Just one old man’s opinion, but having one reamed for the 327 Federal Magnum is the way to go. I own a couple of cheaper 327’s and have been very impressed with that cartridge for a long time. Roughly half the recoil and only slightly less terminal performance than the 357, what’s not to like? Plus, in most revolvers you get 6 instead of 5 rounds due to the narrower case of the 327 (8 in some of the Rugers).
A fine cartridge that just never caught on, and as a result of course also resulted in higher prices. The 16 is the perfect companion for the Little Magnum that Will!
Navy SCPO, it was all in the timing! When the 32 H&R cartridge was introduced back in the 1980s, there was still a good market for revolvers in the U.S., but the H&R round from the factory was pretty anemic in deference to the H&R guns from which it gets its name. In addition, the manufacturers really didn’t push them as their “next big thing”.
Some gun writers of the day did some experimental loading for the round and got some gratifying results, but brass never got all that common (nor did factory ammo actually) and the 32 H&R sort of “died a-borning”
By the time the
real magnum, the 327 Fed Mag came to the market, the bulk of the market had moved to semi-autos (even those made of [UGH] plastic!). A few revolver enthusiasts grabbed up or even built or modified whatever revolvers could shoot this new, “wonder round”. I myself bought the eight shot Ruger Blackhawk in 327 and had a custom stainless S&W K-frame built on a Model 66 donor.
Alas, I was just one of a few “voices crying in the wilderness” and our minuscule number has had very little effect on the major manufacturers. Smith has made a few (inappropriate IMHO) models in the caliber, Ruger a few more, and only minor players like Taurus and Charter Arms seem to have actually embraced the concept.
Proof that there is a small but somewhat significant interest in this caliber is the rapid rise in the market price of the small number of Model 16-4 revolvers, many of which are having their “value reduced” by being modified by reaming to 327 FM. If the clamor becomes loud enough, perhaps S&W folks will recognize this significant niche market and produce a Model 16-5 in the current run of no IL revolvers to satisfy the demand. One can only hope!
Green Frog
(See also: Project 616)
