.327 vs. .357

[JWF III]

I don't know how to set up a poll, but give me your opinions. I know that the new .327Magnum is being touted as ballistically similar to the .357 Magnum. But when you compare the numbers, well they don't lie like a salesman or a pitchman will.

I've always been fond of shooting the .32 pistols. Walther PP, CZ 27's and Single-Sixes. But this is going to be a full time carry gun, so fondness of a caliber has (almost) nothing to do with my choice.

Keep in mind that this will be a SD gun (SP-101,2 1/4" barrel), and carried by a man of above average muscular build. So excessive recoil will not be an extreme concern.

I'm looking for more of a cartridge evaluation, than a gun evaluation.

So give me your opinions of which cartridge and why. With pros and cons supporting your reasoning.

Thanks in advance,
Wyman

 

[goodtime]

Off the top of my head, FBI statistics reflect that the single round with the highest percentage of documented one-shot stops on record is the 125-grain 357. It's a proven stopper as far as handguns go.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm looking for more of a cartridge evaluation, than a gun evaluation.

There's literally zero reason to get .327 then.

The .357 is a proven, versatile chambering that will accept everything from cowboy loads to hunting rounds. The .327 might or might not be around in a few years.

However, there's really no such thing as a cartridge evaluation without a gun evaluation.

The .327 exists so that 6 rounds can fit in a small-frame revolver instead of 5.

 

[Bearhands]

well, try finding any .327 ammo on the local shelves... That'd be my first concern. The round seems to have some merit, but I can't see it ever being more popular or more cost effective to shoot than the
.357

 

[novaDAK]

.327 is not equal to .357mag.

Speer Gold Dot .327 Fed.Mag. (115gr)
Muzzle velocity: 1335 fps
Muzzle energy: 455 ft. lbs

Speer Gold Dot .357 Magnum (125gr)
Muzzle velocity: 1450 fps
Muzzle energy: 583 ft/lb

 

[Marvin KNox]

The two rounds are in no way comparable IMO.

Gun writers invariably choose to talk about the recoil of .357 magnums with the hottest rounds possible. And they choose to talk about the weakest .357 terminal results possible.

Then they compare the recoil and the terminal performance with the .327 and find them (SURPRISE!) "similar".

Most dishonest IMO.

The .357 mag. can perform the same as the .327 with some of the lowest power offerings available. They can literally blow it away with hotter loading and heavier bullets.

If any two rounds penetrate to 12" or so - and one ends up with a diameter of .65 or so and the other a great deal less - you tell me how they can be equal for carry? If they both kick about the same and are equal in loudness - the former is the winner hands down (and that's the lower power .357's I'm talking about).

Don't waste your money on a solution to a non exisitent problem. We've got the bases covered nicely with a gun that will shoot .38 poppers for practice and blow the barn door off with the big stuff if you can handle it.

 

[ArmedBear]

Must be the same fantasy world where .357 Sig has .357 Magnum performance, Marvin.

 

[Gryffydd]

Must be the same fantasy world where .357 Sig has .357 Magnum performance, Marvin.

Is that the same one where the 10mm Auto is almost as powerful as the .41 Magnum?
...Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[novaDAK]

must be

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I'm mostly excited about the .327 because I just started handloading .32H&R, and this might mean that there will be more .32 guns on the market to put my H&R in. The H&R is just big enough to handload easily (.32 S&W is too tiny to volumetrically load), but still cheap for powder and lead.

I'm just hoping Marlin comes out with a .327 levergun soon...

That aside, I'm not finding .327 too exciting, as it treads close to just being a .30 Carbine revolver in a slightly smaller package. Then again, I'm no ballistics expert. And more importantly, I'm no marketing expert.

 

[Doc_Jude]

.357 = available anywhere!

.327 = available... where?

Nuff Said...

 

[Stainz]

I made my final decision last spring - and sold my .32 H&RM Ruger BHG SSM and 4" SP101, as well as my reloading supplies and dies. Reloading supplies are the same price as .38s - and a lot harder to find. Wimpy .38 Specials drop metal plates more regularly than hot .32 S&WLs or warm H&RMs. Commercial defensive ammo abounds in .38 Special - try to find it in .32 H&RM, much less the .327 Magnum.

As others have said, it seems to be the solution to a question no one asked. Perhaps it was a way in which a left-over glut of 3" .32 H&RM SP-101s could be re-reamed - and a new caliber introduced? Perhaps some decent ammo development, like a Speer Gold Dot, would have saved the .32 H&RM - before everyone dropped that round in the years preceding the .327 Magnum's introduction?

The .38 Special is the answer to me - the .357 Magnum, if you need more oomph!

Stainz

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I'm mostly excited about the .327 because I just started handloading .32H&R, and this might mean that there will be more .32 guns on the market to put my H&R in. The H&R is just big enough to handload easily (.32 S&W is too tiny to volumetrically load), but still cheap for powder and lead.

I'm just hoping Marlin comes out with a .327 levergun soon...

That aside, I'm not finding .327 too exciting, as it treads close to just being a .30 Carbine revolver in a slightly smaller package. Then again, I'm no ballistics expert. And more importantly, I'm no marketing expert.

You may not be an expert, but you took the words right off of my keyboard.

