A little while back, I conducted a range experiment with a pair of identical Model 19's, one Magnaported and one not. Based on firing some factory-loaded .357 Magnum rounds, I concluded that Magnaporting didn't do much of anything for a 4", .357 Magnum revolver.
Today, I'm posting the second half of the experiment.
I own two Model 29-2 revolvers, 4" barrels, nickel finish. I've owned one for several years, having bought the revolver for a good price at a local gun show. This Model 29-2 was owned by a retired police officer, and had been Magnaported (done at Magnaport). A few weeks ago, I snagged another, this one also owned by a retired police officer. It's, of course, unported, but alike in all other respects. Same target hammer and target trigger on both revolvers. Both revolvers had Hogue grips which would soak up a bit of the recoil.
Today, I decided to do a real blind test, attempting to determine if Magnaporting helped with a larger framed revolver, and chambered in a more powerful round.
I used a box of Magtech .44 Magnum, 240gr JSP, that I bought this past week. One of the guys at our club volunteered to load and hand me the revolvers in such a way that I couldn't see the ports. He loaded five rounds each time, and I fired four strings in each revolver, switching revolvers between each string.
The first string was really recoil-stiff. I hadn't fired a .44 Magnum in several months, so the recoil was really noticeable. I fired at two separate targets, and started to tell the difference after the second string of fire. At the end of the four strings in each revolver, the one used on the right-hand target definitely seemed somewhat milder. The fellow who loaded for me asked which target seemed to be mildest, and I told him the right-hand target. We examined the targets, and the right-hand target definitely had a tighter 20-shot group than the left.
My conclusion is that Magnaporting does reduce felt recoil, even with a 4" barrel. I started to feel a difference in recoil after the first two strings in each revolver, and the results showed it. .44 Magnums are not my choice of long range sessions, but it was fun to conduct a real blind test.
As with the earlier test with the Model 19's, this type of test would probably do better in a Ransom Rest, where the amount of recoil arc could be seen a bit better. But, my limited test shows that bigger calibers definitely benefit.
As always, YMMV.
The Magnaported revolver is the bottom picture.
Today, I'm posting the second half of the experiment.
I own two Model 29-2 revolvers, 4" barrels, nickel finish. I've owned one for several years, having bought the revolver for a good price at a local gun show. This Model 29-2 was owned by a retired police officer, and had been Magnaported (done at Magnaport). A few weeks ago, I snagged another, this one also owned by a retired police officer. It's, of course, unported, but alike in all other respects. Same target hammer and target trigger on both revolvers. Both revolvers had Hogue grips which would soak up a bit of the recoil.
Today, I decided to do a real blind test, attempting to determine if Magnaporting helped with a larger framed revolver, and chambered in a more powerful round.
I used a box of Magtech .44 Magnum, 240gr JSP, that I bought this past week. One of the guys at our club volunteered to load and hand me the revolvers in such a way that I couldn't see the ports. He loaded five rounds each time, and I fired four strings in each revolver, switching revolvers between each string.
The first string was really recoil-stiff. I hadn't fired a .44 Magnum in several months, so the recoil was really noticeable. I fired at two separate targets, and started to tell the difference after the second string of fire. At the end of the four strings in each revolver, the one used on the right-hand target definitely seemed somewhat milder. The fellow who loaded for me asked which target seemed to be mildest, and I told him the right-hand target. We examined the targets, and the right-hand target definitely had a tighter 20-shot group than the left.
My conclusion is that Magnaporting does reduce felt recoil, even with a 4" barrel. I started to feel a difference in recoil after the first two strings in each revolver, and the results showed it. .44 Magnums are not my choice of long range sessions, but it was fun to conduct a real blind test.
As with the earlier test with the Model 19's, this type of test would probably do better in a Ransom Rest, where the amount of recoil arc could be seen a bit better. But, my limited test shows that bigger calibers definitely benefit.
As always, YMMV.
The Magnaported revolver is the bottom picture.
