Port a 9mm?

[Pofoo]

I have a Springfield emp 4" and the wife has a emp 3". The 3" has noticeably more muzzle flip, which we really don't like.
Would porting the barrel and slide help with this?
Or, would a longer barrel with a attached commpensator work better?
It's strictly a range gun so length isn't a negative.

[crufflers]

I have a Springfield emp 4" and the wife has a emp 3". The 3" has noticeably more muzzle flip, which we really don't like.
Would porting the barrel and slide help with this?

That's what porting is supposed to do. It also might create a lot more noise and flash and blow back debris from the burning propellant into your face.

[igorts]

it should work, but i would go with external compensator, no need for extra holes in the gun.
and practice holding the gun

[meanrock]

Are you sure it is muzzle flip specifically? 1" of barrel isn't a lot of difference. Problem with porting a 3" 9mm barrel is that the effect is going to be marginal at best- not a lot of gas or room to create ports through the slide. Your best bet might be to add a bushing compensator if you can find one made of steel. You won't actually be redirecting a lot of gas- The weight at the front of such a small gun however will make a noticeable difference. Side effect of also make it look like a mall ninja special

[floogy]

Are you sure it is muzzle flip specifically? 1" of barrel isn't a lot of difference. Problem with porting a 3" 9mm barrel is that the effect is going to be marginal at best- not a lot of gas or room to create ports through the slide. Your best bet might be to add a bushing compensator if you can find one made of steel. You won't actually be redirecting a lot of gas- The weight at the front of such a small gun however will make a noticeable difference. Side effect of also make it look like a mall ninja special

I would guess the even shorter recoil assembly has more to do with muzzle flip than barrel length. Due to the shorter spring being compressed more quickly. Related to the shorter barrel, but not directly.

The porting would be expensive. I also am guessing the effect would be marginal.

If it's strictly a range gun, sell it and buy a full size. It will be cheaper than porting and be much more pleasant to shoot regardless of how much you add to to the EMP. A 3" 1911 is a carry gun.

[SnWnMe]

9mm level muzzle flip can be overcome with technique. Shoot more.


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[vintagearms]

I ran across this myself. Full size was a bit heavier but much less muzzle flip than emp.

[c good]

My least favorite handgun is ported. It's a .44 mag and it's loud, blows gas in my face, is a pain in the axx to clean, and only slightly helps limit muzzle flip compared to the exact model without porting.

[crufflers]

My least favorite handgun is ported. It's a .44 mag and it's loud, blows gas in my face, is a pain in the axx to clean, and only slightly helps limit muzzle flip compared to the exact model without porting.

I can imagine... I have a 5-shot .357 Mag (six ports) and it does that... LCR 9mm is much nicer to shoot unless you are shooting .38 Sp or .38 +P out of the ported one... then it is pleasant.

I have a extended 9mm barrel conversion with porting built into the barrel (not threaded ports out side of slide)... I dunno if it does much. The right porting design makes a difference just like some muzzle brakes suck and some cut rise 95%.

By all accounts and my own guns, the factory Glock porting actually does something.

[jimmythebrain]

I have a chronograph. In 45 ACP caliber 1911's, each inch of barrel loss lead to about 85 fps drop in bullet velocity. My ported 5 inch barrel had the same bullet velocity as a non-ported 4 inch barrel. I presume the same rules of physics apply in 9 mm but I expect the velocity difference would not be 85 fps.

So porting a 3 inch barrelled gun will drop bullet velocity.
But the energy of the explosion that propels the bullet forward, exerts a pressure back towards the web of the hand & palm. The shorter the barrel and slide the less the mass- end result is mor felt recoil and muzzle flip.

A 3 inch barreled gun is mostly just useful for self defense and conceal-ability. If you just want a range gun, sell the 3 inch because it will never be what you want. If you port the 3 inch barrel and try to use it as conceal carry piece you will have reduced performance and more muzzle flash. It makes little sense to put more money into the gun as it will fit neither role well.

But it is your gun, do what you want though. It is your gun and your money.

[B.J.F.]

I agree with Jimmy,

Sell it and get a longer barreled gun or keep it for self defense and put the money into a new gun that suits your range purpose.

[Socal.Lifer]

It's probably not going to do much.. Porting relies on having sufficient gas redirected out the top to counteract muzzle flip. 9mm doesn't really have much gas to begin with. Even the competition open gun shooters up the caliber to 9major or 38 super to increase the amount of gas they have..

As someone else posted the length, weight, and springing of the EMP isn't conducive to smoother, softer recoil. Also, to port an EMP you're going to have to machine the barrel and the slide. The costs for that will probably stop you right there.

I shot an EMP years and years ago in 9mm when they first came out. I was surprised at how shootable it was for such a small pistol. My point is that you might be able to mitigate recoil by adjusting grip technique. I would experiment with that before doing anything else.

[floogy]

I ran across this myself. Full size was a bit heavier but much less muzzle flip than emp.

That's what happens. The same amount of energy is being pushed rearward over less distance.

It's also why a lot of short 1911s have problems. Many of the earlier shorty 1911s had to change out recoil springs quite often. It's mainly fixed with newer designs and better recoil assemblies, but it still has to have a heavier spring to slow the slide down faster, thus increasing "flip". Same with any handgun, they still have to obey the laws of physics.

[71MUSTY]

Porting really doesn't help much on smaller caliber weapons like a 9mm.

A longer barrel would help some but another issue is the size of the grip and the weight on the weapon.

But mostly the issue resides in the operators grip.

A 3 inch barrel will multiply a poor grip you wouldn't even notice in a 4 inch.

Before you spend a lot of money on modifications spend 30 minutes with a qualified instructor who will teach you and her a proper grip for a compact.

Many of us have had to do this.

[hambam105]

The OPs question is straight out of Guns & Ammo magazine cira 1985 thru 1993.
Always give the customer the opportunity to spend more money.