Stepping up to the 327

[Hickory]

Is it worth it to step up to the 327 over the 32 mag.?
Is the killing power that much better than the 32 mag?

[2 dogs]

In my opinion it is. The 32 H&R mag has pretty much replaced all my 22s as killing sixguns. I was excited about the 327 Federal Mag when it came out , based on my experience with the standard 32s. I had Alan Harton build me a custom Single Six in 327 Federal. Where Im at, in S. Texas, we got some seriously tough critters, jacks, coyotes, and such that tend to take some killing. I can drive a 118 grain GC LBT bullet at 1550 fps out of my custom single six. Now, YMMV, but that is a significant step UP in power over the standard 32. What Im coming to realize of late is that the 327 will also handle a considerably heavier bullet at very good velocity. For example, from my Buckeye 32-20 I can push a 133 grain bullet to 1540 fps. I believe the 327 will give simular results. We have started a thread called the 32 sixgun sledgehammer down in the cast bullet discussion threads....

[Guesser]

I have been shooting a 327 for about 20 months now. Loading is straight forward and results are impressive. At the time there was only one adjustable sight revolver on the market, a Charter Arms Target Patriot, 4". I got one and a couple of boxes of AE 100 gr. ammo. Shot out one box and started loading. I had 311316 cast, checked, sized .313 ready to go, started with A#9 and worked, tried 2400, H-110, came back to A#9. The difference between 32 Magnum and 327 Magnum is like 357 Magnum against 22 LR in a Trooper Mark III. Tremendous difference. 327 is accurate, capable, and will get better as I continue load development. I have no problem doing gallon milk jugs at 150 yards consistently, muzzle blast is about the same as 30 Carbine in a Ruger Blackhawk. The gun is quality and becoming very smooth as I use it. I use standard 32 S&W Long dies to load 32 Mag and 327 Mag. I had the 311316 because I have 4 Colt revolvers that shoot 32-20. Maybe a Ruger BH or GP will be in my future, or possibly a USFA 32-20/327 Convertible.

[mike in co]

how does the recoil of a std selfdefense load in the 327 compare to a std 38spcl load ??
i know they say 30/40% more energy..is the recoil woman friendly ??

thanks
mike in co


I have been shooting a 327 for about 20 months now. Loading is straight forward and results are impressive. At the time there was only one adjustable sight revolver on the market, a Charter Arms Target Patriot, 4". I got one and a couple of boxes of AE 100 gr. ammo. Shot out one box and started loading. I had 311316 cast, checked, sized .313 ready to go, started with A#9 and worked, tried 2400, H-110, came back to A#9. The difference between 32 Magnum and 327 Magnum is like 357 Magnum against 22 LR in a Trooper Mark III. Tremendous difference. 327 is accurate, capable, and will get better as I continue load development. I have no problem doing gallon milk jugs at 150 yards consistently, muzzle blast is about the same as 30 Carbine in a Ruger Blackhawk. The gun is quality and becoming very smooth as I use it. I use standard 32 S&W Long dies to load 32 Mag and 327 Mag. I had the 311316 because I have 4 Colt revolvers that shoot 32-20. Maybe a Ruger BH or GP will be in my future, or possibly a USFA 32-20/327 Convertible.

[exile]

I cannot speak to load development etc., because I have not done anything except the 90 grain Lee semi-wadcutter over 7.5 grains of AA # 9 in new Starline .32 H & R magnum cases, but I can tell you in my .327 Ruger SP-101, the factory Federal softpoints are exactly what the developers of the cartridge say, much more controllable than a .357 magnum for self-defense. Having never shot anything in my life, I can only speculate, but I know I would not want to get shot with this gun / cartridge combination.

I still believe that the most fun with this cartridge would be either the single-six conversion, the Charter Arms or the 50th Anniversary small-frame Ruger. I have a stainless single-six I have not shot much since I started reloading. The big drawback with the SP-101 is the lack of adjustable sights, but for self-defense with factory ammo that is not an issue.

Who knows, maybe one day I will get a coyote called in close enough to give a more definitive answer.

