K40 Mag-na-portation & Cleanup

[Bongo Boy]

It's coming along. Just picked up the slide and barrel from our friends at the post office this morning. Cleaned up the frame under the grips where, on one side, there was some minor pitting starting under the grip panel. Naturally that meant hogging off a bit of stock and of course, taking off the bead blast finish on those flat surfaces. Trijicons are installed, and of course, The Magic Port...enjoy:

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40001.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40002.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40003.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40004.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40005.jpg

There's more work to do--I'd like to dye the wood panels until they're as black as I can get them, and dull down those exposed side surfaces on the frame where I had to use 220 and a diamond hone, and some additional cleanup of the barrel. Will order a new slide release lever when the time comes just right and replace the half-assed job I did on the original with something that doesn't look like a high school shop project.

This was to be a handgun I absolutely under no circumstances would ever modify. I'm a man of my word. Have I mentioned yet how much I like this little gun? She's back in the saddle, and am I happy about it.

[wyntrout]

Nice! I'm sure that you'll appreciate the porting. I was considering getting a K40 and doing that, but the Mag-na-ported P40 came up on the Marketplace here and I jumped on that. I'm very happy with it but still need to get NS. I'm thinking about getting the Trijicon HD NS for the 1911 and having them fitted to my P40 locally at a custom gun shop. I love those sights on my XD45, but I don't think that Trijicon will ever make any for Kahrs.

Wynn:)

[muggsy]

I'm not usually at a loss for words, but all that I can say is, beautiful.

[Bawanna]

Very nice. Those grips are beautiful as is though. Shame to make em black. Might as well try to find some factory rubber best or the later hard rubber.

They are already black. I love the feel of the rubber ones but I'm a wood guy.

[Nimrod]

Beautiful work Bongo! I agree with Bawanna, I wouldn't dye the grips.

[Bongo Boy]

...I don't think that Trijicon will ever make any for Kahrs.

Those are genuine Trijicons, Wynn. They're the ones Kahr resells, and they are about perfect, in my view. They didn't go and do something dumb like size 'em down or anything. Plus, I thought they were nicely priced compared to, say, the $140 for Trijicon's M&P product.

Thanks for the kind words and the caution on dying the grips...maybe I'll do the inside only and see what happens. The little bottle of dye was $20 fellas, I gotta do something with it. :)

[wyntrout]

I prefer my original rubber grips, but the CT Laser Grips are a harder plastic... not as comfy.

Wynn:)

[JERRY]

im not a .40cal fan but i wouldnt mind having that gun as my one and only.

[jocko]

Very nice. Those grips are beautiful as is though. Shame to make em black. Might as well try to find some factory rubber best or the later hard rubber.

They are already black. I love the feel of the rubber ones but I'm a wood guy.

very purdy grips. leave them alone, I think u will end up ruining some purdy grips.

Look for some hard to find rubber grips for the gun or if u put on the ct laser, then u have their grips. Someday our great grip maker is goona make some K grips and then he can make u some real purdy ebony grips that you will be proud of. Gload to see u magna ported that baby, looks like my K9 now. U should notice sime differenc ein the 40 over what my 9 showed, It was pleasant before4 I ported it, it is just more pleasant now. but I think the 40 guys will notice it more. JKust sayin. Let us know.

again very ni8ce work. Some K kahr grips I do not like but your grips kinda got me. They look grerat..:israel:

[Bongo Boy]

Okay...this is going to disturb some of our members, but I prefer it this way and so, well, there ya go...

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40006.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40008.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/K40009.jpg

So, they still look a lot like wood, but also have a slight hint of micarta. Not black, but very dark brown. We can put the whole grip thing to bed now. Can't have anything that suggests fancy, dressed-up, exotic or pretty. Just needs to be clean. (You know, "I don't need no fancy shirts, I just need the ones that's clean...").

[jocko]

agree, u did betterwith it thanI thought. It paases jocko's insptection. Now shoot it like u stole it and let us kow how it feels..

[Bongo Boy]

Can't wait, Jocko. I'm expecting my split times to be cut in half and my groups to be 1/3 the size they were...one-handed and with no glasses on. ;)

[Bawanna]

I like it too. It still looks like wood, classy but not flashy but I don't think it was flashy before. I actually think it looks better dark.

