Jeff Quinn reviews the .327

[razorblade31]

Now that I'm thinking about it, aren't the speeds its hitting like a 7.62 tokarev? Maybe a bit harder. In a medium or large frame revolver, with warm loads, this could give class II vests trouble?

I doubt it. While it looks pretty hot, WWB tokarev ammo runs 85 grains at around 1550fps, and handloads can push a 90 grainer past 1700fps.

 

[jpr9954]

The problem, as I see it, with this round right now is the cost of the ammo. Midway USA offers both the Federal 85 gr. HydroShok and the American Eagle 100 gr. (or will be offering them). For 20 round - not the usual 50 round handgun boxes - they will be charging $19.95 and $24.95 respectively. That is pretty steep when compared to .38 or .357 ammo.

John

 

[grimjaw]

That is pretty steep when compared to .38 or .357 ammo.

Yes, and the other cartridges that a .327 Mag cylinder is able to chamber (.32 H&R, .32 S&W Long) aren't much cheaper. Recoil might be a reason to switch, but economics (at least today) aren't.

jm

 

[461]

But if you reload, the round will be incredibly cheap to build- hardly any lead or powder involved. The .32H&R mag is my most economical round to load for.

 

[nero45acp]

Well this gives me an excuse to buy two new guns. An SP101 .327 Federal Magnum, and a used SP101 .22LR for cheap practice....



nero(almost any excuse will do....)

 

[tinygnat219]

Shoot the 7.62 Tokarev will give you .357 performance as long as the right bullet is used. I'd LOVE to see a revolver in this round!

 

[SWMAN]

Seems to me to be another caliber looking for a home.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'm really interested in this round, which is probably the ultimate kiss of death for it ;-)

 

[JNewell]

Seems to me to be another caliber looking for a home.

I think it'll find one, no problem.

Right 'longside the .32 H&R Magnum...

 

[PAPACHUCK]

I've been wanting a .32 H&R for some time now, now I REALLY want a .327!!

 

[DWARREN123]

Just load the 32 H&R mag to full potential. It can be something else.

 

[ECVMatt]

I really hope Ruger chambers a Single Six in this round..

A 4 5/8" Single Six would make one heck of a woods bumbing gun. I could see that becoming a constant companion.

Matt

 

[falrifles]

I'm very interested in this cartridge. However I am concerned about it's terminal performance. A small projectile at high velocity is not exactly the best thing in a gun fight. You need enough bullet mass to penetrate deep enough into clothing, tissue and bone to be truly effective. The FBI and several other noteworthy individuals have concluded this based on actuall shootings.

I may buy this caliber simply because it is interesting. However, I suscribe to the practice of carrying a gun that can fire a round capable of at least 12 inches of penetration in tissue and bone. Life is too precious and gunfights present too many variables to take a chance on something like this fast little pill.

I have to admit that it makes sense from a sales standpoint. Using the 32 H&R magnum in these guns is an attractive, practical advantage.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

Meh.

 

[DawgFvr]

You need enough bullet mass to penetrate deep enough into clothing, tissue and bone to be truly effective.

Huh? Lookyhere...speed is the key to penetration...not mass. With enough speed, one can penetrate a series of human beings, back to back, with a sub-atomic neutron. "It has more pressure and more case capacity, resulting in more bullet speed. Lots more bullet speed. More velocity makes it hit harder and penetrate deeper." This cartridge has plenty of speed...and like all other defensive shootings, if the bullet has the correct placement, this is exactly what one would want in a gun fight.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Now I'm usually a skeptic about new ctgs. but I may take exception. If s & w could chamber this round in their 642 series (don't know if it could handle the pressure) we may have a winner. I had a ruger sp101 and it was a decent gun, but too big and heavy for cc. Recoil wasn't that bad as I recall. It would have made a heck of a truck gun. Should have kept it and had an action job done.

 

[Feanaro]

Lookyhere...speed is the key to penetration...not mass.

Which is why you hunt elephants with a light, high speed round... right?

Heavier objects retain their velocity longer than lighter ones. This is important when you want this object to punch through barriers, like skin and bone.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you guys are worried about velocity and mass why not buy the Speer offering? It will be a 115gr projectile traveling at 1300fps. I would say that fills both bills, no? 115gr seems to be popular in a 9mm, why not a .327 Magnum?

 

[DawgFvr]

ArchAngelCD...yup, I think the 1300 fps 115 grain bullet would be a very good man stopper indeed.

Feanaro: Apples and Oranges. Two legged creatures was my focus, however, if one had the right amount of speed...one could bring down an elephant with a piece of straw. The military has been working on a small plastic projectile that, when fired out of an electro-magnetic rail gun, can bring down aeiral aircraft. Another, real world example: A small, hard (spent uranium) slug fired at high speed (1 mile per second) was found to be far more efficient at knocking out a tank than the larger mass projectile previously used.

 

[TimboKhan]

I am surprised no one has cast aspersions on the reviewers breeding and intelligence for suggesting that someone who can't take recoil should use a .22mag.

I admit that I am interested in this round, but I am gonna do the same thing I do with every new round. Wait a couple of years to see how it does, then either totally buy into it or completely disregard it.

 

[FLA2760]

Malodorousroadkill wrote, "If the recoil of this round is reasonable, I'd sooner see a 6times on an alloy j-frame. A bit more oomph than a .32 H&R".

A Big +1 on that. I really like my Smith 432PD (.32H&Rmag) as a BUG to my
G27. This .327 however would open up some interesting possibilities.

 

[Diggers]

falrifles
Jeff Quinn did do a penetration test on a chunk of pig.

The 100 grain SP went through all 16 inches of meat he bought and kept going. Seems like a fair test, 16+ inches of meat is pretty good. It would be interesting to see what happens when it hits bone though.

Any how I like the .327, seems like a VERY good choice for the light weight snubies that a .357 is really just too much for. I Hope they make a gun for it...thats where it will shine.

Question...people have asked about converting sp 101 .32 H&R into a .327.

Is the cylinder on the .32 H&R long enough to convert it??? Or should I say does the .327 sp have a longer cylinder to fit the longer brass of the .327?

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I don't think you can load a 32 H&R to the same level as the 327. From what I've read the .327 has a much thinker case to handle higher pressures than the 32 H&R can. As a matter of fact the reports state that you should not even try to shorten a .327 to .32 size and load as a .32H&R as the pressures will be way too heavy for a .32 specific gun.

 

[Warren]

Is there really room in an N-frame cyl for 10 .327s? SW has that one uber 357 with 8 chambers so certainly that many is possible. Maybe 9, but 10?

If so that would be ultra cool. Holy moly, people would stop knocking the round then. 10 rounds of 115s at 1300 out of a wheelie? Dayummm.

He ran 135s up to 1250.

He also tested some 85s that got up to 1740 which would do the job as well. people more knowledgeable would have to weigh in here with thoughts on if that low weight would pierce clothing with enough oomph left to stop the threat.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Holy moly, people would stop knocking the round then. 10 rounds of 115s at 1300 out of a wheelie? Dayummm.

Yep. Dayuummmmmm! I'd buy one.

Heck, I may buy this 327 SP101. It's concealable enough for me. My hand fairly swallows a J-Frame. And, you know it'll be a good weapon since it's a Ruger.