Ported barrels have long been a topic of controversy among firearm enthusiasts, often accused of sapping critical bullet velocity. While many believe that these barrels, engineered to tame recoil and muzzle rise, come with a hefty performance cost, the truth might surprise you.
On an early morning, after a training course was unexpectedly canceled, I found myself at a public flat range where I bumped into a couple of guys from our local shooting sports group. Joe & Ed, and Ed happened to have a Garmin C1 Pro Chronograph.
So you can understand why this data may seem “impromptu”, because this really was unorganized. However, I think the data still provides a lot of value in this debate and I hope to be expanding on this in a future update.
Special Thanks
First, a special thanks to Joe for being an outstanding host and to Ed for his enthusiastic participation and for helping me run some rounds over his chronograph.
Baseline Data & Standards
All tests were performed with Sellier & Bellot 115gr 9mm FMJ which showed great consistency for factory ammo.
We had 2 different configurations for baseline data. A Glock 19 and a Sig P365 X Macro, both with non-ported barrels and the X Macro was without the compensator.
I would have liked to gather more data on the Glock 19, but given its status as likely the most common handgun in civilian use, I believe the single sample we have still provides a valuable data point and aligns with what we know from general knowledge.
Ported Barrel Data
We had 3 custom configurations to test.
- Sig Sauer P365 X Macro with Monsoon Tactical Lucky 7’s
- Sig Sauer P365 X Macro with Zaffiri Precision Ported Slide & Barrel Combo
- Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 with Monsoon Tactical “Dimebag” Port
Both of the Monsoon Tactical builds are mine and Ed brought the Zaffiri Precision build, so I’ll have to substitute a stock photo of his slide/barrel combo.
Conclusion
The P365 X Macro with Lucky 7’s stood out as the clear favorite due to its balance of comfort and performance, thanks to the Icarus Precision grip module. While the Zaffiri Precision ported barrel on the same gun didn’t provide any noticeable benefits in terms of recoil or muzzle rise when compared to the non-ported configuration.
The M&P with Dimebag Port demonstrated a predictable reduction in bullet velocity, losing about 87 feet per second compared to a standard Glock 19.
Interestingly, despite the difference in size, both the full-sized M&P with Dimebag Port and the compact P365 X Macro with Lucky 7’s had nearly identical velocity and impressive recoil management, making both firearms strong contenders for practical use. This analysis highlights the importance of balancing features and design for optimal shooting performance.
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