Hello,

I posted this question in the revolver forum, but I figured I'd post here as well.

Regarding the S&W Model 632 (and other .327 Fed. mag revolvers), I'm just trying to get opinions on how long it will take for .327 magnum to become more readily available, if ever. And is there any way for consumers to increase its availability besides buying an expensive gun that we can't shoot because the ammo is so hard to get and expensive? I e-mailed S&W customer service, haven't gotten a response yet.

Thanks!
Ed

I don't think it will ever become more available than what it is now, and may become less so as the stocks are reduced.

Many cartridges are the result of ammo designers/producers with too much time on their hands. Many are easily surpassed by more popular rounds already in production and don't fill any particular niche that other rounds can't also fill.

One of my favorite cartridges was the .30 Herrrett, essentually chambered only in the TC Contender. Basically a shortened .30-30, it was an awesome cartridge and very efficient in the 10- and 14-inch barrels. Alas it was never commercially produced, cases had to be handmade from .30-30 brass, and I don't think any company still chambers production firearms for it. Unfortunately, mine was stolen. "Good luck finding ammo" to the jerk who took it.

When Starline makes brass I will buy a gun. Until then the H&R does it for me.

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Front sight and squeeze

I appreciate this question because the ballistics on the .327 Mag are very good (comparable to a 9mm +P from a short barrel), and one gets an extra round over the small-frame .357 Mag. I would love to buy a snubnose in this caliber, but I share the other responders' pessimism about the likelihood of reasonable ammunition prices any time in the near future.

I have a satin stainless 632 CarryComp in 327 Magnum and it is a great pistol. I haven't had trouble finding the ammo (85 grain self defense load, 85 grain JSP or the 100 grain JSP). It is a bit pricy at about $28 for a box of 50. I'm sure the ammo will be hard to find, but at this point, for me anyway, 32 H&R is harder to find then 327 where I live.

The 327 is a powerful and loud round. The beauty of this round is that all the other 32 rounds can be shot through it as well (32 S&W, 32 Long, 32 H&R and even 32ACP in a pinch).

I bought this pistol because I like 32s and was interested in the caliber. I also didn't hesitate with the purchase because it fires all the other 32s as well and can be reloaded using the same 32 H&R dies.

I hope this caliber is here to stay, as it is what the 32 H&R was intended to be. With Harrington and Richardson's limited money for development, and choice of their handgun line, they made the cartridge as long as they could without making a new handgun.

I was aware of the .327 ammo shortage. So I bought some ammo & all the components to reload as well. And for seven months my dealers have been unable to locate the S&W 2" version. I checked today & its still unavailable. 7 boxes of ammo, 500 rounds of reloads & no gun to shoot them!

I bought a 327 revolver about 18 months ago. Ammunition has been available from day 1 at the local True Value hardware store where I bought the gun. I built up a good supply of cases by shooting out the 100 grain AE that sells for $24.65 here. Now I cast and handload, great cartridge and a great gun, Charter Arms Target Patriot, that is.

5 boxes of AE 100 grain 50 round boxes are available on Gunbroker.com

If the .327 Magnum doesn't catch on ammo may never be more available than it is now. Like any other caliber it needs a lot of shooters to make the ammo easily available at a better price. Right now the push to sell the revolver as a SD handgun isn't going well. IMO the only think that will save the caliber is if it's chambered in a SA revolver like the Blackhawk and a Carbine for hunting like the Marlin 1894. I think it's a so-so SD round but a great round for killing Varmints like Coyotes with a levergun. Just look back at how popular the 32 Cal was as a small game and field gun not too long ago, the .327 Magnum could make the 32 Cal popular again. (but not in a 3" revolver for SD)

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Ruger has made three revolvers in this caliber, S&W needs to get going. A k frame would be a good start, plus the 2 inch centinnel that has pictures but not on the street.

