327 not popular???

[32magfan]

I am a lucky man, I have no doubt. I have all the 32 caliber handguns I could ever need (but not as many as I want :wink: ). I have posted here on the new 327 Federal Magnum guns from Ruger as they have come out over the last several years. I have acquired all the models Ruger has made so far. I always found it interesting that some folks have said that these guns won't sell. I don't know how many guns Ruger has made of the LCR or the 4" SP101 but they are out of stock at the places I look on line (Bud's, KyGunCo., Galleryofguns, etc.). I guess someone is buying them somewhere besides me. :mrgreen:

I know the 32's won't be replacing the 357, 44 or 45 anytime soon in the popularity departments. I realize that I am one of the odd people that like the oddball stuff as much or more than the normal stuff. I do think the 327 is doing a little better than just hanging on by a thread.

I just wish someone would make a lever rifle in 327 so I could stop. Scratch that, stopping is not an option. Maybe I could slow down buying guns :shock: I doubt that will work either. Oh well, at least it is fun. :mrgreen:

Ok- my little rant is over.

32Magfan

 

[Kevin]

I too like the 327. It seems to be about the most accurate caliber I've shot. And super easy to load for as well. It's one of my most favorite calibers, but I'm not sure I'd like it in a rifle. Would it perform the same? How long could you make the barrel before ballistics would suffer?

 

[BlkHawk73]

I too prefer the "different" and always liked the .32 magnum. When the .327 came out I was intrigued. Not enough to run and grab one as it didn't really fill a void I needed to fill (I've been on a slow downsizing). Was hoping to see more models and platforms available for it as well which. Just didn't happen. Too bad.
I also think part of the lac of popularity is that the consumers in the market are too interested in the big magnums or semi-autos. Kinda eliminates the .32 cal in any case size. Again, too bad as a lot of people are missing a lot of fun chamberings.

 

[contender]

I think the 327 is a fine caliber & don't see it going away too soon. I only have 3 of them,,, and several of the 32 mags.

 

[Rei40c]

How would the .327 owners here describe it's recoil? I've never shot one. I always imagined it might be a little like a .38+P but I have no real idea.

 

[snakeeyes4445]

The recoil with American Eagle 100gr. and espescially the the blast/concussuion is about 85% as compared to the 125 jhps out of a .357 SP 101. The 357 is over my pain threshold and the 327 is under it. Going to 85 gr. is about the same step down in recoil and up in comfort.
I'm still trying to find a platform that I don't like but I'm still working on it after three SPs, a short Single 7 and the new LCR.

I have never shot and SP with .38 +P, but you could do the math

 

[Ethang]

How would the .327 owners here describe it's recoil? I've never shot one. I always imagined it might be a little like a .38+P but I have no real idea.

Fun. That"s how I describe the 100 grain AE loads. In the Single Seven they are stout enough to put a smile on your face, but not so stout that they are obnoxious like 357's can be.

I did not think I would like the 327 over the 32 mag as much as I do.

 

[Rei40c]

The recoil with American Eagle 100gr. and espescially the the blast/concussuion is about 85% as compared to the 125 jhps out of a .357 SP 101. The 357 is over my pain threshold and the 327 is under it. Going to 85 gr. is about the same step down in recoil and up in comfort.
I'm still trying to find a platform that I don't like but I'm still working on it after three SPs, a short Single 7 and the new LCR.

I have never shot and SP with .38 +P, but you could do the math

Very helpful thanks. I hear ya about loving them all. I can extend that to just about every firearm I've shot. Even the ones that didn't work out and had to let go.

 

[needsmostuff]

I have acquired all the models Ruger has made.
I just wish someone would make a lever rifle in 327 so I could stop.
32Magfan

I make not infrequent requests via email (anyone interested should also) to Henry Rifle Co. asking them to add a 327 to the mix. One thing I like to point out is we 327/32mag users are FANITICS . We buy every option available for the cartridge ( sometimes doubles ) and a 327 lever action would be irresistible.
Hey,,, They did it for the .41 guys.

 

[Varminterror]

The .327FM and .41M fall into the same boat for me - fantastic cartridges, but doomed to a life of luke-warm market presence simply because of the market they play in. Most handgunners don't really do much with their handguns, a little plinking here and there, maybe some small game hunting, but we really don't put as much energy into handgun hunting as we do rifle hunting (look at any cartridge catalog, reloading manual, or product catalog - there's about 10 to 1 rifle cartridges to handguns). The .327FM and .41M might actually fill incredibly useful niche's, but they're never going to get a guy who owns ONE handgun to displace his .357M or .44M and buy a .327 or .41.

Finding itself less than the .357M, the .327FM doesn't have the hunting field versatility of the .357M, which is, itself, the small bookend of the big game hunting world, leaving the .327FM "just too small" in the eyes of most handgun buyers.

