.327 Federal Magnum

[cstarr3]

I like caliber options. That is one of the reasons I bought a .460 S&W Magnum. It is also the reason that I want a .327 Federal Magnum.

So, I originally wanted a GP100 in .327 Magnum... but I could never find one, and they do not seem to be made anymore. Also, I have been unable to find them on the secondhand market, which means that either they were so utterly terrible that most people simply threw them in the garbage can, or the people that bought them really want to hang onto them.

Currently, the biggest thing Ruger is producing in .327 is the SP101, but that is only a 6-shot.

Does anybody have much experience with either the SP101 or the GP100, specifically in .327 Magnum? How has your experience with this caliber been? How is it compared to other calibers in terms of recoil and concussion? Have you had problems with the .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Magnum in your gun, or do they shoot alright? Are these pretty consistent guns, or do they shoot all over the place? Any of you reload for it? How has reloading worked out for you?

Thanks for your input, guys.

Also, I can already hear people telling me to just get a .357 Magnum instead. I am not really interested in buying a[nother] .357 Magnum at this point in time. I don't really need advice on what caliber to get. In the end, I will probably have a couple examples of just about every commercially available caliber .

 

[Panzerschwein]

Ruger no longer makes the GP100 in .327, but they show up occasionally on places like Gunbroker.com. Be prepared to spend a lot of money if you want one. People hang on to them, and they certainly don't throw them in the garbage can.

The .327 SP101 is currently being made with a 4.2" bbl. Ruger also just came out with a 6-shot LCR in the caliber.

It's a good cartridge, nice stopping power and gives you an extra round over .38-.357 5-shot cylinders.

 

[TruthTellers]

There's nothing the .327 GP100's do that the SP101's don't. I'd just get the SP101.

 

[Tallball]

I like 32's. I bought the SP101 4.2" when it came out earlier this year. For me it has good points and bad points.

After a few hundred rounds it has not malfunctioned. It has good sights. It fires 32 S&W longs or 32 H&R magnums with no trouble at all.

The grips were really too small for my hands. That is my fault for having big hands and buying a smallish revolver. A set of aftermarket grips cured that.

It won't fire 32acp. Some of my magnum 32 revolvers will, and some won't. I don't fault it for that. That's not what it was made for.

But the trigger is not good. The single action is okay, but the double action is too stiff. And the hammer is very hard to cock. Lighter springs and a trigger job would (and eventually will, I suppose) fix all of that. But I am annoyed to pay full price for a name-brand revolver, and its trigger is much worse than the H&R revolver I paid less than $120 for.

Those are my experiences so far. YMMV.

 

[suemarkp]

Ruger also has the single seven option of you want a 7 shot and some longer barrel length choices. Not sure if a SA revolver is in your options list, but they are still available through Lipsey's.

http://ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSixDE/models.html

I have a Taurus 327 and the Single Seven. Haven't shot them yet though...

 

[weblance]

Where do I start... The GP100 in 327 was a fantastic gun. The problem was the timing of its introduction. The 327 was launched right about the time things were in a panic. Ammo was scarce in any caliber. Ammo companies scrambled to produce as much ammo of common calibers, that 327 ammo was pretty much non-existent. If you cant get ammo for a gun, you aren't going to buy it. A second strike against the 327 GP100 was many people feel that a small caliber should be shot from a small gun. The GP100 is pretty stout for a 32 caliber cartridge.

Smith & Wesson, Taurus, Charter Arms, and Freedom Arms made revolvers in 327 Federal also, but again, ammo was scarce, so they didnt sell well.

Ruger currently offers three revolvers chambered in 327, 4" SP101, LCR, and the Single Seven in 3 barrel lengths. Barrels offered are 4 5/8", 5 1/2", and 7 1/2". Its a 7 shot stainless Single Action, based on the Single Six.

The 327 Federal is an excellent cartridge. It offers 6 rounds in a revolver the same size as a 5 shot 38 Special, or 357. It was designed for that purpose, and to approach the effectiveness of 357. It shoots a lighter bullet, at higher pressure. Its a serious Self Defense cartridge, and has the blast, and concussion of the 357, but with less felt recoil, because of the lighter bullet.

