I'm confused. How is this better than the old-standard 158gr +P FBI load?
Here are some velocity and energy numbers from the manufactures' websites for some of the most popular .38+P rounds and the only 3 .327 Mag rounds currently available. The only .327 Mag round that doesn't beat out all the other numbers is the Federal Hydrashock; the Buffalo Bore .38+P beats it out in muzzle energy; I imagine that's because it's an 85 grain bullet, and from what I've read Buffalo Bore loads their ammo very hot, even for +P. The other two .327 rounds beat out all of the ammunition listed below "in the numbers" (the Buffalo Bore comes close though). I have to wonder what the numbers would be on a .327 Mag loaded by Buffalo Bore??? Please bear in mind I'm not implying that the .327 is an all around better round. I said that it had similar recoil and better "ballistics." None of this is from first hand experience. The recoil is from what those have used it thus far have reported and the ballistics are numbers reported from the manufactures'. The numbers are the facts of the "ballistics" and they speak for themselves.
From what it looks like if you want to go with a .327 Mag round, right now the one to go with would be the Speer, unless you want a solid tip.
If anybody wants any other rounds added to this list let me know and I'll edit it in.
Federal 129 grain .38+P Hydrashock JHP:
Muzzle Velocity = 950
50Y Velocity = 904
Muzzle Energy = 258
50Y Energy = 234
Remington 158 grain .38+P LHP and LSWC (FBI):
Muzzle Velocity = 890
50Y Velocity = 855
Muzzle Energy = 278
50Y Energy = 257
Buffalo Bore 158 Grain .38+P LSWCHP (From SP101 3"):
Muzzle Velocity = 1143
50Y Velocity = Not Available
Muzzle Energy = 458
50Y Energy = Not Available
Cor-Bon 110 grain .38+P DPX CHP:
Muzzle Velocity = 1050
50Y Velocity = Not Available
Muzzle Energy = 269
50Y Energy = Not Available
Glaser 100 grain .38+P Pow'RBall:
Muzzle Velocity = 1150
50Y Velocity = Not Available
Muzzle Energy = 294
50Y Energy = Not Available
Speer 135 grain .38+P Gold Dot Short Barrel JHP:
Muzzle Velocity = 860
50Y Velocity = 818
Muzzle Energy = 222
50Y Energy = 200
Federal (American Eagle) 100 Grain .327 Magnum JSP:
Muzzle Velocity = 1500
50Y Velocity = 1324
Muzzle Energy = 500
50Y Energy = 389
Federal 85 grain .327 Magnum Hydrashock JHP:
Muzzle Velocity = 1400
50Y Velocity = 1221
Muzzle Energy = 370
50Y Energy = 281
Speer 115 grain .327 Magnum Gold Dot JHP:
Muzzle Velocity = 1380
50Y Velocity = 1240
Muzzle Energy = 486
50Y Energy = 393