Of course, then this kind of prophecy is self-fulfilling. The 327FM and 41M's lack of popularity drives ammunition manufacturers to only run minimal volume for them - which would-be shooters see in their local stores as higher prices per shot and low availability, so they don't buy the firearms.

I love .32 H&R's and .327FM's, and lust after a proper Marlin 1894 (no tube feed crap) in .327FM. But for now, I'm happy to run Single 6's, SP101's, and Single 7's in these fun little cartridges.

How would the .327 owners here describe it's recoil? I've never shot one. I always imagined it might be a little like a .38+P but I have no real idea.

You wouldn't be too far off to say the free recoil energy is similar, but the blast is different. The .327FM runs more than twice the pressure of the 38spcl+P, and the bore cross-sectional area is 30% smaller - the blast is much higher pressure over a much smaller bore. Shooting the two side by side, unless you're in wide open outdoors wearing ear plugs and muffs, you likely wouldn't say they felt the same, even though the actual raw recoil is similar.

 

[Rclark]

I am one of those guys that never thought I'd own a .32 anything. After all I have .22s and .357s on up. But then the .22 shortage hit and I decided I needed something to fill the 'reloadable .22' role. Hence I have two revolvers now that I shoot .32 H&R Mag from. Fits exactly what I wanted in this role. If I could get my hands on a 5 1/2" .32Mag Single Six (at a reasonable price) I'd pop for it. Load up 100-115g bullets to around 1000-1100fps and good to go. I was trying the 78g bullets, but accuracy was non-existent. Anyway, see no need for the .327 though. I have the .357 if I want a zipper round. As for the .41 ... well, still don't get that round as we have the .357, .429, and .451 to cover everything else that might need doing.... Even if it is a fine cartridge in its own right.

 

[5of7]

I just wish someone would make a lever rifle in 327 so I could stop. Scratch that, stopping is not an option. Maybe I could slow down buying guns :shock: I doubt that will work either. Oh well, at least it is fun. :mrgreen:

Ok- my little rant is over.

32Magfan

I too am a fan of the .32 Mg. caliber. The .32 S&W long and the .32 S&W are reloadable versions of the 22 LR, that is a lot of fun to shoot, great plinkers and easy on the ears. I also reload for and shoot the .32 ACP for the same reason.

Now if Marlin would chamber the model 94 in .327 I would be in for that....But in a handgun, the ctg. leaves me unimpressed. It makes a lot of noise and won't do anything that another cartridge won't do as well or better. 8)

 

[Rei40c]

I've been reading up on the .327 over the last hour or so. You guys are going to end up making me buy a new gun. I'm amazed at what I'm reading. The velocity it achieves is impressive and you can also fire 4 different rounds? wow

Although I'm reading it's debatable if you should fire .32 ACP due to the fact it fits loosely and beats up the brass too badly to reload. I don't reload anyway. :) I may actually do this. I'll let you know. Going to call around.

Well that didn't last long, my local gun store with the best prices is closes Sun/Mon. And the large retailer that might have had it doesn't list the .327 version of the SP101 on the website. Even if they did I'd probably be paying $100-$150 too much there, so this idea is shelved until next week.

 

[lolbell]

To be so unpopular, it sure is hard to find a 327FM. Seems like they're bought up as soon as they're released. Like it's been said above it's my reloadable 22. I have a couple of Single Sevens, a Blackhawk, and an SP101. I too wish someone would come out with a lever gun.

 

[Hondo44]

I think the 32 mag and the 327 especially, are very fun cartridges to shoot. The main thing holding them back is the price of ammo, so it's a reloader's dream.
No it doesn't replace any other existing cartridge, it has its own niche. One I never knew I needed to fill.

The best thing about them is they can be, and are built on a smaller platform, the much more packable and handy Single Six (and small frame DAs).

In 1984, the first year of the Ruger 32 Mag, I held one and bought it right there. I now have five, 3 with adjustable sights and two Vaqueritos.

I also had a 32-20 Winchester 20" short rifle, so the 2nd adj sight 32 Mag I bought was reamed out to 32-20, a simple job and with a slightly recessed chamber (for the .008" thicker rim of the 32-20), it makes a great companion gun to the rifle. Yes I seat the bullets a little deeper to fit the Ruger Single Six cyl, but they feed fine in the rifle as well.

Marlin made a few carbines in 32 Mag, but I never found one. However a slight .190" extension of the shoulder chamber in the 32-20 Winchester allowed me to shoot the 32 mag and the 32-20. The 32 Mag cases expand a little more than usual but no problem reloading them because I can use a carbide die on the straight wall 32 mag cases. Or you can pull the barrel, cut off the old chamber, rechamber to 327 Mag and have a handy 18" carbine.