Great post.

 

[alistaire]

The 125gr Federal .357 is the most effective handgun cartridge. If you can fire it accurately, why would you want to switch to a lesser cartridge?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

because you want 6 manageable rounds in a pocket revolver as opposed to 5.

 

[Fishman777]

I hope that the .327 magnum makes it...

The .327 might not be for everyone, but I think that it has a place as a legitimate cartridge. The fact that it packs a considerable punch, without a lot of recoil, and allows one to load six rounds in a small framed revolver should make this an attractive cartridge to some folks.

If I am ever in the market for a small framed revolver, it will be a .327 Ruger sp101. I have other priorities right now.

 

[ArmedBear]

Is that the same one where the 10mm Auto is almost as powerful as the .41 Magnum?

LOL

I hadn't heard that one yet, but I'm sure that it's from the same fantasy world.

Messages from beyond!

because you want 6 manageable rounds in a pocket revolver as opposed to 5.

Exactly. As I wrote above, IMO that's the ONLY reason to get one. It might be a worthwhile reason, but if that's not what you're looking for, there's no reason I can see to hop on the "first adopter" bandwagon.

And I sincerely doubt that you'll see a .327 Federal Marlin any time soon.

 

[mljdeckard]

I view the .327 as something for people who are trying to outperform the .38, not trying to beat a .357. I haven't shot it, but there may be rare situations where you have a frail person who just can't handle the recoil on a .357, I might tell them to try one. But as others have stated, you have to find ammo for it. These users aren't going to be handloaders.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

the new .327Magnum is being touted as ballistically similar to the .357 Magnum.

I haven't heard this or read this anywhere, if one is comparing factory loads. Handloads of course may be loaded anywhere from squib to maximums.

The .327 has been heralded as an improvement over the .32 H&R Magnum, and some have written that it is what the .32 mag should've been from the beginning. It does seem to give you 6 respectable rounds in a small frame revolver, if one wants that extra shot. Some have the opinion that 5-shots of .357 125 grain loads is better than 6 shots of .327 in any loading. They are probably right. .357 will also shoot anything in the .38 Special family, and some of those loads are good defense rounds as well, and cheaper.

I'd suggest that countries that have some odd preference for .32 caliber handguns (such as India) would do well to arm all cops in Mumbai (and any other city and the countryside) with .327's instead of every fourth cop with a .32 acp. ("magnum" seems to be an odd concept in some parts of the world) Of course they would do better to arm them with .357's, but until then the .327 would be an improvement.

Other countries that favor .32 caliber handguns for police are Portugal and (iirc) The Netherlands and Denmark.

Just a few thoughts...,

LD

 

[LlanoEstacado]

No question .357 trumps .327 power wise. OTOH, power is not the whole story. I've only shot .357 out of a 6" tube - I'm wondering how controllable it would be out of a snub? It might be good to get some range time before you make up your mind. From what I've read, the .327 is more in the .38+P range of recoil while having superior power to .38 +P. If that is accurate, you should be able to get a reasonable approximation of what the .327 would be like to shoot - especially for double tap and followup purposes - by shooting the .38 +P at the same time you try the .357. If you can control and handle the .357, to your satisfaction, then go with that. If not, maybe the .327 would be a good choice.

 

[Marvin KNox]

Don't get me wrong!

I'm hoping that the .327 makes it. It seems like it will do a good basic job for self defense for a lot of people.

Another choice for the people. The more the merrier IMO. .32, 380, .38, .357, 9mm, .40, .41, 10mm, .44, .45 you can't have too many guns.

Nothing against the .327 as such.

I just can't figure out the drawing card (except the 6 vs. 5 round idea - that's certainly valid).

If it has the recoil of a .38+p - and the energy is about the same (perhaps a fuzz more) as the .38+p - why would anyone sacrifice a larger peranent wound chanel for a larger temporary wound chanel?

Couple that with the necessesity of going with a little longer barrel in a .327 - more noise -a lighter projectile - and about a hundredth the ammo selection - and it's no choice at all for me.

Both guns will meet FBI minimums with well chosen ammo.

At the very most, it's a "wash". What's the big hoopla?

For me - since temporary wound chanels mean very little or nothing - I'll go for the .38+p every time out. It drills a bigger hole.

 

[ArmedBear]

why would anyone sacrifice a larger peranent wound chanel for a larger temporary wound chanel?

Because they, like many, have bought into the ridiculous notion that ft-lbs. equals effectiveness, regardless of all other factors like bullet size and weight.

 

[Bozo]

Well, the .357 has been around since 1935 and I don't think their are many complaints about it. I carry a 2 1/4" .357 5 shot and sometimes a 6 shot 2" .38 special. Works pretty well.

 

[ArmedBear]

BTW when I say, ".357" referring to a gun, I'm talking about anything it will chamber. I can pick and choose what recoil I want to trade for what power level.

So, it doesn't matter to me if a .327 has a bit less recoil than a .357; if we want less recoil in my .357, we all know what to do. There's a huge variety of available ammo out there.

 

[researchdoc]

Look... doesn't Rossi make a J-frame'esk .357 mag 6 shot?
I would probably go w/ that over the .327mag
Never had a rossi though... how is the reliablility?