327 Federal Load Data

[ThomasT]

Does anyone have some good full power load data for the 327 Federal with an 85gr bullet? Someone said they are getting over 1700fps with an 85gr Hornady bullet and Accurate #9 powder from a 4" SP-101. That sounds great to me but I can't find any load data to support that claim. He stated it came from the Hornady #10 load manual.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Fastest Hodgdons load is 1606fps with an 85gr bullet being pushed by 6.6gr of IMR Target so it could be possible but sounds really pushing it. The test barrel Hodgdon was using was 5in rather than 4in.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

 

[ThomasT]

Ohen I had looked that up a few days ago and you are correct. Nothing approaches the guys claim of 1709 from a 4" barreled gun. I really suspect he is loading and then using a published velocity for something like a 7.5" Ruger single six and not a 4" SP-101.

I had a Ruger SP-101 in 32 mag and with a max load of L'il Gun and an 85 gr bullet I would get a flat 1250fps and with a 5.5" barreled single six and the same load 1306fps. And those were my numbers from my chronograph. So a case with an extra 1/8th inch does not seem to be able to get another 400fps from a shorter barreled gun. I am not saying its not possible but it just seems so unlikely. And I have done a lot of searching and reading but found nothing to support this claim.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's possible he is generating those velocities but the loads are probably well in excess of published data. That is one way it's possible.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Concur with others. He may not have tested them, or if he did, he is pushing things hard. However, sometimes things are faster than even the published data. Just did some .454 that I weighed each charge for and from a Freedom Arms it is going much faster than the published data. Still, I am leery of his numbers.

I do like the .32 fam though and am really interested in the new Charter Arms Professional in 32H&R.

Messed up and let a Freedom Arms .327 pass me by a while ago. With a 7.5in barrel and as tight as they are that would have really made the .327 scream!

 

[ThomasT]

He stated he got his data from the Hornady #10 book using Accurate #9 powder. I was hoping someone had that book and could look up the data and what gun and barrel length they used.

 

[25-20 WCF]

Wait, was it the Hornady or Hodgdon manual? The OP stated both, I have neither manual to check. Factory 85-grain loads were stated to be 1400 fps in Speer #10.

It is certainly possible to exceed published data, by how much is.....up to the loader and his view towards risk. I have a hot but safe load for my 4” SP-101 .32 H&R Magnum giving a chronographed 1300 fps with the 100-grain XTP. But the little case has a relatively low SAAMI max pressure which manual data uses, not so the .327.

Hornady recommended a maximum velocity of 1550 fps for their 85-grain bullet. How its terminal performance would be at 1700 fps is not known.

 

[horsey300]

I'll chronograph my 85s soon, right now, I'd speculate they're knocking on the door of 1600 with my 4 5/8 single 7. And I will say that at 7 yds, expect no penetration at that velocity, but from 15-40 (all the further I've pushed me so far) they do well enough to make me grin stupidly, expansion is still plenty violent at 15 yds, but penetration is at least in the realm of conceivable lol.

 

[ThomasT]

Wait, was it the Hornady or Hodgdon manual? The OP stated both, I have neither manual to check. Factory 85-grain loads were stated to be 1400 fps in Speer #10.

25-20wcf you caught my goof. It was the Hornady #10 manual. I have corrected my mistake. Thanks for the catch. But there are no mentions of 32 caliber rounds in the Speer #10 manual. But they do address the 32 long and 32 mag in the #11. And the 327 isn't mentioned in the #14 either. I don't think it was out yet when that manual was released.

It is starting to be real clear the fellow who posted his bullet speed of 1709fps from a 4" barrel is day dreaming. I don't think you can get enough AA #9 in a 327 case to reach anything close to that velocity. Maybe in a Ruger single seven with 7.5" barrel. But only just maybe.

 

[Englishmn]

my hornady #9 has


federal 205 primer.
out of ruger gp100 4.2"

 

[fxvr5]

I believe I am the 'someone' that ratshooter is referring to. I used data from Hornady and Lyman.

