Best Self Defense Ammo for 327 Fed Mag?

[jski]

I’ve been looking for an excellent 327 Fed Mag self defense round and found this:

I like this guy’s channel and would recommend it. But the question is: Is Federal HST ammo truly the best self defense round for a 327 snubby?

BTW, I’m also very interested in the 32 H&R Mag for self defense but that’s a hand loading project.

 

[Oninotaki]

For .32 h&r magnum there are some interesting defensive loads out there currently.

DoubleTap has a 60gr lead free and 120gr hard cast loading.
Buffalo bore has a 100gr jhp, and a 130gr hard cast loading.
Hornady has a 80gr ftx as well.

For general plinking in .32 h&r magnum the best I can find are
Wisconsin cartridge 100gr jhp at $45 for 50, and Ventura Munitions 100 gr SWC at $54.99 for 50.

Regarding the Federal HST round being the best self defense round available for .327 currently? Well that does seem to be the case. I cannot find anything else currently produced that has ballistics as all around desirable for SD as that round. Every other round I am aware of either way over penetrates, or doesn't expand as nicely out of a 2" snubbie.

Lucky gunner has some good supplementary testing results for both calibers, as does the YouTube channels Tools&Targets, and AmmoMart.

Finally, IMHO .32 h&r magnum is the finest self defense round that has been slept on by the general public. I love sharing it with my 9mm and .380 focused friends simply because most of them have only experienced what they shoot, plus .22lr and maybe .357. It's nice to open them up to the potential of a cartridge between .380 and 9mm because not everyone is happy with those two.

 

[jski]

That video shows some damn impressive expansion for that Federal HST round ... plus, very good penetration!

For the .32 H&R hand loads, I've been working off of:

.32 H&R Magnum (Pet Loads)​

The overwhelming consensus is that the cartridge manufacturers leave a great deal of potential for the .32 H&R Mag on the cutting room floor. That becomes very apparent when reading the article linked to above.

 

[TTv2]

Leaving out the legal arguments, Hornady XTP 85gr handload over a max charge of Unique in a .32 H&R case.

 

[Tallball]

For .32 h&r magnum there are some interesting defensive loads out there currently.

DoubleTap has a 60gr lead free and 120gr hard cast loading.
Buffalo bore has a 100gr jhp, and a 130gr hard cast loading.
Hornady has a 80gr ftx as well.

For general plinking in .32 h&r magnum the best I can find are
Wisconsin cartridge 100gr jhp at $45 for 50, and Ventura Munitions 100 gr SWC at $54.99 for 50.

Regarding the Federal HST round being the best self defense round available for .327 currently? Well that does seem to be the case. I cannot find anything else currently produced that has ballistics as all around desirable for SD as that round. Every other round I am aware of either way over penetrates, or doesn't expand as nicely out of a 2" snubbie.

Lucky gunner has some good supplementary testing results for both calibers, as does the YouTube channels Tools&Targets, and AmmoMart.

Finally, IMHO .32 h&r magnum is the finest self defense round that has been slept on by the general public. I love sharing it with my 9mm and .380 focused friends simply because most of them have only experienced what they shoot, plus .22lr and maybe .357. It's nice to open them up to the potential of a cartridge between .380 and 9mm because not everyone is happy with those two.

I agree 100% about 32 H&R magnum. I read so many posts that go, "I can't shoot a 38 (or 9mm or 380) anymore, so I have to use a 22 for SD."

32's are so much more effective than 22's and so easy to shoot. I wish more people knew about them.

 

[GEM]

Many of the revolver training SME's think the LCRs are the way to go. Some have gotten the last of 432s and 632s. Fine guns. Smith should consider another run - maybe strengthening the 432s for 327. The SS snubby 632s are a touch heavy for pocket carry.

 

[chicharrones]

I'm glad that the LCR in .327 is currently in production. They seem to come out in batches and my wife has one from the latest batch.

For her it's not a pocket gun, but ready to use if needed for other reasons. Loaded with nothing stronger than .32 H&R.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Some interesting tests here on 32mag and 327;

Pocket Pistol Caliber Ballistic Gel Tests - LuckyGunner.com Labs

Pocket pistol caliber ballistic gelatin results. We tested dozens of different loads to give you an idea what's best for self-defense.

www.luckygunner.com

I am a big 32 fan. Agree that 32mag wasn't loaded to its full potential. Need to pick up an LCR in .327 when possible as a carry option. Now, I have things more aimed in target use and hunting in 32 cal rounds.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I like Federal's .32 H&R Magnum 85gr JHP load for defense with my LCRs. It's pleasant to shoot.

However, I load my LCRs so the first three rounds are Federal .327 Magnum 104gr HST, followed by three rounds of Federal .32 H&R Magnum 85gr JHP. I want to take advantage of how the psychological effects of the .327 Magnum's "KA-BOOM" blast and muzzle flash may work against an attacker, followed by a load that's easier to shoot. My speedloaders are all loaded with Federal .32 H&R Magnum 85gr JHP.

 

[dranrab]

Taurus just did a run of 327 Federals. They can be had for under $300.