12 Gauge: Muzzle break or ported barrel?

[Anangrypasta]

How effective is porting a shotgun barrel vs adding a muzzle device? Got a 12Ga 870 clone that is threaded for Saiga devices, but I like the idea of having ports directly drilled into the barrel to keep the length down and not mess with the balance. Are brakes/porting on a shotgun worth the money? If they make a difference, would a dedicated brake be more effective than some ports on the barrel?

 

[rossi]

I've never put a break on a shotgun. Didn't see the need, and couldn't tell much of a difference with or without. If you are shooting high volumes of buckshot and slugs maybe.

 

[Tige]

I’ve never put a muzzle brake on a shotgun. I do have several shotguns that are ported. And there is a noticeable reduction in muzzle jump and quick recovery. IMHO

 

[Grits1/5]

I’ve been curious on porting too, especially since I saw that they make ported Mossberg shockwave barrels now…

 

[freetheeagle]

I have a Browning 725 Sporting with 32” ported barrels and a Beretta 682 Gold E with 30” unported barrels. Shooting sporting clays using 1-1/8 oz, 1200 FPS shells I personally can’t tell any difference in felt recoil or muzzle rise. But the ported barrels are much louder! I don’t have any experience with faster, heavier loads common in SD or big game ammo and perhaps the difference is more pronounced with them.

 

[stage20]

I have a Browning 725 Sporting with 32” ported barrels and a Beretta 682 Gold E with 30” unported barrels. Shooting sporting clays using 1-1/8 oz, 1200 FPS shells I personally can’t tell any difference in felt recoil or muzzle rise. But the ported barrels are much louder! I don’t have any experience with faster, heavier loads common in SD or big game ammo and perhaps the difference is more pronounced with them.

Doubt you shoot clays at night but I'm sure it has some flash.
Id bet heavier loads it makes a difference.

Ian, you can always try a brake, once a barrel is modified, that's it. I have no personal experience, just my opinion.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Only reason to put a breacher on is its cool and if you put it against something the barrel won't burst....

 

[Fodderwing]

Only reason to put a breacher on is its cool and if you put it against something the barrel won't burst....

Tacti-kewel.

 

[RMS]

Another option is to have the barrel backbored.
in my experience it reduces recoil as much as porting.
I have a competition 12 gauge with both and it shoots close to a 28 Gauge.
I would backbore before porting. it is usually less costly.
Porting is quite loud and effectively shortens the barrel length, especially on a choke tube gun because it has to be behind the tubes. Velocity is compromised as well as cycling if an auto.
If shooting hundreds of targets in a day the combo can make sense but not for 50 rounds imo.
Recoil has a cumulative effect through the course of a day of shooting.