After owning two similar Model 19's for a couple of months, I finally got both of them together today for a little comparison.
Both are Model 19's with four inch barrels. The only physical differences in the two are the finishes, one nickel, one blue. And, oh yes, the blue one is Magnaported. Neither was overly expensive when I bought them. I chose the blue one because, despite the fact it was Magnaported, it would be a good carry gun in the woods.
I stopped by the LGS, and bought a box of 158gr JSP, ammunition, and headed out. I chose the 158 grain, since the larger projectile would yield a bit more recoil. I used the same type of stocks, K frame Target Goncalo Alves on each. These aren't my favorite target stocks, but I wanted to have the feel of each revolver as close as possible.
Does Magnaporting reduce recoil in a four-inch K frame .357 Magnum revolver? I loaded five rounds in each revolver, and ran my test. I started with the non-Magnaported revolver and fired five rounds in slow fire, single-action mode; then five rounds with the Magnaported model. I then repeated using each revolver in double-action mode. I finished by firing an addtional five rounds in DA mode with the Magnaported model.
Conclusions:
While far from laboratory-controlled conditions, I found there was no real difference in the recoil of either revolver. These were daylight conditions, so there was no significant increase in muzzle flash.
There may be a bit of psychological boost just knowing the revolver is ported; but, from my skeptical eyes and hands, there's just no evidence it does anything useful.
YMMV
A Tale of Two Revolvers
Linear Mode
