Barrel Porting-1911-A1

[PA BEN]

Anybody port there own barrel? If so, how do you go about it?

[bonecrusher]

you would want to be pretty good with metal and have the proper tools i would think to do it your self. because to do it right your going to want to make corresponding holes in the slide also. and no one wants to screw up there pretty 1911

[PA BEN]

I've seen Glock barrels that look like they have two saw cuts in the top of the barrel. Do you have to open up the slide also? Here's the link to the Glock barrels.
http://glockstore.com/pgroup_descrip/2_Barrels/1886_Bar-Sto+Barrel/?return=%3ftpl%3Dindex%26category_id%3D2%26_Barrels%2F

[MikeWalking]

Having owned a Ported Handgun I gotta ask WHY?  Seriously, will this be a gun fired only at the Range? The increase in noise may make you sorry you did it. I had a Ported .357 with a 4in bbl. The noise from it  made my ears ring so bad it hurt for hours, cut my hearing in half too. I had bought it as a trail gun, I quickly replaced it for that and only used it for Target/Plinking.

Any increase in getting the sights back on target faster can be done with practice.

[JackOfAllTrades]

OK, I waited for someone else to say it.

Why?

I shoot a lot of 1911 competitively. I'd never think about porting a 5" barrel. Your best bet instead of ruining a factory barrel would be to buy a 6" ported barrel from Brownells. You see.. If you port the 5" barrel, you need to also port the slide to let the gasses out. You will have devalued the gun unless you do a lot of other custom work to it. If it's got too much recoil for you, lighten the loads you're shooting. 100fps less makes a big difference in felt recoil. If you want to shoot your 45 at Bowling pins, I do know a gun smith you'll  want to talk to.  If you're thinking about getting into Bullseye shooting, I haven't seen a ported 1911 on the line in years.

-Steve

[PA BEN]

Wow, bust my BALLs Why? Just something I thought about giving a try. I've put a lot of Wilson Combat parts in it already and it shoots real good. Just thought I could improve it even more. BTW, a 45 ACP is load as hell to start with, I don't think a ported barrel won't matter.

[MikeWalking]

Sorry...Didn't mean to jump on you ....but seriously, porting will bring an big increase in noise no matter what the caliber. Think of it this way; all the noise, blast will be sent up in front of your face and back to a slight degree instead of all to the front.

I like the idea of buying a longer barell and porting that just to see what it's like. Or threading it and putting on a Compensator...Or you could, and I'm kidding here, have someone rest it on your shoulder under your ear and fire it...just to know what Porting is like...

Then again if your only going to shoot it at the Range or when you can put on hearing protection/ear plugs the noise wont matter. I'd just never port a defensive handgun..

[bonecrusher]

so to answer your second question yes you will need to cut the slide and yes it will be wicked loud. you can port the sides instead of the top that way the gasses don't shoot strait up and towards your face. it look real cool but that's about it in the advantage area IMO

[PA BEN]

Thanks for the INFO

[h2ofowlr]

Are you porting the barrel or the threaded portion that the can fits over?  

[JackOfAllTrades]

I din't mean to bust your balls. I though asking 'why' was valid.  Often times, I'll run into a question like that and someone is trying to solve an issue, when that proposed solution won't help them one bit at all. I try to give advice in reference to my experience but like to know all the reasons for someone wanting to make modifications to a gun.. That's all.

-Steve

[thinkingman]

Wow, bust my BALLs Why? Just something I thought about giving a try. I've put a lot of Wilson Combat parts in it already and it shoots real good. Just thought I could improve it even more. BTW, a 45 ACP is load as hell to start with, I don't think a ported barrel won't matter.

It will matter.
Listen to Jack...

[JackOfAllTrades]

So, you'd be nearly turning that government model into a commander model without reducing it's physical size. Fact is.. If you port a 5" barrel, you've effectively reduced the pressures within the total length of that barrel, which in turn reduces the velocity of the projectile. (becaue, yes, that fat little cartridge is most often loaded using a relatively fast burning powder, that powder is still burning throughout the short length of the barrel. If you effectively shorten the barrel by allowing those burning gasses to exit via the ports toward the end then the bullet will be traveling slower per given powder charge. You need to bump the charge up to get the same velocity. Notice that I said get a ported 6" barrel... That way the effects of the porting can redirect muzzle flip and recoil to the sides or down. And all this without expensive machining that weakens the slide anyway. If you purchase a barrel, be warned. Not all barrels, custom or production target barrels with compensator/porting are drop in fits to 1911 frames.  Porting has its uses. Note that most people put a muzzle brake on a rifle barrel as an 'extension', so they don't lose projectile velocity.  Porting and muzzle brakes are usefull on magnum pistols. Certainly not necessary on a low pressure 45acp 1911. JMB designed it right the first time through.. If porting was beneficial on a 1911, they'd come from the factory with that modification.

-Steve