I traded my ruger sp in 327 towards a S&W 432, The 327 round is real nice and the ruger was a tank but not real comfortable to carry. I also load for the 32s family but will stick with the H&R till the centennial becomes available, Those SS centennials are awsome. If you are going to shoot the 327 a lot You may have to reload for it.
Carl

I would be very interested in a K-frame .327 S&W w/ a nice 4" barrel. Round-butt and adjustable sights would be nice. Stainless steel would be obligatory. Would be a ideal field gun for small game, etc. And with good ammo it would do fine for HD. With brass and bullets one could have a lot of fun working up various loads for the range, plinking and even hunting. With a normal weight barrel, the weight would be fine for carry and shooting. Hope they will produce it. Until then I'll just keep carrying my 28... or my 686... or my 625.

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<><

In my neck of the woods finding premium ammo is no issue. There's plenty of the 115Gr. Gold Dots and 85Gr. Hydra-Shoks in most stores.
The issue has been finding the AE 100Gr. Soft Points. That's as near as you will get to plinking ammo.

If you're going to practice with any appreciable volume without breaking the bank, you need to reload.

Freedom Arms is selling Federal Brass (primed!) in 100 and 500 count containers. I ordered a 500 count bag from them, it got here within 2 days. My H&R dies are arriving today so I will start loading tomorrow morning!

Here's the order form for Freedom Arms brass. You'll have to call them:

http://www.freedomarms.com/2009%20New%20Products.pdf

Here's an article from shooting times with good load info:

Reloading the .327 Federal Magnum

Here's another page with decent data:

Reloading .327 Federal Magnum

So as you can see, there's plenty of load data out there.

I'm not sure if the cartridge will ever "take off" to be honest. Look at .357 Sig and .45 GAP. Those are viable LE cartridges and they're having a hard time achieving the popularity of the .40 S&W. Even though some LE agencies have adopted them.
I don't think the cartridge is "going away" either. It will be around and in use by folks like me who love the .32 and feel that this cartridge puts it where it needs to be. Kinda like 10MM (which I also love and for which I reload).
Like others I would love to see a lever action gun in this caliber!

I was just looking around on Buffalo Bore's site and was pleasantly surprised to see that they will be offering two or three .327 Federal Mag rounds sometime this year, as well as an equal number for the .32 H&R Mag.......

When they do I'm going to be all over that!

According to their webpage Speer uses small rifle primers in all their .327 loads.
See special note regarding primers
http://www.speer-bullets.com/pdf/327...8_DataFile.pdf
Bob

I see the Sd loads everywhere. The problem around here is the plinking ammo or target loads are nearly impossible to find. That is one fo the main reasons I have considered getting one myself.

I see that AE is now loading an 85 grain soft point as well as the original 100 grain soft point. The local True Value hardware store has had AE 100 gr. continuously ever since the 327 came out. I bought it and shot it out to build up my brass stock to hand load.

Compared to other calibers, its very much a niche caliber.

Expect manufacturers to produce small lots of ammo and components only once per year (or manufacturing cycle - which I understand is typically annual).

I ordered some Hornady XTP Bullets 32 Caliber (312 Diameter) 100 Grain from Midway in April 2010. They only just arrived a couple weeks ago.

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

It may never become readily available: it seems to have been born under a bad sign. The timing may be off for it to become a mainline cartridge.
The economics are bad too, it is too expensive by half: as is ammunition in general.
Do a work-around and buy factory for use in self-defense: and load yer own fer practice. If I ever get one, those are my plans.
Good Lord, ammo is expensive.

I don't see the ammo as being terribly expensive by comparison. I picked up a box of AE,(50 rounds) for 24.65. The Remington 38 Special, 110 gr, SJHP right next to it were marked 36.95 (50 Rounds). I cast and load for both and now I have a healthy supply of 327 cases and a couple 5 gallon buckets of 38 Special cases. 327 seems a bargain when compared new to new.

I have the Ruger, great little pistol and I love the round. Ammunition in my neck of the woods is sketchy, however I use mostly the 32 H&R magnum for plinking and have components.
I am having a hard time finding jacketed projectiles for the 327 Fed, I have 100 cases ready to reload. I agree Smith would do good with a 4" K frame, it would be the perfect light woods gun.

