Have you tried a compensator? Did you like it? or not? Do you feel like the flash would be a problem? How much does it keep you recoil flat? How much does it affect your velocity? They have become very popular these days, especialy for competition shooters. Do you think a compensator is the way to go?
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I shot a good number of years in pistol competition. Mine was a 1911, we had to meet major power factor: 180,000 ( bullet wt. x velocity). We all shot .45 autos, until the 38 super it was the only caliber that made major. Bob Perkins put a Wilson barrel with a compensator designed for a 200gr. Semi wad cutter pushing about 950 ft/sec or power factor of 190,000. The compensator brought times down considerably. The key was designing the compensator for the bullet and load. With all the other mods to the gun, the compensator put it over the top. It took me from the advanced class to the top of the master class. It shot more like a light 9mm instead of a .45. I can say not one in the guys in the master class was shooting a non compensated gun. Muzzle rise and recoil were virtually non existent. If you’re looking for speed a compensator is very helpful. I will say from only my experience that a compensator is not a one size fits all. If I changed my bullet or bullet velocity the compensator’s effectiveness went down. Now that was some 40 yrs ago, so I cannot speak to what’s available today.
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I had the Shadow Systems CR920P. The comp definitely worked on it, kept it flat for the follow-up shots.
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I like them. Have micro comps on 2 of my regular carry guns. They do work, sometimes better than I thought they would.
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I have one on a couple of mine, including my edc.. i like them.
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My Hellcat RDP came with a compensator. Love it!
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Greetings and welcome, David!
Not for any of my EDC guns. Any gun that shoots out debris and hot gasses in ANY direction other than straight out the front is HIGHLY undesirable for shooting from anything other than the classic stance(s) and outright BAD when shooting from retention positions.
HARD pass!!!
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I’m old school guy … and self defense shooter.
Even compensator helps… I still prefer good grip techniques over firearm additions.
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I find the comps assist with rapid fire, but, yes, they are not a replacement for good fundamentals.
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To be clear I’m all for any tool that gives me an edge, but I can control the recoil of any of my carry guns just fine and I do not relish the thought of ANY chances of a face full of hot debris especially while NOT wearing eye protection and under extreme pressure to perform at my very best.
And to be extra clear, not against compensators. If anyone finds them useful that awesome. For me and the way I shoot and train it’s just not an advantage and I can’t get past the limitations it imposes on me.
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That’s fair.
That said I have become familiar enough with my comps that I have no concerns about a face full of hot debris. I’m still far more likely to get hot debris in my face from the ejection port than I am from my comp. I also wear glasses so I’m theoretically only ever without eye pro when sleeping.
At this point I’m so used to them from practice and competition that I feel weird not having it.
But I still love all my guns that don’t have them and I have no issues shooting those.
Do agree that they’re completely unnecessary on a carry gun, even though that doesn’t stop me.
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I absolutely get it. And if I had thought it through I would have asked the OP author a followup question. Is a comp worth it?
Maybe…. What’s the purpose of the gun?
Then my answer could have been more targeted to his needs and not my perspective and preferences.
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I carry a .45 ACP Springfield full size with a compensator. It is not my EDC. My EDC is a Kimber Ultra Carry 2, and it is snappy, but I love it. I feel the difference when shooting with the compensator and I really like it. I cannot put a compensator on my Kimber, nor do I want to. It is compact and I chose it for that reason.
We need more gun related subjects on the community so I thought that this would bring up some good discussions on the matter.
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And it did, thanks!!! Love talking guns waaaaaaaay more than listening to whining TDS victims. 
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Just curious, and because I respect your deep knowledge, does that include revolvers and their cylinder gap?
I’ve never considered a compensated or ported gun for SD/EDC for that reason, but have never worried about a revolver cylinder gap (other than, obviously, keeping fingers behind the cylinder front).
First thank you. As a group there is a lot of great knowledge in this place. That’s why I hang here.
To a certain extent, yes. But a well built and timed revolver should not be a great source of concern. Unlike the wide open port(s) on a barrel the cylinder gap on a revolver should be less than .008” (and I prefer mine at .004”,) and in most SD guns with their ubiquitous short barrels the bullet and gasses are out of the barrel before the gap becomes much of a concern. The reason is that ports are designed to try to dump all hot gasses just before the bullet exits the barrel so they redirect barrel movement during recoil. Gaps are designed to contain those gasses as well as possible.
Cylinder gap is a very important consideration for your grip and stance when firing guns like the Performance Center 460 and 500 S&W revolvers where the chamber pressures are higher than some rifle rounds and the barrels often exceed 10”. When firing those guns the thump of my left hand is NOT on the frame as it would be on a pistol, it’s draped over the web of my right hand and exerting downward pressure to help control recoil AND stay as far away as possible from that cylinder gap.
Now, as an example a problem with a carry gun, a good buddy loved to carry and train with an old .357 with a 4” barrel that was getting lose and out of time. I learned really quickly that shooting close to him on his left meant exposing yourself to a pelting with hot lead and unburnt powder granules. BUT, I decided that this was good training and would often put myself in that position so I could practice shooting through it. He was aware of it so he would not shoot from retention positions. A bad idea (to me) that he was willing to accept as a personal limitation, so we all played well together. Win all around.
This gun by the way, got so bad in later years that it has since been retired by the owner.
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I got in the habit early on of using that same grip on all revolvers, I never lay my left thumb along the frame under the cylinder.
I’ve never shot a worn out or low grade revolver (I avoid all guns like that 
) but it sounds like your friend’s gun was well past its useful life!
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I don’t have a compensator on my carry gun, a Beretta 92A. I call her Millie. I have this thing about keeping Millie all Beretta, and Beretta does offer and extended, threaded barrel and a compensator. Both parts are around $400. Then there is the holster I carry Millie in, an Alien Gear Cloak OWB. The end of the shell as they call it curves over the end of barrel. I would have to modify the shell, voiding the warranty. I think if I did have the cash burning a hole in my pocket and did decide to put one on, I would do it simply for the visual appeal, like what I did on my PCC.
Being a 9mm with a 16-inch barrel, it does not need a compensator. By the time the bullet reaches the muzzle, all the powder is almost completely burned and the hot gas has nearly reached the expansion limit.
I don’t “need” a compensator, but it looks cool AF.
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Yes it was, but I think there was some sentimental value he attached to it so he stuck with it past its expiration date.
I have a few older guns that I love but all of them are in perfect mechanical condition so I don’t have to deal with those issues. Some of them just get babied a bit like my original mint Colt Python in Royal blue with elephant ivory grips. Will never get carried and I’ve retired her from magnum loads. So when I shoot her I only shoot target wadcutters.
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