Then the 327 FC Mag was introduced. So I reamed my third adj sight 32 Mag and one of my Vaqueritos to 327 Mag. Even simpler than reaming for the 32-20, just extend the shoulder in the chamber .131". Yes, factory ammo sticks out of the cyl .003" but no Ruger 32s I own have less than a .004" cyl/bar gap, so they work perfectly, and I don't handload any extra long bullets. If I did, I'd just seat them a little deeper.

Again I extended to shoulder another .131" in my Winchester and I was shooting 32-20, 32 Mag and 327 Mag thru it depending on which Ruger I carried that day.

This was several years before the 8 shot large frame 327 Ruger Blackhawk, which turned into a dismal failure, because for most people, the gun was way too-heavy-for-cartridge. Custom handgun smiths were converting Single Six 32 Mags to 327 Mags all over the country.

Finally Ruger introduced the distributor exclusive .327 Single Seven last year and the rest is history. Talo/Lipsey's is selling the first 15,000 like hotcakes. Still haven't bought one because I prefer blue Ruger SAs. And don't need one now.

My first New Model .32 H&R Mag/.327 Fed Mag conversion. Bisley hammer with modified spur, Stainless Steel grip frame, steel ejector rod housing, SBH grooved trigger w/web removed, Colt ejector rod, and free-spin cylinder pawl for ease of aligning the chambers with the loading gate.

 

[sandman228]

ive been a fan of the 327 ever since it was released in 2008 and bought 1 in a gp100 shortly after they came out . its fun to shoot ,easy to load and cast for .I'm not sure how availability is on brass but at 1 time it wasn't so easy to find . I did end up trading off my gp100 after I bought my single seven , and I have been saying all along a lever gun in this caliber would be allot of fun ,or maybe even a break open single shot like an h&r or something . I don't feel its a very popular caliber though allot of people I meet at the gun range or talk guns with have never even heard of it

 

[Cordite]

I love my 5.5" Single Seven and 3" SP-101 in .327 Fed Mag. Once the gun fund builds up a bit I will begin the hunt for a Blackhawk in .327 ... the gun is large for the caliber but I want one anyway.

Cordite

 

[Varminterror]

I don't feel its a very popular caliber though allot of people I meet at the gun range or talk guns with have never even heard of it

I'm absolutely OK with guys at the gunshop or range having never heard about my cartridges. That's kinda the point, for me.

 

[contender]

Way back when Ruger came out with the 32 H&R mag,,, I hesitated. I figured it would be a caliber that would fail. Yet,,, thinking ahead,,, I decided to get an odd one,,, & squirrel it back. A Bisley variation that wasn't produced in big numbers. Well, after I got that one,,, leaving it NIB, I found a Single-Six, used, and in great shape. I bought it as a "shooter" to try out & go with my NIB Bisley.
What I found was a fun caliber & a sweet platform in a great package.
I bought a few more of the 32 mags. Some are still NIB & others are shooters. I watched for the Buckeyes but it took a while for one to land in my hands. In fact,,, I got it AFTER the introduction of the 327 Blackhawk. When the 327 Blackhawk came out,,, I had to snag one of those,,, knowing it'd make a fine handling small game handgun. I've NEVER felt the size of a Blackhawk was too big, and figured an 8 shot like that was a neat way to take up the extra space. Now,,, if Ruger had chambered it as a 6 shot,,, it'd remind us of how overbuilt a Redhawk 357 is.
To the folks who say the Blackhawk was too big,,, poo-poo! I have a 135 grn gas checked slug that is DEADLY out of it,,, AND the recoil is mild.
The Buckeye came along & was promptly added to the stable. It had already had the 32 mag cylinder reamed to accept the 327 and has shooter wear,,, so I have another good shooter. When the Single-Seven was introduced,,, I got the 7-1/2" barreled one as none of my others had that barrel length. It filled the niche. The fun thing is how a 327 can accept 4 different calibers of brass easily to where a reloader can go from very mild to wild. No, it's not a big game gun,, but it sure can do a lot of different small game duties. From using the 32 shorts on rats & other pests, to dropping coyotes in a good 327 load. It may seem impractical to many,,, but there are others who have found the 32 cals are just the ticket to a lot of fun & smiles!

 

[Big Old Boy]

The 32 H&R and 327 are my replacement for the 22, easy to load and a lot of fun mild to wild. My first was a Ruger 32 many years ago it was love at first shot.

