Origins of this gun?

[Aim1]

I know I said I completed my collection but after seeing the price of .44 mag and.44 special ammo I thought a .357 that can shoot .38 special would be considerably cheaper, especially for someone who does not want to reload.

Also, a friend with a .44 mag said that the Mountain Gun I own can turn you away because of it's recoil and that a .357 can kill a deer just as well with the right rounded and be cheaper to shoot recreationally. I still plan on shooting a deer with my .44 mag and using it as backup for bear. But if I want to shoot recreationally this .357 with a longer, ported barrel, shooting .38 specials should be easier on the recoil and wallet.

This is a Smith and Wesson 686-4 .357 mag with a ported barrel from the factory according to the previous owner. He said he only fired a cylinder of rounds through it and it's been sitting in his gun safe ever since.


Anyone know the origins of this gun? I never heard of S&W porting guns from the factory?

Does this add value to the gun and if so, how much?


I trust the previous owner that this is true since I do know him. He is not a stranger. Just trying to find out more about the history of this gun.

Also does is this guns front sight moved away from the tip of the barrel where it would normally be to make room for the port? And why does this front sight look different than some others of the same model?

 

[dogtown tom]

I never heard of S&W porting guns from the factory?

Sure they did....that's a factory "Power Port".

I owned a J frame 642 with a Power Port several years ago.

 

[GEM]

Mel too. I have a ported J in the same configuration.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Anyone know the origins of this gun? I never heard of S&W porting guns from the factory?

S&W has offered a few different ported guns over the years if memory serves right.

Does this add value to the gun and if so, how much?

For some it would. For others like myself, it's less desirable because it redirects noise and blast back at the shooter. Porting isn't needed at all for a 357, especially one with a barrel that long.
The ports on this 460 magnum, along with the muzzle brake are really quite annoying, and the blast will give you a headache after a few cylinders.
View media item 50
But if you like it, then go for it. It's your money of course, and a 357 isn't anywhere near as loud as a 460 magnum. But I don't think I'll ever buy another ported gun. It's also just something else to clean.

Also does is this guns front sight moved away from the tip of the barrel where it would normally be to make room for the port? And why does this front sight look different than some others of the same model?

Yes, it is moved back specifically to make room for the port. As to why, well red ramp sights turn black pretty fast when shooting a ported gun. Look closely at the muzzle of my gun. There are three scorch marks that correspond to the three ports on that side of the site. They are hard to clean off. That sight gets blackened after three cylinders of shooting. This is especially true because the 460V has a short barrel for that cartridge. A 357 is typically used for longer range sessions as well, so I imagine a red ramp would get real black, so they probably figured why bother. Some folks prefer all black sights also. And finally, I think a red ramp sight would look a little weird that far back on the barrel. The one that particular gun has is a bit more aesthetically pleasing IMO.

 

[Aim1]

S&W has offered a few different ported guns over the years if memory serves right.

For some it would. For others like myself, it's less desirable because it redirects noise and blast back at the shooter. Porting isn't needed at all for a 357, especially one with a barrel that long.
The ports on this 460 magnum, along with the compensator are really quite annoying, and the blast will give you a headache after a few cylinders.
View media item 50
But if you like it, then go for it. It's your money of course, and a 357 isn't anywhere near as loud as a 460 magnum. But I don't think I'll ever buy another ported gun. It's also just something else to clean.



Yes, it is moved back specifically to make room for the port. As to why, well red ramp sights turn black pretty fast when shooting a ported gun. They probably figured why bother. Some folks prefer all black sights.

Ah, very interesting.

Thanks.

 

[230RN]

Also, vertically-directed ports exaggerate muzzle flash in less-than-ideal lighting situations. I note one of the porting systems shown above seem to be directed directly sideways. This would seem to reduce recoil because of the pressure release before bullet exit rather than by a more effective downward jetting action, unless they're also angled backwards, which I would object to on general principles.

I have a 4" (10.15 cm) .357 (9.068 mm) with generous ports directed sideways at about 30° (.524 radian) from vertical, which is still very effective in reducing recoil by the rocket effect (and doesn't require relocating the sights), but still kind of blinds you for a few hundred milliseconds in dim lighting situations... which is just the lighting you would expect in many defensive situations.

My thinking used to be I'd rather "control" recoil in the field by practice, a tight two-handed grip, and suitable large pistol grips. But since nowadays my "going afield" is really just going to the grocery store, I have gone to smaller handguns and lighter loads with laser sights.

All in all, it's an individual decision, and hopefully on resale, you will find a buyer with your own decision-making variables.

Terry, 230RN

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I note one of the porting systems shown above seem to be directed directly sideways. This would seem to reduce recoil because of the pressure release before bullet exit rather than by a more effective downward jetting action, unless they're also angled backwards, which I would object to on general principles.

If you are referring to the gun I posted a picture of, there are actually six small ports facing upward, with three on each side of the front sight. If you click on the picture and look closely at the muzzle end of the gun, you can see them. Also, the ports on the muzzle brake are directed slightly upward, and not totally to the side.

Edit: Above I said compensator...… ummm I meant muzzle brake.

