FA Magnaport, 4 or 2--or 3?!

[benny123]

Till now, I thought it was either a 2 port for 6" or less, 4 port for 7.5" or above.

Though I wonder sometimes if the added noise is worth the recoil reduction with the ports, I am still curious about the effectiveness of this 3 port design. I also have no idea if this was indeed a factory option. Maybe one that just never stuck. Anyone seen this style before?

pic should be below.

[Ken ONeill]

I've seen several of the 3 port guns (yes, they were / are an option), but I can't comment on their relative effectiveness, as I've never shot one. My iron sighted 6" .475L is 2 ported - the previous owner ordered it that way. I prefer that iron sighted FA's be un-ported, because the ports blow a bunch of residue alongside the sight base, a particular nuisance if you're shooting a lot of cast bullets.
I do have several scoped 7 1/2" to 9" 4 ported FA's in .454 and .475L that do not have front sight bases, and I consider the 4 ports valuable in controlling recoil on these.
If you're ever hunting and using a pine tree as a rest, don't let those ports get close to the tree. Don't ask me how I know this.

[Hank08]

A few yrs. ago I had 2 in 7 1/2", one 2 ported and one not ported, I had numerous shooters at the range shoot them both and NO ONE could tell the difference.  On the other hand I won a free Magnaport job and had a 14" contender in .35 Rem magnaported, they put 4 ports
It turned it into different gun. worked great. A friend had 2 6" m29s, one 2 ported and one no port, no difference, some shooters even felt the no port recoiled less.  I won a M66 S&W with 2 1/2" magnaported barrel, no reduction in recoil, super noisy, never shoot one from the hip, blow your head off, now has a 4" non ported barrel.  My thinking is you need a long barrel for the leverage and probably the 4 ports help and a cartridge that generates a lot of gas is also a key factor.  In a 7 1/2"
.454 you might get a litte reduction in lift but your gonna be deaf if you shoot it much hunting without plugs.
H08

[Ken ONeill]

If you shoot without plugs, even hunting, you need to give yourself a stern talking to....
Being half (or more ) deaf is no fun. If you ask me how I know THIS, I'll probably say "Huh ??"

[Lloyd Smale]

I like one big one comming out the end of the barrel that the bullet passes through.

[flatgate]

My .454 7-1/2" was ordered with 4 ports.  I've had a barrel swap performed and now have
the same length sans ports.

More barrel movement w/o the ports.  Nothing to concern me, though.

flatgate

[Axehandle]

Seems to be lots of subjectivity when it come to magna porting...  I have a pair of FA 454s and a pair of FA 475s..  In each case one is a magna ported 6 inch gun and one is an unported 7.5 inch gun...  My perception is that the unported 7.5 guns have less recoil than the 6 inch magna ported guns..  What this means to me is I will never pay extra to have a gun magna ported..  I will also never pass up a good deal on a gun because it is magna ported...

[Groo]

Groo here
 Magnaport will NOT reduce the recoil , it will reduce the rotation [ this may be felt as more kick]
 I have a number of MNP guns and in each case the rotation is less..
 My biggest problem is not kick but the hammer or lumps on the frame cutting my hand,
 the porting stopped this.
 If you want to reduce kick you need a break like the SSK's.
 just be careful as some can be used with lead and some can't.
 Also, a break needs to be driven hard, kicks less with hot loads.

[GRIMJIM]

Groo here
 Magnaport will NOT reduce the recoil , it will reduce the rotation [ this may be felt as more kick]
 I have a number of MNP guns and in each case the rotation is less..
 My biggest problem is not kick but the hammer or lumps on the frame cutting my hand,
 the porting stopped this.
 If you want to reduce kick you need a break like the SSK's.
 just be careful as some can be used with lead and some can't.
 Also, a break needs to be driven hard, kicks less with hot loads.

+1 on this. I had magnaport install a brake on my 44 mag srh and it is a lot more pleasant to shoot.

[bobthenailer]

i have 3 fa 454 casulls with the following porting
6 inch 2 port
71/2   4 port
71/2 with ssk muzzel break . the barrel length is now 8 3/4 inches  in length
the ssk is hands down the most effective by at least 2x or more than the others systems but adds length ,  if you shoot the 240 gr bullet at top velocties it kicks like a 357 mag with 158s ! a 300 at top velocties is like a 44 mag with 240s i bought it used from a friend this way, i would have just magnaported it if i had bought new as the magnaported guns dont bother me !

[GRIMJIM]

I had them cut down the barrel so it was still original length with the brake installed. I also had them remove and reinstall the front sight behind the brake.

[luckydawg13]

i have the 4 port on my 13" 454 encore kicks like my 14"44mag tender did so ya i think they help