Magnaporting, or the like: not brand specific

I bought, and have shot twice now, a G17C beside my standard G17. I
simply cannot believe how much of a game-changer it is!

I don't want to digress into the minuses...both real and/or imagined.

Here's my particular question. How many of you have A/B'ed the exact same pistol/load on the same outing, save for one of the two was ported and one was not? Or, rather, you've shot like examples of each so many times, that you clearly can comment on the effects of the porting?

I just want to know if you felt that the porting was a notable difference for you, or not? I'm seriously thinking about sending a few others off to get the cuts.

I have two more-or-less identical snub-nose .44 magnums, one of which is ported and one is not. The ported one is much more unpleasant to shoot indoors. The side blast from the lane dividers is nasty. I have not shot them side-by-side outdoors and I seldom shoot them with anywhere near max loads.

I have owned/shot numerous versions side by side, mostly Glocks. 19/19C, 23/23C, 32/32C, 22/22C, 586 L-Comp/686. Most of the negatives people like to parrot are absolutely false. As far as effectiveness, it definitely makes a difference on the 357s and 40s. The 9mm doesn't need it, but it does still have a positive effect, just not as noticeable. I'm a fan of porting in most handguns.

How to ruin the value of your gun in one easy lesson. It is nothing I would consider doing to any gun of value. Just my .02

Narragansett said:

How, to ruin the value of your gun in one easy lesson. It is nothing I would consider doing to any gun of value. Just my .02

Click to expand...

Thanks Uncleted.

Yeah, there is that, quoted. Would only be 'tool' guns...and nothing of collector value. Once again, though...a negative there's no need to discuss.

My only "side by side" examples are a pair of 7 1/2" Freedom Arms 454's. I really don't notice any difference in the recoil between the two. The ported gun gets jacketed bullets only because the lead deposits at the ports can be a pain to clean.

I once tried the fiber optic front sight from FA on the ported gun when preparing for a bear hunt. Thought it might be just the ticket for a low light shot if needed. One shot and the light pipe in the sight was gone. The blast through the ports sent it to oblivion.

Dan

I had a 3" M629 Mag-na-ported in the 80s, and had a 3" Performance Center ported M13 for a few years (also owned numerous 3" M65s).

In my experience, muzzle flip was reduced with hotter loads. The payoff, however, was a considerable increase in muzzle blast and perceived noise. On the range it was annoying, and people shooting next to you won't like you much. My 629 could clear an indoor range with a cylinder full.

The other issue is the increase in blast and particulate matter that makes it back to the shooter. Between that and the increased report, shooting a ported gun chambered for a high-pressure cartridge without eye/ear protection (ie, a carry gun) is a recipie for an incapacitating injury.

I have also been on the range with lots of ported and unported 40 cal. Glocks when instructing. While the results are not as extreme as with .357 and .44 magnums, it's still noticeable.

I would not choose a ported gun as a carry piece. In fact, I would not buy a ported gun, or choose to port one, period.

I have a magna ported 629 3 inch. I have shot several non ported guns and all I will say is the porting is good for one thing on a short barreled revolver. Leading up the front sight.

I only have one , a performance center 586 and I won't ever have another. Extremely loud and a lot of blast with big loads and doesn't seem to help accuracy. It does move anyone shooting near you.

I notice that most people who try porting or comps for the first time with the expectation that they will reduce recoil are very disappointed in the results.

Handgun porting and comps are not intended to reduce recoil, they are designed to reduce muzzle rise to help with a faster follow up shot.

I have quite a few firearms that are ported or comped. While the end goal of both is to reduce muzzle rise, they achieve it differently and have different loads that they work best with. I have been carrying and shooting ported/comped firearms for over 30 years so far.

I have several identical pairs for doing comparison.

At the times I did side by side comparisons I made sure that both revolvers were wearing the same grips.

There is ZERO doubt that ported snubbies have noticeably less muzzle climb when shooting full power ammunition.

For a port to work as designed, it needs high pressure gas passing through it, just like little rocket motors. Shoot FULL Power 357 Magnum and that difference is very obvious. Shoot 38 specials or cowboy loads and there is virtually no discernible difference at all. The expansion chamber compensator that Smith & Wesson calls the Power Port works well with FULL Power ammunition and reduced loads.

A couple of the myths surrounding ports and comps . . . . First is that they are louder than their non-ported brothers . . . . They are not. Both revolvers make the same amount of noise. The ported firearm directs some of that noise and muzzle flash through the ports which is usually up and to the sides. If you are shooting at an indoor range or a covered shooting position, much of that will get reflected back down to you if you are in the great outdoors it will be far less noticeable

The next myth is that the muzzle flash will blind you. If this were even remotely true, everyone that shoots a revolver would be blinded by the flash that escapes through the barrel/cylinder gap.

