Magnaport, anyone?

[BJH65]

I believe there are some misconceptions about Mag-na-port, a system devised by Larry Kelly back in the 60’s utilizing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) machining 4 trapezoidal ports, 2 on each side offset, became popular back in the 70’s-90’s on large bore revolvers and hard kicking rifles.

I have owned several used rifles that already had Mag-na-porting: 300 Weatherby MK V, 338 Wn Mag Ruger M77 tang safety and a custom Brno ZKK-602 458 Lott. The first two had the traditional 4 trapezoidal ports and the 458 Lott just two trapezoidal ports primarily to control muzzle rise.

I want to be clear as possible, there is no significant increase in noise and muzzle blast with the Mag-na-porting when compared to my other rifles of similar caliber without porting although I can only compare my un-ported CZ 416 Rigby to my Brno 458 Lott and my other. various non ported 300 magnums to the 300 Weatherby with Mag-na-porting. I have a backyard range and my wife can confirm this as well. Let me repeat this one more time, these is no notable difference and especially with my 458 Lott with only the two trapezoidal ports.

Many on AH lump Mag-na-port with KDF, Weatherby Accubrake, and many other traditional muzzle brakes. They do this because I believe they are simply uninformed. KDF style muzzle brakes are much more effective at reducing felt recoil than Mag-na-port but at a cost: significantly more muzzle blast and noise, the kind of noise without hearing protection that will certainly make your ears ring, is harmful to hearing and very distracting/annoying to your PH.

It’s been estimated by others including the late gun writer Ed Matununas, that Mag-na-port reduces felt recoil by 1/3rd perhaps more the larger the caliber. Less than traditional muzzle brakes, which is why Mag- a-port isn’t so popular these days, but enough reduction to make a difference to many recoil sensitive shooters, allowing them to shoot more comfortably. Matunas felt it was a very viable option for African big bore rifles while he eschewed the more traditional KDF muzzle brakes due to increased muzzle blast and noise.

Where I truly believe Mag-na-port shines is significantly reduced muzzle rise allowing one to make quick follow up shots, certainly a huge asset in a charge. I recently did a one rifle safari with my CZ 416 Rigby. I shot a warthog that dropped immediately to the shoulder shot (very clear in the video footage) but since a was in full recoil I didn’t see him drop and when another warthog nearby ran directly at us, I thought for a second he was wounded and charging us!

That warthog was simply fleeing from all the commotion and didn’t know where we were. Had my rifle been Mag-na-ported I would have seen the impact of the shot of the immediately downed warthog. For those that want a DG rifle with reduced muzzle rise, I see Mag-na-port as a very viable option and it may reduce felt recoil just enough to make it tolerable without the horrible noise and muzzle blast of the other more effective recoil reducing muzzle brakes.

I also find the Mag-na-port to much less obtrusive than the other KDF style threaded muzzle brakes that are easily visible and often add several inches to the rifle barrel. The Mag-na-port add nothing and is not as noticeable, doesn’t visually change the lines of the rifle to me. In fact I got a most excellent bargain on a wonderful custom AHR/Robar Brno 458 Lott on AH because many eschewed the Mag-na-port on this rifle. Well, good for me, otherwise I would not have this rifle which I will be taking on our 2026 Safari for buffalo, hippo and maybe lion.

Would I personally have Mag-na-porting done on my other rifles? No, because I can tolerate the recoil and feel I am effective with them without Mag-na-porting but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a used rifle that already had this done. The only perceived drawback I can see is the notion held by many that it reduces the value of the rifle for investment purposes. These same folks incorrectly believe Mag-na-ported rifles significantly increase noise and muzzle blast but I would ask them: have you fired a Mag-na-ported rifle side by side with a non Mag-na-ported rifle like I have? Noise and muzzle blast negligible and no PH would complain anymore than a non Mag-na-ported rifle.

Some photos showing the difference.

Mag-na-port

Tradional KDF muzzle brake

 

[Ridge Runner]

I believe there are some misconceptions about Mag-na-port, a system devised by Larry Kelly back in the 60’s utilizing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) machining 4 trapezoidal ports, 2 on each side offset, became popular back in the 70’s-90’s on large bore revolvers and hard kicking rifles.

I have owned several used rifles that already had Mag-na-porting: 300 Weatherby MK V, 338 Wn Mag Ruger M77 tang safety and a custom Brno ZKK-602 458 Lott. The first two had the traditional 4 trapezoidal ports and the 458 Lott just two trapezoidal ports primarily to control muzzle rise.

