Where are the S&W .327 Magnums?

[Carbonator]

How long are we going to have to wait for the S&W .327 Federal Magnums (besides the 2 offered now). I am surprised and disheartened to not see any S&W .327 J Frame or larger Airlites/Airweights.

I thought the .327 was going to fill the market quickly but now after waiting I'm thinking that S&W might be afraid that the .327 will take sales away from their .357/.38's and new .22 LR/Magnum J frames.

I see the .327 as a potentially close to perfect revolver round for concealed carry. How long are we going to have to wait for a light weight S&W 6 shot Airlite/Airweight J frame like S&W's older .32 H&R Magnum line? Or a 9 or 10 shot aluminum/scandium/titanium revolver like the 296/242's? Remember the 296/242 .44/.38's? I still wonder why S&W cut short the 296/242 line so quickly and I hope the .327 isn't held back for some similar reason.

Is the .327 being held back?

 

[Oro]

I'm thinking that S&W might be afraid that the .327 will take sales away from their .357/.38's and new .22 LR/Magnum J frames.

I think that's a mistaken thought. S&W doesn't lose money by selling you a j frame in one caliber vs. another. They make the gun, not the ammo. If there's a demand for them,they will make it.

S&W has a long history of being a real innovator about cartridges. Here's a brief list of only the more popular cartridges they have pioneered and developed:

.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.44 Special
.44 Magnum
.40 S&W

If there's a proven demand and need for the round, they'll bring out the guns chambered in it. But they are also known for not jumping on every wildcat cartridge to come along and then leaving their customers on the hook when it dries up. And I respect that.

 

[Setzer77]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=384513

I agree with the OP, I think a .327 pocket revolver would be a fantastic carry piece. I'd like to see Smith introduce a 6 shot in the bodyguard frame.

 

[jfh]

I suspect there is also another factor at work--competitiveness between firearms manufacturers. Remember that Ruger developed this round--but put Federal at the front of the name while introducing it in one of their high-image firearms. Sooo--would S&W, at this point in the rollout (i.e., while waiting to figure out market interest, not to mention demand), want to tool up and run their own products? By doing so, they would "validate' the Ruger work.

I still don't have a sense of how well the .327 is biting into the market--it's interesting to me, and I am looking for yet another cartridge to load--but I find nothing compelling me to buy it. S&W probably doesn't want to jump on the bandwagon, as so many did with another cartridge that faded--e.g., the 10mmAuto, after a bang-up start.

Jim H.

 

[461]

Smith shows three different J frames in .327 Federal. No, there are no airweight versions, but think about the fact that the .327 Federal operates at higher pressures than the .357 magnum. That seems to be the limiting factor.

 

[Oro]

Smith shows three different J frames in .327 Federal.

Yep, you are right. They are now cataloging and selling the 632 model - 6 shot .327 magnum.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

I would love to see a k frame chambered in 327 magnum. The blackhawk and Gp100 are both a bit big for the 327 magnum and I don't see a reason to buy one in 327 when 357 is available.

 

[Carbonator]

I see the two 632 models in stainless steel, didn't see a third model... is it another 632 model?

I figured since S&W has had successful scandium/titanium .357's like the 340PD, a 6 shot .327 wouldn't be too far behind. Would the .327's higher pressure keep it from becoming an airweight/airlight? I have in my notes the .357 at 35,000 CUP SAAMI and the .327 at 45,000 CUP SAAMI -that sound about right (my notes could be wrong)? 45,000 would make it the highest pressure of all major cartidges. Here's my list:

Maximum SAAMI Pressures: (CUP)
.45 Long Colt 14,000
.44 Special 15,500
.38 Special 17,000
.38 Special +P 18,500
.45 Auto 21,000
.45 +P 23,000
.22 LR 24,000
.22 Magnum 24,000
.25 Auto 25,000
.45 Super 28,000
9mm 35,000
.357 Magnum 35,000
.41 Magnum 35,000
.40 35,000
.44 Magnum 36,000
10mm 37,500
9mm +P 38,500
.357 SIG 40,000
9mm +P+ 42,000
.327 Federal Magnum 45,000
9mm PROOF LOAD 49,800