ArchAngelCD: I cant see what a 327 would do for me that a 357 revolver..OR ONE OF THE OTHER CARTRIDGES THAT IT WOULD CHAMBER, cant or wont do. (Caps were intentional to bring to notice the "other cartridges) With everything from a low velocity 38 Special WC to a +P 38 Special..to even as much as a full bore 357...it covers a lot of territory.??? Maybe Im just looking at it wrong but I dont think it will last at all.

The 327 fills a huge, repeat, HUGE void. It did not exist, therefor--- the VOID!!!! Translate: vacuum . Hate a vacuum, fill it, that, alone is more than enough reason to justify a 327, fill the vacuum. Just nature taking its course.

In my original post I said I would like to see the .327 Magnum in a SA revolver and Carbine. I said that because a fast .32 Caliber is a handy round much like the 32-20 was Decades ago when it was very popular. IMO there's room for a fast 32 caliber revolver/carbine combination for use around the farm. There's nothing wrong with a Marlin 1894 and a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .32 Federal Magnum.

Besides, the .32 Federal Mag is everything the .32 H&R Mag was supposed to be.
It might not be for you but I think it has it's place as a hunting round, the 32-20 sure did...

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

The main advantage that I see in the 327 Fed Magnum other than it's excellent ballistics(on paper) Is the ability to have 6 rounds in a J frame.

If the ballistics are as close to 357 Mag as the testing shows without the recoil, flash and boom, with one more round I would grab one in a minute.

I have shot it in the Ruger SP101 and it screams!

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Still Running Against the Wind

I contacted S&W via email in early Jan. of 2011 regarding the availability of Model 632 ( the 2" SS version). It was tentatively
scheduled for "early february." I contacted them again feb. 21th and now " the projected availability date for that model is 05/11"

Well, it looks like, without doubt, that when all is said & done that it will take over a year from downpayment (4-2010) until my 632 becomes available, well, actually it's going to be my Wife's. That time-frame is definitely a record for me. Once, I waited over 2.5 years for a guy to build me two canoes, but he ran a one man shop and was in his 70's so that didn't seem like too long of a wait.

Having spent over 10 years as a Departmental Quality Chairperson (Floor level) at GM's Flint V6 Engine Plant (3800 V6) where I worked closely with Design Engineers, usually in conjunction with Manufacturing Engineers, a couple of questions keep popping into my head as far as the delay on the 632 is concerned.

Is it being set back in the production schedule due to large demands for other products that are known sellers, or, are they holding off due to some design / manufacturing issue that they came across last year, either in-house or supplier driven, that they are working out?? If it is a design type issue then I'm glad they are working on getting it right, if that's what's happening, before they start running them through their process on a full scale production level and shipping them out the door.......

When the .327 Federal Mag was introduced back in 2008 I broke one of my cardinal rules and bought one without waiting for the manufacturer, in this case Ruger, to get feedback from the field and tweak any issues they may have had. I took the chance figuring it was on one of their proven platforms, the SP101, so what could go wrong? Mine, as well as many others, had to go back for tight extraction issues and after mine received a new cylinder it's been good to go ever since.

When S&W came out with the 632 Carry Comp, I, once again, broke "the rule" in spite of the fact that I really didn't like the compensated barrel. Thankfully, knock on wood, it's been fine for well over a year now.
Same with my Charter Arms "Patriot", also in .327 Fed Mag.

Hopefully the "new" 632 will have all of the bugs worked out of it before it hits the streets and the wait will be well worth it.
Only time will tell on that one, how much time is anybody's guess at this point..........

For the 2nd time, I contacted S&W concerning the availability of Model 632 ( the 2" SS version) and received a reply today: "SKU 178046 is still slated for production but we are unaware of when."

It was introduced in March 2010. I now believe there is a good possibility it may be discontinued before ever being available.

Consequently, i've decided to sell, at a significant loss, more than $1000 worth of ammo and reloading gear for all the calibers the .327 would fire.

For me, the thrill is gone for the S&W .327 magnum.

