Magna Port Rifles on Safari

[Backyardsniper]

I have found myself in the situation of possibly having to take my 460 on my trip to Africa. My original plan was to take my 458 Lott. It is a CZ and I sent it to a Smith to have the feeding fixed and have a 3 position safety installed and a few other things to get it ready to go. Lets just say what I got back from the Smith was not something you would want to go into a gunfight with. So that leaves us where we are now, unless they can fix it, which remains to be seen.
I have a 460wby in a Mark V. The barrel has been Magna ported, I believe from the factory. I know PH's hate muzzle brakes, but I put several rounds through this rifle the other day with no ear protection just to test it out and I didn't find it to be very bad. I have lots of rifles with actual brakes and they are LOUD. I won't shoot them without ear pro but I was surprised to see this one wasn't that bad at all. I don't love the fact that it doesn't have Iron Sights on it but I can run a 1-4 scope in QD mounts and keep a back up red dot in my pocket on a QD mount so I can live with that. I don't love the capacity, 2 in the mag but again I think I can live with it. On the upside she is extremely accurate and I'm running a mild load, 500gr at 2350fps which keeps it flat out to 200yds if I need to use it on PG and it has a lot of punch for Buffalo and Elephant. What's your thoughts on running a Magna ported rifle on a hunt. I considered having it cut off but since it seems to be tolerable with no ear pro I figured I might as well keep it.
On a side note opening weekend of Deer season is this weekend so I'm gonna see how it performs on whitetail.

 

[BeeMaa]

Personally, I'm not a fan of Magna ported or braked rifles. That said, it's your hunt and your rifle. As long as you let EVERYONE in the hunting party knows what the deal is, I don't see a problem.

Bringing some extra ear protection for the PH and staff would be a nice touch...and kinda funny at the same time.

Secret option #3 - bring a 375 that doesn't have a break and still do it all.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I do have a 375 but I do like the big rifles, I haven't totally ruled out shooting the 375, but I would really like to run one of my big rifles

 

[Backyardsniper]

Bringing ear pro for the whole crew would be funny though. I will probably do that and probably give them a little extra tip too. Ha ha

 

[Andrew Short]

The magna port does not emit the same harsh noise that a muzzle brake does. I have a 416 Rigby with magna port and my 300 wsm with brake is much worse to shoot in regards to gas and noise. Well all of my rifles with brakes are worse… There is no comparison between the two.
In my opinion you’re fine with the magna port rifle.

 

[Backyardsniper]

 

[Backyardsniper]

Just to be sure we are all on the same page. This is the porting I'm talking about. You are right though. I didn't think it was that bad when I shot it without ear plugs

 

[TroyF]

I had a savage in 300 rum I got magna ported, if it didn't come with it I would not of gotten it done myself. It did look cool tho,

 

[Red Leg]

Just to be sure we are all on the same page. This is the porting I'm talking about. You are right though. I didn't think it was that bad when I shot it without ear plugs

So that is not what I think of when someone says magna porting. I have a .338 so adorned, but it has the original trapezoidal design that reduces muzzle rise. The .338 is not as loud as a braked rifle, but is louder than a clean .338.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I think this is actually the "Pendleton Dekicker"

 

[Backyardsniper]

Weatherby .460 Custom with babinga wood and ported barrel, open sights.

The .460 Weatherby Magnum is a classic elephant gun with open sites, gold adjustable trigger, Pendleton ported 26” barrel with a smooth, quick action. This is a factory ordered custom ordered gun with African babinga wood stock featuring a bit reddish color with rosewood caps, gloss finish and...

neaca.com

 

[sierraone]

Agree with @Red Leg. I have a 80s era Model 70 in .300 H&H mag that was Magna Ported when I bought it. It is as Red Leg's .338.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Magnaports (or other versions) are more of a compensator than a brake. Brakes direct gases rearward to counteract the recoil. The compensator (as @Red Leg pointed out) reduces muzzle rise. There are brakes that compensate and compensators that brake, but that’s the primary difference. The rearward “exhaust” of the brake is the preliminary sound amplification that everyone complains about. It’s really that the sound (pressure) is redirected with the gas. If the gas goes forward/up/back, the sound goes with it. Your ported barrel will not affect bystanders the same as a brake because the gases are not being exhausted where they are standing.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Yeah apparently this is something different for the actual "Magna porting" I think its the Pendleton thing. Either way it's not as loud as I would have expected which is a good thing

 

[Backyardsniper]

Now that it looks like the rifle is going to be useable maybe I will see about getting some back up sights added, although I guess I could just run it like it is. The back up red dot will probably work just fine

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

A hunting situation is not where you can line everyone up where they are supposed to stand. Things develop, you have ro react. Also, you need to communicate to keep safe, so everyone standing around with stuff sticking out of their ears with the buff coming on may look amusing but it isn't. Use the 375!

 

[Backyardsniper]

I just simply don't have the confidence in a 375 to carry it on a hunt like that to depend on it to completely stop an angry or escaping animal. My worst fear is for the PH to have to shoot. In all honesty if.my PH has to shoot at the animal I would never be able to enjoy the trophy. I want to make sure I have plenty of rifle. I don't think the porting on this rifle will be an issue though. I fired 11 rounds with no ear pro and it wasn't noticeably louder than any other rifle to me. That being said it may be a bit louder out to the side but I don't think its anywhere near the level of a muzzle brake. That being said hopefully I will get my 458 back in working order, and if not I may get a 416 or possibly just go with the weatherby. I don't like it being ported but I don't have a lot of options and I hate to buy another rifle just because of it being ported. I am going to meet my PH at the DSC though and I will discuss it with him.and see what his thoughts are on it.

 

[Challer]

It appears you’ve made up your mind. Honestly I’ve never understood porting on any gun - I just have have problems with muzzle rise. Hearing loss on the other hand is very real and serious. I would not shoot 460 at the range without PPE. It’s been discussed here and well documented that even if you don’t feel hearing problems in the heat of battle, it’s still happening. Electronic hearing protection is ubiquitous and no excuse for not using. In fact I often use a suppressor on my 375 and lessor calibers while hunting.

 

[Jörg Krüger]

It appears you’ve made up your mind. Honestly I’ve never understood porting on any gun - I just have have problems with muzzle rise. Hearing loss on the other hand is very real and serious. I would not shoot 460 at the range without PPE. It’s been discussed here and well documented that even if you don’t feel hearing problems in the heat of battle, it’s still happening. Electronic hearing protection is ubiquitous and no excuse for not using. In fact I often use a suppressor on my 375 and lessor calibers while hunting.

I believe that it's not just the sound that enters the ears that causes damage but also the shockwave that hits behind the ears. Therefore muffs are a lot better that just ear plugs.

 

[Challer]

Agreed by far. I wear muffs on the range always. But as been said here before, often far too hot in on safari.