Hey all,

I don't know much about this round. I watched a couple of YouTube videos on it and it looks like something I should research a bit.

I know S&W used to make one, but they dropped it from production. I think it's the 632, right? Ruger currently makes one in the LCR model.

Would you mind telling me what you think of this round? Would you rather carry this 6-shot revolver or one of the standard Airweight J-Frames that are 5-shot 38 or 357mag? It does look like an impressive package in the videos showing it off.

What's your thoughts on it? Worth it or PASS and get one of the nice 5-shot AirWeights?

Thanks for your time.
Larry

On paper it looks good.

But I stuck with the .38/.357 models just because I don't want to add another caliber.

You can't go wrong with any J frame, but my favorites have been the black Centennials. 442 is a great bargain, 340mp is a super gun, with its big dot front, and U notch rear, the 340pd is the best IMHO, but a little pricey, I got a deal on mine used, or I never would have got one. Now I see it really is worth it.

To bad S&W discontinued this model!

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I had to buy the reloading dies for my Dillon so I could afford to shoot this caliber. Factory ammo is expensive and sometimes hard to find. It will shoot four varieties of .32 rounds.

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It's s hard to find niche round. If I couldn't practice with it regularly I wouldn't carry it

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I like the 327 but I would never carry it. 38 special for me in a snub nose.

If memory serves, The ballistics of the .327 Fed Mag exceed the lower end .38 Special. You also get 6 rounds instead of 5, at least in the S&W J frames. I have no problems with the .327 round. I have two Rugers in that caliber. If I could find a Model 632 Snub under $1500 I would pick one up. It is really sad that S&W stopped producing this round.

BTW, for all those naysayers, consider this. The difference in bullet diameter between the .327 and .357 is .03" About the thickness of a credit card. And in most cases you get one more round. Also, the .327 Federal Magnum revolvers will chamber and fire .32H&R Magnum, .32 S&W Long, .32S&W, and .32ACP.

Only downside I see with the .327 is availability for ammo. There's only a few companies manufacturing .327. Of course your could use .32 H&R magnum in it. There's more manufactures making this round. I think if Ruger was to be selling a decent amount of LCR's in .327 S&W might reintroduce one. Then you might see companies like Winchester and Remington get into making .327. The stats look good and it's nice getting an extra round. I'm going to stick with my .357's and .38's. But down the road if Smith reintroduced one in a J frame I might rethink it

It seems to me the .327 is a solution looking for a problem. The .38 Special/.357 mag covers the bases pretty well already. .357 too powerful? Go with the .38. I just don't see a need for it.

Looks good to me. But adding another caliber when you reload is a real pain. I made the decision to add another j frame. But it's a 360 in 357. Probably want shoot many 357's in it but have that option. Due to be delivered to my LGS today.

The price of the 631 has grown astronomical, it is a collectors version now. But, I don't hesitate to carry a 431 or 432 PD, which is a 32 H&R Mag,shot in a J Frame lightweight, 6 shot. I don't consider a 100 gr. JHP at over 1000 fps from a 1 7/8" barrel a handicap. I'm thinking it could be reamed out for the 327 if one so desired. One advantage is you can shoot 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R Mag, and 327, as well as 32 acp in a pinch.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I agree with others above that it is a round that is often difficult to find, many stores don't stock it, and it is pricey when you do see it. I've made it a point recently to stick with commonly available calibers. If you handload, then it's a different story.

For personal defense, I would rather have the power of 5 357 Magnums than the quantity of 6 327s.

No matter where you are on vacation in this vast Country of ours you can always find 357 Magnum or 38 Special ammunition. That is not true of the 327 Magnum.

As already stated, 327 ammunition is expensive, very expensive. So unless you handload, you will be able to afford to practice MUCH more with the 357 Magnum revolver

If you are a novice and/or perhaps recoil sensitive, the 357 Magnum is loaded to many power levels. You can even shoot the the very common but less powerful 38 Special and 38 Special +P ammunition if you like. After all 357 Magnum in a pocket pistol is not for everyone.

Just as the 327 revolvers will chamber and fire several of other 32 caliber rounds, so will your 357 Magnum. A Smith and Wesson 357 Magnum revolver will chamber and fire 357 Magnum, 38 Special, 38 Long Colt, 38 Short Colt, 38 ACP and 38 Super.

