I have a bolt action .416rem I use often, and would like to use more often, even off the bench.
Would magnaporting be a worthwhile venture, I don't want to mount a brake.

Magna porting only redirects the recoil downward
by directing gases upward. KFD style brakes redirect gases in a 360 drgree arch. canceling out most of the recoil caused by the gases. You can't do much about the recoil caused by the weight (mass) of the bullet.

Put a bag of lead shot between your shoulder and the butt of the gun. Sounds awkward,kinda makes the eye relief a little long but it sure does save the shoulder! This is an alternative to a muzzle break,if you like to shoot off the bench but dont want the break. I am sure some one is going to say have a threaded break put on,sure that is okay but when you remove the break you will have to readust your scope/iron sights.

I had one rifle ported and am saddened that I did. The screw on and off brake is better, but better only when it is off. Use the bag of shot as necessary at the bench, or Past recoil shields. Be sure you have a good recoil pad on the rifle.

I would rather use less gun than use any muzzle brake. You get older, you get wiser, and hopefully not deaf, nor do you deafen others nearby.

If the VA Compensator really works as advertized go with that, but you will ugly up and lengthen your barrel.

VA Compensator sounds like a Veterans Administration kindness. A break/brake for the disabled?

Go with Mag-na-brake (same company) if you desire this kind of device. Make it a removable to have more flexibility, as you may want to remove it some point in time down the road. Mag-na-port is a no-no in my book because it cuts through the rifling and may affect accuracy. Good luck.

[ 03-19-2003, 07:32: Message edited by: Mingo ]

My 300Wby is Magna-Ported and it sure makes it a lot easier to shoot. I have also heard good things about the KDF system. derf

I had the rifle at the gunsmiths for several months, I had a Sako TRG brake to mount on it, but all the messing around with the front sight put me right off the idea, I use quick release mounts and would not want to lose the iron sights, so I wanted a cover made up for the threading, then the whole thing would have had to be "proofed" by the ballistics boffins to make sure it wasn't in any way dangerous...too much messing around.
The porting would not change the barrels length therefore I wouldn't have to get it checked.

Gentlemen:
I have had a least a dozen rifles with Mag-Na_port
from .338 and up. All of my 416s have had this jog done to them as will my new one. It will reduce the felt effect of recoil some, but the biggerst asset is to keep the muzzle down for fast
recovery for a second shot. It will not harm accuracy or has not on any of my 416s my last Dakota would do 1/2" groups on my good days.
Sterling Davenport, makes his own style porting job but he cuts a recess in the muzzle then ports.
I will try this on the new rifle the Sterling is doing for me.
George

I have quite a few rifles and pistols Mag-na-Ported. First, they do little to reduce the straight back recoil. They do, however, almost totally eliminate muzzle jump on the rifles and tame it a lot on the pistols. If it is muzzle jump you want to get rid of, then it works great. For recoil elimination, a brake is the way to go. The break will increase muzzle blast; MNP does too but much less than the brake. MNP will NOT do anything to your accuracy. The EDM cutting of the steel does not leave any burrs or do any other type of damage to the inside of the bore. It will shoot the same after as it did before. It will also not decrease velocity. I have checked this on the same lot of reloads shot over the same chrono at the same distance out of my .458 and .45-70. There was no change in velocity. You may shoot more accurately after porting only because the gun stays put when you shoot, the muzzle no longer jumps up off the rest or the stock, in the 1895's case, no longer busts you in the chops.
When shoulder problems forced a recoil reduction on the .416 Rigby, a KDF brake made it shoot with less recoil than the .300 Weatherby. And after the shoulder healed and I no longer needed the recoil reduction, the brake came off, the cap went on, and problem solved.
I would not even consider shooting a couple of handguns that I shoot without a brake. A 750 gr. A-Max out of my 12" .50 AK is punishing enough with the brake, and without it, forgetaboutit. As is usual, the right tool for the job.