(The recoil is sharper than a .38, but over very quickly, I like shooting the gun, kind of like the difference between a .40 S & W and a .357 Sig. I prefer the .357 Sig. I don't know about woman friendly, I am somewhat sensitive to recoil in a double-action revolver, and I think it is fun, I could shoot it all day, if that helps.)

exile

[Shooter6br]

No surpise that the 32 Mag brass and the 327 Fed brass are equally strong( Handloader mag) I have a Ruger SP101 in 32 mag. I can load it up to almost 327 Fed pressures( Rugher SP 101 can take it) The only problem is the short 32 Mag case has less powder capacity( of course) With carefull powder choice this can be worked out. I shoot 32 long, 32 auto, 32 mag and 327 fed thur my Blackhawk 327 Federal since i shoot target I use light loads in 32 long cases or 32 mag cases. For commerial loads the 327 Federal rules.( self defence etc) Just my take Rick [smilie=w:

[Hickory]

Several years ago I picked up a Bisley 32 mag. w/ adjustable sights.
It probably wont be a cheap conversion to the 327, but, it seem like a good platform for the jump.

[Fugowii]

I have been shooting a 327 for about 20 months now. Loading is straight forward and results are impressive. At the time there was only one adjustable sight revolver on the market, a Charter Arms Target Patriot, 4". I got one and a couple of boxes of AE 100 gr. ammo. Shot out one box and started loading. I had 311316 cast, checked, sized .313 ready to go, started with A#9 and worked, tried 2400, H-110, came back to A#9. The difference between 32 Magnum and 327 Magnum is like 357 Magnum against 22 LR in a Trooper Mark III. Tremendous difference. 327 is accurate, capable, and will get better as I continue load development. I have no problem doing gallon milk jugs at 150 yards consistently, muzzle blast is about the same as 30 Carbine in a Ruger Blackhawk. The gun is quality and becoming very smooth as I use it. I use standard 32 S&W Long dies to load 32 Mag and 327 Mag. I had the 311316 because I have 4 Colt revolvers that shoot 32-20. Maybe a Ruger BH or GP will be in my future, or possibly a USFA 32-20/327 Convertible.

A few questions if you don't mind. I'm shooting a .327 SP101 with .32 H&R at this point and would like to give the .327 a try.

1) What load are you using for the # 9?
2) Do you know the velocity?
3) What dies are you using?

I'm pretty bummed out as I was on the Dillon site a couple of nights ago and
noticed that there is a note on the listing for the .32 Mag dies I have that say
they are not suitable for the .327. I sent them an email asking why this is so
and this is what they emailed me:

"327 brass has a much thicker interior and requires a different decap assembly
and a redesigned seat die."

I saw a comparison in handloader between .327 and .32 H&R brass and I
believe the comment was that they were similar. I'm looking for the issue now.
I believe it was one of the more recent ones.

[Guesser]

Fugowii: I'm using a cast, gas checked 115 gr. boolit over 11.4 gr. of surplus WC820 rated as A#9 with CCI 500 primers in FC cases. It is a good load but still in development. Back off a little or use a lighter bullet. I have not run it over my chrono, I'll do that when I finish, I really don't care that much about the velocity. I'm using Lee 32 S&W Long dies and a Lyman "M" die.
Good shooting

[9.3X62AL]

I decided against a 327 Federal and for a Blackhawk in 30 Carbine recently. My view of the matter is that all four involved revolver calibers (32 H&R Mag, 327 Federal, 32-20 WCF, and 30 Carbine) are capable of similar performance--it all depends on the platform you are shooting them in. 115 grainers at 1400 FPS are possible in all of them--in Blackhawks. The 327 Federal BH offers an 8-shot cylinder, and a 7-shooter is available in the GP-100. Those are tangible advantages, for certain. I chose the 30 Carbine due to dimensions--smaller grooves can potentially accomodate a wider range of my moulds' castings, I have a bunch of 30 Carbine ammo and components laying around DOING NOTHING--and 32-20 cases adapt readily to the 30 Carbine chamber. 327 Federal brass isn't exactly easy to find, either.

Having a WONDERFULLY accurate 32 Magnum (S&W Model 16-4 x 6") affected the choice a bit, also. A buddy on another site has run 100 grain castings well past 1400 FPS in a SP-101 x 4" without issues, so the 32 Magnum can be "accellerated" past H&R limits in appropriate platforms. I kind of view the 327 Federal as the cartridge the 32 Magnum should have been.

[S.R.Custom]

...the 32 Magnum can be "accellerated" past H&R limits in appropriate platforms. I kind of view the 327 Federal as the cartridge the 32 Magnum should have been.

Kinda like the .357M was to the .38/44...?

