port or no port?

farmplinker

I've decided to buy a S&W 629 .44 magnum for hunting. I want the 6" or 61/2" barrel, but am undecided about whether to get the factory ported (S&W calls it power-port) version or the un-ported version.Any advice from those who have shot both?

spclark

I've shot neither (just to get that squared away) despite my preference for the .44 Mag cartridge in several weapons I own & shoot.If hunting is your primary use, why limit your accuracy & "reach" with a 6" barrel?Porting (this length barrel or under) will reduce your felt recoil some & help follow-up shot accuracy at the expense of lower velocity.I'd suggest the 8+" barrel & no porting; with the iron sights you'll have a lighter, smaller rig (than with a 'scope on the shorter barreled gun) and higher velocity & less muzzle flip too.Get yourself a Pachmayer or Uncle Mike's recoil-absorbing grip too.I shoot a Ruger Super Redhawk, fitted with a Leupold 2x Pistol 'Scope, strictly for paper target shooting. Heavy, but accurate out to 75 yards,(atleast for my needs.).

Shootist3006

While I agree with most of spclark's advice above, there is another factor that you should consider. Porting increases heard noise considerably. Unless you hunt with one of the electronic muffs, you are increasing the risk to your hearing by a significant factor. Yes, one or two shots IS enough to do permanent damage.

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Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

JB

I have also been told that the muzzle flash on a ported barrell can temporary blind a shooter for a follow up shot

Rembrandt

I've been real happy with my 629 Performance Center Smith...not really ported but a muzzel brake....here's a picture... http://www.smith-wesson.com/sport/images/performance/m657ch.jpg

niklasal

I had a discussion about follow up blindness with guys at my local range. They told me that tested it out one time... They shut off all the lights on the range and fired away with a Ported Glock. They had no problem with blinding or follow up.

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NIKLASAL@hotmail.com

nimrod_sn

I own a Colt Anaconda Colt custom shop ported pistol in 44 mag and I have a friend with an unported Anaconda. Buy the ported pistol you'll never regret it!!! I have shot mine close to the end of legal shooting hours never got blinded. Even shot it in the dark once (curious) - impressive flash but no night vision loss. As to noise wear ear plugs at the range. When your hunting you'll never hear it. I never do when shooting at a deer no ringing etc. Why I can even hear the deer run and drop. ;0) A ported 44 isn't any louder than a 30.06

roysha

You didn't say what you were going to mostly shoot, ammo wise, through this gun. I'm sure I will be corrected on this, but it is my understanding that if you shoot cast bullets in a barrel that is directly ported in the barrel, versus a muzzle attachment type brake, you will eventually fill vents with lead. Obviously, if you shoot only jacketed bullets this is of no concern. However, my 629 is my FAVORITE handgun and I couldn't afford to shoot it as much as I like if I was limited to jacketed bullets. Actually, I have found that good cast bullets are just as effective as jacketed bullets in any hunting situation that I have ever been in. One fellow I know, was using jacketed hollow point bullets for mountain lion hunting and they were going completely through the animal and a coulple of times it got a bit exciting when the lion hit the ground! He switched to a 300 cast and had cleaner kills. Not the answer for everyone, but something to consider. I use the good old Keith style, Lyman 429421, bullet and have since 1965 when I got my first 44mag and Unique.

michael minarik

I have a ported Marlin guide gun, 444 and what is all this chatter about loudness...shot my Deer and didn't even hear the rifle go off even tho on this hunt I forgot my e-plugs...my heart was pounding so loud. I now have a Guide gun in stainlss 45-70 with no ports, that's how I got but I wanted one with the ports. At my age now I hunt with e-plugs so what diff does it make about the sound level...I doubt if ported vs non-ported changes the decible level...dont see how it could! In hand guns the level of felt recoil in large calibers (the 44 mags I've had is quite noticible in short barrel lengths but when I shot my 629, 8"+ not ported, felt recoil was not an issue. The longer heavier barrel acted like a damper...even if you ported a longer barrel I don't think it would be a bad thing..in my humble opinion...