I want to be clear as possible, there is no significant increase in noise and muzzle blast with the Mag-na-porting when compared to my other rifles of similar caliber without porting although I can only compare my un-ported CZ 416 Rigby to my Brno 458 Lott and my other. various non ported 300 magnums to the 300 Weatherby with Mag-na-porting. I have a backyard range and my wife can confirm this as well. Let me repeat this one more time, these is no notable difference and especially with my 458 Lott with only the two trapezoidal ports.

Many on AH lump Mag-na-port with KDF, Weatherby Accubrake, and many other traditional muzzle brakes. They do this because I believe they are simply uninformed. KDF style muzzle brakes are much more effective at reducing felt recoil than Mag-na-port but at a cost: significantly more muzzle blast and noise, the kind of noise without hearing protection that will certainly make your ears ring, is harmful to hearing and very distracting/annoying to your PH.

It’s been estimated by others including the late gun writer Ed Matununas, that Mag-na-port reduces felt recoil by 1/3rd perhaps more the larger the caliber. Less than traditional muzzle brakes, which is why Mag- a-port isn’t so popular these days, but enough reduction to make a difference to many recoil sensitive shooters, allowing them to shoot more comfortably. Matunas felt it was a very viable option for African big bore rifles while he eschewed the more traditional KDF muzzle brakes due to increased muzzle blast and noise.

Where I truly believe Mag-na-port shines is significantly reduced muzzle rise allowing one to make quick follow up shots, certainly a huge asset in a charge. I recently did a one rifle safari with my CZ 416 Rigby. I shot a warthog that dropped immediately to the shoulder shot (very clear in the video footage) but since a was in full recoil I didn’t see him drop and when another warthog nearby ran directly at us, I thought for a second he was wounded and charging us!

That warthog was simply fleeing from all the commotion and didn’t know where we were. Had my rifle been Mag-na-ported I would have seen the impact of the shot of the immediately downed warthog. For those that want a DG rifle with reduced muzzle rise, I see Mag-na-port as a very viable option and it may reduce felt recoil just enough to make it tolerable without the horrible noise and muzzle blast of the other more effective recoil reducing muzzle brakes.

I also find the Mag-na-port to much less obtrusive than the other KDF style threaded muzzle brakes that are easily visible and often add several inches to the rifle barrel. The Mag-na-port add nothing and is not as noticeable, doesn’t visually change the lines of the rifle to me. In fact I got a most excellent bargain on a wonderful custom AHR/Robar Brno 458 Lott on AH because many eschewed the Mag-na-port on this rifle. Well, good for me, otherwise I would not have this rifle which I will be taking on our 2026 Safari for buffalo, hippo and maybe lion.

Would I personally have Mag-na-porting done on my other rifles? No, because I can tolerate the recoil and feel I am effective with them without Mag-na-porting but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a used rifle that already had this done. The only perceived drawback I can see is the notion held by many that it reduces the value of the rifle for investment purposes. These same folks incorrectly believe Mag-na-ported rifles significantly increase noise and muzzle blast but I would ask them: have you fired a Mag-na-ported rifle side by side with a non Mag-na-ported rifle like I have? Noise and muzzle blast negligible and no PH would complain anymore than a non Mag-na-ported rifle.

Some photos showing the difference.

Mag-na-port
View attachment 658060

Tradional KDF muzzle brake

View attachment 658061

Well defined.

 

[Papa72]

Awesome review BJH65 and thank you. This rifle is a neighborhood gunsmith project and although well executed has no intrinsic collector’s value to ruin. My remaining question involves the process itself: does the electro process damage the surrounding bluing? This rifle has a banded front sight so would only get 1 cut on each side but I would pass on porting it if rebluing the barrel would be required.

 

[375Ruger416]

I have to chime in and say… I have hated brakes since their inception… most of my experience has been at the range where a half dozen tacti-cool types are knocking everyone’s ear-pro off their heads, firing some small caliber braked 16” MSR at a rate of about 1 trigger pull per second… I find them annoying and inconsiderate…

That said, under certain circumstance I might now be a convert..

