Mag-na-porting a 629

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SteveJewels

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I've been looking for a no dash 629. Not looking for a collector piece, it is a sentimantal thing only. It will get shot, not a wall hanger. Not looking for museum quality but not a beater either. I like propery used and properly cared for guns.

Anyway, I found one that looks quite nice, more than meets my minumum standards and has been Mag-na-ported. I am not concerned about collector value and the damage is already done. How much does Mag-na-porting reduce recoil and muzzle rise on the 6" 629 shooting full house (but not hot) loads?

Thanks!
 
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I can speak to this from experience. My 6” 629 is Magna Ported. Not just ported but actual Magna Porting. With the same loads my 6” kicks considerably less and has way less muzzle flip than a 8 3/8” 629 Classic with full under lug. So yes it’s noticeable. It’s a little louder than a non ported barrel but nothing crazy. If you’re wearing hearing protection you don’t even notice. Anybody who’s ever shot mine says it feels like a 357. I would not discount it 30-40% as mentioned. In fact I would not discount it at all. S&W at one time contracted Magna Port to do the work on their limited run models. If you like the gun buy it.
 
I can certainly connect with Bald1's experience. I have a 3" 629 which S&W's Performance Center sent off to be double Magnaported (four trapezoidal slit ports). I tested it side by side with my 4" M29 and several factory full Mag loads. No machine measurements, but the reduction in both flip and perceived recoil, whatever exactly that is, was significant. 30 - 40% sounds right to me, too.
 
I found full power loads using heavy bullets have the highest recoil and enjoy the most benefit from Mag-na-porting to reduce felt recoil. This was true in my 28 4", Contender 44 mag 14" & my 264 Win Mag 26". My 300 Win Mag 200 grain load seems to have no muzzle jump and reduced recoil, both in a 7-pound rifle. Muzzle jump in handguns seems to be the opposite, Light weight bullets at full velocity enjoyed the most benefit. The 28 is 2 port, everything ese is 4 port.

Ivan
 
Magnaported 629..............

I have owned two 629 no dash S & W's, the first was not Magnaported and my current one is Magnaported. I only shoot 200gr. RNFP bullets over a charge of 7.5gr. Unique which is a moderate load. The Magnaported gun is a pleasure to shoot with these loads, there's less muzzle rise and noise is a little louder. Most of my shooting is outdoors with electronic muffs so I don't notice the increased report. I like both guns, the ported gun would bring less than the non-ported but I have no plans to sell either. 4" 629 no dash revolvers are just too hard to find.
 
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It’s a moot topic for the OP now, unless he bumps into another Magnaported 629, but I think what Ruger22 had to say sums it up nicely. I am not terrorized by recoil, but if given a choice, I’d “switch it off.” I do notice a difference in my Model 29 4-inch Magnaported gun. It’s a 2-port version. It’s not night and day, but the difference is notable, with full-power loads.

As for getting a 40% discount/markdown on shooter-grade piece over one that’s not ported, I can say with reasonable certainty that ain’t happening around here. On the www, maybe - but not local retail. Whether I’d buy such a gun would be a matter of the actual price and the individual gun.

I once bought a used gun that was Magnaported, also a 4-inch 29. It needed a lot of work in general. Among other things, the front sight was damaged and would have needed replacement, so I found another barrel and had it changed while the rest of the work was being done. Looking back now, I kind of wish I’d fixed up the original barrel and left it on the gun. Magnaporting is not a huge deal to me on a shooter-grade gun.
 
Me personally, I would be willing to pay a little more for a Magna ported 629 than a non, all else being equal. Would you pay less for a 629 with a nice action job? I’m not a collector. My guns get fired.
High quality enhancements that truly add to the shoot ability increase the guns value to a shooter like myself. have a 4 inch Anaconda coming back from a single action tune very soon. It’s going right back out to be Magna ported.
 
While not a revolver, I have a pistol that has been ported. It is a Ruger SR1911 10MM. Have shot it and a friend's Colt Delta Elite (unported). With factory 10MM loads, there is definitely a difference. My pistol's recoil feels about like a .45 ACP.
 

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Magnaport Y or N ?

I don't let eletist collector opinion influence my purchases, if I like the gun and the price is fair I buy it. Future resale value is of secondary consideration.
 
Magnaporting was something of a fad forty years ago especially since some Gun Writers were on that Bandwagon.

Two identical revolvers I would knock 35% off the value of the magnaported one. With used Magnum revolvers you never know if the previous owner was a reloader who loved his duplex and triplex loads for his ++P++ loads.
 
SteveJewels said:
I've been looking for a no dash 629. Not looking for a collector piece, it is a sentimantal thing only. It will get shot, not a wall hanger. Not looking for museum quality but not a beater either. I like propery used and properly cared for guns.

Anyway, I found one that looks quite nice, more than meets my minumum standards and has been Mag-na-ported. I am not concerned about collector value and the damage is already done. How much does Mag-na-porting reduce recoil and muzzle rise on the 6" 629 shooting full house (but not hot) loads?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Marksman said:
I don't let eletist collector opinion influence my purchases, if I like the gun and the price is fair I buy it. Future resale value is of secondary consideration.
Click to expand...

SGT ROCK 11B said:
Magnaporting was something of a fad forty years ago especially since some Gun Writers were on that Bandwagon.

Two identical revolvers I would knock 35% off the value of the magnaported one. With used Magnum revolvers you never know if the previous owner was a reloader who loved his duplex and triplex loads for his ++P++ loads.
Click to expand...


The OP's question was about recoil reduction, not collectability or value.

The magnaporting does reduce recoil to a degree. How much it does is for the folks with equipment to measure that. To me it is felt recoil, and in the instance I noted, it gives me a faster second shot than a 10MM unported. Probably the difference between a .357 Magnum round and a .38 Special +P in my S&W 27-2 3 1/2 inch.
 
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