327 Federal Magnum- Model 632

Rat Rod Mac · Oct 17, 2015

I was looking at the dealer catalog at my LGS yesterday and noticed the 632 in 327 Federal Magnum was not in the catalog. Has Smith & Wesson dropped this model? If so was it because of sales or was there a problem because of the high pressure this round generates? How long ago were they dropped,, probably a slim chance that one is setting on a dealers shelf somewhere. RRM

Macinaw · Oct 17, 2015

Not in current production. I saw one on sale for $950 locally. I've heard of asking price on GB near $2,000.

peyton · Oct 17, 2015

Welcome to the forum!! The 632 is the revolver that poor design killed. They put a LARGE gas port at the end of the barrel requiring the front sight be moved to the rear.
I am a 32 and 327 fanatic and I would not buy one due to this.

Sadly, that decision forced me to go to ruger who is now producing 5 different handguns in 327 magnum.

Rule3 · Oct 17, 2015

The 327 Fed Mag never caught on as a cartridge. I personally think it is a great one. SW did not sell enough of them to keep them in production. I believe Ruger still offers one in the SP101.

I like my 632 Pro! Night sites and no lock,

H Richard · Oct 17, 2015

This is one S&W missed the boat on. The 32 H&R Mag and 327 Federal have decent followings, but their initial offering was poorly designed and turned off buyers. If they would re-introduce it in a 6 shot J frame, (all steel, not alloy) with a 3 in barrel and NO PORT, I think they would have a great seller. Make it in a centennial style (hammerless) in a 2" version also. Also, a K frame 6" with 7 shot would be gobbled up like hotcakes.

cgt4570 · Oct 17, 2015

I had Hamilton Bowen build one for me several years ago on a K frame with a Model 16 8-3/8" barrel. Luv it.

NYlakesider · Oct 17, 2015

peyton said:
Welcome to the forum!! The 632 is the revolver that poor design killed. They put a LARGE gas port at the end of the barrel requiring the front sight be moved to the rear.
I am a 32 and 327 fanatic and I would not buy one due to this.

Sadly, that decision forced me to go to ruger who is now producing 5 different handguns in 327 magnum.

You listed one major mistake, the other was that locking device.

That was two reasons I never purchased it!

Rule3 · Oct 17, 2015

H Richard said:
This is one S&W missed the boat on. The 32 H&R Mag and 327 Federal have decent followings, but their initial offering was poorly designed and turned off buyers. If they would re-introduce it in a 6 shot J frame, (all steel, not alloy) with a 3 in barrel and NO PORT, I think they would have a great seller. Make it in a centennial style (hammerless) in a 2" version also. Also, a K frame 6" with 7 shot would be gobbled up like hotcakes.

The Pro version is a 2" barrel and no porting. It gets outstanding velocity. I compare it to a 9mm+P+ revolver with 6 shots

I can reload the 115 Gold Dot to exceed factory specs.

SW ARCHIVE:

Product: ARCHIVE: Model 632

foytfoyt · Oct 17, 2015

H Richard said:
... If they would re-introduce it in a 6 shot J frame, (all steel, not alloy) with a 3 in barrel and NO PORT, I think they would have a great seller. Make it in a centennial style (hammerless) in a 2" version also. Also, a K frame 6" with 7 shot would be gobbled up like hotcakes.

Yep. I would buy a steel 6" 7-shot 327 Fed Mag this instant. And the J-frame.

Even more so, a 6" 9-shot N-frame.

S&W, please!

Flesh Wound · Oct 17, 2015

I too wanted one of these when they first came out.... And that port kept me away.

Once I get the Model 58 I just put on layaway out I'll order a Ruger GP100.

foytfoyt · Oct 17, 2015

Flesh Wound said:
I too wanted one of these when they first came out.... And that port kept me away.

Once I get the Model 58 I just put on layaway out I'll order a Ruger GP100.

Very unfortunately, Ruger no longer makes the GP100 in 327 Fed Mag.

They do have single actions, and compacts (LCR and SP101) in 327.

I really wish for a medium, or preferable large, frame DA 327 Fed Mag. Obviously, I'm not a 6 shooter traditionalist. The more rounds, the better.

629shooter · Oct 18, 2015

Rule3 said:
The 327 Fed Mag never caught on as a cartridge. I personally think it is a great one. SW did not sell enough of them to keep them in production. I believe Ruger still offers one in the SP101.

I like my 632 Pro! Night sites and no lock,

Thanks for showing that off, I'm still on the "hunt" for one.

H Richard · Oct 18, 2015

But they are discontinued, and try and find one for less than $1000.

at_liberty · Oct 18, 2015

Rule3 said:
The 327 Fed Mag never caught on as a cartridge. I personally think it is a great one. SW did not sell enough of them to keep them in production. I believe Ruger still offers one in the SP101.

I like my 632 Pro! Night sites and no lock,

What does it mean for a cartridge to catch on? It is available but not necessarily in every little corner gun shop. Many calibers have a similar status or worse. I think the main problem was that the initial gun model offerings were ill conceived. Now we see guns with more appropriate barrel lengths, thanks to Lipsey's with the Single Seven Ruger and Ruger's own 4" SP101, following after the introduction of that gun in 357 Magnum, initially only a 22 at that length. Meanwhile, S&W missed the mark entirely, probably using porting for fear of the 327 Fed Mag's pressure level, i.e lacking a suitable platform for the caliber that was in proportion to a 6 shot capacity. They don't have a tough little gun like the Ruger SP101. J-frame magnum capability is still well below the pressure level of 327 Fed Mag.

