Your 327 experience Please

[cowboy77845]

I bought a 327 a while back and have as yet had no opportunity to shoot it. I sold my Ruger Buckeye 32 mag for more than I paid but have a bunch of cartridges. Soooo, when the 327 came out I bought a nice Ruger GP 100. Put stag inserts in rubber grips and have an oooh, ahhhh revolver. Then I broke my leg and while entertaining myself on the computer, I saw a Gary Reeder Coyote 327 Ruger with a second 32-20 cylinder. Impulse buy, big mistake, never sell it for what I paid. Very expensive to couple a broken leg with gun sites.
Anyway back to my question. How do you like the 327 Federal?

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

It's a fine 'yote cartridge and MAYBE small southern deer round. Not my cup of tea but if it works for you then go for it.

 

[Wishoot]

Then I broke my leg and while entertaining myself on the computer,

Okay.

You just can't say something like that and NOT expect everyone here to wonder just what in the world you were doing.

 

[MidRoad]

Okay.

You just can't say something like that and NOT expect everyone here to wonder just what in the world you were doing.

I had to re read it three times.

 

[TTv2]

I think it's the .32 revolver cartridge that should have been made 30-40 years ago. In a revolver, I think .327 full power loads have way too high a pressure and blast to be a good self defense choice, a reduced load is the best way to go IMO. In a rifle, that's where the .327 really shines, much like the .32-20 did, just that .327 has a much higher velocity, yet when downloaded to subsonic velocities becomes a fantastic small game gun for longer ranges where .22 would get thrown around by winds.

I have the Henry in .327 and it's a great shooter. I will soon be getting a revolver, but I'm still undecided what I want in .327, I know the GP100 isn't it, if I can get 7 shots of .357 in that, then .327 isn't worth it in a gun that size. Will probably go for the SP101 4 inch and in the future the 2 inch LCRx.

The argument people will make against .327 is just buy a .38 or .357, the bullet is bigger and the ammo is cheaper. That's true, but in the very light .38 snubs, recoil is there, with the .327 the LCR weighs a few ounces more, you can get weaker .32 ammo, and again, 6 shots.

IMO, if the top choices for pocket guns is between a 5 shot .38 snub and a 6/7 shot pocket .380, then a 6 shot .327 is the best of both worlds. You get the revolver reliability with the pocket .380's capacity, more powerful ammo, and a better trigger too.

It's when you get up to the SP101 and GP100 sizes that .327 becomes hard to justify when .357 is easier to shoot from those larger, heavier revolvers. I'm simply interested in getting the SP101 to be a sidearm for the Henry I have. The Single Seven is a tempting choice, but I already have a .32 SAA and other single action revolvers, I really don't want another.

For the LCR's tho, .327 is a perfect fit.

 

[CZF]

Not at all.

Enticed by the lure of 6 -shots in an LCR.

Ammo was expensive and the Magnum ammo and me didn't get along.

Traded it for a .357 KLCR.

Still have some .327 ammo and brass.

Am including the brass with my .357 for sale along with .45 ACP and other brass.

If shipping ammo wasn't such a hassle, i'd be long gone rid of .327 anything.

I guess if you wanted a low recoil .32 a person couls use the non magnum stuff.

 

[Snowdog]

Being on an auction site after popping a Percocet (dental work) caused me to purchase a fairly unwanted item as well. Though it was a matching French MAS 36 in seemingly unissued condition that I recently sold $200 more than I paid (but only after several years of it collecting dust). It would literally take a fractured femur or something equally as painful to touch that crap again. I'll make do with ibuprofen any day.

I'm intrigued by the .327 Federal Magnum. I'm considering the SP101 with 4.2" barrel. I already have a 3" SP101 in .357 mag, but the more svelte .327 gains and extra round, offering a 6-shot SP101 in a reasonably powerful and very versatile cartridge (as well as allowing the use of the .32 long, H&R mag and some say the .32acp).

It's on the list.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

The Single Seven is well worth a look, I think its a great platform for the .327. Get a longer barrel which I like.

