Pointless

Porting a pistol is unnecessary

  • More holes in my barrel plz

    Votes: 41 43.2%

  • You can’t port your way to better shooting

    Votes: 56 58.9%
  • Total voters
    95
This is why I would advocate for a "Carry Comp" Division for USPSA, or allowing Single Port Comp or ported barrels into CO/LO etc. Or they could simply make Open Minor its own separate division with some more restrictions, maybe like a slide mounted optic only and comp size or port limitations.

If there's no advantage to be had, then no worries about people using comps/ports, just add them to CO/LO.

There is an advantage in muzzle flip mitigation, especially on smaller pews, which is why I think it would be good for the USPSA to update this in some way.

Perfect example... my S&W Bodyguard 2.0. Has a Comp integrated to the slide/barrel. That automatically means I would have to shoot it in Open, where it has absolutely no business being (yes I'm aware of the minimum caliber for divisions). Or, my original Glock 43, with an Aim Surplus JTT Barrel. 6+1 Capacity, has to be in a division with purpose built open/race guns with 30+1 capacity, simply doesn't make sense.

They just allowed for optics in L10 and with somewhat recent divisions like CO/LO becoming their most popular divisions, I think adding in some sort of a carve out should be on the radar.

As you mentioned, ports and comps are everywhere, it's because they work. Even the Steggler admits the Ramjet is quite good. It simply reduces the amount of grip pressure and input needed to bring your sight back on target. Ports/Comps are still picking up steam and I don't think they'll be going away any time soon.
 
Brandon Breeze said:
This is why I would advocate for a "Carry Comp" Division for USPSA, or allowing Single Port Comp or ported barrels into CO/LO etc. Or they could simply make Open Minor its own separate division with some more restrictions, maybe like a slide mounted optic only and comp size or port limitations.

If there's no advantage to be had, then no worries about people using comps/ports, just add them to CO/LO.

There is an advantage in muzzle flip mitigation, especially on smaller pews, which is why I think it would be good for the USPSA to update this in some way.

Perfect example... my S&W Bodyguard 2.0. Has a Comp integrated to the slide/barrel. That automatically means I would have to shoot it in Open, where it has absolutely no business being (yes I'm aware of the minimum caliber for divisions). Or, my original Glock 43, with an Aim Surplus JTT Barrel. 6+1 Capacity, has to be in a division with purpose built open/race guns with 30+1 capacity, simply doesn't make sense.

They just allowed for optics in L10 and with somewhat recent divisions like CO/LO becoming their most popular divisions, I think adding in some sort of a carve out should be on the radar.

As you mentioned, ports and comps are everywhere, it's because they work. Even the Steggler admits the Ramjet is quite good. It simply reduces the amount of grip pressure and input needed to bring your sight back on target. Ports/Comps are still picking up steam and I don't think they'll be going away any time soon.
Click to expand...

This is a great point. A carry comp as we see on a M&P or a G19C is nowhere close to an custom build open 2011 but those guns are getting popular so getting a division for them would be cool. The likes of P10C ported, M&P Carry Comp, Echelon comp...etc
 
Brandon Breeze said:
This is why I would advocate for a "Carry Comp" Division for USPSA, or allowing Single Port Comp or ported barrels into CO/LO etc. Or they could simply make Open Minor its own separate division with some more restrictions, maybe like a slide mounted optic only and comp size or port limitations.
Click to expand...
Be careful! To even suggest another division for USPSA is considered blasphemous by many. 🤣

Thread 'Why isn’t there a USPSA (sub-)division for non-race pistols with compensators?'
https://caguns.net/threads/why-isn’t-there-a-uspsa-sub-division-for-non-race-pistols-with-compensators.26408/

But my opinion now is that they should just allow comps (and magwells) in all minor divisions. I don’t think they make much difference there and don’t actually need a separate division. However, it could potentially spread out CO and LO which might be useful.
 