[ 03-19-2003, 18:21: Message edited by: Big Bore ]

I agree with George. Magnaports are very effective at reducing muzzle jump. This is only my opinion, but I think that a combination of muzzle jump and poorly designed stocks are the source of most recoil complaints. Most shooters can absorb the actual recoil pretty easily, with the exception of really high velocity rounds (due to the recoil velocity). It is the slap in the face that really gets most people. Magnaporting really minimizes this, and like George said, it makes quick followups much easier.

One surprising group of people who use quite a few ported or braked guns are varmint shooters with heavy, small caliber rifles. They don't need the brake for recoil, it is to allow them to see the bullet strike through the scope.

Magnaport also avoids one of my objections to brakes, which is the length. I have always found bolt rifles to be marginally too long anyway. With a brake, most of them simply look like broomhandles.

As to accuracy, I have never found Magnaporting to affect it. I have a .338 Ruger which is Magnaported. It will shoot sub 1/2" groups with Nosler's all day.

All that said, I will likely never own another ported gun unless it is for a very specialised application.

Express,

In addition to using the bag of shot between the rifle and your shoulder, you can use it in another way.

You have to make up a canvas (or whatever material you like) arrangement that will hold the bag of lead shot, and for which the straps of the arrangement go around the heel of the butt stock. In use the shot bag end of the rig lays on the bench under the rifle. When you fire, the rifle drags the bag of shot across the surface of the bench and lessens recoil.

There was a picture of one of these units posted on AR a year ago or so. I have a friend who loves hers.

New Ultra Light Arms also sells a version of this under the name "Bench Wizard" -- it replaces the rear sand bag, and has twin bags to fill with shot.

jim dodd

There was a picture of one of these units posted on AR a year ago or so. I have a friend who loves hers.

I had one gun magnaported and it really reduced the upward jump in recoil. The felt recoil was lessened. The noise was not noticeably increased with ear protection being used.

Express,

I have a pair of 416 Rigbys. One rifle is Mag-Na-Ported and one is not. I shoot these rifles side by side. The Mag-Na-Ported rifle reduces felt recoil and keeps the muzzle down noticably more than the non-ported rifle. An interesting comment I receive at the range is that the Mag-Na-Ported rifle sounds less-loud than the non-ported rifle. Accuracy is not affected. Both rifles are MOA. I now do most of my shooting the Mag-Na-Ported 416. It is simply more pleasant to shoot.

Buliwyf

i like weight, not brakes, of any kind...
that being said, if you must have a brake, it SHOULD be removable, for field use... if you have a choice

why do they call it magnaporting?
cuz vulvawuss was too unacceptable!!

just joking guys, shoot what you like, but i'll choose just the barrel, or a slant brake like an ak (just a longer bottom)

jeffe

EXPRESS

I have owned two Mark V Wbys in 460 that had the integral Pendelton Dekicker. Given a choice I would never own a rifle with any built in muzzle brake system.

My reason (which might never apply to your situation) is that when reduced loads were used and the "brake" was not required you still need ear protection.

Mike

I had a Ruger #1H in .375 magnaported & really liked the fact I could see my shot land in the periphery of the scope. The noise level is much less than most brakes I've heard.

I have my .416 Taylor on a Ruger M77 Magnaported and it works quite well, does in-fact keep the muzzle down and reduces felt recoil.

I don't realy care for Magnaport. First they ripped off grandpa, second I prefer threaded

Gives me a headache.

EXPRESS,

I have a Ruger M77 Magnum in .416 Rigby shooting reloads near 2,500 fps. and I use a mercury inseat to cure the recoil problem. Costs way less too and you can do the job yourself. The .416 is loud enough without a brake. Do yourself a favor and go with a mercury insert, THEY WORK. I shoot 50 rounds a session out of my Rigby and the only other thing I use is a strap on PAST shield. Lawdog