327 vs 357

[writwing]

Now that the cartridge has been out for a while, Id be curious as to the advantages/disadvantages of each.

Thanks

 

[WESHOOT2]

Well, there's WAY MORE 357 Magnum (and 38 Special) layin' around.
Way.

This comes from someone who shoots 41AE.

 

[Kevin]

Well for starters, Ruger makes an 8 shot .327 Blackhawk, not available in .357. With a .327 you can shoot .32's. And, your neighbor won't have one (.327 that is.)

 

[COR]

They both have their place. I don't see the comparison outside of the ammo manufacturers trying to market it as a defensive rpund better than the .357, and some folks buying onto it.

You can buy both. You can enjoy both. The 32/20 has been around a helluva lot longer...It isn't compared to the .357 but in a 6 shot Ruger it can do all the .327 will and maybe more...

 

[DGW1949]

One is a fast medium bore, the other a fast small bore.
Both are loud when fired friom a handgun.
One puts impressive holes in a ham. The other has a proven fight-stopping ability.
Because it also shoots .38's, one can hunt anything from squirrels/rabbits to deer/hogs with a 357...even with a handgun. Aint too sure I'd use a 327 to hunt larger game with.
I can buy a fair assortment of 357 ammo at a 1/2 dozen places that are within a 30 min drive of my front porch. Only one of them even has a place on the shelf for 327 ammo.
The 327 would be a bit cheaper to reload.

That's the differences as I see 'em.
I guess you'll have to decide on the advantage/disadvantage part.

DGW

 

[atarian]

While the .327 is interesting, it seems like one of many rounds that were developed for little apparent reason, like the .357 SIG, .45 GAP (probably the most retarded thing ever), etc. [now donning flame suit] if you want eight shots in a revolver, get a S&W model 627 .357...

I guess an advantage is that you can also fire .32 S&W/long, but those are probably harder to find than .327. Basically what WESHOOT2 said.

 

[louiethelump]

I like all three of mine................... and the 4 32 H&R mag guns too................. I still have my 38/357 guns,,,,,,,,,,, but the 32 allows an awful lot of versatility IF you are a reloader.............. if not, stay with 357...............

 

[Anonymous]

del

 

[eric conrad]

Brass is the only thing hard to find. Use 32 mag dies. Its just a stretched 32mag. Like the 32mag the 327 is one you want to be a reloader for. I hope it sticks around.
Eric

 

[recumbent]

I've bought ammo locally for $24.99 for 50 rounds have over 200 cases and now I reload for it. I also have 200 32 H&R mag cases.

I like the caliber and it's fun to shoot.

Even shoots cast lead bullets good.

Bob

 

[contender]

I happen to have several 32 H&R mags,, AND a 327 mag Blackhawk. To compare them to the 357 is not the best comparrison. Both are different enough to be versitile in their own ways. Reloading them is the best way to go,, and the 8 shot option is kinda nice. I surprised a friend one day when we went shooting. He thought my Ruger was a six shot,,and when I went to plinking,, & fired 8 he asked me where I found the Hollywierd gun.

 

[gak]

I happen to have several 32 H&R mags,, AND a 327 mag Blackhawk. To compare them to the 357 is not the best comparrison. Both are different enough to be versitile in their own ways. Reloading them is the best way to go,, and the 8 shot option is kinda nice. I surprised a friend one day when we went shooting. He thought my Ruger was a six shot,,and when I went to plinking,, & fired 8 he asked me where I found the Hollywierd gun.

+1 the comparison to the .357 has been (initially) understandable but unfortunate...egged on admittedly--intentionally or not--by some enthusiastic supporters and, of course, manufacturing proponents. Like the .30 carbine--of which I'm a big fan--it is naturally not as powerful as most .357 loadings, and cannot take on medium game (short range) duties as consistently or reliably, strictly looking at the bore differences and inherent bullet weights involved. As effectively a modern-day .32-20, I do see it as a viable small game getter, pester and varminter, and, with reloading especially, a fun plinker. With .38+P or better ballistics, it has decent SD properties, especially with its extra round or two capacity over similarly-framed .357s/.38s, and with less "sturm und drang" on the shooter's end of the gun, especially compared to the .357.

Kudos in particular to Ruger for its leadership with the Federal Magnum to date. In this chambering, I'd like to see a Single Six, more (affordable) J-frame sized offerings from S&W, perhaps. a 7 shot K, and a Rossi and/or Marlin lever gun, to broaden shooters' options with what appears to be a fine cartridge...and giving it a better long term future. To that same end, Federal and component manufacturers really need to step up to the plate to open up the ammo market considerably more. Ruger, in particular, but other gun manufacturers as well, could help here by pressuring the ammo/component folks to better support the guns chambered in their cartridge.

Edit. I should amend my original paragraph "egged on..." comment to add...AND detractors looking to artificially stack their arguments with apples-to-oranges loading/ballistic comparisons. See Craig's good comments below.