Factory ammo support is strong. There are Hydra-Shok loads, 2 different American Eagle JSP loads, 85 gr, and 100 gr, and 115 gr. Speer Gold Dots. If you cant find it in one of your LGSs, its easily available from internet ammo sources. Guns chambered in 327 Federal also shoot the lighter 32 caliber revolver rounds, and most also shoot 32 acp.

A search of threads on any gun forum will bring up a multitude of info on the 327 Federal, and you can read, and make your own judgement. I am a fan of the 327

 

[TruthTellers]

I like 32's. I bought the SP101 4.2" when it came out earlier this year. For me it has good points and bad points.

But the trigger is not good. The single action is okay, but the double action is too stiff. And the hammer is very hard to cock. Lighter springs and a trigger job would (and eventually will, I suppose) fix all of that. But I am annoyed to pay full price for a name-brand revolver, and its trigger is much worse than the H&R revolver I paid less than $120 for.

I think the factory DA on Ruger's are pretty stiff as well, but it's meant to be that way so you can lighten it down to where you feel most comfortable.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Both of my SP101's started off with rather stiff trigger pulls. As the trigger smoothed out with many thousands of dry fires, the strong double action pull became less obnoxious.

Give your SP101 a little time Tallball. The SP101's trigger is like good bourbon. It gets better with age. To a point ain't way.

 

[lincen]

I bought both the Single Seven and the new SP101 in 327. Also bought a used Taurus 327 with a 2" barrel. Really like shooting the 32 H&R round the most. Thankfully all three will shot the 32 acp. Have bought Wolff spring for the SP but have not installed them yet.

 

[Dan-O]

I'm holding out for Ruger to start making the 3"sp101 and 4"gp100 in .327 again. Kicking myself for not buying them the first time around.

 

[lincen]

I was holding out for the 3" barrel too, but since I shoot the 32 H&R round the most I found an alternative. Bought a 3" J frame Smith and Wesson model 31-1. The cylinder is long enough to accommodate the 32 H&R with a little help from a correct size reamer. So now I have a 3" that will shoot everything except the 327.

 

[cfullgraf]

I got an SP101 in 327 Fed magnum a few months ago. I only have a couple hundred rounds through it, but recoil is more comfortable than a 2" snub nose shooting 38 Special +P.

I've shot a few 32 H&R's through it. They shoot. I tend to not shoot short cases in a gun designed for longer ones so that I do not have to clean out the carbon ring. If I want 32 H&R performance, I'll load similar performance rounds in a 327 Magnum case.

I now have a reasonable inventory of cases and bullets so I'll start shooting it more. I'm impressed with the round enough that I have a Ruger Single Seven on order.

 

[khari]

I'm a big fan of the cartridge. I have a Single Seven and a 3" SP-101, and I plan to get the LCR. I've shot .32 S&W Long, but don't like to deal with the carbon ring so now I stick to .327 Fed Mag. You'll love .327.

 

[ROAshooter]

"I think the factory DA on Ruger's are pretty stiff as well, but it's meant to be that way so you can lighten it down to where you feel most comfortable."


hummmm ....yeah.....thats Rugers plan all along.....

 

[RJM]

My main carry gun is the 3" Ruger SP101 in .327 fed mag and I also own the Blackhawk. These two platforms are really great for the round and shooting factory .327 is really nice out of both. The Blackhawk is a great gun for hunting coyotes and is also a blast at the range. The sp101 is great also, but for range fun I prefer the Blackhawk.

I thought of buying the GP when it was being made but frankly, after buying the sp and the blackhawk I really thought the GP would be superfulous. It was nice and built like other GPs, but frankly I think the sp is the better platform for the .327. I find GPs to be too large to comfortably carry IWB.

 

[SlowFuse]

I'm a fan of the 327 FM. I have owned 3 total revolvers in this caliber, still have two. My first was a 2" Taurus M327, next was a Ruger Blackhawk 327 and last was a Charter Target Patriot 327. The Taurus developed problems (honestly probably from hot loads) so I sold it.

The Blackhawk is a notoriously strong action and great for developing loads. My favorite for general shooting is the Charter though, it's extremely accurate. Reloading all of the 32 caliber revolver rounds is a lot of fun, but I load the 327 mostly for simplicity.

