Sell me on the 327 Federal Magnum

[Soundguy]

Just found out today that Ruger makes a 3" SP 101, fixed sight in 327..... Also found out it fits surprising well in the center console of my Ford.

It's a great gun.. I have one. After you get this..then look at 30 super carry...

[history@mts.net]

I'm looking at the same cartridge, but in a rifle platform. Think modern Rook rifle. And before anyone says, why not build a .32-20, I already have a Westley Richards Rook Rifle Cadet-frame Martini in .298 Minex, which is a .32-20 case using a 0.300" 140 grain bullet at 1,400 fps.

I have a spare Ruger #1 action & stock that is in need of a new barrel [as I have absolutely no need for a .264 Winchester Magum] if I want to use factory ammo [although I haven't in 40 years] or I can chamber the cartridge in an older action & simply load to the action's design limitations, sort of like duplicating the old .32 Extra Long cartridge in a modern platform.

Being a student of ballistics, however, I keep running up against the fact that the cartridge will not do anything that either my Ruger #1 in .357 Magnum with its 26" barrel or the Westley Richards will not do better.

[shooting on a shoestring]

History…..
There’s no justification for your proposed Ruger #1 in 327 other than want.
Yes it’ll work and be a dandy and very fun gun. That’s all the justification you need for this hobby. Do it!

But….the 2 big selling points for 327 are best realized in revolvers. That’s the really high chamber pressure (high for a handgun) that gives super hard acceleration for the first couple of inches of boolit travel, and the smaller than 357 diameter that gets 1 more shot in the cylinder of a 357 sized revolver.

Neither of those two factors matter in a Ruger #1 with a 20-something inch barrel. Expansion ratio could easily outrun the 45k psi chamber pressure like almost any 30 caliber rifle cartridge could do. However you might have fun playing with light charges in the 327 case, stay sub-sonic and have a fairly quiet small game harvester that could be a deer getter too with a full charge 327 load. But you can do that in 357 too….

So maybe trade that heavy duty 264 for a 327 revolver and join the party?

[history@mts.net]

shooting on a shoestring:

The only fly in that ointment is that even before the total ban on handgun transfers was instituted last year here in Canada, for 20+ years before that, .32 & .25 calibre handguns were banned [under the so-called Saturday Night Special provision].

[P Flados]

shooting on a shoestring:

The only fly in that ointment is that even before the total ban on handgun transfers was instituted last year here in Canada, for 20+ years before that, .32 & .25 calibre handguns were banned [under the so-called Saturday Night Special provision].

May I offer my condolences.

For a break open handgun such as the TC, I would be tempted to make myself a 264 or 280 straight wall using 327 brass out of spite (I make 32 mediums from 9mm, so I "have the technology"). And actually, converting something like a Dan Wesson Model 15 would not be super difficult.

But then again, you said that they have now banned even going out and getting a used version of either of the above.

[Gus Youmans]

jdgabbard,

I have accumulated six .327 Federal Magnums and one .32 H&R Magnum and have enjoyed shooting them over the years. The .327 Federal is legal for deer hunting in Georgia and will probably do the job and the cartridge is also a viable self-defense cartridge. However, in my case, the .32s stay in the safe when it comes time to pull something out for deer hunting and self defense. I have handguns chambered in more powerful catridges for deer hunting and prefer small autoloaders for concealed carry. The one niche that my 4" SP101 fills better than any of my other pistols is carrying around the property and casual woods walking.

Gus Youmans

[jdgabbard]

jdgabbard,

I have accumulated six .327 Federal Magnums and one .32 H&R Magnum and have enjoyed shooting them over the years. The .327 Federal is legal for deer hunting in Georgia and will probably do the job and the cartridge is also a viable self-defense cartridge. However, in my case, the .32s stay in the safe when it comes time to pull something out for deer hunting and self defense. I have handguns chambered in more powerful catridges for deer hunting and prefer small autoloaders for concealed carry. The one niche that my 4" SP101 fills better than any of my other pistols is carrying around the property and casual woods walking.

