Thoughts on 327 blackhawk

[Tommy Kelly]

I dont see post's on the 327 blackhawk. What do you that own them think of the blackhawk with the 8 shot cylinders. I think it would be neat to have the 2 extra rounds. What are your experiences with these. I have been concidering getting one to try.

 

[Tam 212]

Not an apples to apples comparison but my GP-100 is chambered in .327... 7-round cylinder.

To summarize:

Fun to shoot BUT,

• factory ammo is expensive at roughly $25 a box. And supplies are hit or miss. Can be hard to find.
• factory ammo is limited. Only ATK (Federal/American Eagle/Speer) currently make loads for it, AFAIK.

If you can get around the above two issues, it's fun to shoot. You can also run .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Magnum (even harder to find or $$$). Also .32 S&W Short but I don't know why you would want to...

Felt recoil for the stoutest Speer 115gr. GDHP or American Eagle 100gr. JSP is about 20 - 25% less than .357 Magnum loads in an equivalent framed revolver. With the big Blackhawk, it's likely and all day shooter.

I think there have been another recent post about this caliber comparing it to the .357. There have also been a few posts awhile back about this cartridge and guns chambered for it.

 

[recumbent]

I like the 327 mine is an SP101 my local gunshop usually has the ammo and I reload so no problems.

I also shoot 32 H&R Mag in mine some.

I wish Ruger would come out with a 6 shot 327 in the LCR.......

 

[Tam 212]

Yeah, this cartridge was one of the main reasons I got into reloading...

A 327 LCR would be... interesting.

 

[Koveras]

I've had my 327 Blackhawk since late July and I've been able to shoot it a fair amount (thanks to a local store that had a good supply of the American Eagle 100gr ammo). The factory ammo is good stuff, but I wanted it primarily for the cases.

My reloads have all used cast bullets (Lee 311-100-2R and Lee TLC313-115-RF molds) in both 32 H&R and 327, since jacketed bullets suitable for the 327 are expensive and hard to get. I use 5Sb95Pb for the 100gr mold in the 32 H&R and 2Sn6Sb92Pb with Hornady 30 cal gas checks for the 115gr mold in the 327, both sized to .313". Accurate #9 is my current powder of choice.

As to the gun, recoil is negligible, but muzzle blast is not. With the American Eagle ammo, fire shoots out of the cylinder gap in a most impressive display. My reloads are a bit more tame. The Blackhawk in 327 seems heavier than normal, at least while shooting as it is barrel heavy. I shoot it side by side with a 7.5" Super Blackhawk and the 327 seems to tire me out faster. The gun is easy to reload for, and is very accurate with about any reload or factory ammo I've tried.

The eight shots are confusing at first, and I have found myself losing concentration by the eighth shot. This is my flaw, not the gun's. The 327 seems to be efficient and doesn't produce a lot of carbon fouling with factory ammo or my reloads. BTW, An 8mm rifle bore brush works great as a chamber brush after shooting the shorter 32 H&R rounds.

I enjoy shooting the 327, but I don't know that I prefer it over any of the other calibers available in the Blackhawk. If I didn't reload (and didn't like different and unusual things), I would probably just use a 357 and be done with it.

These are just my experiences. Your mileage may vary. Not valid in the following states ...

 

[Bucks Owin]

Excellent post Koveras, thanks!

Personally, I found the 8 shot .327 Blackhawk a "turn off" when it was introduced and .32 caliber normally leaves me lukewarm at best. But both the cartridge and the "eightgun" have kinda grown on me. Now, I think I'd like one too! I appreciate the firsthand report amigo...

(A 10" Hunter version for varmits would definately get my attention! :wink: )

 

[dimrod]

I handled one in a gun shop this past summer. The quality of the grip to frame fit was dismal. I was also turned off by the weight. I'll stick to the 32 H&R mag in my Bisley single sixes. They are true shooters.

 

[2 dogs]

I promptly recognized the cool factor of the 327 cartridge itself and commisioned Alan Harton to build me one on a Single Six platform when it was announced. It is a dandy and exits a 118 grain GC bullet at 1550 fps. I believe the 327 would be best in the SS platform.

I cast and reload and brass is available from Freedom Arms so that isnt an issue for me. I am currently exploring the differences between the 32-20 and 327 Federal as well as what exactly is possible with each round. I am also in the process of trying heavier than normal bullets. With the 32-20 I have gotten 1540 with a 133 grain LBT bullet and am reasonably sure I can do the same with the 327. The bullet I tried was a plain base and I want to get a custom mold with a GC. More later.

