32 H&R converted to 327 Federal Mag

[Lewel]

I thought there was a post about converting a Ruger Single Six 32 H&R to 327 Federal Magnum. If there is, let me know.

Otherwise, can this conversion be done? I know the 327 is longer than the 32 H&R. I think 1/8 of an inch would be doable.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[DWalt]

All that is required is to run a .327 chambering reamer into the chamber to elongate it. I cannot comment on how safe it is, as that would depend upon the gun being modified and if the cylinder is long enough. Much like the way many of the earlier N-frame revolvers chambered for .38 Special were converted to use .357 Magnum ammunition by chamber elongation, basically a DIY conversion.

 

[needsmostuff]

Strength is not an issue . Bullet length on the heavier ,longer bullets maybe.
But why ? If you reload you can push a 32mag very close to 327 levels.

 

[Sevens]

You may not want to hear or you may rabidly disagree but the folks who do conversions on this forum do them on S&W revolvers because they want a S&W revolver in .327 Federal which S&W hardly put any effort in to making.

Ruger on the other hand has almost single handedly kept the .327 Federal alive and kicking and Ruger has made a slew of fantastic guns already so chambered.

It’s really your best bet to chase down a Ruger already chambered in .327 Federal, there is certainly some collectibility to the older Ruger revolvers chambered for the .32 H&R Magnum.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I have a couple .327FMs, and they're a blast, literally! Somebody with more ballistics knowledge than me can tell you, although the cartridge may physically fit in the cylinder chamber after you ream it out, the the chamber pressures of the .327FM is like 45,000-50,000 psi. More than a .38 Spl. and I think more than a .357Mag. But, shooting it from a 6" GP100, which is about the weight of a bench vice, they are really fun to shoot and if you have enough ammo, you can shoot all day without any pain. Even my 5" with wooden grip handles, it's still a fun gun to shoot. If you shoot .32 H&R Magnums in it, it's like shooting a .22.
BTW, were the S&W .327 FMs that bad of a sell, or if anyone has one, how well do they shoot? I've never seen any for sale, so I guess they didn't sell that many.

 

[jack the toad]

Can’t comment on new sales of any .32 S&W revolver but prelocks on the secondary market can fetch good prices.

 

[jack the toad]

The 16-4 (.32 H&R mag) must not have been a good seller as only neighborhood of 8800 in 3 barrel lengths were produced.

 

[Sevens]

Like some other distinct S&W models... the 16-4 were commercial failures or arguably beyond failures. They couldn’t give them away and so that is nearly what they did. Secondary distributors got them for peanuts and ordered them for chump change.

Of course now they are a huge collectible with a very high price.

 

[glenncal1]

.32s/.327s are an acquired taste. Kind of like drinking a fine whiskey compared to a bar brand (representing the .38s and 9mms of the world). They will both get the job done but the .32 and the fine whiskey will also put a big smile on your face.

Flamesuit on

 

[Lewel]

32 conversion

Thanks for the info. I load for the 327 & thought it would be easier to rechamber the Ruger single six than to keep up with the 32 h&r brass

 

[Sevens]

than to keep up with the 32 h&r brass

I'm not sure what you mean by this...?

If you run the .327 Federal at full-spec (45k PSI max) then you will have a lot of fun, you will be spending at least some cash in some form to gather brass for it and there is one other reality: if you make the full-spec, full horsepower .327 Federal loads, you will see limited life from your brass. Longitudinal splits, more prevalent with the nickel plated than the brass but this will absolutely happen. .327 Federal brass is a consumable component.

If you have .32 H&R brass and you run it to full .32 H&R spec and not beyond, I would lay down odds that you'll get to the end of your days before much of it splits or otherwise fails.

.32 H&R "Magnum" should so very much have been named the .32 H&R Special. It's a fantastic round but it runs in the neighborhood of 25k PSI Max. It is a tame round.

As mentioned above, it is possible to run .32 H&R Magnum HARD and beyond SAAMI spec for the round and get very good ballistic results and it can (arguably!) be done safely if you know what you are doing, but .32 H&R Mag at SAAMI spec is a medium popgun and the brass will last a looooong time.

 

[glenncal1]

Lewel-I have a Ruger Single 7 in .327. Very nice gun. I did have a Dan Wesson rechambered from .32H&R to .327, no worries about strength it is the same frame as the DW .357. I would ask your question over on the Ruger forum I am sure someone there has done it or tried to do it (cylinder length might be a restriction). Good group over there too.

 

[keithhagan]

I thought there was a post about converting a Ruger Single Six 32 H&R to 327 Federal Magnum. If there is, let me know.

Otherwise, can this conversion be done? I know the 327 is longer than the 32 H&R. I think 1/8 of an inch would be doable.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

You can 100% ream the Single Six 32 H&R to .327 and fire factory loaded ammo no problem.

Unsolicited advice: take the money you would spend on reaming and get a Single Seven. They have an extra shot, are already in .327, and have a slightly lengthened cylinder in case you want to hand load your bullets long. Plus, they have a variety of barrel lengths, grip sizes, and you can get blued or stainless. I have three. They're great.

 

[mtgianni]

I remember reading an article on the Ruger Single Six Magnum, SSM of which I own one. The barrel has to be set back a thread and someone, Andy Horvath? was making custom cylinders to chamber a 327 Fed unless you are OK with factory ammo sticking out the front of the cylinder.
This may have changed with other models, Birds head etc, with the fixed sights but the article referred to the SSM. I would spend time with calipers and make sure.