Hey everyone! Apologies if this post has been made before. I have come across a lot of mixed opinions when it comes to having a comp on your gun. Obviously, there is less felt recoil after the first shot which is always good for accuracy. However, with the flash coming from the top of the gun (maybe problematic at night) as well as the potential to burn yourself with hot gas in certain shooting positions, I am curious if the pros are worth the cons, especially with something like a 9mm which is pretty manageable already. What are your thoughts on it? Any experience with the cons of comped guns?
To Comp or Not to Comp - Questions on Experiences
- Thread starter Thrun
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Sld1959
Ronin
Not comps no, but ports yes. I have had a few ported handguns, one pistol and several revolvers. The pistol was a factory ported EAA Witness .45 acp and the revolvers were a ported short barrel 44 magnum and a ported short barrel .357 magnum both done by Magnaport.
I liked them still own the pistol and the. 357 magnum. Thry did exactly whst i wanted, helped get the muzzle back on line smooth and faster.
They are a bit louder than non ported
I liked them still own the pistol and the. 357 magnum. Thry did exactly whst i wanted, helped get the muzzle back on line smooth and faster.
They are a bit louder than non ported
HansGruber
Ronin
The night vision thing is seriously overhyped. If you’ve ever taken a low light class, or even shot in low light, you know that you get a pretty good ball of flame out of the muzzle as it is; a comp isn’t any worse.
That’s me shooting a ported Shield. The vents actually directed gases away from the center of my vision…you can also see the fireball coming out of the muzzle.
As for the gasses maybe being an issue when shooting in some positions (retention, mainly)…learn to angle the gun away from your body.
That’s me shooting a ported Shield. The vents actually directed gases away from the center of my vision…you can also see the fireball coming out of the muzzle.
As for the gasses maybe being an issue when shooting in some positions (retention, mainly)…learn to angle the gun away from your body.
Sld1959
Ronin
As shown by Hans the fireball is overblown. I have shot the 4.5 inch .44 magnum in dark and it was not noticeably greater to ky eyes than previously.
Same goes with the model 60. The ports are angled inwards and throw gasses on an angle as he shows.
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I’ve got ported revolvers (.44 Mag SBH, J frame smith .38 snub) and a ported .45 (RIA BBR 3.10 .45). The do help prevent muzzle rise, and the “flash” issue is, imho, a non issue. Shoot pretty much any pistol after dark and you’ll get a monster flash. Heck, if you’re looking from the side in daylight you’ll see a flash with a lotof guns (try a .22 Mag
). For a carry gun,esp in 9, I don’t see a need. 10 mm? Yea, I think it’d help. Small .45? Helps there as well.
). For a carry gun,esp in 9, I don’t see a need. 10 mm? Yea, I think it’d help. Small .45? Helps there as well.That photo is a pretty good example of the vents pushing the gases away! I suspect it would be different with an echelon comp as it spans from one side to the other and doesn't have separate ports.
Have you guys ever had any other issues with comps or ports as far as loudness or dirtying dots?
Yeah, I was thinking there probably isn't that much of a difference in a 9 unless it's a smaller model. The two in question I've been debating on are the hellcat pro and the echelon. Despite a lot of reading and watching vids for months, I still haven't made up my mind. Unfortunately, my local ranges do not carry comp versions to rent.I’ve got ported revolvers (.44 Mag SBH, J frame smith .38 snub) and a ported .45 (RIA BBR 3.10 .45). The do help prevent muzzle rise, and the “flash” issue is, imho, a non issue. Shoot pretty much any pistol after dark and you’ll get a monster flash. Heck, if you’re looking from the side in daylight you’ll see a flash with a lotof guns (try a .22 Mag
Annihilator
Emissary
Sld1959
Ronin
Yawn....
Annihilator
Emissary
Maybe his eyes are dry and he had to lube em up
Annihilator
Emissary
I wasn’t even going to go there…..
That's beautiful
gatekeaper just got smacked down.
Marshal
Operator
Nature of the beast, it's gonna be louder just because the sound is projected more toward the shooter instead of mostly directly away.
And yeah, when I added a comp to my M&P with a threaded barrel I noticed the optic gets little black speckles of carbon flung onto it. I have no earthly idea how that even happens. But it does remain a little flatter under recoil, so the comp stays.
Jury is out on the other M&P I just picked up. It's one of the ported 'Performance Center Carry Comp' models. It's supposed to have relief cuts machined so that doesn't happen, but I haven't put an optic on it to try it yet. Love how it shoots though.
If I had kept the Hellcat Pro I would have bought the threaded barrel and comp for it. It may not be as big a difference for 9mm as 10mm, or my ported 44 magnum, but I've come to enjoy compensated/ported pistols. If your Echelon or Hellcat already have threaded barrels I say try it and see what you think. If you don't like it, they can always be removed.
SimonRL
Hellcat
I have several comped guns and IMO there are two main issues.
M1 - Comped guns can be finicky with ammo. This is hit and miss, but I just sent a comped PDP Pro back to Walther for my money back because it wouldn’t run reliably with anything. I then bought a similar comp/barrel combo and Frankensteined my 4 & 5 inch PDPs into the equivalent of the PDP Pro and it runs like a champ. I also have a P365 XL with the Radian Raptor afterburner comp and barrel package and it is brilliant. Recoil is noticeably lower on a 9mm and the guns are very easy to handle. Male flash is a non-issue. If anything you will mesmerize the bad guy!
2 - Comps are dirty and you will need to clean your gun regularly. That pretty says it all. I have a TX-22 with a comp that I had to stop shooting lead nose rounds through because the carbon would build up in front of your eyes and it was extremely difficult to clean.
One other thing. My experience is a double chamber comp is more effective than a single, unless the single is like the Radian Raptor which is a very big chamber.
And as for proximity, I would avoid holding your comped gun close to your chest if you have someone approach you while you’re in your car.
M1 - Comped guns can be finicky with ammo. This is hit and miss, but I just sent a comped PDP Pro back to Walther for my money back because it wouldn’t run reliably with anything. I then bought a similar comp/barrel combo and Frankensteined my 4 & 5 inch PDPs into the equivalent of the PDP Pro and it runs like a champ. I also have a P365 XL with the Radian Raptor afterburner comp and barrel package and it is brilliant. Recoil is noticeably lower on a 9mm and the guns are very easy to handle. Male flash is a non-issue. If anything you will mesmerize the bad guy!
2 - Comps are dirty and you will need to clean your gun regularly. That pretty says it all. I have a TX-22 with a comp that I had to stop shooting lead nose rounds through because the carbon would build up in front of your eyes and it was extremely difficult to clean.
One other thing. My experience is a double chamber comp is more effective than a single, unless the single is like the Radian Raptor which is a very big chamber.
And as for proximity, I would avoid holding your comped gun close to your chest if you have someone approach you while you’re in your car.