327 vs 38 special

[Trad Archer]

If you had to choose between these two calibers for a carry revolver, which would you choose and why?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

327. It's a lot more powerful than 38 special and you typically get 6 rounds in a small revolver as apprised to 5 in a 38.

If 357 is on the table, I may or may not choose that over the 327, depending on the platform.

 

[Normandy]

I'm in the .38 Special side of things. In a carry pistol (small as possible/practical), the .38 Special is much more manageable. The .38 Special +P is a significant round, but don't forget the most critical factor in self protection: Shot placement.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would go .38. .327 has a lot of potential and if you're a reloader or have a pile of ammo I would give it more thought.

I like to stick to more "vanilla" calibers these days since I like to be able to readily buy ammo when I feel like it rather than search around for it.

As mentioned .357 is also worth a look. Can always put .38's in it also if you like. I carried a S&W 66 for many years and never felt that I needed more or different then. .357 is a lot of bark/recoil though especially in a small package.

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

327 is vastly under rated. They are a joy to shoot and very inherently accurate. Also very easy to reload and cheaper too. I have a number of them and would take the 327 over any 38.

I agree very much with ballistion Ken Waters when he stated that if the 32's and 41 mags came out before the 38 and 44 mags we would all be using the 32 and 41's.

 

[GJgo]

I've been carrying a 327 for a few years. I love it. Only problem is I got one of the Smiths with the ported barrel, and I can't safely shoot it without glasses due to blow back in the face. I plan on sending it back to Smith to have them remove the port.

If however I thought I might have to shoot inside w/o hearing protection, I'd take the 38.

 

[Barry the Bear]

The .327 is significantly more powerful than the .38 in both standard and plus p configurations, if you were to load the .38 to. 38-44/.357 mag levels, then I'd say the .38 but as is hand me the .327 anyday.

 

[Saleen322]

The 327 is both more powerful and more flexible. With 32 S&W Shorts or Longs, 32 H&R Mag or full power 327 mags it shoots a lot of different cartridges. That would give you a choice of very light loads on one end and up to 650 ft/lbs or so on the top end. I like the 38 and I own 38s but if I had to chose, 327.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

327 is vastly under rated. They are a joy to shoot and very inherently accurate. Also very easy to reload and cheaper too. I have a number of them and would take the 327 over any 38.

I agree very much with ballistion Ken Waters when he stated that if the 32's and 41 mags came out before the 38 and 44 mags we would all be using the 32 and 41's.

While I agree it is under rated, what exactly makes it "inherently accurate"? And also, cheaper? Cheaper than what, 38's? In my experience 327 is more expensive.

 

[WestKentucky]

327 is only more expensive because demand is low on it compared to many other calibers. What makes the 327 cheap is reloading. A pound of powder goes a long way, and when you find bullets sold based on weight of the lead you really rack up the savings. You can do the same in 38spl or any caliber for that matter, but a 100 grain projectile still weights a lot less than a 160 grain projectile.

 

[joneb]

I would be concerned about being deaf after firing a 327 or 357 in a confined space. Not as bad as being blind but deafness is no fun either.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I hear this a lot, the .327 is more powerful than the .38 Special +P. My answer, So What! Just because a round delivers more energy doesn't make it better. You need what you need and no more. That "power" comes at a cost, a cost of flash and bang. The .327 is just as loud as the .357 Mag but not as powerful as the .357. A 454 Casull is much more powerful than the .327 Magnum but I wouldn't want to use it as a SD round.

The .327 Magnum makes a great field round especially in a longer barrel revolver or a Carbine. (or both) As a SD round it's the classic answer to a question that wasn't asked.

 

[JSH1]

The nice thing about the .327 Federal Magnum revolver is the flexibility. You can shoot anything from a .32 S&W at 93 ft-lbf of energy all the way up to a .327 at 780 ft-lbf of energy.

I would go with the .327 assuming you can find the gun you want. I think the only gun currently being sold in .327 is the Ruger Single Seven.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I hear this a lot, the .327 is more powerful than the .38 Special +P. My answer, So What! Just because a round delivers more energy doesn't make it better. You need what you need and no more. That "power" comes at a cost, a cost of flash and bang. The .327 is just as loud as the .357 Mag but not as powerful as the .357. A 454 Casull is much more powerful than the .327 Magnum but I wouldn't want to use it as a SD round.

The .327 Magnum makes a great field round especially in a longer barrel revolver or a Carbine. (or both) As a SD round it's the classic answer to a question that wasn't asked.

That's true. I honestly prefer bigger holes to be made in general also, which is why a carry a 45. I think it really depends on the revolver too. I think a 327 in an LCR would be a nice defense gun. If it's a heavier revolver, I'd prefer a 357/38.

I carry my 357 on the trail for people as well as animal protection. So I really do prefer the heavier weight of the 357 bullet for penetration.

For social work, either cartridge is suitable.

 

[BSA1]

The 32-20 is hands down my favorite cartridge. It is very accurate and great for use on small game and pests like skunks, opossums and 'yotes.

The 32-20 was a premier target round in it's heyday around the turn of the 20th century.

It is a excellent carbine round and hunting round. I imagine many a deer has fell to it.

