You might want to take a peek at the tech notes on the .444. I believe Marshall compares the ported and unported version of the .444 which, the way he loads them, is in the same category as the 45-70.
In general, the porting noise issue is overblown, a muzzle break is another issue altogether. Porting pretty much kicks the gas straight up in order to reduce muzzle rise, which is a great thing when target shooting. The muzzle break actually directs some of the gas in a somewhat rearward angle to really help eliminate the actual felt recoil of a rifle. I will NEVER shoot a rifle or pistol with a muzzle brake attached without a bare minimum of ear plugs, and you'd be very wise to follow that lead if you're concerned with you're hearing. Shooting a magnum rifle with a muzzle brake and ear plugs is like shooting the same rifle with no earplugs with the brake taken off.
In shooting a Taurus Raging Bull in .480, which is ported, I don't notice any more muzzle blast than with a unported 44 magnum. That shooting was done on an indoor range with ear muffs and ear plugs, shooting the two revolvers back to back.
In general, the porting noise issue is overblown, a muzzle break is another issue altogether. Porting pretty much kicks the gas straight up in order to reduce muzzle rise, which is a great thing when target shooting. The muzzle break actually directs some of the gas in a somewhat rearward angle to really help eliminate the actual felt recoil of a rifle. I will NEVER shoot a rifle or pistol with a muzzle brake attached without a bare minimum of ear plugs, and you'd be very wise to follow that lead if you're concerned with you're hearing. Shooting a magnum rifle with a muzzle brake and ear plugs is like shooting the same rifle with no earplugs with the brake taken off.
In shooting a Taurus Raging Bull in .480, which is ported, I don't notice any more muzzle blast than with a unported 44 magnum. That shooting was done on an indoor range with ear muffs and ear plugs, shooting the two revolvers back to back.
