I watched the 327 for some time, every since it's introduction. There was a short window of time to obtain one that was "capable" and that was when they brought it out in the Blackhawk.
It is not only my opinion, but my experience, that there are few benefits from this cartridge over the 32 H&R Magnum in the small short cylinder revolvers made to accept it. This limited ability for the cartridge to perform is only compounded by the 2 to 4 inch barrels made for it.
When the introduced the GP-100 I jumped all over it, and for one reason. It was capable of using heavy bullets and magnum powders that make this caliber all it SHOULD BE. With all the Bullets available for use in this caliber, they simply are not constructed to work in anything hotter than a 32 mag anyways. Then in a 2 or 3 inch barrel with the short cylinders, they are all that are able to get any advantage in velocity over the 32 "maggie" when limited to these small revolvers.
They may be great for a novelty piece, but for true use as personal protection, even the 38 special has more capability, and with proper SD loads would display no more recoil than the higher pressure loads of the 32 with lighter and less effective bullets, not to mention the horenous bark and light show from such a small barrel in these little revolvers. I believe Ruger realizes there is a very small market for those not aware of these facts.
It has been my experience with this cartridge, that it needs a longer cylinder to accept heavier than commercially available bullets to make this little small bore a worthwhile upgrade over the 32 maggie, then to get that heavier bullet to reach its potential and obtain the velocity it is capable of, we need only the slowest powders and bullets seated to the full length the cylinder is capable of to get enough of these powders in the case behind them with at least a 6 inch barrel to give the performance it should be designed to give.
If short cylinders, and barrels with pocketable framed revolvers are what is being used, it will not have much in the way of improvement over the 32 mag, but will make one hell of a lot of noise, put on one hell of a light show, and protect them looking for SD, much less than if that same revolver was fed a lowly but proven 38 spcl. with the proper loads.
The 327 also has few choices for factory loads, not necessarily Rugers fault, as well as, in my opinion, not really any bullets commercially available for it. There just ain't enough capacity for powders that can drive the light bullets available to their Highest velocity, it is like using faster powders we use in other cartridges for reduced power loads, to get the most from these tiny bullets the reloader has to choose from.
Just my opinion but I think there are a lot better choices in the small frame revolvers, and would put the 327 in my view as one of the least effective in that platform for anything but novelty.
