Compensators: Tuning Tips & Shooting Information
Whether you choose a single port or dual port compensator for your preferred choice, understanding factors of consistency and reliability of your firearm is crucial. Here are some tuning and shooting tips for both variants.
1. Ammo Selection
Choosing quality ammo plays a large role for reliably cycling ammunition through your firearm. Single port compensators are less susceptible than dual port compensators on reliability issues, but key traits in your ammunition could cause cycling issues with both variants.
-Bullet weight: If your firearm is having cycling issues, bullet weight plays a factor in reliability. Shooting too light of a bullet will either cause cycling issues or require a guide rod spring change to cycle lighter ammunition consistently, especially with larger slide firearms. We recommend quality 124gr NATO or heavier ammo for consistency, but just be sure to test different ammunition if you encounter cycling issues. Quality 115gr ammo can be used with no issues, just make sure you thoroughly test your ammo selection before trusting it in a self defense, or competition scenario.
2. Grip Strength
Grip strength plays a role in how your firearm reliably cycles ammunition with a compensator. Too soft of a grip on your firearm may cause cycling issues, so make sure you maintain a proper, stiff grip when shooting your firearm.
3. Gun Cleaning & Cycling Issues
A dirty firearm may lead to issues due to the slide or other components being too dirty to properly cycle. Carbon from gun powder and other debris inhibit your firearm from smoothly due to added friction between dirty components. Make sure your firearm is clean to limit any possibilities of this effecting reliability.
2. Guide Rod Tuning
Tuning your guide rod spring may be beneficial when shooting a firearm that has a larger slide with a compensator added to the barrel, especially when using lighter shooting ammunition. Examples of this would include the Canik SFX & SFX Pro firearms. If you've tested various ammunition, and your firearm keeps catching cartridges due to not fully cycling, replace the guide rod spring with either a lighter spring from the OEM, or find reputable companies that offer replacement springs or full kits to tune your spring rate to your specific pistol.