Did you really take a big loss on $1000 worth of stuff just because a revolver is late to production? Really?? I would think you would be grateful to S&W for getting it right before releasing the product, unlike Ruger who always seems to need at least one recall on every new release. (or more than one) No, I'm not bashing Ruger but only stating a fact.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I was just checking to see what is available in the world in .327 and I see that the 3" S&W, the Ruger SP101 and Charter Arms guns are readily availble. I also saw that there is a Ruger Blackhawk AND a GP100 7-shot available! Sounds interesting to me!

Rob

Cheaper Than Dirt - America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter has American Eagle 85gr jacketed soft points at 50 cents per round right now.
They have less recoil than the 100gr and are the perfect plinker ammo if you use the 85gr Federal for self defense.

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Old revolvers are works of art

As I posted earlier, tired of waiting for the 2" S&W .327 mag., I decided to sell my 327 ammo & reloading gear at a significant loss to a friend. Thankfully, he suggested I consider applying the loss I would incur on a Taurus, before we completed the deal.

I purchased a Taurus 2" SS Concealed Hammer .327 mag. from Cheaper Than Dirt for $296 (less than what I would have lost selling my reloading gear) .

I plan to only shoot reloads. I have already shot some .327's & .32 HR's at near max loads without problems. I am enjoying shooting this gun and I really like reloading four calibers for the same gun.

I still prefer the S&W, but I will take a Taurus in hand that I can actually shoot, any day, over a 15 month delayed "getting it right" S&W that may or may not be released in the future.

Taurus has discontinued the .327 mag. & Cheaper Than Dirt has sold out of the version I purchased, with no back orders.

I personally would have bought the Charter Arms revolver over the Taurus but that's just me.

What bullet weight are you loading? What kind of velocity and accuracy are you achieving from your reloads?

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I have the Taurus 327 and the CA Target Patriot. Both good, but hard to compare as the Taurus is 2", fixed and the CA is 4" adjustable. Both are reliable and accurate. I cast Lyman 311316, 115 gr. gas checked and load it heavy with A#9. Very good in both revolvers. Haven't set up my chrono yet, still doing some load development and speed is not my goal, accuracy is. I'm going to try A#7 in the 2" just for comparison. Tried 2400, OK but not great and I would need to use a magnum primer to get a better burn in the 2". Still experimenting, only been at it 2 years, not in a hurry, yet!!

I'm shooting 100 gr Rainer bullets in my reloads with SR-4756 powder. Accuracy has been surprisingly good.

I haven't checked velocities yet . I'm using Hodgdon Reloading Data from their website and it lists 1419 fps for a 100gr bullet; I plan on getting as close as possible with a 2 inch barrel.

As of 04/2016 - F Y I:

Yes, it's scarce & not easy to find, however, but it's out there at a premium !! Took me a year of almost daily searches to find my satin s/s 632-1, like new with less than 200 rounds fired & Crimson Trace green laser grips.

Within a week of purchase, I was, also, able to score <online> 100 rounds of Federal Premium 85 gr. HYDRA-Shok JHP as well as another 20 rnds. each of Speer Gold Dot 115 gr. JHP & Hornady XTP 100 gr. JHP as well as another 50 rounds of American Eagle 100 gr. JSP for practice = 190 rounds @ avg. cost of $0.73/round <to include S&H> delivered to my door !!!

Previous owner of the 632-1 advised that he successfully chambered & fired .32 S&W, .32 S&W long, .32 H&R mag, as well as .327 fed mag, of course!

P.S. - If you check the specs, you'll find that the .327 mag & .357 mag are very comparable as regards velocity & energy ... the only significant/major difference is Recoil !!! . . . Mo' Bigga is NOT Always Mo' Betta !!! . . .


.327 Mag........ 115 GDJHP.......1300 fps.....431 ft-lbs of energy
.327 Mag.........100 JSP...........1400 fps.....435 ft-lbs of energy
.357 Mag.........110 JHP...........1300 fps.....410 ft-lbs of energy

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TejanoViejo