My gun is a Ruger 4.2" SP101. Accurate #9 powder, lot #1009152067. Velocity was recorded with a Shooting Chrony chronograph at about 10 feet. Ambient temperature ~ 50˚F.

Hornady data: 85 grain XTP, Starline brass, Fed 205 primer (I used CCI 500 primer), 1.450" OAL. Maximum charge weight 13.7 grains. They used a GP100 4.2" barrel and their velocity was ~1500 fps. My average velocity of 5 rounds was 1689 fps.

Lyman data: 85 grain XTP, Federal brass, Fed 100 primer (I used CCI 500 primer), 1.450" OAL. Maximum charge weight 14.2 grains. They used a 3" barrel Universal Receiver and their velocity was 1597 fps with a recorded pressure of 45,000 psi (right at the limit). My average velocity of 5 rounds was 1739 fps.

You can believe whatever you like. In the meantime, if you want a better understanding of why velocities don't always match published velocities, if you have a Speer loading manual, check out a Chapter entitled, " Why Ballisticians Get Gray". It is Chapter 18 in Speer's Reloading Manual #14, on page 769. I think it’s in other Speer manuals, too.

Something the OP apparently still does not understand: The 327 Federal, having a slightly longer case than the 32 H&R magnum produces vastly faster speeds because the 327 Federal has a max average pressure limit of 45,000 psi, while the H&R mag has a max average pressure limit of 21,000 CUP.


Other stuff:

Factory 327 Federal load ballistics:

Federal 100 grain JSP = 1500 fps from a 4” vented barrel. One box ran at 1551 fps from my SP101. Another box ran at 1495 fps from my SP101.

Federal 85 grain JSP and Hydra-Shok = 1400 fps from a 4’ vented barrel. (Reduced recoil) The JSP runs at 1408 fps from my SP101.

Speer 100 grain GDHP = 1600 fps from a 4” unvented barrel. It runs at 1506 fps from my SP101.


SAAMI rates the 327 Federal to shoot a 115 grain bullet at 1535 fps from a 5” unvented barrel.


Speer’s load data for the 327 Federal can be found here (for a 100 grain bullet): https://www.speer-ammo.com/download...aliber_312-314_dia/327_Federal_Magnum_100.pdf

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

You might get that with a cast or gas checked lead bullet using AA#9. From their latest loading guide, you can get 1715 fps from a 90 gr lead bullet from a 5" barrel. Using the shooters notes velocity estimator you get this for an 85 gr from a 4" barrel. Not quite 1700, but close.

 

[ThomasT]

I believe I am the 'someone' that ratshooter is referring to. I used data from Hornady and Lyman.

Yes believe you are the poster over on TFL who posted those speeds. I have actually done a lot of reading trying to find out how you got the velocities you posted. I even asked you what charge you were using in post #27 twice but you never answered. And I understand that the 327 is loaded to much higher pressures and will give better speeds that the 32 magnum. I like 32s and getting that sort of power from one got my attention but I wasn't finding any data to support it.

I read the ballistician article many years ago.

Something the OP apparently still does not understand: The 327 Federal, having a slightly longer case than the 32 H&R magnum produces vastly faster speeds because the 327 Federal has a max average pressure limit of 45,000 psi, while the H&R mag has a max average pressure limit of 21,000 CUP.

Yes I understand the difference in pressures and also understand the 32 mag was not loaded to its full potential because it was first chambered in the rather weak H&R revolver. So the pressure was capped from the start.

Thanks for posting what loads you were using. I wish you would have done that when I asked over on the firingline forum. It makes your claims a little more believable.

 

[Dudedog]

Snip from Western Data


Looks like there is a new one from Western
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf


Snip from Alliant 2018,. Alliant does not mention barrel lengh, reduce Alliant loads 10% to start (per Alliant)