Wait for S&W or buy Taurus 327FedMag?

[Johnnu2]

I'm quite biased AGAINST TAURUS because I had a PT-145 that I dearly loved but had three catastrophic failures over 10 yrs. Each time, Taurus made me pay for shipping and repairs. I couldn't contend with three (each one different) failures AND repairs so I went to Springfield Armory and try to bash Taurus every chance that I get.

 

[BigBill]

I'm a ruger Guy first they are Mack truck strong. I'd go with a ruger in 327. I did purchased the misses a used Taurus m94/22lr revolver, great starter gun for her. But my choices mainly are ruger, s&w and colts first. But for 22 cal revolvers I like the old h&r's too.

 

[VikingDude]

My opinion is that you should never buy a Taurus, especially when you have the possibility to buy a Ruger. I talked to another S&W distributor in Europe last year when I attended the armorer class. They had been a Taurus distributor for 20 years and he told me that the quality at Taurus have becoming worse over the years.

 

[Green Frog]

The devil will probably form an Ice Hockey team and have home games before the powers that be at Smith and Wesson decide that the 327 is worth making. There are still a few gunsmiths out there who will build one for you, like the "Project 616" I had built on a Model 66. I have a couple of 327s and I'm not sure I would go to the trouble and expense to build one on a J frame. I think the K frame is a much better platform for what is, after all, a true magnum.

Froggie

 

[Eddietruett]

I have a Taurus 327 Fed Mag Snub. Factory bobbed hammer. Fantastic little gun. Smooth action. Shoots great. I throw it in my pocket when I'm just running a quick errand. I'm a S&W collector but in the last year I've picked up 7-8 Taurus revolvers and autos and been real satisfied. Got a revolver in 40 S&W, 45 acp, 45 LC and 9mm to go with the 327 fed mag. All are fun shooters

 

[Sistema1927]

I was able to improve the trigger of the .327 SP101 with some careful polishing and a couple of shims.

 

[dr. mordo]

I definitely wouldn't hold my breath on S&W making another 327.

I love my LCR327 so much I will likely get it in other calibers as well. It has a "love it or hate it" trigger that is very light and long. They start off a tiny bit clunky but smooth out beautifully after several hundred dry fires and a bit of lube.

That said, I think I'd love a SP101 in 327. Just like my WC GP100, I'd throw a trigger job and lighter springs in it and I bet it would be great. I absolutely love the GP100/SP101 design where the rubber grip slides over the undersized frame. The ergos are as good as any revolver I have held, and you don't have an exposed steel backstrap digging into your hand while shooting magnums.

I do agree that true 327 Magnums are HOT and LOUD. They are absolute screamers. I really need to save up and get a lever gun in 327. I bet that is a hoot.

 

[Echo40]

If a Smith & Wesson is what you really want, then you ought to wait until you can get one. Purchasing a substitute that you ultimately won't be satisfied with is a waste of money, and the fact that you have to ask if you should buy a Taurus or Ruger instead, not to mention that you've avoided doing so thus far in spite of all your trouble finding a Smith & Wesson tells me that you're better off waiting.

Bide your time, wait it out, and eventually you'll find what you're looking for at a price you're happy to pay.

 

[Gunhacker]

I won't hold my breath for S&W to make another .32 cal revolver, they don't have a good sales track record with them to be motivated to give it another try.

Consider all the ones they came out with, like the 16-4, 43x, 63x .32 H&R Magnum revolvers, all were discontinued after a few years production.

I went with a Ruger SP101. A Wolff spring kit and a bit of polishing gave it great feeling action.

But I also am lucky enough to have two 6" bbl 16-4's, and one of those has had the cylinder reamed to .327 Federal Magnum.

If S&W could be convinced to give the .32 another try, they should look at bringing back a K-Frame in .327 Federal.

 

[smoothshooter]

I would get the Ruger or Taurus now.
My personal experience with all three brands indicates Smith has the worst quality control of the three.
Smith has chosen to make the customer a big part of the final inspection process that used to be done in-house.
Especially where getting barrel-cylinder gap right and correctly clocking the barrels are concerned.
I know it's a limited sample, but my Taurus Model 85 UL in .38 Special is a much better gun in every way than any Smith J frame I have or ever have owned.

 

[BigBill]

I was able to improve the trigger of the .327 SP101 with some careful polishing and a couple of shims.

Put moly in the action and on the sears.

 

[NavySCPO]

I'm a big fan of the 327 Federal, while very loud, if I've read the ballistics correctly, about 80-90% power of the 357, with about half the recoil. Having said that, ammo is expensive, and not always easy to find. Just not practical to be able to put in the dedicated range time for it to be my EDC, so I'll stick with my 357 or 9mm. The G43 is a nice option when wearing light clothing.

I own a Taurus 327 revolver, and it's been a great gun, bought it back 10-11 years ago, but I've only put maybe 200-250 rounds through it, no issues to date. I worry because I've heard the horror stories of their long term reliability. One of those stupid predicaments where I don't want to part with it, but don't shoot it with any regularity either.

Much as I'd love to have one, I'm not paying the required $1500+ for a Smith, if I were going to buy another it would be a Ruger. Rock solid guns, and they back them.

 

[bdGreen]

I guess I shouldn't be in this 'back and forth' as I have already made up my mind...

And the winners are...

Good luck on whatever choice you make.

enjoy,
bdGreen

 

[mod34]

I say hedge, hedge, hedge. Buy all of the .327s you can find.....if one happens to have SW stamped on it.........

 

[ShadyDrifter]

Friends don't let friends buy taurus

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I have several S&W's in 32 and I and my wife like them . I stepped up and got her the Ruger in 327 Fed . The recoil , while not wild , can definitely be felt . I don't know if I'd want to shoot one in a J frame , and I like the cartridge . If I remember right , the M16 was made in 32 magnum and if that could be modified to shoot 327 fed , that would be the one to own .

 

[treedog61]

First, I will never own another Taurus product again. Never!. Have you thought about the Ruger SP101? It's real nice. Here's my 632-1. I bought it years ago, new. The prices are so high, I keep it put up. Good luck!

 

[H Richard]

The chambers of the 432PD and 431PD could be increased to accept the 327, but with the light weight (13 oz) I don't think the recoil would be tolerable. I will just stick with the 32 H&R.

 

[mfholmes]

I wanted a compact .327 FM and bought a 3" SP101. The one with the windage adjustable rear sight. A bit heavy but I knew that going in.

Yes, the SP101 in 3" was tempting me. The shorter barrel keeps it from being too heavy, but I don't think they make that length anymore, do they?

 

[mfholmes]

I won't hold my breath for S&W to make another .32 cal revolver, they don't have a good sales track record with them to be motivated to give it another try.

Consider all the ones they came out with, like the 16-4, 43x, 63x .32 H&R Magnum revolvers, all were discontinued after a few years production.

But I also am lucky enough to have two 6" bbl 16-4's, and one of those has had the cylinder reamed to .327 Federal Magnum.

If S&W could be convinced to give the .32 another try, they should look at bringing back a K-Frame in .327 Federal.

Question for GUNHACKER. Do you have a feel for how the availability is for the 16-4 in 3", and how well does it perform with the 327 in the one you have reamed out? Interesting option if it's not too much of a job for a good GS.