With a muzz;e brake, you can unscrew the rotten thing when you discover you hate it. Otherwise, the design of the brake or the ports is what will really set them apart.

RobertD

What are the pros and cons of a muzzle brake vs. having a barrel ported. The barrel in question is a 15" Encore pistol barrel chambered for a 30-06JDJ. If the barrel is ported, is there a reduction in velocity? I was told that a ported barrel will have about the same velocity reduction as having it cut down. For example, if the ports take up the last 2" of the barrel, the velocity reduction will be similar as if the barrel was cut down 2". I have had others tell me there will be verry little if any veloicty reduction.
Thanks!

In my admittedly limited experience ported barrels primarily reduce muzzle rise, thus the popularity on heavy hunting pistols and revolvers, where brakes counteract recoil. Both are MUCH louder to be around, brakes are worse in this regard as the noise/gas is actually deflected back instead up vented up.