I've had my .450 Marlin Guide Gun for about 4 years now and swear by it. Mine sports Ashley XS ghost ring sights. It's ported and I don't notice it being all that awful. I don't shoot at public ranges, just afield and on my own range here on my property. At a covered public range your neighboring shooters may find it objectionable, but then again this isn't a target rifle. Once it's sighted in it's a brush gun and should spend most of it's time in the bush! For this purpose few things can beat it - a short, light, handy, hard-hitting big bore lever gun with five fast rounds. With good bonded-core jacketed 400+ grain bullets or heavy cast bullets it's up to virtually any task you could reasonably ask of it.