Wait for S&W or buy Taurus 327FedMag?

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mfholmes

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Sorry guys, I just have to vent. I've had a lot of success buying some great classic S&W revolvers on GB, but lately my target has been the Model 632 from only 10 - 12 years ago. It was Smith's only attempt (so far) at a 327 Federal Mag 6 shooter. It was done on the J frame so it had the advantage of the extra shot over the normal 38 5-shot cylinders. I've shot the Ruger 101 in 327 and got hooked on the cartridge but not on the revolver. I know S&W would have a much better trigger. So I really want the Model 632 as a shooter and occasional CCW, but the prices are crazy on GB. I was just bidding on one that was new old stock that I was willing to go beyond what I've seen them at so far, and I thought I had a good chance. Holy **** - the thing went into the ozone. (I hope I'm not bidding against fellow forum members and driving up the price - there's got to be a way to avoid that. :) ) I've just about lost hope after that experience. Opinion please - should I wait for S&W to give it another shot or should I just go for a Ruger LCR or Taurus? Does anyone have any connections at the factory to let us know if they are considering anything? I know I seen threads describing projects for custom builds but I'm not willing to go there. Others seem to think that the K frame is a better platform for the 327, but I'd like to stay small and on the light side.
Oh well. That's all. Any ideas or opinions anyone?
 

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I would try the Taurus. I’ve had good luck with their Revolvers. From what I read these days it’s a toss up on what brand to buy. I wouldn’t buy the Smith just because of the lock, but that doesn’t bother everybody.
 
Wait on Smith & Wesson!? I’ve been waiting on them to make anything in 32 since I narrowly missed getting a model 632-2 in 2012. I asked my favorite stocking dealer to get me one but the supply line was already empty. I’ve been out bid twice, even putting in what I thought was a crazy I’m going to win this one high bid.

The model 632-1 that I think you were looking at, just sold today for $2K when shipping and transfer fees are added. The 632-2 I want is over $1,500 with 8 days left. Wouldn’t be surprised if it goes over $2K as well. I want one but not that much!

Why Smith & Wesson can’t see the market for another run of 327 magnum revolvers is hard to understand.
 
Yup. Sounds like you were looking at the same ones as me. I was up over 1700 before I gave up on the -1. Absolutely crazy money. You'd think that would convince S&W that there was a market. The -2 is a hammer-less, and some are convinced that you need that for carry but I'll take the DASA. Maybe the Taurus is the way to go.
 
Frankly, I would buy a Ruger version well before I considered the Taurus, based on past experience with Taurus. Nice thing about Ruger is they stand behind their guns if you have an issue. Can't say the same for Taurus.

Thing with the .327 mag , I think, is its a lot like the .41 mag. - a small, but serious fan base. But, with gun demand what it is, S&W can sell all the .22 and .38 spl. J frames it can make, so why change that up by introducing a .327 that they know will not be a big seller? My opinion, anyway.

Larry
 
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I wouldn't wait for S&W. No telling if or when they will make another run of 632s.

I don't own a LCR but have shot them. The DA trigger pull is really nice. The light weight would be a disadvantage shooting 327s at the range but not a problem with 32 H&R or 32 S&W ammo. And would be nice for carry.

My recommendation would be to buy a LCR now and hope for S&W at some point. They are both small, I bet you could find room for both in your safe.
 
I second the recommendation on the Ruger LCR. The Ruger is certainly not as pretty as the Smith but the LCR is a good revolver and Ruger does stand behind their product if you do have a problem.
 
mfholmes said:
Yup. Sounds like you were looking at the same ones as me. I was up over 1700 before I gave up on the -1. Absolutely crazy money. You'd think that would convince S&W that there was a market. The -2 is a hammer-less, and some are convinced that you need that for carry but I'll take the DASA. Maybe the Taurus is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Right now they’re selling everything they can make as fast as they can get it out the door.

As far as they’re concerned, they’re already feeding the market.
 
I will not own a Taurus revolver again. I owned one of their Beretta 92 clones years ago in 9mm and had no problem with it. I owned a Taurus .22 revolver that I purchased brand new and it suffered from many problems (out of time, spit lead, misfires). Sent it back to the factory under warranty and it was returned with nothing repaired!! Just a note warning me to not use reloads (was a .22; don't reload many of those!!!) Customer service from them is ****!! Phone calls went unreturned and I finally gave up. Sold it to a friend with full disclosure and lost my butt on the deal. I would definitely purchase a Ruger over a Taurus any day.
 
mfholmes said:
...snip...
Opinion please - should I wait for S&W to give it another shot or should I just go for a Ruger LCR or Taurus?
...snip...
Oh well. That's all. Any ideas or opinions anyone?
Click to expand...

I have a Ruger SP101, and Single Seven, a Taurus M327 and a Henry, in .327 mag. I bought the Taurus for my wife. After she got used to the .32S&W and .32S&WL, I had her shoot nothing but .32H&R mag and .327FM self defense loads. After about three years, the revolver is unreliable. Many light strikes. Tore it down to bare bones, cleaned everything. Changed out the springs with Wolf springs of different weights, and it did not help. Never tried contacting Taurus about it, to see what might be repairable or not. I really like the Single 7, my personal favorite of what I have. I am interested in getting an LCR but not at the prices they are going for on auction sites. If an LGS gets one in stock, I might tick off my sweetie and just buy it.

My opinion, get the LCR now, or spend spend spend on the S&W. Wish I had got the S&W when they were being made, can't/won't pay that much for them now.
 
S&W is probably selling every revolver they can make. Why get tooling for another product? Don't think that I would wait on them.
 
I carry a 632 with Buffalo Bore 32H&R loads every day, but wanted to try the hotter 327 Fed. Figured S&W would not make one in my lifetime, so bought an LCR. And discovered a couple of things.

First, the Am Eagle and Speer Gold Dot 100g loads are absolute monsters to shoot in the LCR, even with its steel frame. Recoil is near what I remember the single 357 Magnum round felt like in a S&W 649. (Part of that may be due to the much higher bore axis of the LCR with its stock rubber grips as compared to a J frame.) And they're incredibly loud. They're fun in the bigger and heavier, all steel Single Seven, but immensely unpleasant - to me - in the LCR.

All other 327 factory load I tried were barely more potent than the 32H&R from Buffalo Bore, so no benefit there and the detriment of a slightly longer case and a still pretty short ejector rod.

Second, my old eyes really like the red dot of a Crimson Trace grip, but the CT model for an LCR is just enough different from the one for a J frame to make it extraordinarily painful - for me - to shoot. The lump for the laser light is placed where recoil smashes it directly into the upper part of the knuckle between my hand and trigger finger, even with the lesser 327 Fed rounds or hot 32 H&Rs. In contrast, the (several) CT grips I have for J frames have the light lump slightly lower, and recoil pushes it more on the lower side of the knuckle where there is either more fat/muscle/tendon padding or fewer nerves or both.

Whatever the reason, over several range sessions I could never get more than a dozen rounds off with the LCR/CT combination before it hurt too much to continue, and I would change the grips back to standard ones. But I can shoot a J frame/CT setup pretty much all day with anything but the Buffalo Bores - those are just above +P 38 Specials in energy, and I can only stand a couple of cylinders of those in an alloy J frame before having to take a break.

I haven't gotten around to getting rid of the LCR 327 yet, but I'll never shoot it again.

Just the experience of one guy - who really likes and carries 32s.
 
Any new offering from S&W that isn’t a “classic” remake of a discontinued model is a long shot. I think we were lucky to get the 69 and I don’t see anything new in the future
 
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