Federal .327 Mag update?

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SWDoc

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I heard a rumor there were issues w/ the cylinders (poss oversized?) in the Ruger SP101. Am still interested in this cartridge, for my mother. 80 years old, semiauto may not work here.

Is it available? Is the Crimson Trace grip still an aftermarket item?

Anyone got a line on where they might be found? Googling, Gunbroker, Gunsamerica.... no joy.

I really don't want to argue the cartridge. I would prefer another, but the physical limitations, simplicity, wide selection of cartridges to work with all point to Mom being one of the people who could benefit from this new revolver cartridge.

Help?

Steve
 
I was at Cabela's in Hoffman Estates a couple of days ago and they had box after box of .327 mag and nothing else. Never seen it before and put it out of my mind until I saw this thread.

That was my update...
 
Humm....well I'm sure a .327 will show up eventually some place.

I know you said your not looking for a debate, but this is the internet.:rolleyes:

I really don't want to debate just curious why you want a .327 for your 80 year old mom over a .38 (easier to find lots cheaper gun & ammo, less recoil and so on) or a used .32 mag?

Though, I have seen .327 ammo in stock in gun stores along side the .25 auto rounds. heh. ;)
 
Funny you should ask...I got a .327 for Mother's Day. Yes, I know it isn't Mother's Day yet. But my husband couldn't wait to give it to me. That means I got to take it out to play this morning, and....

...the cases were stuck so hard that the range officer had trouble getting the extractor to work (no way with my arthritic hands). We assumed that maybe Federal was loading their American Eagle a wee bit hot, but that is not the issue exactly. I just got off the phone with Ruger and they have had to "redesign" the cylinders. The newest ones going out should not have this problem; unfortunately mine does. So it's going back to Ruger on Monday and although it may be several weeks before I get it back, it will either come back with a new cylinder or with a buffed-out one.

The customer service rep was helpful but was sorry to have to tell me about the turnaround time (up to 6 weeks as they are also continuing to manufacture the revolvers even as they replace cylinders on returned arms.)

I will tell you that with .32 S&W Longs, that thing shoots like a dream. I'm not as good with a revolver as with a semiauto but I was with this one. I look forward to getting it back, all fixed up.
 
I don't see whats not to like. You can technically shoot 4 different rounds from the same gun including .32 short, .32 long,and .32 H&R mag along with the .327FedMag. That gives you the ability to shoot low,medium,and barn burner loads with near .357mag energies! You will also get better penetration because the bullet isn't as wide, arguably less recoil besides the hottest loads, and one extra shot compared to a .38 J-frame which could come in handy for the not so gun savvy .
 
Adam kinda hit it. I'm pretty sure she can handle the full house loads, but can ratchet things down in reasonable degrees w/out reloading for her. As for the .327 going away, I agree it could, and will have enough brass to reload at that time if that is what is needed. For now, I won't have to, and she can find her comfort level. I have not completely discarded the option of a .38sp or even .357 mag and playing with the loads. I load .38 now for my 642.

Just looks like a very flexible package.

Thanks, Springmom, for the update. That is what I had heard. The backlog and problems may push us more to other options, as she is ready to get going on this before it gets too hot for rangework.

She is concerned about not being able to run a semi (lock the slide, etc). I have pointed out to her that I can set up the pistol, leave it in a holster until she has to use it, then defend herself as needed out to 20 rounds of 9mm w/ an XDM.

Still thinking, but wanted to thouroughly explore the SP101 >327 Mag first.

Thank you for input. Good points.

Steve.
 
I think the .327 is a pretty flexible package also. You can shoot any were from a blistering 60grainer that would probably fragment, to a 100-115grainer HydroShok or GoldDot that is liable to give you a good 1/2" mushroom,to a 135grain wad cutter that will defiantly take a plug out of something. It think it would make a pretty good trail gun.

As mentioned a couple buckets of brass would hold me over almost indefinitely but i doubt they are going to get rid of a cartridge that is only 1/16 of an inch longer. That's like saying they aren't going to make CCI Stingers or the .357mag anymore. I am keeping in mind the .357Maximum but that is a technicality. If anything it will just be 25-35$ for a box of 20 bullets but what quality self defense ammo isn't these days? A couple boxes of HP's would hold these ladies over for years. It's not like they are going to be jumping behind cover and tactically reloading to take on gangs and zombies.

I also have a 642,and 360 chiefs special J-frame in .38special for regular work but i still find the .327fedmag interesting. I think the .32's have a bad rep from the anemic .32auto and .32H&R cowboy loads. The .327 is nothing to sneeze at with higher than .357mag pressures, closer to .454 casual.

If anything I don't even think of the .327FedMag as a new cartridge, just everything the .32H&R was supposed to be.
 
Humm yes the .327 can shoot a lot of different ammo, that is cool.:)

About penetration; I saw a test in clay blocks with a .32 acp JFP.(And many other calibers) The clay block was about 12 inches thick and the .32acp zipped right through.

The .40 s&w on the other hand did NOT pass through the clay block, it did however create a large cavity in it which the .32 did not.