[Bongo Boy]

Maybe the grips are bringing back pleasant childhood Walther P-38 memories--that's what the color reminds me of, and I'm good with that.

I wonder if Mag-na-port uses a regular end mill cutter to do these or if it's done using EDM or something.

Don't these ports make you want to shove little cotton balls soaked in gasoline into them? Or something? At least use 'em to launch spitballs, at a minimum. Down at the public range...in California. :)

[JFootin]

You have good taste Bongo Boy. That is a really classy looking pistol. :yo:

[wyntrout]

http://www.magnaport.com/



The Mag-na-port Process

http://www.magnaport.com/images/mg002.jpg Mag-na-port introduced the combat mini conversion before the snub nose revolver became available. This MNP custom is still extremely popular. Mag-na-porting is accomplished with Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), a surgically precise method of removing metal. Dielectric oil is flooded over the area of the barrel that is to be "cut," and an electrode. When voltage is applied, the oil is ionized, which establishes a continuous flow of electrons between the electrodes and the barrel...an electrical arc. It is the electron flow which does actual "machining" of the trapezoidal ports.
The patented Mag-na-port process assures the gun owner of a smooth incision of exact dimension. There is no damage to the metal surrounding the ports; no machining marks, as would be the case subsequent to a drilling operation. The finish is similarly protected, as it is blended into the metal exposed by the erosion process during the EDM operation.
It should be noted that Mag-na-porting a firearm: http://www.magnaport.com/images/dot.gif

does NOT reduce velocity
does NOT affect inherent accuracy
does NOT raise noise level

Mag-na-porting: http://www.magnaport.com/images/dot.gif

DOES reduce muzzle lift
DOES reduce perceived recoil
DOES increase the value of a firearm


Semi-Automatic Pistols (through slide and barrel)$140.00

Other pricing:
http://www.magnaport.com/misc.html

Wynn:)

[Booker T]

Man, what a good looking firearm! What a great call with the darker wood. Gives it a nice deep rich look.

After buying a CM9 and now a CW45, I thought I was done purchasing anymore pistols for a good while, especially anymore Kahrs. Then I see this. The K's and MK's are just so bloody beautiful. Now I'm already thinking of when I can add one of these beauties to the collection! And the Mag-na-porting is just so dang cool. Like a snorkel hood on a fine muscle car.

I'm addicted ... I have to quit logging in to this site :smash:

[rjt123]

Man, what a good looking firearm! What a great call with the darker wood. Gives it a nice deep rich look.

After buying a CM9 and now a CW45, I thought I was done purchasing anymore pistols for a good while, especially anymore Kahrs. Then I see this. The K's and MK's are just so bloody beautiful. Now I'm already thinking of when I can add one of these beauties to the collection! And the Mag-na-porting is just so dang cool. Like a snorkel hood on a fine muscle car.

I'm addicted ... I have to quit logging in to this site :smash:

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. :D

[Booker T]

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. :D


Lol rjt123 ... I'm beginning to realize that!

[Tinman507]

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o542/tinman507/LocutusOfKahrcopy_zps6931512b.png

[wyntrout]

OMG! Bawanna... but needs a little darkening for the hair.

Wynn:D

[jeepster09]

MK40's are supposed to be Green/Black :59:

[Bongo Boy]

Lovely twins there Jeepster. A sweet shade of green too--very nice.


The K's and MK's are just so bloody beautiful. Now I'm already thinking of when I can add one of these beauties to the collection! And the Mag-na-porting is just so dang cool.

Roger that. :) From time to time I see an MK in just the right photo and it makes me think I need one. But then I think about the time I'd need to spend to learn to shoot it well and, well, I've really got my hands full with the K-gun. In fact, I just went in another direction and picked up an EAA Witness Hunter...15 rds of 10mm Auto firepower in a 6" barreled package. No concealed carry under the t-shirt for this bad boy.

But, here's the K40 dressed in newly-acquired leather (courtesy International Handgun Leather):

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/Leather05_zpsfbab1d3c.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/Leather02_zpsa5497508.jpg

Fits the gun like it was shrink-wrapped and the whole package fits me like it was tailor-made.

