Pistol Barrels with Compensator Slits

[Oldjedi]

KKM, BarSto and EFK are a few that manufacture pistol barrels with comp slits at the muzzle. I am curious to know if they work just as good as the old bulky ones.

[Carcassonne]

... I am curious to know if they work just as good as the old bulky ones.

What is your definition of "works"? Do you mean recoil reduction, muzzle climb, cool-looks, wallet lightener,...?

Generally not as good, but I have not fired every gun and ported barrel combination known to exist, so I am not 100% sure. Each gun and ported barrel behaves differently.

By "bulky ones" I am guessing you mean the screw-on muzzle brakes. Most ported barrel will reduce some recoil and muzzle climb.


P.S. The slotted/ported barrels will fit most concealable holsters, but the larger screw-on devices may not.

[Oldjedi]

Muzzle climb, etc

I have an open gun 1911 in .40 which has a thread-on compensator. I have developed the optimum load for it and the gun is correctly tuned for the load. Six shots fired in rapid succession (as firmly as I can hold it) and I can hit all of them inside a 8" circle in 10 yards. I am an average shooter. I know people with 38 supers that do better. I hope the example here makes the question more specific.

Can barrels with comp slits capable of doing the same. All else being equal, I suspect the less weight at the muzzle may reduce the accuracy. Not sure though. That's why I am asking.

[9mmepiphany]

It is very hard to give an accurate answer when you ask a non-specific question.

If you are asking for a comparison of the effectiveness difference between a ported barrel and on with a compensator attached, the ported barrel will generally not be as effective. That is why they stopped using them in competition back in the 80s.

A compensator will always be more effective, given that the load creates enough gas, due to the expansion chambers trapping gas as the bullet passes through them