So I don’t think penetration is an issue with non-HP .32 mags or .327s
 
.327 mag the, answer to the question that doesn't need answering. Can anyone say 45 gap?
 
I heard that a person can contact Ruger and send the gun back and that they will fix the problem or replace it. Again it is just a rumor, I'm not %100 sure.
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You are correct. Mine goes back on Monday. It's funny....our used-when-purchased revolvers have never given a hiccup. All three revolvers that I have bought new, myself....all three had to go back after their first time out on the range. Two Rugers and one S&W. The other Ruger was a SRH and it too was a cylinder problem.

Somebody needs to give these guys a heads up about quality control BEFORE product release :rolleyes:
 
as long as you are cool having a 32 h&r mag when the 327 goes away, no sweat
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Umm... not to call BS or anything but you can still buy .22 Remington Jet ammo if you search and that was an unpopular cartridge that hasn't had a gun made for it in over 30 years. You will certainly be able to get .327 mag ammo for the foreseeable future and it isn't as though you need a bunch...practice with .32<cheap> and load the .327 when need arises.
 
The 327 mag appeals to me. Someone mentioned the 45GAP; well I wouldn't mind one of those either. I like these niche calibers above 25ACP. Ammo availability does not deter me from buying one, only my firearm acquistion budget.
 
I think the .32's have a bad rep from the anemic .32auto and .32H&R cowboy loads.
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That's possible. But I think it has more to do with the popularity of the .32s in Europe. And our (Americans) disdain for Europe's opinions. We also seem to have a need to do everything bigger and better than Europe.

Wyman
 
I don't know, I think the .327 mag does have a nich. If only because a j frame sized revolver can hold 6 shots that have good power to them. There is alot of demand for small revolvers with some power out there.

If smith would put it in a steel J frame with a 3 or 4 inch barrel, I think that would be a big seller as a trail gun.

And if a lever gun was made for it....look out. :)
 
Seems like Ruger is having to recall and or fix a lot of guns lately. Sorry to hear about the SP101 in .327 Mag being one of them.

Actualy I like the .32 H&R magnum for the purpose that the OP states . The guns made for the .32 H&R mag also are lighter which is of some benifit to those with weaker wrists, hands.

Nothing against the .327 , but I believe the .32 H&R round is a good choice and there are still good guns readily available that shoot it.
 
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Try not to be insulting if you can help it. Not everyone with arthritis is old. I was diagnosed at 34. Nor do disabled people all have white hair and an ear trumpet. Sheesh.

Jan
 
SpringMom, I agree with you, my daughter in law suffers from arthritis and she is 22. She loves the s&w revolvers shooting 32 mag and 32 s&w long. I bought them a model 63 4 inch model to practice with as well.
 
.327 mag the, answer to the question that doesn't need answering.
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I've needed it answered for years, this is the cartridge the .32H&R should have been and the H&R was a great cartridge to start with. I've never understood why some folks just have to badmouth things they know nothing about.
 
My 2 cents....in Grandpa's day everyone went armed. The "pocket pistol" was very popular. But then the politicians decided carrying an concealed weapon was a privlege and not a right. So you need a "permit". Bad guys never believed in getting a permit. Today the "good guys" have raised enough hell, that a concealed carry permit, has become more and more common.

Now the gun mag writers promote the hand canons. But most who carry concealed found they are bulky, heavy and uncomfortable. So we are seeing the resurection of the "pocket pistol". The public is not looking to engage the "wild bunch" in a firefight, but rather to suprise the car jacker, mugger or home invader. So we want something that will put down the villan. Killing him is secondary.

The old rule of thumb was it took 200 ft/pds of energy to incapacatate an attacker with one hit 50% or more of the time.

The .380 has become a popular carry weapon, but reliable function mandates FMJ ammo and it is a 150 Ft/pds weapon. The revolver gives greater safety to the inexperienced and the oportunity to vary ammo. Expect to see more "cute little guns" come on the market. But many will not be Grandpa'spocket pistol or Grandma's muff pistol (which were better than a hat pin).
 
But many will not be Grandpa'spocket pistol or Grandma's muff pistol
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I had completely forgotten about muffs. I haven't seen one since I was a kid. I had a white bunny-fur muff in the mid-50s, when I was about 6. I might have had a matching hat. Do they still make muffs, I wonder?

Anyway, the only new gun on my theoretical-wanna-buy list is the S&W 632. I have never actually seen one "in the flesh" and everywhere I look they're "out of stock." I'd like to try one out before buying. As it happens, I can't afford one right now anyway, but "I'm waiting out the panic buying" sounds so much better than "I'm broke."

Now if I can just find an s&w logo muff with a built-in holster.... :D
 
PS: I suspect that some of the cylinder/extraction issue may come from the high pressure of the .327 magnum cartridge. This makes the chamber smoothness and bore specs more critical.

I'm not headed for the shop to trade in my .32 H&R magnum just yet , but I would like to shoot the .327 mag for myself.

Springmom : How do you rate the muzzle blast on yours ?
 
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