So why am I bragging on the 32-20 instead of the .327 Federal? I have not read about or heard enough reports about it's performance to have a opinion. It uses the same weight bullet(s) and similar velocities of the 32-20 in the easier to reload straight wall case.

The straight wall case makes it more suitable for use in handguns but I think the bottleneck design of the 32-20 makes it the superior choice in a rifle. This is of little matter as I doubt if very many people shoot 32-20 chambered long guns.

In theory the 327 Federal (and the 32 magnum) should be great cartridges. It has been a bit of puzzler as to why the 32 Magnum has never caught on a self-defense cartridge in small revolvers. Less recoil along with the advantage of more round (6 shots) seems to me to be a decided advantage.

 

[Grunt]

I would go with the .38 Special. It's still a pretty decent round with a lot more load development than the .327 Magnum. The other thing I love about the .38 Special is I can buy ammo literally anywhere from Wal-Mart to ranch and farm stores to gas stations around here. .327 ammo is maybe in one or two gun stores around here but after that it's down to having to order it in. Now I'm not one to let my ammo supply get low but should I ever get foolish enough to run out of my ammo supply, .38 Special is a quick drive down the road here.

 

[PistolPete45]

.38 is one of my favorite calibers for fun . I reload and have some great rounds always on hand . Would never feel like this round would not stop a attacker . SD I would rather have the option of a 357 . I know very little about the 327 . AND have every reason to believe it is a great round . That said I carry a 44 special for SD . Bullet weight vs bullet speed . My 2 cents ....

 

[Old Fuff]

If we limit the choice to either .38 Special or .357 Magnum in an every day carry revolver I'll quickly pick the .38 Special. My usual carry piece is a .38 Special lightweight snubby in a pocket holster. If it was a Magnum some serious recoil issues would come up, and I don't like to have to clean the longer chambers after using .38's.

If I feel I need something more (which is seldom) I IWB carry my Taurus model 445 (5-shot/.44 Special/snubby) and skip the .357.

The .357 may have its place, but I'm not interested in using it in any revolver that isn't all-steel with a 4 inch or longer barrel.

 

[fastbolt]

If the question is about .327 Federal Magnum (and not a mistyping of .357) ...

I just checked the current catalogs for S&W, Ruger, Taurus and Charter Arms. The only .327 revolver currently cataloged is from Ruger, and it's only chambered in the New Model Single-Six (Single Action).

I can't remember the last time I saw .327 Federal Magnum ammunition on a shelf in a gun store or in sporting goods at a major dept store. I think it might've been in the last couple years, though.

I'm no longer an avid handloader. If I were, getting a Ruger Single-Six chambered in .327 might be a fun addition for a plinking/field gun. Maybe.

I'd much rather see Ruger offer a 3" .22 Magnum Bearcat (ideally, a Bearcat Convertible with .22LR & .22 Magnum cylinders).

Seeing the dwindling selection of new revolvers offered in the .327, and the dearth of factory ammo on store shelves, I have no interest in owning a revolver chambered in the .327 caliber.

I'll keep my 11 revolvers which can shoot .38 Spl (5 of them are .357's).

 

[Sunray]

The .32 H&R Magnum magnum was a joyous thing 5 years ago. No new firearms other than the New Model Single-Six and ammo only from Federal(two bullet weights). You won't find it in small places either.
.38's are everywhere.

 

[GBExpat]

327 vs 38 special
If you had to choose between these two calibers for a carry revolver, which would you choose and why?

For most folks the logical choice is almost certainly the .38spc due to availability of multiple types of both factory ammunition and pistols chambered for same.

For those who would realistically choose the .327 these days, I think that many/most would also be reloaders.

FWIW, assuming comparable form-factor small pistols with the .327 accomodating one round more than the .38, *I* would probably choose the .327 because of the extra round and my longterm interest in the .32-20 (my maternal grandfather had a Colt Army Special).

 

[Vern Humphrey]

.38 is one of my favorite calibers for fun . I reload and have some great rounds always on hand . Would never feel like this round would not stop a attacker .

The .38 Special has stopped many a man. When I carry a .38 Special (mine is a Colt Detective Special) I like a 148 grain wadcutter loaded ahead of 4.0 grains of Bullseye. This approaches 900 fps.

While I have never shot a deer or other large animal with it, I expect it would chop a full caliber hole all the way through.

 

[Walkalong]

.38 Spl.

The high pitched blast from the .327 with no hearing protection is going to be horrendous.

If I had a .327 it would be one of the Rugers and it would be a range toy.

The .327 Magnum makes a great field round especially in a longer barrel revolver or a Carbine

A carbine I would go for in a New York second.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The high pitched blast from the .327 with no hearing protection is going to be horrendous.

That's why I swore off the .357 for SD and carry a .45 ACP.

 

[gamestalker]

Nothing against the 327 in terms of performance, but as a reloader, I would go with the 38 spcl. simply because of component availability, not too mention there aren't too many manufacturer's building them any more.

The Following data exceeds published maximum, and is in no way to be construed as a safe practice. Always refer to and use published and tested data.

And even though the 38 lacks horse power in comparison, I have never felt under powered when shooting m 125 gr. JHP's with a worked up charge of Longshot @ 1250+ FPS.. When I state worked up, I'm referring to charges I've time tested, and that exceed published by a good deal.

GS