Should I get my 657 magna ported?

[Shooting4life]

I have a 657 3 inch from the mid 80's run. It is my bedside/camping gun since it was well used when I purchased it. Probably 85% condition. It has the factory rd butt combats that were way messed up when I got them and have since refinished. They still are not perfect but are in better shape than they were. The pistol has a few deep scratches from the previous owner that I am not able to get all the way out. So what I am trying to say is this is not in a collectable condition and has been carried before. Since I live in California I am not able to find another on the Internet and buy it so this was the first that I have ever seen for sale in California.

I was thinking about sending it off to have it magna ported to help with recoil with the stiff hand loads and an action job. I know this revolver is a desirable model and is a semi collector, especially being in California where they can only be purchased through a private party transfer. Just wanted to know what everyone thought.
Thanks
Jordan

 

[Mule88]

Magnaport does reduce recoil (some more than others) I have a few guns magnaported that I use alot mainly hunting, some CCW. Usually Id prefer them to be non-ported. Some say it reduces value somewhat, I guess it depends on who's buying it. I know alot of people like their guns unalterd and original and I fall in that group as well. If you plan on keeping your gun the magnaport will help reduce recoil on your short Bbl. .41 and may be for you. However if you ever plan on selling it in the future it may hurt your sale till you find the right buyer. Hope this helps.

 

[ken158]

What Mule88 said plus... modifications to a gun are about like modifications to a car. Be prepared to enjoy it while you own it but dont expect to get your costs back at resale time. Porting will also dirty up your front sight pretty quick if you think that will bother you. If you do send it to Mag-na-port, have them do a satin blast on it and it will come back looking new and real cool.

 

[Shooting4life]

If I was to sell it I would not expect the value of the work back. Since I am in California it would be pretty easy to sell since the demand is so high for hard to find smiths. I have more than once seen pre lock 610 that were used without a box go for more than 1k. I paid 650 for this 657 a couple of months ago which I think is a decent price even on the national level. When I saw the add on calguns I bought it within less than 5 minutes of being posted for sale and within a couple more minutes someone already said they would be second in line if I back out.

 

[ko41]

I have an assortment of 3" .41 magnums one of which is Mag-Na-Port'd and I can not tell any difference in recoil reduction or muzzle rise between the ported and non-ported. The ported one is a real bugger to clean though.

KO

 

[OFT II]

I have an assortment of 3" .41 magnums one of which is Mag-Na-Port'd and I can not tell any difference in recoil reduction or muzzle rise between the ported and non-ported. The ported one is a real bugger to clean though.

KO

Porting works best on longer barreled guns. I don't think that I would do it on a 3" model.

 

[tomcatt51]

I'd say the only worthwhile Mag-Na-Porting would be the quad ports which are effective on the short barrel guns with magnum loads.

 

[banjopkr]

I would just load down some handloads for plinking and practice and leave as is,as has already been said ported guns are hard to clean and you wont see a lot of difference in a 3" gun,and in a combat situation you will never notice the recoil,I keep a 58 as a bedside gun and have some cast bullet lite loads in it and sleep well every night nowing its there.

 

[SAFireman]

nooooooooo......

Why ruin a hard to find 3" 41 mag? I have shot both magna-ported and not, in 44, and can't really say that there was much difference. Since you are hand loading, why don't you dial back some, or get some big comfy rubber grips to soak up the recoil? The wood combat grips are great for carry, but hard on the hands during long range sessions. I have some big hogue rubber grips for long range days....and yes, you got a steal at 650....they have been close to $1000 around these parts (and the auction sites).

just my .02

 

[michael thornton]

dont do it ! all it will do is make it loud as hell, i had a 3 inch 44 mag that was ported, never again

 

[Shooting4life]

I think I'll just leave it the way it is. Maybe have just an action job done.

 

[mr.magnum]

wise choice...if you wanna waste money on it, have it refinished.

 

[ko41]

dont do it ! all it will do is make it loud as hell, i had a 3 inch 44 mag that was ported, never again

Uh huh, if you want a quiet as a mouse Magnum..... don't port it!

KO

 

[chief38]

I recently fired a few Magna-ported revolvers and I did not care for them. The one thing I did notice is that they become obnoxiously loud! They are also a PITA to clean. Can't say I really noticed that much recoil reduction that I would want to ruin a beautiful Smith for.

 

[madmikeb]

My experience is pretty limited but years ago I shot a friends 4" 57 that had been magnaported and the only thing I remember is that after a couple of shots the red insert on the front sight turned gray and all but disappeared!

 

[Jason68]

In my limited experience, the only guns that need porting are my brother-in-law's 450 Marlin Guide Gun (16 inch barrel) and perhaps a long barrel S&W 500 Revolver. Glad you will let yer little 3" alone.

 

[semperfi71]

I may be late but here's my thoughts.

Magna-Porting makes it difficult to shoot cast bullets. The ports fill with lead and accuracy goes out within a few shots.

ANY S&W that has the potential to be collectible [yours does even in the condition you described] should never be altered, almost all of us will eventually sell off our gun collections, or our survivors will.

A .41 Magnum can be "tamed" quite a bit by using medium to fast burning powders and holding down the standard 210 grain bullet to the vicinity of 1,000 fps or even 900 fps. Those velocities will do anything you want that handgun to do.

 

[srgvaz]

NO, but it's your gun/money, and your loss/choice...

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

If you do get it ported, do NOT hold it at waist level with your forearm tucked in against your side.

The blast up from the ports will be hell on your face.

My nickle is Not to port. The short barrel really won't benefit as much as the longer barrels.