[NHlever]

I have decided that I'm not going to go that route. The adjustable sight guns available for it are larger, and heavier than my .38's, and most of my .357's. The factory ammo is way too expensive to have fun with, (last ammo I saw was $120 for 100 rounds) and though it is a flat shooting round, my eyes are old enough to want to go to a Contender if I feel a need for long range handgunning. I had a nice Single Six in .32 H&R, and shot it quite a bit for a while. I found no real advantage for woodswalking over other, more common choices, and just sold it a few weeks ago.. The newer .32's are fine cartriges, I just don't really have a need, or use for one. I have taken a lot of small game with .38 Special loads, and find the meat damage no different than from the .32 H&R I had using similar bullets at similar velocities. I have shot a deer with my old 38/44 loads, but probably wouldn't try it with any .32 revolver.

[Shooter6br]

I like the idea of being able to shoot 32 ACP. 32 Long , 32 Mag 327 fed all in one gun. More versible than 30 carbine but to each his gun.

[2 dogs]

I load 327 Federal with my Dillon 32 magnum dies with no issues whatsoever.

327 Federal brass can be purchased from Freedom Arms.

[Guesser]

I built up my stock of cases using the American Eagle 100 gr. I have never had to pay more than $24.95 a box of 50. I don't like to load nickel cases for high pressure so that suits me fine as the AE cases are unplated brass. Thats $0.50 a round, the cases are very durable, even at the high pressures of the 327. I like the small frame 4" adjustable sights, very accurate with enough weight to be easily managed with full power loads and easy to carry on a belt, afield. I like the 32 family and the 327 is tops, in more ways than one.

[S.R.Custom]

...327 Federal brass can be purchased from Freedom Arms.

This was true at one time, but they've been out for quite some time. Did they recently get more?

[9.3X62AL]

Kinda like the .357M was to the .38/44...?

Very much so, sir.

Shooter6BR makes another good point about the 327 Federal. It can and will accomodate a lotta calibers/case lengths.

I would really like to see the 327 Federal achieve commercial success. While I haven't taken the plunge YET with this caliber, nothing says I won't at some later time. All that 30 Carbine materiel sorta forced my hand, ya know? And all the 32-20 brass figured into the decision as well.

[exile]

The article where Brian Pearce states that .32 H & R magnum brass is as strong as .327 Federal is:

Handloader # 270, February 2011, page 59.

exile

[Guesser]

When one of my 327 cases cracks, I will cross section it and a 32 Mag and compare.

[NHlever]

The only ammo I have seen in this area has the gold dot hollow point so it is more expensive. Still, that caliber has been out long enough now that we should be able to find ammo, and brass. It was interesting to note that the new Hornady loading manual has no data for any Federal caliber, and that would tend to make me believe that Federal has done something in the industry to upset a few folks, or maybe it is just Hornady pushing their own calibers. At any rate, I hope it is not the consumer, or companies that make guns in their calibers that end up paying. There are a lot of good new calibers out there, and the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned, but we have to be able to get the guns, the ammo, and the brass at reasonable prices, and for some time down the road for it to be much good to us.

[Guesser]

Handloader Mag. has done two articles in the last two years on the 327, good info in both. The 2011 Hodgdon Data magazine has data using Hornady bullets. Alliant now has a little data in their brochure, Western Powder Co. has data for Accurate powders in 327 Magnum. Data and reports are starting to accumulate.

[exile]

True.

Handloader # 258, February 2009, page 56, and

Handloader # 265, April 2010, page 30 (a little bit).

At this point I have 600 new Starline .32 H & R magnum cases and 13 .327 Federal cases, so as far as my SP-101 in .327 Federal, that is what I have to work with.

exile

[lbaize3]

I have both the 8 shot 327 Blackhawk, the 30 carbine Blackhawk and the 32-20/32 H&R. They are a lot of fun to shoot. I have also discovered that you can drop a 32-20 into the 30 carbine and it will shoot every bit as accurately as the 30 carbine. I have toyed with the idea of simply using 32-20 brass in the 30 carbine. Lead bullets sized to 313 are accurate in the 30 carbine and I push them with 10 grains of 2400 powder (aka: John Taffin).

[Guesser]

Handloader Magazine #270, February 2011 has another good article on the 32 H&R Magnum and the 327 Federal Magnum.

[Shooter6br]

Love to have a look at the feb 2009 article. i am cheap so if someone could scan it and mail it to me I would be much abilged... Rick Shooter6br@aol.com.