Most of the dissatisfaction as to the results of porting on firearms comes from a misconception of what to expect
All of the various types of porting do nothing to reduce recoil. What they actually do is reduce muzzle rise. This creates a reduction in perceived recoil also sometimes called felt recoil.
How much that perceived recoil is reduced depends on which type of porting we're discussing and what type of ammunition is being used.
This thread is obviously discussing Mag-na-Porting specifically.
Think of those little trapezoidal shaped ports as rocket motors. They pushed downward on the muzzle of the firearm. They're going to be most effective with ammunition that produces large volumes of high pressure gas
This means that 357 Magnum, 125 grain, full power jacketed ammunition will feel a larger reduction in perceived recoil than anything 38 Special when fired from a similar Model 19, easily 20%+
And then that is even with the non-ported gun getting the benefit of rubber grips.
If you are firing 38 Special HBWC there will be zero reduction in perceived recoil
Naturally a firearm ported in this manner will get carbon scoring from the ports. If you look at the model 66 above, the level of carbon scoring is more than acceptable on a revolver that fired in excess of 200 full power 125JHP's that day
Now if the only thing you shoot is hard cast lead projectiles with a lube that creates a lot of smoke, what happens to the front sight will probably be drastically different.
Will adding porting affect "collector" value? Most all firearms that are ported, get ported at the start of their life this is usually a point where they are not yet collectors items. If you take something that in the eyes of a collector only has value if it is pure to its original manufacturer then any change, even shooting the firearm affects "collector" value
When talking value, time is our friend. It is extremely unlikely that any of us buy something with the intention of selling it tomorrow for a profit. Ok that does happen on occasion but it is the exception not the rule
Now I have had that model 66 for many years and I can tell you if I offered it up to the Forum right this moment at three times what I paid for it I'm sure I would have no trouble selling it.
Would a hard core collector buy it?
Probably not.