I purchased a 300 prc about a year ago that came with a factory removable brake… initially I thought I’d just remove the brake and put a thread protector on the gun…

After I shot it a couple of times with the brake attached, I changed my mind… it brings the recoil from a lightweight 300 magnum down to below typical 308 recoil levels and makes the rifle a dream to shoot…

I am mindful of other shooters when I am rarely at a public range with the rifle (I’ve got a 300 yard KD range set up out at our lease when I shoot it more often than not)…

But at this point I don’t intend on shooting the rifle without the brake… the older I get, the less tolerance I have for getting beat up by my rifles…

I’m in largely the same boat. My 300 prc is 9.5 lbs loaded and is not punishing to shoot unbraced, but is a whole different experience braked. It is the only rifle though that I’ve had people come from the next range to ask me what I was shooting because of the muzzle blast. Not so bad behind the gun, but very unpleasant to the sides.

I borrowed a suppressor from my PH in Africa and we all enjoyed hunting without hearing protection.

 

[steve white]

Disagree on recoil management--I could really tell no difference--not even much diff in recoil rise.
2. Advise against putting it on an automatic shotgun with recoiling barrel, as in an A5 or Rem. 48--seems to negatively influence cycling.

 

[analog_peninsula]

The process is cleanly executed, and there’s no damage or discoloration to the surrounding area in any of my firearms.

 

[BJH65]

The process is cleanly executed, and there’s no damage or discoloration to the surrounding area in any of my firearms.

Agreed and one need only send the barreled action to Mag-na-port.

 

[BJH65]

One must also be aware of the differences between Mag-na-port and traditional muzzle brakes. To add a little confusion, Mag-na-port International does offer a Mag-na-brake, a threaded muzzle brake much like a KDF and equally as loud and obnoxious! Know the difference between the original Mag-na-port and KDF type brakes, many don’t.

Also regarding muzzle brakes, older Weatherby rifles and other big bore rifles of the 70’s and 80’s had Pendleton or Pendleton style muzzle brakes which are not threaded and had the ports drilled into the barrel but the holes were smaller than KDF style threaded brakes. I extensively shot a Winchester M70 416 Rem Mag with Pendleton muzzle ports and it felt much like shooting a 300 mag and I fired multiple rounds at game animals without hearing protection and did not find it to be as obnoxiously loud as the KDF style brakes.

I will say the Pendleton style brake or ports are not very appealing to my eyes and since they are not threaded, clearly not detachable. From time to time, I see vintage rifles of the 60’s-80’s For sale with Pendleton muzzle brake or ports. If I saw I nice vintage big bore for sale with the Pendleton brake/porting, I wouldn’t write it off.

Pendleton brake or ports

 

[rookhawk]

Now that I’ve decided to thin my rifle herd to the one DG rifle that will go to Africa with me, I would like opinions on the final mod that I am considering: Magnaport. This .416 Ruger on a Mark X action is 10.3# unloaded and I do manage the recoil, but have read the ‘porting does help muzzle rise which could be a benefit to follow up shots. What say?

Magnaporting will reduce the value of a gun by 2/3rds. Muzzlebrakes in general are frowned upon by trackers and PHs that get the deafening experience to the sides that the operator does not.

The solution? Have your gun the proper weight for its caliber and use a powder that reduces recoil without reducing necessary velocity.

An example with my 470NE:

Load 1 = 106lbs of recoil
Load 2 = 58lbs of recoil

The difference? Once used 3031 powder and the other used 4831. I did not use a brake, I regulated the gun to a powder that reduces felt recoil.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Now that I’ve decided to thin my rifle herd to the one DG rifle that will go to Africa with me, I would like opinions on the final mod that I am considering: Magnaport. This .416 Ruger on a Mark X action is 10.3# unloaded and I do manage the recoil, but have read the ‘porting does help muzzle rise which could be a benefit to follow up shots. What say?

Some 40 years ago I found that my Whitworth Express in .458 WM was a vicious kicker. I even managed to break my nose with the scope while shooting it off a bench. A gunsmith friend of mine suggested Mag-Na-Port. He was with.me when I broke my nose, so I sent it off.

Now let me say this: I do not like most muzzle brakes, but the Mag-Na-Port is different. The slots are cut to vent gasses up and down. The blast does not.go.out to the side. It also does not present the obnoxious bulge full of holes that most brakes have. No one sees it unless I show it to them and no one has noticed any increase in noise.

So does it work? The recoil seems to be noticeably reduced and the muzzle flip is greatly reduced. The buffalo bull of 2024 didn't seem to care much either way.

I do not have a brake on any of my other guns, but if I ever get another girls that hurts me, it will also go to Mag-Na-Port.