On the issue of the ILS, I don't see why those for whom an ILS is a deal breaker would even need to comment here. That persistent under tow makes this forum quite a bore at times.

Rule3 · Oct 18, 2015

at_liberty said:
What does it mean for a cartridge to catch on?

It means that for the majority of shooters it is a cartridge that no one has much interest or use for. It is a small niche. They feel the 38 special or 357 is all that is needed. If SW sold a boatload of them, then perhaps they would still make them?

It probably would be a great round in a rifle, but again folks have many other choices.

Not very popular,

To a lesser extent, 357 Sig, 45 Gap, whatever.

Ruger still lists the 327 on their website in GP 100 and SP101??

Rule3 · Oct 18, 2015

H Richard said:
But they are discontinued, and try and find one for less than $1000.

You can buy mine for $949.95

at_liberty · Oct 18, 2015

Rule3 said:
It means that for the majority of shooters it is a cartridge that no one has much interest or use for. It is a small niche. They feel the 38 special or 357 is all that is needed. If SW sold a boatload of them, then perhaps they would still make them?

It probably would be a great round in a rifle, but again folks have many other choices.

Not very popular,

To a lesser extent, 357 Sig, 45 Gap, whatever.

Ruger still lists the 327 on their website in GP 100 and SP101??

You wouldn't be the first to lack an understanding of the caliber and then project that onto the population. The progression from 32 SWL for the police to 38 Special and one less load in smaller guns would likely have been different, maintaining the six shooter capacity in compact guns, if 32 H&R and 327 Federal Magnum had existed generations ago.

Again, I maintain that it wasn't the cartridge so much as the wrong gun platforms which held the 327 Federal Magnum back initially. I think it is now on the rise with the proper guns and would really take off with the introduction of a lever rifle as ammo sharing companions to sidearms.

foytfoyt · Oct 18, 2015

Rule3 said:
It means that for the majority of shooters it is a cartridge that no one has much interest or use for. It is a small niche. They feel the 38 special or 357 is all that is needed. If SW sold a boatload of them, then perhaps they would still make them?

It probably would be a great round in a rifle, but again folks have many other choices.

Not very popular,

To a lesser extent, 357 Sig, 45 Gap, whatever.

Ruger still lists the 327 on their website in GP 100 and SP101??

No, they list the SP101, LCR and Single-Six/Seven, not the GP100 in 327 Fed. Hope the GP changes soon.

327 Fed Mag is an excellent round. MUCH more powerful than 38 Spec, and more capacity.

Brian in Oregon · Oct 18, 2015

at_liberty said:
You wouldn't be the first to lack an understanding of the caliber and then project that onto the population. The progression from 32 SWL for the police to 38 Special and one less load in smaller guns would likely have been different, maintaining the six shooter capacity in compact guns, if 32 H&R and 327 Federal Magnum had existed generations ago.

Again, I maintain that it wasn't the cartridge so much as the wrong gun platforms which held the 327 Federal Magnum back initially. I think it is now on the rise with the proper guns and would really take off with the introduction of a lever rifle as ammo sharing companions to sidearms.

I'd like a stainless 3" J-frame in .327 for my wife.

For myself, I'd like a Model 19 clone in .327 with at least a 6" barrel, or even better an 8-3/8". I'd prefer a thinner blade front sight and narrower notch in the rear sight for precision, not combat. Intended use would be for varmints and small game, and the .327 could be used for calling in coyotes at closer ranges. For small game for meat, like rabbits or tree squirrels, switch to .32 wadcutters, which kill well but don't ruin meat. No porting. No slab sided barrels.

Rule3 · Oct 18, 2015

at_liberty said:
You wouldn't be the first to lack an understanding of the caliber and then project that onto the population. The progression from 32 SWL for the police to 38 Special and one less load in smaller guns would likely have been different, maintaining the six shooter capacity in compact guns, if 32 H&R and 327 Federal Magnum had existed generations ago.

Again, I maintain that it wasn't the cartridge so much as the wrong gun platforms which held the 327 Federal Magnum back initially. I think it is now on the rise with the proper guns and would really take off with the introduction of a lever rifle as ammo sharing companions to sidearms.

How do I lack understanding.? I own one and reload 100's of rounds for it Do you? How often to see someone shooting this caliber at the range or anywhere?

I believe I did say above it would be good in a rifle. With that said if there is a lever action in 357 Mag or a 327 Federal What is the advantage of the 327 Fed? Will customers pick the 357 or the 325 Fed?

It was introduced in 2007 or so, how many rifles are now made, chambered for it, ??

My J frame Pro all steel is perfectly capable of handling the 327Fed, much more pleasant to shoot than the 357 Mag in the same basic gun.

For whatever reason it is not popular, how many companies are offering rifles or handguns in this caliber.??

If people were screaming for this caliber I think companies would make it available. Ruger, Freedom Arms any others?
I do not count Charter Arms if they still make it.

327 Federal Magnum- Model 632

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