[Booker T]

Never thought I'd say this to another dude, but that's a nice set jeepster!:behindsofa:
Never seen the black and green either, that's cool. Have no idea how you did that to the barrel hood.

Great looking rig there Bongo! Really like that holster. I have one question though. Did you notice any reduction in muzzle flip with the porting job? I also can't quite understand how there is no velocity loss when the gasses are vented like that. I'm nowhere near being able to buy a gun right now worthy of such a cool mod. but I would like to in the future.

Congrats to both you guys on some real beauties there!

[Bongo Boy]

Did you notice any reduction in muzzle flip with the porting job? I also can't quite understand how there is no velocity loss when the gasses are vented like that.

On the issue of porting effectiveness, I shoot such a variety of handloads with such a large range of performance that I would have to do a side-by-side test to know if porting actually does anything. Even then, I suspect I'd have to actually video the gun in profile against a grid background, take averages of multiple shots and do the comparison. Based only on going down to the range with a couple hundred rounds of handloads, no, I can't conclude anything at all.

On the issue of velocity loss, it's not magic at all, it's simply a matter that the projectile has accelerated to a very large percentage of its maximum velocity by the time it's gotten to the ports. So, there IS a velocity loss, and IIRC, it's been measured at something like 3-5%.

What I can state from first-hand experience now, is that the porting has no impact whatsoever on apparent flash--at least not in artificial indoor shooting. I suspect it would have virtually no visible impact at night, either, at least not with low-flash propellants.

Since it would be extremely rare for any given shooter to have both ported and unported versions of the identical gun with identical ammo to shoot at the same time (i.e., during the same shooting session), it's doubtful to me many such comparisons have been made. Well-regarded shooters swear there's a significant improvement, so I take their word for it until I can see for myself. I now have an unported barrel and may take the time to do some measurements and photography, but I doubt it.

[wyntrout]

On the previous page of this post... #16, I posted the claims from Mag-na-port. The flashes are not that noticeable to the naked eye, but very visible depending on the angle, background, and lighting during firing.

I have a Mag-na-ported P40 and have posted a lot of flash pictures here. I also recently got a Kahr ported barrel for my P9, but initial views of some of the pictures showed poor contrast for viewing the flashes and I never got back to those for video stills... Thanksgiving and Christmas,and computer problems.:rolleyes:

I do think that recoil is reduced and helps keep the muzzle on target, but your grip is still very important and the porting doesn't make double taps as easy as a heavy-barreled .22 pistol.

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/Magna-Ported%20%20Kahr%20P40%20Flash%20Pictures/RemUMC180-grJHP2_1787.jpg

Lots of flashes testing ammo in my P40 "blog" starting with page 2:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8426&highlight=flashes&page=2

And more flashes starting on page 11:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8426&highlight=flashes&page=11

A neat one:

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/Ported%20Kahr%20P40%20firing%20165%20grain%20Speer %20Gold%20Dots/2011%20Sept%2028%20Firing%20Speer%20Gold%20Dots%20 in%20ported%20P40/P40firing165-grGoldDots4_2109.jpg

Good sequence of 165-gr Gold Dots:

http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=98376&postcount=112

Wynn:)

[Booker T]

Hey thanks Bongo. Yah, I understand without actual photographic measurements it would be hard to definitely confirm the fact. Was just wondering if it felt any more controllable. On the issue of velocity loss; many people in the gun world already talk about how hard it is to get proper velocity out of a short barrel pistol, like 3" barrel models. For hollow point expansion and such. So in case I thought of doing the port process on a gun, I would want to consider any loss.Thanks for the input.

Thanks Wynn. Glad you think it helped in keeping the muzzle a little more controllable. That would be my sole purpose for trying it.
Those pics are so cool, man! All of them. I'm continually impressed with the great lengths members of this forum go to, to illustrate, demonstrate and test issues related to enjoyable gun performance and ownership. The professional quality of many of the photos and tests I've reviewed on KahrTalk is most impressive! Members like I, with less appreciable talents, really do appreciate all of the great work shared on this site.