Do ported choke tubes really reduce recoil or muzzle climb? I’m wondering if there would be much benefit if I went to ported chokes versus the standard chokes that came with the gun. Are they worth the extra money? Thank you.
Recoil is largely affected by shooter technique, the weight and balance of the gun, and the type of ammunition used. However, many shooters believe that ported choke tubes do reduce recoil somewhat.
The purpose of a ported choke tube is to redirect some of the expanding gas emitted from the barrel when a shot is fired down and away from the shooter’s face. This redirected gas creates a kind of “mini-blast” around the muzzle which theoretically reduces recoil. Whether or not this mini-blast affects recoil is up for debate, but there seems to be enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that it does indeed lessen it somewhat.