Last edited:
john_marsten_1873 said:
Be careful! To even suggest another division for USPSA is considered blasphemous by many. 🤣

Thread 'Why isn’t there a USPSA (sub-)division for non-race pistols with compensators?'
https://caguns.net/threads/why-isn’t-there-a-uspsa-sub-division-for-non-race-pistols-with-compensators.26408/

But my opinion now is that they should just allow comps (and magwells) in all minor divisions. I don’t think they make much difference there and don’t actually need a separate division. However, it could potentially spread out CO and LO which might be useful.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I suggested this on the post from USPSA announcing they are allowing Optics in L10 and some USPSA guys were throwing all sorts of tantrums like they were 2 years old. How do we think CO & LO came about? Suggestions for changes based on what people are actually using. Comps/ports are like optics only a few years ago. Went from no one is using them, to everyone is using them. CO & LO are now more popular than many of the OG divisions.

If there is no room for comps, why did they make room for optics? You can easily make the argument a million different ways. There's simply no way you can justify having a Glock 19 with a Ramjet be in the same division with a fully built Open gun. Based on the current rules, sure that's what it has to be, but that's like saying you have to race your Toyota Camry against a Formula 1 car because it has a turbo.
 
Like anything else, there really isn’t an absolute answer. It depends on the shooter, the use case, the setup, performance goals, etc.

That said, I definitely agree that you can’t port your way into better shooting. If the shooter sucks, no add-on is magically going to fix that - trigger, comp, ports, new gun, whatever. They may help at the margins, but they won’t replace fundamentals.


Which is why I never understand why I get downvoted on Reddit whenever someone posts their new “cheat code” trigger/gun/upgrade and I reply with... :rolleyes:

“+10 EQ bonus does not compensate for shooter's low base XP.” 😜
 
You can’t port your way to better shooting, but ports can absolutely improve a pistol. The LTT ported barrel on my Beretta 92 significantly reduced muzzle flip. All that said, I don’t understand the idea of porting on a carry gun that you might have to shoot from retention or in other close quarters. I don’t want that blast being vented into my face.
 
I'd like the see the Venn diagram of the people who worry about JHP projectile velocity, expansion, penetration, etc., and the people who like to port their CCW pistols.

I think it's great for the range and competition. I'm not sure if I want the gas and possible spalling in HD/CCW situations.
 
RustVendor said:
Comps and ports on a 9mm are cringe. Maybe if you are disabled it makes sense with defensive ammo but otherwise, if you want a gun that shoots softly just for "fun" why not save money and shoot 22lr? Not having recoil is honestly pretty boring
Click to expand...
I see a lot of steel challenge rimfire guns with comps on them.
 
Doesn't make up for a lack of fundamentals, training, or skill, but does help (especially smaller carry guns) shoot much better without having to increase the size profile or weight despite having a more compact grip, shorter barrel, etc.

The best of both worlds/what I try to do is have guns that are setup with multiple barrels so that I can freely swap between a nonported barrel for LO or just for general practice and swap to a ported barrel or comped barrel if need be.
 
jclusin said:
I see a lot of steel challenge rimfire guns with comps on them.
Click to expand...
I've gone back and forth with identical other than comp Buckmarks to try and figure out which is better and can't for the life of me figure out why someone would ever use one on a 22lr. But, if folks want to spend their money on something I support that completely.
 
You'd be surprised how useless good fundamentals and recoil control can make a ported barrel seem. Comped with the right ammo, sure. I'm all for comps, because there is a clear advantage. But even then, if you aren't capable of producing .13-.15 splits with reasonable accuracy, then porting doesn't do much for you anyway.
 
Jumping in the deep end for my first post. ha.

It’s not for me, i’ve had an p10c comp, echelon comp, bodyguard 2.0 comp. I’ve sold them all. I don’t shoot competitions , I don’t like the extra crap getting thrown around, I really didn’t like cleaning them, and I didn’t notice a difference. So for me it was all down sides no benefit. Just moving back from a free state and being reminded how bad the roster is, no cans, no threaded barrels (super scary) I see why people do it.
 
If you were carrying a Smith & Wesson 500 maybe I would see the point. But honestly who can't control muscles flip on a 9 mm, 40 cal, or 45? I don't need a giant fireball shooting out the top of my firearm, I don't really think it's advantageous for follow-up shots
 
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