Plain Base Cast with Magnaports

[WL44]

I read somewhere that plain base cast doesn't do well with Maganports and that you get uneven gas cutting of the base as it passes the ports (or something along those lines).

My 353 is Magnaported, but I've never tried cast in it.

I may be able to pick up a .454 which has the 4 factory ports and shooting heavier and slower lead bullets (say 300gr around 1200) was what I was hoping to do most of the time.

What are your experiences with plain base lead and Magnaports?

I suppose also that "accuracy" may be a relative term in this case and possibly a lighter load is affected less?

Thanks for any replies and sharing of your experiences.

Wim

[4MUL8R]

You could pick this one up, try it, and if absolutely necessary have it rebarreled at FA.

[palgeno]

Gas checked bullets work better for me in my Magnaported FA if loaded HOT!!! Same with a magnaported S&W revolver I own. If you load way down, gas checks are probably not necessary. Some non ported barrels show the same tendencies to like gas checked bullets better with hot loads also---an example is a 44 mag TC barrel I have. Go figure! Gene

[WL44]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure where I read this, but it does concern me.

I'm not really a fan of magnaports and would be inclined to comp, but not port by choice. I'm also not convinced that the ports make a meaningful difference, but of course that's load and powder and all sorts of other factors dependant.

I shoot quite a bit of IPSC and the guys there shoot plain base in their race guns, some with hybrid ports (the holes in the top of the barrel) and that doesn't seem to adversely affect accuracy to any noticeable extent. I wonder what makes that so different from a magnaport?

That's what makes me wonder whether the comment on ports and accuracy was information or misinformation.

If the price is right, it'll get a new owner! Me.  :grin:

[palgeno]

Perhaps comparing accuracy of the same barrel before and after magnaporting would be a good test---but other variables are also important such as brinell hardness of the cast lead bullet and to what pressure you are loading. I have an S&W model 41 with a magnaported barrel which I have used in Bullseye competition in the past and even though it is only a .22lr, it does get back on target faster and is just as accurate as it was before it was magnaported. I also have an S&W 629 done the same way by magnaport and it seems to shoot just about any type of .44 mag bullet extremely accurately. Gene

[stuffit]

I have two of these, both done at the factory.  One is a 10" model and the other is a 4 3/4".  I don't have a non-magnaported standard to compare with them  but both of mine are extremely accurate with cast bullets.  Admittedly, when shooting cast at higher velocities, I use gas checked versions.  I have, however, fired a good many non gas checked bullets out of them at somewhat less than maximum velocities and they too were/are very accurate.   I've always cast with pure linotype for these two revolvers.
 :wink:
stuffit

[WL44]

Thanks for the replies and input.

We couldn't meet on price, so this one is not the FA for me. I'll keep trying to find another!  :cry:

Possibly a 2nd hand one from the US would work, but the import / export paperwork kinda scares me off!

Wim