I used to be a guy who would always say .38/.357 but I now also suggest the .32 family. Little cheaper to reload for also. .38 used to be silly cheap, but not anymore so that lets the .32s gain on it some I think.

 

[Saleen322]

We have three 327 magnums; a Henry rifle, a GP100 and a Blackhawk. The rifle shoots very well and handles rounds from 1.16" (S&W Longs) to 1.53". The main issue I had with all of the 327s was lack of true bullets for a 327. My biggest concern with the standard fare ammunition in 327 is the bullets' expansion performing well at 327 velocity. While I have shot bullets as heavy as 153 grains in the Blackhawk, we since got an Accurate mold in 132 FNGC (OAL 1.491") and it has been the go to bullet in all of the 327s. I do understand you have to be aware that some of the cylinders of some models are shorter and they limit the ammo you can use. YMMV

 

[cal44mag]

I have an LCR 327.

The full power Gold Dot rounds are a bit much to shoot. It's doable, but up there with mid range 357 Magnum in recoil. (I also have an LCR 357 so can compare side-by-side).

The short barrel, lower powered 327 Federal Hydra Shok is a great defense round.

Also, there are nice 32 H&R magnum rounds for defense -- I generally use the Hornady Critical Defense. Those are hotter than 38 special, just below 38 special+P in muzzle energy..

I also have a 431PD chambered in 32 H&R magnum. It weighs only 13oz, holds six shots, and is a great light weight carry option. See the pic below:

 

[gotboostvr]

The more I think about it, a 16" lightweight barrel for my T/C frame might be an excellent small game carbine.

 

[SteadyD]

I really like the 327. Not just for shooting 327 Federal Magnum but also the versatility of using the other 32 caliber rounds. My wife really enjoys shooting the 32 H&R Magnum in her 327 LCR. That’s her defensive round of choice and she carries with either the Hornady Critical Defense or the HSM XTP. That’s also what I carry when I use the LCR.

In the LCR, I personally wouldn’t want to shoot anything that recoils more than the low recoil Hydra Shok 327 FM rounds. I think the LCR coupled with 32 H&R is a great combo. Recoil is mild, accuracy is great, and folllow up shots are fast.

 

[herrwalther]

My wife owned a M327 made by Taurus. Everything about the round was great. Ballistics and recoil were good for her hands (arthritis and some nerve damage). No slide to worry about pulling since it was a revolver. All in all the 327 is a good between cartridge between 38 and 357. The issues with the cartridge were purely superficial. 1) The M327 was a bit too heavy for the wife. If memory serves it weighed 26oz empty. 2) Not many people have heard of 327. I brought the 327 to a gun show to sell. I had a lot of people come up, take a look or ask what it was. I would respond "Taurus 327" and got a lot of confused looks and "don't you mean 357?" (Nope you are just an uneducated hick. Didn't say it but thought it). And there was really only one local gun store that sold ammo in 327. It was American Eagle soft lead nose rounds. So the gun ended up being sold. I miss it more than the wife does.

 

[Hondo 60]

cowboy77845 - I feel your pain brother!
I've been laid up with a leg/foot surgery since mid-July.
I bought a new 3" SP101 in 327 in early July, so i haven't been out to shoot.

Then just cuz i was bored, I put a very low bid on a Kel-tec P32.
Well guess what? No one out bid me.
It's still at my local FFL cuz I'm in a wheelchair til it heals more.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO the 327 Federal Magnum makes for a great field and range round in a levergun or carbine much like the 32-20. Other than that, I just don't know. As a matter of fact why not just stick with the 32-20? I even have some brass lol.

 

[khari]

I have a few guns chambered in .327 including one Henry rifle. I am a big fan of the cartridge to the point it is my primary carry gun and for carrying in the woods.

 

[Walkalong]

IMO the 327 Federal Magnum makes for a great field and range round in a levergun or carbine

It would definitely be more interesting to me in a carbine than a revolver.

 

[TTv2]

It would definitely be more interesting to me in a carbine than a revolver.