 

[needsmostuff]

Much like contender related I stuck my toe in the water and was hooked . At last count I have 6 327s and 5 32 mags. Sounds kind of excessive for an unneeded family of cartridges but they all have distinguishing purposes .
The purpose is where gun makers and most would be buyers confuse it's nature.
S&W has never got it right ! Confined to J frame , under 3" self defense formats it will never compare well to 38/357guns. Workable yes , but never superior.
Ruger comes much closer and has actually hit the nail on the head a few times. These guys shine brightest when adjustable sighted due to the range of velocities available. A 4,5 or 6 inch walking, plinking ,hiking companion or just shooting for the shear joy of it ,sidearm.
While capable of setting your hair on fire with extreme loads most of my "fun " shooting is done with 100/115 gr cast at maybe 1100 fps. Like many evolved .357 shooters I have found pushing the envelope is good to have on tap but not necessary all the time.

P.S. note to Hondo44.
Thanks for the recent "nudge" . I now have a new stainless Single Six 32 mag in my safe. Don't really need it right now but ya know, I might.

 

[mhblaw]

In addition to a BH, a single 7 and a Buckeye in 32, I also have a USFA convertible 32 Mag/32WCF. Love 'em all.

 

[22/45 Fan]

In addition to a BH, a single 7 and a Buckeye in 32, I also have a USFA convertible 32 Mag/32WCF. Love 'em all.

Despite the enthusiasm for the .32 H&R and .327 Mag on this thread, the overall market seems to have greeted both with a yawn. Sales of guns in both cartridges have been less that stellar and Ruger seems to be the only one still making models for them. It's not exactly a question no one asked but it seems to be a question only a few have asked.

 

[Hondo44]

The 32/327 mags may wind up being another "cult" cartridge like the 44 Special.

Yup S&W missed the boat with the .327 as needsmostuff posted. They were looking for a reason to make it and decided it was as a defense gun, but that wasn't the nitch. "Fun gun" is the nitch and their out of production K frame Model 16 32 H&R mag gun are long discontinued and fetching up to $1300 on the used market. And many of those and their K22s are being converted to the 327 mag.

Personally I think their J frame is an excellent 32 or 327 mag platform with target sights and had to make my own.

This is a favorite .32 shooter, a non-factory target model, my homemade .32 'Kit Gun', 4" J frame Model 30-1, 1966 vintage. Target features added are: adj rear sight, ramped front sight w/sight base, .375” wide spur hammer, .400” trigger, and modified post war factory I/J frame target stocks. I also reamed the cyl to 32 H&R Mag.

I've reamed several of these 32 Longs to 32 Mag for friends and now they can shoot both.

 

[CraigC]

....But in a handgun, the ctg. leaves me unimpressed. It makes a lot of noise and won't do anything that another cartridge won't do as well or better. 8)

Oh, but it does! I fits into the Single Six platform and we now have a factory version. It shoots flatter than the .357 and hits harder downrange with similar weight bullets. It is much better suited to small game and varmints than any other pre-existing cartridge.

 

[Rei40c]

Personally I think their J frame is an excellent 32 or 327 mag platform with target sights and had to make my own.

I think .327 in a smith J frame is an excellent idea. I've never fired one I admit but have noticed pretty much everyone who's fired full . 357 magnums out of it, including veteran shooters always describe is as a pretty horrible experience.

 

[Terry T]

I have a .327 SP-101 and a .327 LCR.
I found this chart on line and was very surprised at the difference between a 3" barrel and a 2" barrel. The 3" SP-101 should be considerably more effective than the 2" LCR.



Terry T

 

[Rei40c]

I have a .327 SP-101 and a .327 LCR.
I found this chart on line and was very surprised at the difference between a 3" barrel and a 2" barrel. The 3" SP-101 should be considerably more effective than the 2" LCR.



Terry T

Yep I noticed the same thing yesterday while researching the .327. Same info you posted essentially in a different form. Check out the difference between 2 and 3 inches on the chart. It'd be tough to find a 300 fps increase like that in any other caliber. Ballistics by the inch website- http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/327mag.html

 

[Hondo44]

The differences between the 3" and 4" aren't too shabby either except the Fed Hydra-Shok.

And the American Eagle from an 18" rifle ain't bad!

 

[NikA]

There is one issue with the BBTI data: if you read carefully on how they collect it, the barrel lengths used include the chamber (their test rig is something like a T/C Contender with different barrels). With a cartridge like .327FM, with a case length of 1.20", most of the barrel is the chamber. The results for .357M and .41M show the same trend, with a huge dropoff in velocity between the 3" and 2" barrels. This is a natural consequence of the high aspect ratio of the cartridges in a very short barrel, and basically only represents their performance from (maybe) a very short derringer. I think the most interesting thing is that neither .44M nor .45 Colt show this dropoff, so there must be some aspect ratio at which this becomes less of an effect.

As an engineer, I absolutely love the data on the BBTI website. You can learn (calculate) all sorts of interesting things given a well-designed experiment.