I dont have a 8 shooter, instead I rechambered my Buckeye to 327. But, if I didnt already have the Buckeye I would be on that 8 shooter like a junebug on a nit. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Don Lovel]

I want a birdshead 8 shot vaquero with 3 1/2" barrel, I would probably make it my EDC

 

[Sheriff]

I probably shoot more .32's than I do .41's, .44's or .45's. Easier on reloading budget not to mention my hands and wrists. I haven't jumped on the .327 wagon, yet, because I feel I can do everything with my .32-20 that can be done with the .327 in a Blackhawk. I haven't shot the heavier weight bullets in my .32-20, yet.

Still, if I were in the market for a .327, I'd grab up the fisrt 8-shooter I ran across.

 

[2 dogs]

I agree. Its not like Buckeyes are growing on trees or anything.

 

[mhblaw]

I had my Buckeye 32 H&R cylinder rechambered to 327 by Bowen in 2009. Also have a USFA convertible in 327/32WCF. Recently acquired an 8 shot BH. Like them all and are a treat to shoot. In fact today is 32 caliber day (for me) at the local range. Purchased some AE 327 rounds and have been reloading the brass with no problems, so far.

 

[contender]

Well, I own a 327 Blackhawk. I have shot it with 32 Longs,, 32 H&R mags, and 327 mag ammo.
I have found it to ba a very pleasant shooter,, and accurate. I have shot mostly reloads,, and they have proven quite good in mine. As for having 8 shots,,, it does throw off a few folks who think you have a "6 shooter!" I few times,, I too found myself with muscle memory wanting to stop shooting after #6.
My thoughts? A good gun to fully enjoy,, and an excellent medium game caliber.

 

[32magfan]

I nearly fainted (not exaggerating) when I saw the 8-shot BlackHawk at a show last January. I had been away from the RF for a while and was unaware of them even being thought about. I didn't have the $$ to pay for all of it so I put down a deposit, drove home, came back the next morning before church and paid the difference, passed the instant check and walked home with it. I bought the 7-shot GP100 at the next gun show I attended.

I like the BlackHawk in 327. It is pretty heavy, even with the 8 holes. Really though, it isn't much heavier than my NM 357 Mag with 6.5" bbl.

Recoil is not bad with any of the factory stuff but the blast is substantial. I really like the 32 S&W Longs out of this gun. Its like shooting Dad's old Colt Officer's Model Match revolver in 22LR. Of course, given my handle, the gun has seen plenty of 32 H&R also.

If you get a chance to get one, grab it. They are cheaper now than what I paid by a good bit (around $500). It really is a gun for the reloader that can generate his own ammo.

Thanks,

32Magfan

 

[Kevin]

I've got the 8 shot Blackhawk also. It's fun. I love having the different calibers to shoot. It's interesting how they are actually quite different from each other. Anyhow, I liked the Blackhawk so much, I got the SP101 in .327 also. Definitely louder, but I love the .32's from it. And both are great on accuracy for that matter.

 

[JimMarch1]

I keep thinking there HAS to be a bigger bore round that will still fit eight-up with a chamber ream and possibly a re-barrel.

Somebody did some geometry and figured it can't be converted to an eight-shot 357Mag - rim clearance problems. BUT what if we go rimless? As in 9x23 Winchester? This slightly stretched 9mm Luger round was an attempt to do 357Mag power levels on a 1911 platform, and comes very close in terms of raw power. We could use .357 slugs instead of .355 and fire 'em out of 357Mag take-off barrels, making the whole conversion fairly cheap?

 

[Tam 212]

If an 8 round bigger bore magnum is desired, doesn't S&W have N-frames that offer that in .357 Mag?

Or do we want to stick with a medium frame and still have 8-rounds?

I think the .357 SIG "comes close" to 357 Mag. I don't think even 9mm +P+ will spit it out at the 1400fps a .357 Mag will with 124gr. loads?

 

[JimMarch1]

I want an eight-round full-power SA.



The 357Sig and 9x23Winchester are in the same power range. The Sig is bottlenecked in a fashion that bars it from wheelguns (too steep a shoulder). The 9x23 is perfect - a stretched 9mm Luger.

 

[MBane666]

2Dogs...what powders are you using on heavy bullet loads? I'm finally getting around to experimenting with the .327 as a good woods carry gun...I got some of the Cast Performance 113-grainers to try out. My go-to .32H&R bullet is the 115-gr LaserCast...

Michael B