I remember the various gun rags drumming up a bunch of hype about the 327. On paper it looked pretty good, and the thought of being able to have one more round than any given 357 was appealing. Only problem is S&W never produced a no-lock variant. I had one of those silly internal locks fail on me at the range and vowed never to carry a S&W revolver with a lock again. If S&W would make an alloy framed 6 shot J frame or 7 shot K frame without the lock I would be all over it.


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I have two 632's. The Blue One With that Carry Comp and the Stainless Centennial(no comp) The 100 grain round at 1500 FPS
equals 357 Magnum energies with the recoil of a 38 wadcutter.
As a defensive gun, its a no brainer!! I can shoot it as fast as I can pull the trigger and all hits are A zone hits!!Gold Dot Hollow Points at 1500 fps hit with 500 pounds of muzzle energy!!!

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Gun Control= Using Both Hands

I have both, and love both. To me you can't go wrong either way.

2nd amendment- If you have standard catalog 4th edition, look at page 312. Smith did make a no lock 632 in 327 fed mag. Its called a 632-2 Pro Series

__________________
Gun Control= Using Both Hands

Thank you! I'll have to tell Santa.


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Best of luck finding one. At any price...

I went from 357 to 38. I'm to into the Two rounds to change to another now. I have thousands of 357 and 38s at this time.

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Two Handguns every day

They will? How is it that I have never read that before? Of course I know the 357 WILL chamber the 38 special, and WON'T chamber the 38 S&W, but I never knew it would chamber those other 4 rounds (38 Long Colt, 38 Short Colt, 38 ACP and 38 Super).

That is really good to know!

Kind of unrelated but Henry is introducing a lever action rifle in .327 so this might have a positive effect on ammo availability but I doubt it will ever be a hugely popular round - more of a speciality round as opposed to 38/357 which are a way of life for a lot of gun owners.

Afternoon Larry

The .327 federal is a fine round for self defense, --just
under the power of a standard .357 mag with a LOT
less recoil + one extra round in cylinder.

As mentioned above (good quality) ammo is a bit
difficult to find but reloading is inexpensive & Starline
makes inexpensive .327 brass.

I don't carry a revolver often but when I do it is a 6
hole LCR in .327 federal.

My only complaints on the .327 are: it is a LOUD
round (like extremely loud) so it really isn't an indoor
round if there is other choices. The other complaint is
due to the high working pressure of that .327 & smaller
diameter of the case they can sometimes stick in the
cylinder making extraction a forceful affair.

I usually shoot 32 H&R mag in my LCR for practice, then
a cylinder of .327 federal for final practice.

My wife usually carries the LCR with 32 H&R if & when
she carries a revolver. (revolver works great in very
cold weather as it makes a perfect heavy coat pocket
carry & can be shot right through the coat pocket if needed)

Hot little round, but I like a heavier projectile. Specifically, .38 Special 158gr. LSWCHP-GC. Much easier to find, as well.

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Oh well, what the hell.

If the 327 round were easier to acquire, and less expensive to get into gun/ ammo and all then I would try it . Maybe some day, who knows

Afternoon cleans up

That is true (IF) if you limit yourself to the better
uplevel .327 defense rounds--

BUT-- with the .327 federal you do have the option
of shooting .32 H&R magnum for practice (& even
carry if you want to). The .32 H&R is a lot easier
to find & much cheaper to buy.

I re-load so loading .327 federal is no more difficult
than reloading the .32 H&R but I still load mostly .32 H&R
for practice as it takes less powder to get decent bullet speed.

In a pinch my LCR in .327 federal can even shoot .32acp
as the .32 acp is a semi rimmed case so will headspace on
the small rim.

The thing that REALLY impresses me about the .327 revolvers
is they can also shoot the .32 long & those are quieter than
a .22LR & about the same recoil so are just great for
introducing new shooters to a small framed revolver
without the noise & kick to contend with.

Don't underestimate the power & performance of the .327
federal as it is a very powerful round from a short barreled
revolver (just very loud).

I cant understand why you would carry a 38 instead of the magnum. The 327 Fed Mag is a potent round and the gun carries an extra round. It's what I carry on a regular basis. Federal 85 gr. Hydrashocks is what I carry and the recoil is very manageable even with my arthritic hands