[jessuwah]

I'm kicking around the idea of having my Ruger SP-101 357 mag magnaported. Is it worth having it done to a 2 1/4 inch barrel?

[Josey]

A clone? (sig line) The answer would be no. Why?

[Walosi]

I had always thought of it as a mod for long barreled hunting guns - long barrel equals pressure buildup, so the porting redirects enough pressure to keep the muzzle down. Then I got a ported 686 2 1/2". Works for snubbies, too. I've fired mine along with an un-ported twin, and it definately works. No felt difference in recoil, but follow-ups are much faster. The other highly acclaimed disadvantages are either exaggerated, or pure hokum. No burning clothing, blind eyes, scars from debris or deafness from extra blast. There is pressure from the ports, akin to the side blast from the BC gap, but it is easy to avoid. The sound is not louder, but it is re-directed - sort of like "Surround Sound" revolver stereo. VERY noticeable indoors, noticeable under a firing line roof outdoors, but not louder. Mine is much more accurate with jacketed than with cast bullets. I'm told that this is the result of bullet base upset when the bullet passes the ports, and the pressure changes. The cast bullets I've fired didn't lead up the ports, but when I saw lousy accuracy, and got the above explanation, I bought some bulk JHPs, and never looked back. With Pachmayr Compacs, my unported SP 101 is controllable with 110 gr. mags in rapid fire - not comfortable, but controllable. MagnaPorting will make it easier to control, but the comfort level will still be the same. Ya pays yer money, ya makes yer choice.

[HSMITH]

It is a great way to ruin a perfectly good gun, but that is only my emotion on the issue. Scientific fact is it will work on a short barrel, and work better than on a long barrel. This is because there is more high pressure gasses for the ports to use in the short barrel. Pressures peak VERY soon after ignition and barely into bullet travel with most handgun loadings, as the bullet travels down bore the volume that the gasses occupy expand tremendously.

Porting will help keep the muzzle down, but I suggest if the SP is too much gun for you a lower powered round or gun with less recoil would be a better solution.

[jessuwah]

thanks for the replies and opinions. I'm in no rush to modify my 101 but I did want to hear some opinions.

Josey--I've used that sig for over a year on the other forums I'm into.

[Marshall]

It's a decent amount of money for not much return, in my opinion. And, most people that know small revolvers aren't going to want a ported model if you ever want to sell it, not all but most.

[sturmruger]

How much does it cost to have a gun ported?? Where were you going to have yours worked on Jess?

[Sunray]

It works, but does increase the noise level considerably. http://www.magnaport.com/hgun.html

[SnWnMe]

Don't know about Mag-Na-Port but I have a comped revo and the comp works. My 66 F Comp is more controllable than my 27 using full power loads in rapid fire. Both have short bbls. For games using light 38s it's the same thing. I am faster with my F Comp.

[Standing Wolf]

One and two at a time, I've sent nearly all my center fire revolvers to http://www.magnaport.com

Ported barrels take slightly longer to clean; the reduction in perceived recoil, however, is well worth the cost.

[Gordon]

I've been having guns Magnaported since 77 or so, I haven't since the early 90's though. Now I look at all those mod 29s, 28, 27, 19s,66, Super Black hawks, and Pythons that look so ugly and I'd say it isn't worth it,! Oh yes I forgot all those rifles! I still port Heavy magnum rifles and T/C's hand rifles BUT there are more effective systems out there. That said the Mag-Na-Port Custom work I had done by Larry Kelly is still perking along very well after all these years! A tribute to his skill and craftsman ship on revolvers!:cool:

[cratz2]

I had a 7.5" Super Blackhawk that had the full Magnaport treatment... porting, trigger job, action job. Granted it had the long barrel, but it was by far the easiest shooting 44 Magnum I've ever shot... but you absolutely MUST wear hearing protection... without fail. ALWAYS!

I don't relish pain including that inflicted from recoil but I put 100 rounds of Silvertips through it one afternoon on another afternoon, I put 20 rounds each of 200, 240 and 300 Gr XTPs through it and didn't suffer much at all.

If someone was comfortable shooting relatively heavy 158 Gr loads out of a 4" 357, I'd let them fire this without too much warning... Not something I'd say about a standard 4" 44 Magnum.

On a 357 snub, I think I'd personally rather just deal with the recoil rather than have the dramatically louder report and the upward flash.

[Walosi]

The noise is due to the pressure from whatever cartridge you are firing. 35,000 psi creates the same blast whether fired from a ported barrel, or an unported one. Re-direction of the noise makes it seem much louder. Anyone shooting anything from a handgun without hearing protection will reap what he sows. Shooting my 686 snub in low light, with the old Remington 125 gr. mags, is a light show. The "upward flash" is nearly invisible against the flare from the BC gap, and the soccer ball sized fireball at the muzzle.