Homemade Porting

Hellequin · January 2, 2002, 12:56 PM

Have anyone tried to do some homemade porting of your handgun?

If yes; how did you acomplished the task??

I´ ve seen some porting jobs on glocks that seem to be easy to reproduce in your very own home with the proper tools.

I´d like some opinions. Even the disaster ones.

Thank you.

Hand_Rifle_Guy · January 2, 2002, 03:24 PM

Drilling holes in barrels without kicking up huge burrs is not casually done. This is not conducive to maintaining rifling. Manufacturers use EDM machines (Electrical discharge machining) which remove material without cutting it. I should mention that I have a Webley barrel that has a couple of holes down through the top of it, but I have no idea how this was accomplished without kicking up burrs. Perhaps they were removed after the fact, but I don't know how. They don't seem to interfere with the barrel's function, though.

The other method is to machine an expansion chamber on the end of the barrel, and cut ports in the top of that. The ultimate recessed barrel crown. If you're going to try a home porting job, this is probably the route to go, but it requires enough meat in the barrel to accomodate the expansion chamber. And a lathe, with appropiate tooling to hold barrels. Additionally, it requires dismounting revolver barrels, but maybe that goes without saying.

Note: I've tried none of these personally, I'm just relaying what little I know.

Yer on yer own at this point, pilgrim.

George Stringer · January 3, 2002, 09:25 AM

Hellequin, there is an article in a magazine(?) called Modern Gunsmithing that the American Gunsmith Association sent me. It has an article covering this. I haven't tried it myself but then I haven't been asked to. You should be able to get a back issue from them. It's the same outfit or at least I believe they are in association with the American Gunsmith Institute. The folks that put out the videos. George

Keith J · January 3, 2002, 01:11 PM

There are a few tricks, one of them is driving a bullet into the area where the holes are to be drilled.

**Mike Irwin** · January 3, 2002, 02:25 PM

Or using a lead lapping slug and polishing compound to remove any burrs.

Jim Watson · January 3, 2002, 03:42 PM

I read an article in American Rifleman once, back when they were able to cover guns and shooting instead of politics, describing the porting of a .22 barrel for use in ISU Rapidfire - the event normally shot with .22 short, 5 shots in 8, 6, then 4 seconds.
The diy'er poured the barrel full of Cerrosafe chamber cast alloy before drilling. It prevented burrs from forming. OK for him, but not on my High Standard, thank you. Just FYI.

I had a couple of shotgun barrels ported locally. A pro machinist recommended using a ball end mill because it would form less of a burr than a drill bit. Less, not none; the barrels still required some polishing. It certainly reduced the recoil, though.

January 2, 2002, 12:56 PM	#1
Hellequin Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2001 Location: Caracas Posts: 137	Homemade Porting Have anyone tried to do some homemade porting of your handgun? If yes; how did you acomplished the task?? I´ ve seen some porting jobs on glocks that seem to be easy to reproduce in your very own home with the proper tools. I´d like some opinions. Even the disaster ones. Thank you. __________________ - Stay safe -

January 2, 2002, 03:24 PM	#2
Hand_Rifle_Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Palo Alto, People's Republic of Kaliforny Posts: 724	Drilling holes in barrels without kicking up huge burrs is not casually done. This is not conducive to maintaining rifling. Manufacturers use EDM machines (Electrical discharge machining) which remove material without cutting it. I should mention that I have a Webley barrel that has a couple of holes down through the top of it, but I have no idea how this was accomplished without kicking up burrs. Perhaps they were removed after the fact, but I don't know how. They don't seem to interfere with the barrel's function, though. The other method is to machine an expansion chamber on the end of the barrel, and cut ports in the top of that. The ultimate recessed barrel crown. If you're going to try a home porting job, this is probably the route to go, but it requires enough meat in the barrel to accomodate the expansion chamber. And a lathe, with appropiate tooling to hold barrels. Additionally, it requires dismounting revolver barrels, but maybe that goes without saying. Note: I've tried none of these personally, I'm just relaying what little I know. Yer on yer own at this point, pilgrim. __________________ I find the world disappointing at best. I'm reminded of that every time the phone rings. "The telephone is an infernal device whereby any damnfool with a nickel can ruin your whole day."---Mark Twain H_R_G

January 3, 2002, 01:11 PM	#4
Keith J Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 469	Not hard to do without burrs There are a few tricks, one of them is driving a bullet into the area where the holes are to be drilled.

January 3, 2002, 02:25 PM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Or using a lead lapping slug and polishing compound to remove any burrs. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 3, 2002, 09:25 AM	#3
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Hellequin, there is an article in a magazine(?) called Modern Gunsmithing that the American Gunsmith Association sent me. It has an article covering this. I haven't tried it myself but then I haven't been asked to. You should be able to get a back issue from them. It's the same outfit or at least I believe they are in association with the American Gunsmith Institute. The folks that put out the videos. George

January 3, 2002, 03:42 PM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I read an article in American Rifleman once, back when they were able to cover guns and shooting instead of politics, describing the porting of a .22 barrel for use in ISU Rapidfire - the event normally shot with .22 short, 5 shots in 8, 6, then 4 seconds. The diy'er poured the barrel full of Cerrosafe chamber cast alloy before drilling. It prevented burrs from forming. OK for him, but not on my High Standard, thank you. Just FYI. I had a couple of shotgun barrels ported locally. A pro machinist recommended using a ball end mill because it would form less of a burr than a drill bit. Less, not none; the barrels still required some polishing. It certainly reduced the recoil, though.