 

[Rembrandt]

Not sure some would call these S&W barrels ported, they are actually removable comps. Top is a S&W model 41 and the lower is a 629 Performance Center

 

[CraigC]

I never looked at one up close. Isn't the PowerPort more like a comp?

 

[Riomouse911]

Yes, it’s like a comp. The Power Port is a fixed single large oval port over a slightly enlarged “chamber” that exhausts the expanding gas straight upwards. I have a 6.5” 629 PP in .44 Mag I bought new ages ago.

The PP does reduce muzzle flip and possibly some felt recoil, but to be perfectly honest I don’t seem to notice any more blast or noise because the revolver already has the barrel/cylinder gap allowing a lot of noise to escape close to the shooter anyway.

In a closed system like a bolt rifle or semi auto pistol the increased blast and noise from a muzzle brake is a lot more evident... especially with a 60,000 psi rifle with a 360 degree brake and you are standing off to the side. Those SUCK to be around!

My Springfield Armory V-16 .45 Super has two rows of 8 small ports through the barrel-slide that are located at about 10 and 2 o’clock and sit towards the muzzle between the ejection port and the front sights. Again, I really don’t notice much more noise but there is a touch of flash for an instant that can be a bit of a hinderance in low light shooting. With a magnum you’ll probably notice more flash, especially if shooting when it’s almost dark.

In a .357 with the full lug 6.5” barrel a PP may not really be necessary, because the gun is pretty heavy and controllable without one, but the PP does seem to work with the heaviest loads. If the price is right and the gun is in as good a shape as you describe I would buy it without hesitation.

Stay safe.

 

[Riomouse911]

As for the sight, that is a “Patridge” blade sight that was standard on the Power Port models. Mine has the same sight.

The theory behind the squared off, vertical blade is it gives a very crisp front sight picture compared to the ramped ones most commonly seen on duty type Smith & Wesson’s or the older rounded ones on earlier Colts and S&W’s. My target revolvers have this type of front sight and my duty-style ones have either the solid black “Baughman Quick-draw” larger ramped version on my Model 19, a larger Baughman type red-ramp on my 686+ or a smaller ramp on my 64.

Stay safe.

 

[mnrivrat]

Just a comment on the Mountain gun in .44 magnum. If recoil to you is annoying put a set of rubber grips on it like Packmyers (sp) or similar. To many folks worry about having a pretty gun , the rubberized grips help with recoil and maintaining a good grip. The bear thing with what pistol caliber has been talked to death. When it comes to the .44 magnum vs the .357 magnum, if there was no difference in capability we wouldn't need a .44 mag. That doesn't mean a .357 mag can't do the job, it just means it is not the equivalent. By the way, nice .357 S&W - buy it if the price is right for you. And yes, you can shoot it much cheaper using .38 Special.

 

[Riomouse911]

Just a comment on the Mountain gun in .44 magnum. If recoil to you is annoying put a set of rubber grips on it like Packmyers (sp) or similar. To many folks worry about having a pretty gun , the rubberized grips help with recoil and maintaining a good grip. The bear thing with what pistol caliber has been talked to death. When it comes to the .44 magnum vs the .357 magnum, if there was no difference in capability we wouldn't need a .44 mag. That doesn't mean a .357 mag can't do the job, it just means it is not the equivalent. By the way, nice .357 S&W - buy it if the price is right for you. And yes, you can shoot it much cheaper using .38 Special.

I totally agree. I LOVE the look of really nice wood grips on a revolver, and custom wood ones really do feel and fit great, but in all honesty the synthetic ones are on all of my harder kicking guns for the same recoil control/comfort reasons stated above.

And yes, the bear thing is pretty talked out. I’ll feel fine hiking with a .357 Mag, .45 Super or 10mm on up should I be hiking in black bear country again.

Stay safe.

 

[Aim1]

Just a comment on the Mountain gun in .44 magnum. If recoil to you is annoying put a set of rubber grips on it like Packmyers (sp) or similar. To many folks worry about having a pretty gun , the rubberized grips help with recoil and maintaining a good grip. The bear thing with what pistol caliber has been talked to death. When it comes to the .44 magnum vs the .357 magnum, if there was no difference in capability we wouldn't need a .44 mag. That doesn't mean a .357 mag can't do the job, it just means it is not the equivalent. By the way, nice .357 S&W - buy it if the price is right for you. And yes, you can shoot it much cheaper using .38 Special.

Thanks. I ordered a set of supposed stock S&W rubber grips for the .44 that are currently put on their guns from the manufacturer. Will see if they work. If they do I will order the matching set for the .357.

Supposedly Hogue makes the current Smith and Wesson stock grips but I can't find confirmation of that, even from Smith and Wesson customer service.

I don't doubt that rubber loses it's recoil reducing abilities after 20 years.

 

[mnrivrat]

Hogue makes a quality grip. There are different models within each manufacture. Some models cover the backstrap of the revolver and some do not. I have not done a comparison but suspect the ones that cover the backstrap may give addition recoil protection over those that do not. Perhaps another member has more knowledge of that aspect.