I recently purchased a M-432 Ultimate Carry J frame chambered in .38 H&R Magnum. The fit & finish is great. The trigger pull is very acceptable. My question is this: Why wasn't this "Ultimate Carry" revolver chambered in .327 Federal Magnum? I realize at the top end, the .327 is double the pressure of the .32 H&R, but S&W had a stainless J frame 3" 632 chambered in .327 back in 2010ish. Maybe I can't see the forest because of the trees, but I don't get it.
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- Thread starter Martyk
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I don’t pretend to know the answer, but I suspect the aluminum frame is the reason. The .327 Federal magnum is a hot cartridge, and there is not a lot of meat around that forcing cone.
Aluminum frames without scandium can take 38 Special +P and .32 H&R Magnum (max 20k psi and 21k psi, respectively) pressures just fine. For .357 Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum (max 35k psi and 45k psi), you would need to substantially redesign the J-frame in to something else, or use add scandium to the frames.
IIRC from listening to podcasts with Jason from Lipsey's, adding scandium would cause the UC revolvers to exceed the price point that they wanted, and S&W is tooled up to make aluminum J-frames in higher volumes than their other revolvers.
Steel would've been strong enough, but wouldn't meet the weight target.
IIRC from listening to podcasts with Jason from Lipsey's, adding scandium would cause the UC revolvers to exceed the price point that they wanted, and S&W is tooled up to make aluminum J-frames in higher volumes than their other revolvers.
Steel would've been strong enough, but wouldn't meet the weight target.
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Alk8944
US Veteran
Most likely because market research indicated there would be a greater demand for the .32 H&R than for the .327 Federal.
Testing may also have shown the Aluminum frame to not be up to the pressures of .327 Federal. It is a very high pressure cartridge!
Take your pick!
Testing may also have shown the Aluminum frame to not be up to the pressures of .327 Federal. It is a very high pressure cartridge!
Take your pick!
The weight target had to be a big factor. I've got a Taurus 327 with a steel frame, that is about 10 ounces heavier than my airweight J-frames.
That Federal 327 has a pretty sharp recoil, even out of the all steel Taurus. I'll bet it would be a real eye opener in an aluminum J-frame.
I stick to mostly H&R level loads. Or even more often to 32 Longs.
That Federal 327 has a pretty sharp recoil, even out of the all steel Taurus. I'll bet it would be a real eye opener in an aluminum J-frame.
I stick to mostly H&R level loads. Or even more often to 32 Longs.
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Unlikely that marketing would be a factor, unless they felt that it would be too hard to explain that you could fire the H&R in the .327 also.
Market and demand issues aside, the alloy frame does not withstand repeated trauma from .327 Federal Magnum. It would not meet the durability standard. SOURCE: Andrew Gore, S&W Handgun Products Manager.
Somewhere along the line, it was tested. Frankly, no need for .327. I have the Ruger LCP in .327 and would never carry the load. H&R Magnum is better suited to alloy frame.
Somewhere along the line, it was tested. Frankly, no need for .327. I have the Ruger LCP in .327 and would never carry the load. H&R Magnum is better suited to alloy frame.
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I've heard variations of this from more than one .327 Fed Mag LCR owner.
gnb
Member
Do you mean LCR .327? I have one and love it with .32 H&R Mag and S&W Long Wadcutters. I imagine shooting .327 Fed Mag out of a 17 oz. gun is like shooting .357 Mag out of an 11 oz. scandium J Frame. No thanks. Its just physics.