Then you have the myth that if you have to shoot from retention you could start your clothes on fire. Once again, even if this were remotely true, everyone that shoots any revolver from retention would have their clothes st ablaze by the flash that escapes through the barrel/cylinder gap. For demonstration I have emptied all 5 rounds of 357 Magnum in my Model 640 quad port from inside my jacket pocket.

I have never been able to get one single jacket to burn, but I always seem to need a new jacket after this demonstration

Then you will get the occasional claim that if you shoot from retention you will get a face full of debris. If you were shooting frangible ammunition, this would be happening. Jacketed defensive ammunition does not have this problem.

Obviously porting or comps are not for every body and that is just fine

Smith & Wesson has been putting ports and comps on firearms for countless decades. The Original Model 41s had what we now call a V-Comp. It was meant to keep the muzzle down and speed up your shooting. It is amazing that shooters 60 years ago could handle the lead deposits from the comp but that problem baffles some of our modern shooters

For decades IPSC competitors put multi chambered comps on their 45 ACP 1911s to keep that muzzle down.

Ports and Comps do exactly what they were designed to do, reduce muzzle climb

colt_saa said:

Ports and Comps do exactly what they were designed to do

Click to expand...

Exactly. They vent hot gasses, particulates and debris (and the attendant sound) straight up (or close enough) instead of downrange.

This can be an advantage, or a disadvantage, depending upon your objectives and surroundings.

On a carry gun for personal defense, I'll maintain that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

I just sold a 4" M29 that someone had Magna-ported before firing it; I bought it (and sold it) under market price for a non-ported gun in similar condition. Shot it side by side with my other 4" M29 and really couldn't tell much difference, even with factory magnums. Lead bullets would cover the red ramp front sight with gray residue within 10 rounds. Had I kept it I would have reserved it for jacketed bullets.

Not a fan.

I had magnaporting done on a 12 gauge and it didn't do jack diddly. I suspect it won't do much on any firearm to be honest.

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It has always been said recoil is subjective. As stated prior porting does not tame recoil. So some will notice a difference and some will not.

I've been shooting ported guns for over 40 years. The recoil is the same. The muzzle rise is not.

I find it amusing how people say porting ruins the value of a gun since the buyer determines the value. Don't like it? Don't buy it.

Well thats good news I played with the idea of selling my 629, even listed it here for 1 night... until the thought of magnaport popped in my head.

The 44 magnum for me was and is just unpleasant to shoot, so off to magnaport it's gonna go.

As far as value I don't think it matters much to me as ill keep the gun just to have my 1 .44 mag... I hope it helps.

Thinking about doing a quad port and a crown on the muzzle?

Help prevent leading on comp...

Hi, folks,
I've enjoyed the sharing of experiences -- thanks!

Something that may help make comps much easier to clean:
Clean the comp or ports squeaky clean. Strip oil off with mineral
spirits or other remover.

Soak the comp or comped portion of the barrel in a high-
silicone content oil for at least an hour, and don't remove it
100% when you put it away. Leave a little adhering to the
surface. Next time you clean, you may find the lead comes off
much easier.

IIRC, DOT 5 brake fluid contains significant amounts of silicone.

Also, actual silicone oil is for sale on Amazon. Pay attention to
the viscosity -- more is not better! Some could be about the
consistency of peanut butter! 350 cSt is a thin solution that
is easy to work with, but if you have an oil high in silicone already
on hand, you can see if you like the method at no cost. In some
applications, this can be very helpful, but I've not tried it on a ported
pistol, as I don't have any.

Above, it was mentioned about old bullseye shooters being able
to cope with lead on S&W 41 comps, but modern shooters not...

I had to laugh a bit.

When I got into bullseye in 1983 (having been around it for about 10
years before taking it up, myself), Model 41's were everywhere. The
early 7 & 3/8" barrels were plentiful, and my own .22's were 60's/ 70's-era
41's purchased used. I asked a USAMU former National Champion about
the comps as a kid. He told me not to bother with them -- they had no
advantage, collected lead/fouling, were a pain to clean and if neglected,
could eventually build up enough fouling to contact bullets and reduce
accuracy.

I can't recall ever having seen anyone actually using a factory comp
on the 7 & 3/8" barrels. I think the old bullseye shooters pretty
much "handled" the fouling by leaving them off.

John

Most of these responses have answered a question I had in another post in a different section. I won't do it to my gun.

My personal opinion is that if you have a problem with muzzle flip you could work on your grip.

I've got a comp'ed 1911. My negative is the the little blast of pressure was just enough to get me to start flinching vs my non comp'ed guns. I know it wasn't anymore than a little puff of air on my face…. but when I'm really concentrating on shooting for groups, it became annoying.

On the 12 gauge i had magnaporting there was no effect on recoil or muzzle rize. All it did was blind me once the gas it came out the ports. It basically shot fireballs out the ports.

I feel it's a waste of money. Lesson learned.

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