I have no input on currently produced models other than I want a single 7!

 

[TruthTellers]

I'm holding out for Ruger to start making the 3"sp101 and 4"gp100 in .327 again. Kicking myself for not buying them the first time around.

You may see the .327 as a 3" in the LCRx a few years from now, but I don't think you'll ever see a 3" .327 in an all steel revolver again. Not from Ruger at least.

 

[typhun]

my Dad purchased both a GP100 327 & a Blackhawk 327 when they came out. I ended up with the BH and my sister got the GP100. She's has had it for a while now and it still had never been fired until a week ago when i visited her and we went shooting. Up until then she had talked about trading me for an Elk rifle since the 338 she has was a little stout for her. Big mistake as she loved the GP100 and now i wont be getting it anytime soon!!!
Now i'm looking for a GP100.....looking, looking, looking.

 

[Hunter2011]

I would love to own a .327. I would buy the 5.5'' Ruger Single Seven, and after that a 2'' DA/SA revolver as a backup to my pistol.
But, I don't think there is even one .327 in South Africa. Here they think its a silly caliber and say, just get a .357 Magnum.
I think its a great cartridge and when I am lucky enough to live till I am 80, I won't be able to handle the recoil of pocket 9mm any more. Then I believe a .32 revolver that can shoot mild 32 long cartridges will come into its own. While I am young and fit it can fire very powerful .327 ammo. The 115gr .327 ammo shoots way faster than 115gr 9mmP ammo in my pistol, so nobody can say it is under powered for SD. There are people who think it is.
If I may own only one caliber, it would be the .327

So all I can still add is to you guys that can, please buy all the .327 handguns that are sold, for this to become a more popular cartridge

 

[Saleen322]

I have a Blackhawk and a GP100 in 327 mag. I agree with weblance about why production was stopped on these two by Ruger. I reload and these two have longer cylinders than the SP101 and the Single Seven. This greater cylinder length permits you to load heavier bullets with greater OAL.

I also have high end 32 S&W Long pistols. The Blackhawk and GP100 will shoot 32 S&W wadcutters as well as the match pistols. They are both keepers and I don't see me selling them..........EVER!

 

[JustsayMo]

I'm a recent convert. I talked myself out of a 32 H&R for over 25 years, got one and loved it. When the 327 came out I didn't wait. The 3" SP101 is a gem. Easy to shoot even with the hotter American Eagle 100 and the Gold Dot 115 grain loads.



Shoots 32 H&R very well too.





So does the 32 S&W Long



I REALLY like my Single Seven. Way fun to shoot.

The 80 yard plate

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Great round .I need to get one.

 

[ThomasT]

But the trigger is not good. The single action is okay, but the double action is too stiff. And the hammer is very hard to cock.

TallBall I had the same problem with a SP101 in 357. When I got it the trigger was hard to cock. I put in new Wolf springs and it really didn't help. I polished every part I could polish per the internet post. I had he gun apart about 12 times before I noticed a rub mark on top of the trigger housing just under the hammer.

I guess the hammer just barely clears the trigger group when the gun is assembled. My hammer had a burr on the bottom that was rubbing the trigger group and causing a little bit of friction. A few strokes of a file removed the rough metal and now the gun has a super smooth pull with no catches. You might give your gun a look. Just thought everyone that has an SP 101 might like to know this.

 

[ThomasT]

I really like 32 caliber guns myself. I have three S&W 32 long revolvers. A Walther 32 acp made in 1957, the same year I was made. I also have 4 32 mag revolvers including my holy grail gun, an S&W model 631-1 with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel. Plus a Marlin lever action in 32 mag. And no it will not feed 32 longs before you ask.

I feel like the 32 are really a reloaders round and I reload for mine. I doubt I will ever buy a 327 caliber gun. I rarely load full power 32 mags. But if I did get one it would be the single seven with at least a 5.5" barrel and more likely the 7.5" barrel just for the extra velocity.

And after I found my grail gun and fired it a few times I think I like my two Single Six 32 mags better. Mine have adjustable sights and 5.5 barrels. They are fantastic trail guns. I load lead SWC bullets in mag cases to about 1000fps. Thats a nice package.

 

[Tallball]

Thank you Ratshooter! I will check it out.