Mark’s pocket dump at everdaycarry.com features a Smith & Wesson 642 five-shot revolver. Good choice. Safe, reliable, pocketable, powerful. Yeah about that last bit . . .
As Smith’s website informs us, the 642 fires .38 Special +P ammo in a gun that 14.4 ounces. Do the math. The pocket revolver generates more than a small amount of recoil.
Which makes muzzle flip a thing. Which makes longer distance accuracy not a thing. Unless you’re Jerry Miculek. Or don’t care about longer distance shooting because hello? It’s a snubbie, built for close-up work.
Let’s go with that. And let’s not go with porting the 642. Because while putting holes in the side of your snubbie’s barrel will reduce recoil, it also generates a blinding flash of light on either side of the gun in low to no-light conditions.
And then there’s the issue of firing the 642 from inside a garment. Although stealthy AF, it’s not a great idea generally. And it’s a really bad one with a ported revolver, where hot gasses going sideways can sear your flesh, and all the pain and insurance hassle that entails.
Oh, and there is such as thing as low recoil self-defense .38 Special ammo. So, gout fans, why port?