Gus Youmans

Thanks for the reply, Gus.

I actually do carry a small wheel gun more than anything else, defensive wise. Though I do own small semi-autos. The small wheel gun just serves my needs better.

[Kosh75287]

Nah, I don't see much potential. It's a rimmed .30 Carbine, with all the limitations that shorter and vented barrels inflict. It is ballistically a 9mmP/.38 Super, without the bore area (wound-channel creation potential). In revolvers originally meant for .38 Special or .357, it holds one more round. IF you believe that one more round of a smaller-bore round will save your life, then this round's for you.
Stuffed into a lever-action rifle, it is the .30 U.S. Carbine, re-invented. Marginal for defense, inferior for game weighing in excess of 100 pounds. Yee-haw.

[Abert Rim]

Ask the Germans what they thought about getting stitched by a GI with an M-1 Carbine.

[Soundguy]

Marginal for defense, inferior for game weighing in excess of 100 pounds. Yee-haw.

Would you say a 357 mag is marginal for defense? You can load 327 into 357 ranges.. meaning you think 357 is marginal for defense. Same with game.. If you don't think 357 can take a small to medium deer.. then I think you are just heavily biased and not really looking at the facts... IMHO...

[Green Frog]

Five pages later, it’s still “like tryin’ to tell a stranger ‘bout Rock-n- Roll”!
Froggie over and out.

[jdgabbard]

Would you say a 357 mag is marginal for defense? You can load 327 into 357 ranges.. meaning you think 357 is marginal for defense. Same with game.. If you don't think 357 can take a small to medium deer.. then I think you are just heavily biased and not really looking at the facts... IMHO...

I agree with you. After having researched this quite a bit, it does seem to do what it claims to do. And I think those in opposition to it based on it's capability are extremely biased. But whether or not it makes sense to switch from the 357 is another story that is much more depending on your specific needs / wants.

Five pages later, it’s still “like tryin’ to tell a stranger ‘bout Rock-n- Roll”!
Froggie over and out.

You're never going to convince everyone. But, it's like wildcat rounds. There are a whole lot of them out there that don't do anything special compared to commercially available alternatives....

[billmc2]

The first time I ever got to shoot anything was when I was in the Boy Scouts at summer camp; 22 rifles. I liked it. I was hooked. My parents, not so much. No guns allowed. I was away from shooting for about 40 years and now I'm back at it (not very skilled, but...).

I read about the 327 when it first came out and I was intrigued but not enough to pursue it; besides it was a revolver. Never had one, didn't know much about them.

A couple of years back I was trying to help a friend find a gun she could shoot. She doesn't do well with recoil. Thinking 32 would be her caliber I picked up a Charter Undercoverette for her to try. It was a 32 and relatively cheap (I've got no way of trying without buying) so I gave it a shot. She was Ok with the 32 Long but 32 Mag was to much for her, so she really wasn't interested (I hadn't realized that the Undercoverette was a very light gun at the time). I thought the SP101 would be ideal but Ruger wasn't making them at that time. I looked at the LCR but that is only slightly heavier than the CA gun.

Taurus announced they were bringing back a 327 in both 2 and 3 inch versions and I got excited but decided I'd get the 3 inch when it appeared. It never appeared. This year Taurus finally brought out the 3 inch gun. As I started shopping I learned that Ruger also started making the SP101 again, so that's what I bought. I ordered it through Bass Pro for $700 back in January.

I'm 65 now and I've got my health issues (new pacemaker installed last week) and I've discovered I can't clear my automatics when they jam, so I've decided to start carrying a revolver. Any guesses as to which one? I think I now have 3 or 4 different 32 cal molds of various weights from 72 grain up to 115 grain. I'm still working through the loads.

