SP101 .32 H&R Mag-.327 Mag

Is it worth having the chamber of my .32 H&R mag extended to take .327 Mag? I do like my .32 H&R mag but wonder if it would be worth it to be able to shot another caliber.

If it's doable, I kick myself for not acquiring one a few years ago in '19 prior to the pandemic for what was then about a third to half of what they are going for now. Biggest issue imo though is ammo price/availability. I almost bought a Ruger LCR 327 about a month ago but the ammo dynamics scared me off.

It would be a notable increase in pressure. 32 mag runs 20K and a 327mag runs 45K pressure. By rechambering your 32 mag you would be shooting loads at a pressure level the gun was not tested for. Now do i think a 32 mag SP101 will take 45K pressure when converted to 327 mag. I have an opinion but will not state it. I have a 4" 32 Mag SP101 and ask Ruger if they would rechamber it 327 . Answer was no!

I found that .327 Mag is no fun to shoot at all. I sold my .327 SP 101 and stick to several.32 H&R Mags.

Trooper Joe

Folks around here have done it; I have a .327 reamer that I've rented out at least once. Seems to me the biggest issue is the .32 cylinder might be a hair shorter than a purpose-built .327 one and the OAL is limited in converted guns.

I have both and feel there is utility to each, so I won't be converting any.

warren5421 said:

Is it worth having the chamber of my .32 H&R mag extended to take .327 Mag? I do like my .32 H&R mag but wonder if it would be worth it to be able to shot another caliber.

Click to expand...

Hello!
Just my two cents on this; I have SP101s in .32 H&R mag (a 3" and a 4"). It's highly unlikely Ruger will ever make any more SP101s in .32 H&R. Rather than have those guns altered to take .327, I chose to keep them in their factory caliber and acquired two GP100s in .327, a 4" and a 6". I have never regretted that decision. The GP100s in .327 are wonderful shooters, both in .327 and .32 H&R.

Why, when one can hand load 32HRM to excellent performance levels.

Do your self a favor and learn why the 32HRM got "neutered"

Education, Rugers & Hand loading, will accomplish the task just fine IMO.
32HRM's


327M's

327M SP-101… that most of the time shoots 32HRM's

G2 said:

Why, when one can hand load 32HRM to excellent performance levels.

Do your self a favor and learn why the 32HRM got "nuttered"

Education, Rugers & Hand loading, will accomplish the task just fine IMO.
32HRM's

327M's

327M SP-101… that most of the time shoots 32HRM's

Click to expand...

"Nuttered"? I believe the word you were looking for was "neutered."
You are correct that to achieve good performance in the .32 H&R handloading is essential. I can load 100 grain XTPS to 1200 fps using Hodgdon L'IL Gun and not even exceed the SAAMI pressures limits, which were set very low for the original Harrington and Richardson revolvers in this caliber.

warren5421 said:

Is it worth having the chamber of my .32 H&R mag extended to take .327 Mag? I do like my .32 H&R mag but wonder if it would be worth it to be able to shot another caliber.

Click to expand...

Since the model is now a little more scarce, keeping it in the original condition will enhance the "collectable" status. A converted to .327 one will bring a lot less in the future, and I have found the 32 H&R does more than I need.

Trooper Joe said:

I found that .327 Mag is no fun to shoot at all. I sold my .327 SP 101 and stick to several.32 H&R Mags.

Trooper Joe

Click to expand...

What didn't you like about the 327? Personally it's one of my favorite rounds. Easy to load, and way less recoil than 357.

And, unless you do reload, 327 is cheaper than 32 H&R Mag.

G2 said:

Why, when one can hand load 32HRM to excellent performance levels.

Do your self a favor and learn why the 32HRM got "neutered"

Education, Rugers & Hand loading, will accomplish the task just fine IMO.
32HRM's

327M's

327M SP-101… that most of the time shoots 32HRM's

Click to expand...

G2 that is a good looking group of guns! I have a question about the brass frames? Did you have them plated and how is the plating holding up? I know Ruger did not make New Model brass grip frames so I was interested in how yours were done and how are they holding up?

I've got a 327 Federal in a birdshead and found it to be a fun little gun to shoot. I didn't find the recoil uncomfortable.

JStacy said:

G2 that is a good looking group of guns! I have a question about the brass frames? Did you have them plated and how is the plating holding up? I know Ruger did not make New Model brass grip frames so I was interested in how yours were done and how are they holding up?

Click to expand...

Thank you,


None are plated. My knowledge with this is it looks good when your first done and downhill the rest of the way.

From top -bottom,,, the Bisley is very rare, the mold belonged/s to John Linebaugh, the frames were cast by Milt & Karen Morrison of Quality Pistol & Revolver (QPR or Qualite) they aquired a few from a casting and they slowly leaked out here & there.
QPR is the second, it's a XR3-RED, these were cast in NM and OM you could buy them thru various parts houses and QPR themselves.
RW Gripframes is the 3rd, It's a Keith Bisley. Ronnie Wells/ Owner cuts his frames on a CNC, his frames are Excellent in fit, very precise part the brass is soft and very easy to trim & shape.

QPR back in the day when they were in production ~$100,,, now when they do pop up ~$250. There are frames that do pop up here and there, but QPR no longer in production.
FWIW the few Bisleys that leaked out $300-500. Want one on your John Linebaugh gun, $1000-1250.
All these grip frames would take some real skill, patients & time to get them to fit up, every one I did had it's own particular challenges.
RW is ~$350 today, what he has put together in options is mind blowing. I would suggest if your interested give him a call, he is very knowledgeable and a wealth of information.

Notes from a few years ago. I have a 6" Ruger Single Six and a 2" S&W in .32 H&R Mag. The factory loads offer an 85 gr. Jacketed H.P. or a 90 gr. lead solid. (I have since sold the 6" Ruger and replaced it with a longer barrel Bisley.) I found I could get 115 gr. lead flat point .32-20 bullets from Oregon Bullet Company (Laser Cast) and they had a loading book too. Most of the commercial loading books give data for the 85 or 90 gr. bullets only. I loaded up these 115 gr. bullets with 4.3 gr. Unique and used some very old Remington 1 & 1/2 Primers and Federal brass.

Chronographed the 6" at an average of 1,117 fps and the 2" at an average of 953 fps. This was set up about 18 feet from the muzzle and it was 24º f out. Went to the indoor range with the Ruger and got some very tight groups. FYI, the book gave the maximum load at 4.5 gr. Unique. The bullet looks like it has very good sectional density and I am as happy as can be with this load.

The S&W was bought new many years ago. I had a friend who was getting into engraving do the work on this when things were slow for him. I shot Buffalo Bore hard casts in it one time and they locked the gun up. Too much recoil I guess. I had a gunsmith go through it and no harm done thankfully. I sent the cartridges to Buffalo Bore and they said the pressures were ok. Lesson learned, very light weight revolvers may not function reliably with very stout loads. Some few years back I was able to buy a big supply at low cost of factory XPT bullets and have loaded them with good results.

WV338 said:

I've got a 327 Federal in a birdshead and found it to be a fun little gun to shoot. I didn't find the recoil uncomfortable.

Click to expand...

Have not seen a Ruger bird head in person i am lean ing toward one how much smaller is it than single six

My birdshead Single Seven appears to have the same frame as as my OM Single Six.
The .327 cylinder is of course longer and the forcing cone shorter to accommodate it.

would like to have single 6 or 7 birdshead S/S 327fed. went to local show this weekend, NONE, very few Ruger revolvers. Had my 1877 colt 41 DA in my pocket saw nothing i would even think about trading for.