Anyone Loading for the Federal .327 Magnum ?

Hammerdown

Hammerdown

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Hello
After having my Model 16-4 converted to .327 Magnum recently, I am getting ready to Put together some Federal .327 Magnum Loads. Has anyone loaded for the .327 Magnum ? Factory Loaded rounds seem to be extinct at this Point, but it really does not matter as I Hand Load all my center fire ammo anyway. I have found some Internet Loads recently, but would much rather load to what has all ready been proven. If you have loaded for this round, Please share the Information with us .327 Magnum shooters. I have Loaded some using 12.0 Grains of 2400 under a 90 Grain Sierra hollow point and a CCI 550 Magnum small Pistol Primer, but they showed to not be real super accurate. Please do share...:)Thanks, Hammerdown
 
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Not any help, I have some loaded but haven't shot them yet. 100gr XTP, H110 from 12.2 to 13.1 gr.
 
brian pearce did a nice article in handloader a few issues back. don't have it in front of me but a search of their site should turn it up. had a lot a loads with several bullets, powders, etc. please let everyone know how your's shoots and handles the higher pressures. i have been thinking of having my 83/8 16-4 converted after reading your adventures so far.
 
perrazi said:
brian pearce did a nice article in handloader a few issues back. don't have it in front of me but a search of their site should turn it up. had a lot a loads with several bullets, powders, etc. please let everyone know how your's shoots and handles the higher pressures. i have been thinking of having my 83/8 16-4 converted after reading your adventures so far.
Click to expand...



Hello Perrazi
I have Loaded a few rounds using different Powders and Bullets. I found the 2400 Load snappy, but low on accuracy. I Then Loaded some using Hodgen's Powder called "Tight Group" dispensed at 3.6 Grains under a 100 Grain Rainier .32 Hollow Point bullet and using a CCI 350 Magnum primer with a heavy crimp. These showed much promise but I had the crimps a little harsh so the next loads I Placed a lighter crimp and went to a Standard CCI-300 Primer. I have not had time to shoot these yet, but if they prove to be more accurate than the former rounds using Tight Group I will respond and post Pictures. Below is the Target I shot at using Tight Group Powder at the 20 Yard line from a Sand Bag.





Bowen_Conversion_Targets_002.jpg







I Then began to wonder since this conversion had been done, what it would do for the performance of the .32 S&W Long round. Considering the Bullet Jump length had been increased by a full 1/8" In the cylinder throats, I was Optimistic on performance. I had loaded some prior to Extending this revolver out for it's Modification that showed to be accurate, so I returned to that Load of 3.0 Grains of Unique, standard small Pistol primer and a 98 Grain Round Lead bullet. Below is the results of that load of which I was very Pleased with, showing me that the Modification of this revolver to .327 Magnum made Little difference in my Groups using the .32 S&W Long Cartridge in it..






32_S_W_Long_Target.jpg









Currently, I am attempting to work up a good Target Load for this round, so I will shy away from the Hot hunting loads until I am sure I have found this revolver's sweet spot shooting Targets. I am little Leery loading it real hot at this Point as the Pressures of this round show to be Double or a little more of the Original Anemic .32 H&R Magnum for which this revolver was designed for. In time, as I slowly increase, watching for High Pressure signs along the way by adjusting One grain at a time, I will have More faith in the round and get where I want to be with it for the upper Velocities..;) Hammerdown
 
I have a technical question about your conversion...

When you had the conversion done, did the reamer ever so slightly enlarge the diameter of the chamber, or did it simply lengthen it?
What brand of reamer was used on your cylinder?

I'm asking because it seems that factory guns from any manufacturer in .327 seem to have "oversize" chambers resulting in split cases if .32 H&R Mag or .32 S&W Long are used in them.

I have been told that this is the problem that Ruger is trying to resolve and why they haven't been shipping hardly any SP101's...it's a spec issue that leads back to Federal.

I'd love to have this done to a T/C Contender barrel that I have in .32 H&R magnum...but have been scared since I have seen problems with the Ruger and Taurus models in this caliber.
 
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Andy good question, I been worried about the same thing. What length barrel is your contender?
 
It's a 12" barrel. I wish I could find a 14" but I think that 12" will give it enough velocity. :D
I think it is a cut off 14" anyway- the crown doesn't look factory.
 
Andy Griffith said:
I have a technical question about your conversion...

When you had the conversion done, did the reamer ever so slightly enlarge the diameter of the chamber, or did it simply lengthen it?
What brand of reamer was used on your cylinder?

I'm asking because it seems that factory guns from any manufacturer in .327 seem to have "oversize" chambers resulting in split cases if .32 H&R Mag or .32 S&W Long are used in them.

I have been told that this is the problem that Ruger is trying to resolve and why they haven't been shipping hardly any SP101's...it's a spec issue that leads back to Federal.

I'd love to have this done to a T/C Contender barrel that I have in .32 H&R magnum...but have been scared since I have seen problems with the Ruger and Taurus models in this caliber.
Click to expand...

Hello Andy Griffith
Bowen simply lengthens the cylinder throat. He Does not Increase the diameter of it what so ever. I have fired .32 Long and .32 H&R Magnum's in it since it returned with No case issues or splitting of the cases. Regards, Hammerdown
 
I'm loading 5.2 grains of Unique under a 100 grain XTP with good results. better to control than the factory loads.
 
I know this an old thread but just wondered if anybody has anything to add.

I just got 500 new Starline brass and am looking to try some different loads.
 
I used an NOE HP GC mold and started @ 10 gr WC820, pushing it until the accuracy went south.
 
My NOE mould drops a bullet that runs about 125 grains. I had stockpiled a goodly amount of H-108 from Hogden, but it is unavailable today and had no load data available. Therefore, I used data from Accurate whose #9 is supposedly "identical" to the H-108. Then the best load I could find for what I wanted to load was for the 115 grain bullet. I started with the minimum #9 load listed for that bullet and that's what I'm using. Since nothing is actually tested, I hesitate to mention my actual load, but since you are using a K-frame (like my "Project 616") I think I can safely mention that the Accurate Powder chart could be used in the same method with one of the relatively heavy bullets such as the NOE or the Lyman/Ideal 3118, etc. I think you have a winner with that rechambered Model 16-4!

Froggie

PS When Andy Horvath chambered my "616" he used a straight cylindrical reamer that fires cartridges of whatever length with equal aplomb.
 
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