After shooting the Federal American Eagle 100 gr out of the SP101, I don't think I'd want to shoot that out of a lighter gun. I'm considering picking up another one for myself giving me a total of two SP101s (she still hasn't found an opportunity to try it yet, but when she does, considering all the ammo choices, I'm pretty sure she'll like it).

If you're looking between the Ruger and the Taurus, I'd recommend you get your hands on both. I also picked up the Taurus 856 Defender. That's the 3 inch 38 Special +P version, same as the 327. With the Taurus, I'm on my third set of grips and I'm still not real happy. This latest set (the wood ones you'll find on their Executive) are workable for me but not ideal. The factory grips on the Ruger are just right (for me anyway). The two guns appear to be the same size with the Ruger 2 ounces heavier. Looking at the overlay of the two guns on Handgun Hero I see that the distance from the grip to the trigger on the Ruger is every so slightly longer than the Taurus. I think that is what is making the difference for me.

As for the caliber doing the same as or less than the others, because I didn't have any of the others yet, it wasn't an issue for me.

A slight thread drift. Anyone have any experience with the XS Big Dot on the Ruger SP101? The black factory ramp, even painted isn't doing it for me.

[Lance Boyle]

I wish there were more .32 H&Rs around. I’d settle on a .327 as you pay collector prices on the .32s I desire,...a 4” model 16 Smith and a Marlin lever gun.

my options as runners up ar the 4” Sp101 as I prefer adjustable sights and a Henry. Hearing the mag tube is an overly large .357 mag tube is disappointing.


If Lipsey’s got Smith to make a Classic K frame model 16 I’d be overjoyed. I have a j frame 31-1 in .32 S&W long which I like but a k frame with an adjustable rear sight would be 10x more cool to me.

[Green Frog]

I wish there were more .32 H&Rs around. I’d settle on a .327 as you pay collector prices on the .32s I desire,...a 4” model 16 Smith and a Marlin lever gun.

my options as runners up ar the 4” Sp101 as I prefer adjustable sights and a Henry. Hearing the mag tube is an overly large .357 mag tube is disappointing.


If Lipsey’s got Smith to make a Classic K frame model 16 I’d be overjoyed. I have a j frame 31-1 in .32 S&W long which I like but a k frame with an adjustable rear sight would be 10x more cool to me.

You’re singing my song. I felt so strongly about it I had Project 616 built… a Model 66 fitted with rebored Model 617 barrel and cylinder. It works!
Froggie

[rintinglen]

Having held the Froggy One's "616," I'd love to have one, but after looking around, it would run me 2 grand or more to have one like that made by the time I got the gun, the parts, and a talented gunsmith to put it all together. Plus, anybody good enough to make one of those is booked up to the middle of the next decade, and I might not live that long.

[jdgabbard]

Having held the Froggy One's "616," I'd love to have one, but after looking around, it would run me 2 grand or more to have one like that made by the time I got the gun, the parts, and a talented gunsmith to put it all together. Plus, anybody good enough to make one of those is booked up to the middle of the next decade, and I might not live that long.

I feel that in my bones. Gunsmithing prices have almost priced out the gun owner...

Edit: That said, firearms have almost priced themselves out of reach for the average owner as well...

[rintinglen]

But I did get my 3" SP101 out of hock and hope to shoot it Wednesday. I have plenty of 32 S&WL, about 100 32 H&R (that I can find--there's another 150 odd floating around somewhere) and a bunch of 327." But the trigger was every bit as nasty as I expected, when the Mcarbo set gets here, I'll pull it apart and smooth things up. Until then, I'm just going to make do with the stock setup. Why a 750 dollar gun should have such a cruddy trigger when the S&W J frames are cheaper and have generally decent triggers out of the box dumbfounds me. I have the Shively Shim set I ordered and will install it when I put the spring set in, along with some polishing and a general clean up.

I have an Askins Avenger style holster for a kimber K6s that fits just fine, and the 32-J HKS speedloaders seem to work ok, so I should be all set.