I can say with experience that it is. When I was thinking up reloads I wanted to make for it, they all revolved around a rifle and various bullet weights and velocities. With the revolver it's... not as exciting. Basically if you want to shoot a JHP, use .32 H&R or .327 and it'll work. If you want low recoil and don't care about expansion, use a 115 grain lead bullet and use a starting load.

Unless you're looking at .327 for a small frame revolver for carrying, the only reason to get a larger frame .327 is to have a sidearm for the rifle/carbine. With .357 it's the opposite.

 

[tbob38]

IMO the 327 Federal Magnum makes for a great field and range round in a levergun or carbine much like the 32-20. Other than that, I just don't know. As a matter of fact why not just stick with the 32-20? I even have some brass lol.

I could live with that. Had a Colt new Army in 32-20 long ago, don't know why I got rid of it. Have even been eying 32-20's on GB lately. There is a nice Ruger Blackhawk there but the seller wants way too much money. Can get a pretty good Smith hand ejector for around $400 -$500 though.

 

[blue32]

I'd really like to get a single seven. The only thing holding me back is the uncertainty of getting one with chamber throats over .313. I'm heavy into 32-20 and would like some cast bullet compatibility and do not wish to buy new molds just for the 327. I wouldn't mind (and am in the process) of saving for one of those Bowen Custom Arms 327/32-20 K frames built on an M66 frame with a 617 cylinder and barrel bored out for 32.

I wish one of the major distributors would order a run of S&W 4" K frames with 327 and 32-20 cylinders. I'd pay $1,000 for one of those.

 

[IlikeSA]

I would think that the .327 would be a good centerfire marksmanship training/light defense round. For reloading, it is slightly cheaper than larger centerfire rounds because of the lighter weight bullets.

If I didn't have a 357 I would consider it for the right price, particularly if my other handguns were in 40 cal or larger. Alas, it doesn't do anything my 357 can and the difference in reloading price would mean I would have to shoot a lot to make up the difference.

 

[Fiv3r]

One had a .327, but I find the magnum rounds just too blasty from a handgun. For that much noise and fervor I'd just go with a .357. .327 is near unobtainium even at the sporting good stores that carry a bit of everything.

The availability to shoot a bunch of oddball .32 rounds is nice, but its not the most practical.

I think I would give it a try if I stumbled upon a lever gun chambered in it. Seems like it would really offer some punch and tame some of that concussive blast.

 

[Englishmn]

I have the tarus 327 and a 7 1/2" single 7 it's very loud out of the snub, very accurate out of the Ruger. I want a carbine in 327.
If you reload it's fairly cheap and easy being straight wall.
I shoot lots of 32 long wadcutters, bought a mold and cast then powder coat.
If you don't reload ammo will cost you about $30 for 50 of the american eagle 327.

 

[TTv2]

I would think that the .327 would be a good centerfire marksmanship training/light defense round. For reloading, it is slightly cheaper than larger centerfire rounds because of the lighter weight bullets.

If I didn't have a 357 I would consider it for the right price, particularly if my other handguns were in 40 cal or larger. Alas, it doesn't do anything my 357 can and the difference in reloading price would mean I would have to shoot a lot to make up the difference.

It's not all that cheap compared to .38 Special, you're talking fractions of a cent per bullet difference. The only .32 caliber bullet I can find that is significantly cheaper than .38 bullets is .32 ACP 71 grain FMJ and we're talking nearly half the price. IDK how the .32 ACP bullets shoot in .32 revolvers loaded into .327/.32 H&R/.32 S&W Long, but I bought a few hundred a while ago and have been meaning to try them. I've shot .32 ACP out of a single action .32 Mag I have and accuracy was surprisingly good.

Reloading .32 vs .38/.357 is pretty much the same price, but I think it's worth it because I think the .32's are more accurate.

 

[Mark39]

What do you all think about the difference in felt recoil and grips between the SP101 and GP100? Been considering upgrading the wife's Model 30-1 to a new Ruger but I'm concerned about recoil with the SP101 and the size of grips on the GP100.