 

[32magfan]

+1 Tyrone on the 8-shot turning heads at the range. :shock: The "round-counters" also do a double take on the GP 100 with 7 shots. :?

I don't compare the two. One thing not mentioned is the extra round (6 shots vs. 5 ) in the various carry revolvers like 632 S&W or SP101.

I've reloaded 32 H&R for 25 years so 327 was just buying ammo to shoot up for brass (and then getting 500 from Freedom Arms) and a slight die adjustment for the extra length of the case.

Its' just another round to sell more guns and keep guys like me who gravitate to the "oddball" stuff happy. I'm happy. I would like a 327 Single Action Ruger on the Anniversary frame guns like the 44 Special. I'm also waiting for the Marlin lever action in 327 (with baited breath).

All the evil water jugs shot with 85, 100 and 115 grain factory loads impressed me and others at the range. All penetrated at least 3 jugs and mushroomed perfectly. I don't think you would be undergunned against 2-legged varmints but anything bigger than an average white-tail and you need to brag sumpin' starting with a "4".

My .02

Thanks,

32Magfan

 

[CraigC]

The .327 is not meant to replace the .357. It is meant to fill the unsightly performance gap between the .22Mag and .357. It is what the .32H&R should have been. It shoots flatter and hits harder than the .357 with comparable bullet weights and has less recoil with comparable sectional densities. In sporting length sixguns, it shoots significantly faster and flatter. It fits easily into six-shot Single Sixes. Now if we can just get Ruger to produce one in .327.

 

[gak]

I would like a 327 Single Action Ruger on the Anniversary frame guns like the 44 Special. I'm also waiting for the Marlin lever action in 327 (with baited breath).

+1 I think a .327/.32-20 convertible in the midframe (flattop and New Vaquero) would be just dandy.

The .327 is not meant to replace the .357. It is meant to fill the unsightly performance gap between the .22Mag and .357. .

+1 as usual Craig has it pegged.

 

[Tam 212]

Already been covered by the other forum folks but since I own one, I'll through in my $0.02.

Unless you reload or don't mind spending $25 per box of ammo, the .327 is not economical. It is also unproven from a self-defense standpoint. Don't know if there are any documented cases of this cartridge being used in SD. Lastly, ammo availability is often constrained and difficult to find. Only ATK (Federal/Speer/American Eagle) have factory loads for this cartridge, as far as I know.

You can get more factory .38 Spl for less money and probably more factory .357

In the hottest available factory load for this cartridge, the AE327 American Eagle 100gr. JSP and Speer 115gr. GDHP self-defense load, the felt recoil is roughly 25% less than a .357 Magnum full house 125gr. load. You get a bit less muzzle blast and report but it's still a Magnum so it's a bit more than a .38 Spl.

That said, I think it's a lot of fun to shoot in this medium frame gun and I suspect most shooters can shoot it all day. I've also taken to reloading because of this cartridge so the cost issue is negated somewhat.

Also, .32 S&W Long is also fun to shoot. I handload it paper punching and introducing new shooters to the DA revolver. Factory ammo for .32 S&W Long can be had for around $15 per box.

 

[louiethelump]

It is too long for existing single six cylinders. That is why we got a Blackhawk instead. I aggree that it would be perfect in a long cylinder single six. I would convert one of my SS birdshead Single Sixes in a second if it was financially feasable.................

Louie

 

[5of7]

It is too long for existing single six cylinders. That is why we got a Blackhawk instead. I aggree that it would be perfect in a long cylinder single six. I would convert one of my SS birdshead Single Sixes in a second if it was financially feasable.................

Louie

I got to wondering about that, so I got my Single Six .32 Mg. out to see.

I took out the cylinder, dropped a .32 Mg cartridge into one chamber, then measured from over the rim to the front of the cylinder.

I got 1.455" which would be just barely long enough to handle the 100 gr. Hornady bullet seated to the cannelure in a 327 case. There would be about .015" to spare.

I suspect that factory loads might exceed this overall length, but by using Hornady bullets, and handloading, it would work.

The next question would be why? The .32 Mg is only loaded to 20K pressure and it is quite simple to increase that pressure and hand load it to generate in excess of 1200 fps with a 100 gr. bullet. Ain't that enough?

 

[louiethelump]

BINGO!!!

 

[Glupy]

The next question would be why? The .32 Mg is only loaded to 20K pressure and it is quite simple to increase that pressure and hand load it to generate in excess of 1200 fps with a 100 gr. bullet. Ain't that enough?

Very clever 5of7. I was trying to put that together but I don't have any 32s. You did it much better. Thanks.

Dave

 

[gak]

I'm a big .32 H&R Mag/Single Six fan and still vote for a bonafide/dedicated .327 SS...and conversion thereto is where I'm headed as soon as financially feasible, as one poster suggested.