Kimber K6s Magnaported

[steven58]

After about a year of ownership I decided to have my EDC ported. I have had this process done on a variety of guns in the past (35 Remington 14” contender, .4 5/8”.45 LC Blackhawk and a .44 Magnum S&W Mountain Gun) so I knew what to expect.
As with the others, Magnaport did great work and had my gun back in 10 days.
Perceived recoil was reduced, especially muzzle flip.

To try and quantify the change I'll subjectivity compare some ammunition fired after porting with what ammo it felt like out of the pre ported gun:
Blazer 158 grn. .38 Special +P felt just slightly warmer than 148 grn. Target wadcutters
Fiocchi 142 grn. FMJ .357 Mag. felt slightly warmer than the Blazer 158 grn. Above.

Before porting I wouldn’t shoot more than 25 rounds of magnum ammo per range session and it was an uncomfortable chore. Most of my practice was with specials.

Ported, I went through 25 rounds of +P specials and 100 rounds of the Fiocchi magnums and it was a pleasure!

I also tried firing from a speed rock / retention position with no ill effects. Although, you do feel a warm breeze, I didn’t notice any particles blown on my face. The only effect to my shirt was the usual vertical line from the cylinder gap but nothing from the ports.

My groups even tightened up a bit, probably from the psychological effect of lower perceived recoil.

 

[No Quarter]

Nice. I have a K6s as well and it is one of my favorite carry guns. I wonder how that porting would work on the 2"? Might have to find out!

 

[stonebuster]

Nice. I have a K6s as well and it is one of my favorite carry guns. I wonder how that porting would work on the 2"? Might have to find out!

I don't think I'd want to reduce the velocity of a 2" barrel any more than it already is.

 

[George P]

Of have that flash and noise either.

 

[steven58]

With the caveat that firing a gun is an extremely subjective situation, with the 5 handguns Magnaported I have never experienced any increase in noise, flash or blast with any Magnaported firearm. Including this one.

As to loss of velocity, I have in the past done before / after chronograph measurements using the same box of ammunition and the highest reduction I ever measured was 10 fps. Sometimes it read slightly faster after porting but, either way, usually within normal shot to shot variation.

This time I didn’t chronograph but the POA/POI at 50 yds didn’t change. For whatever that’s worth.

 

[stonebuster]

OP, that's a beautiful gun. My comment on the ported barrel was more about the 2" version since has a lower velocity to start with.

 

[steven58]

I have a S&W 638 snub that I just got back from Magnaport. Over my friend’s cheap chronograph we found a -6 fps change in average velocity over 10 shots. I’m going to post a thread with pictures after shooting it side by side with another unported 638.

 

[<*(((><]

What did they charge you for your K6S?

 

[steven58]

Cost was $140.00 + shipping.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Guess I really haven't been paying attention----I didn't think Magnaport was even still around.

 

[steven58]

Yep, been around since the mid 1970s. They might be doing something right...

 

[becket]

If it is possible, or if u have done it, what is twilight flash diff if any on ur 3” k6 after porting, please? Wondering if a low light self defense situation may be a bit more blinding
thru the ports, tho not noticed in full daylight shooting? I am after a 3” k6 and porting was a thought I had actually. Gaaawd what a factory trigger, love it.

 

[steven58]

I haven’t fired my kimber in low light yet. However, I have fired my 4” S&W Mountain gun in .44 magnum in low light and it has the same 4 port system. My experience was:
The fireball out of the front of a 4 inch .44 magnum (not low flash powder) is going to significantly affect your ability to see in low light, ports or no ports!
I never saw any port flash when firing that gun. It was overwhelmed by the front end muzzle blast.
When , from the side, I observed my friend firing the gun I did see faint port flashes but it was nothing compared to the main blast out the front in fact, it wasn’t even near the flash from the cylinder gap.

The only time I ever noticed “port flash” while shooting was decades ago with my “rifle ported” 14” TC Contender in .35 Remington. This was at the indoor range, Nassau County, NY. I turned off some of the lights and while I did clearly see the port flashes they were nothing compared to the 2 foot wide fire ring that rolled out of the front end of that pistol for 6 feet!