Just purchased a Ruger Single Seven in .327 Magnum. Realize Factory Ammo choices are not plentiful. Seems Federal American Eagle in 85 and 100 grain SP are popular. Any comments on experiences with these two loads would be appreciated. Seems like they may be good general purpose choices. Will carry the Buffalo Bore HC when hiking in Vermont. Thank you!
.327 Federal Magnum Factory Ammo??
- Thread starter Sixgun100
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Check out the 100 gr Speer Gold Dots. They’re currently offering a $5 per box rebate (up to 10 boxes).
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Dieseltech56
Member
The 100gr American Eagle is one heck of a load. I couldn't match its performance reloading my own so I dumped the powder out of one. It was the most heavily compressed load I've ever seen.
I agree with the other posts here. The 100 grain load is a powerhouse. The 85 a bit less. Federal also makes a defense load with an 85 grain hollow point and it's a good round too. Black Hills also makes a nice 32 H&R Magnum round that is nice to shoot too.
Cal44
Member
The 100 gr American Eagle is a very hot load.
The bullet is a jacketed soft point and probably doesn't expand out of a snub. It might out of a Single 7 -- especially with a longer barrel. Or out of the Henry carbine.
The 100 gr Gold Dot is a self defense load for 2 legged varmints. And will expand well even out of a snub from the gel tests I've seen. It's just as hot as the AE 100 gr.
The 85gr American Eagle is a lighter load, but still gets your attention from a snub.
There is also a Federal 85 gr Hydra Shok that is a good defense load lighter than the Gold Dots. It's a good controllable load for a snub.
Speer also had a 115 gr Gold Dot that was very hot, but discontinued it. I stocked up when i got interested in this caliber, so have a couple hundred rounds of the 115 GD.
Double Tap has a couple loads. A 75 gr lead free (copper) load that expands well and has less recoil than the Gold Dots. The also have a hard cast load probably suitable for hunting. They have a little video showing a gel test of these, and if I remember right the Double Tap hard cast penetrated two 16 in Gel blocks end to end.
Another boutique supplier is Reeds Ammo. They have hot 32 H&R as well as 327 loads. Some of their loads use the XTP bullets and are probably good for both hunting and defense. I have several boxes of those also, but haven't tried them yet.
My only 327 firearm is an LCR. It's a great snub, and often carried.
The bullet is a jacketed soft point and probably doesn't expand out of a snub. It might out of a Single 7 -- especially with a longer barrel. Or out of the Henry carbine.
The 100 gr Gold Dot is a self defense load for 2 legged varmints. And will expand well even out of a snub from the gel tests I've seen. It's just as hot as the AE 100 gr.
The 85gr American Eagle is a lighter load, but still gets your attention from a snub.
There is also a Federal 85 gr Hydra Shok that is a good defense load lighter than the Gold Dots. It's a good controllable load for a snub.
Speer also had a 115 gr Gold Dot that was very hot, but discontinued it. I stocked up when i got interested in this caliber, so have a couple hundred rounds of the 115 GD.
Double Tap has a couple loads. A 75 gr lead free (copper) load that expands well and has less recoil than the Gold Dots. The also have a hard cast load probably suitable for hunting. They have a little video showing a gel test of these, and if I remember right the Double Tap hard cast penetrated two 16 in Gel blocks end to end.
Another boutique supplier is Reeds Ammo. They have hot 32 H&R as well as 327 loads. Some of their loads use the XTP bullets and are probably good for both hunting and defense. I have several boxes of those also, but haven't tried them yet.
My only 327 firearm is an LCR. It's a great snub, and often carried.
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I've been wondering about the 100gr JSP since I saw this article:
American Rifleman | Lipsey's Exclusive Ruger Single-Seven .327 Fed. Mag. Revolver
From a 5.5" Single Seven the JSP expanded more than the 85gr JHP at the same velocity. I'd love to see a test from a LCR. I have a chrono, so at some point I will buy more JSP and test it from my LCR.
Thank you for such a comprehensive review.
Great article. Thanks for the link!
I have an SP-101 4 incher in 327 and it is a great performer. A little loud but it would make a good carry piece. Mine has a terrible trigger that is getting better from use. I may put a spring kit in it. I actually bought the gun after I got 21 boxes of 327 and 32 H&R ammo at an auction(70 bucks). Nobody wanted it I guess. Took me a year to find what I wanted ina gun. I wish the S&W M-16-4 was a 327 Federal. But still a nice gun in 32 H&R. Yeah I know I could cut the chambers out...but ?? The 100 gr SPs from AE/Federal are the hot numbers
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
IMO the original lackluster interest in the 327 Federal Magnum was due to unavailability of factory ammo during its release. It was almost impossible to find ammo so many shooters just didn't bother buying a gun. Gun choices was another reason but that's another thread.
Speer and Federal had the only factory ammo initially but true to Speer the ammo was not available but Federal surprised me. Even today the ammo is hard to find and the boutique makers are the main source but at a excessive cost.
Most shooters don't buy guns they can't get ammo for.
Speer and Federal had the only factory ammo initially but true to Speer the ammo was not available but Federal surprised me. Even today the ammo is hard to find and the boutique makers are the main source but at a excessive cost.
Most shooters don't buy guns they can't get ammo for.
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Dieseltech56
Member
I had a spring kit in my first 4” SP-101. I couldn’t get reliable primer strikes with the small rifle primers you’re supposed to use in the 327. I went back to original springs and all was well. That gun I eventually traded in because I couldn’t get the accuracy I wanted with it
Finding 327 American Eagle is pretty easy and the prices run in the 24-25 bucks a box(50 rds). I will admit that finding brass for reloading is a little harder but Starline does have it. More expensive than 357 brass. Bullets for reloading are much harder to find though. I have found a fair amount at some gun shows for cheap usually. I buy them all...especially jacketed bullets. I also find 32 S&W L and 32 H&R mag ammo at some shows for fair prices. Nobody wants 32s it seems.... even for 10-15 dollars a box.
CScott
Member
I've had a 3" Model 632-1 for a couple of years now and I really like it. The American Eagle 100gr cartridge is indeed a real handful but it is readily available. Mostly I shoot handloads, 115gr cast RNFP over various powders. 3" groups at 25 yds is about the best I can manage but I'm still working on a little more accuracy.
The gun is a joy to carry while fishing mountain streams and, no bigger than a .22, it packs a punch.
Best of luck with your new Ruger.
Scott
The gun is a joy to carry while fishing mountain streams and, no bigger than a .22, it packs a punch.
Best of luck with your new Ruger.
Scott
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Where did you see the requirement for a small rifle magnum primer in the 327 Magnum round? I looked at the Hodgdon online data and it calls for a SPM primer. The Alliant data calls for a CCI-500 primer which is a standard pistol primer. The Western Powders load data (Accurate and Ramshot) calls for a WSP primer, again a standard small pistol primer. Lyman calls for a Fed 100 primer, again a standard pistol primer. None call for a rifle primer of any kind let alone a magnum primer.
No sources I checked called for a Small Rifle Magnum Primer and all but 1 calls for a standard pistol primer. Again, where did you see the need for a SRM primer?
You know....I don't think I have ever ordered bullets for reloading by mail order since I ordered from a retailer and got 4 boxes of mixed bullets. When I said mixed...They were well and truly mixed...all 2000. Did buy 2 boxes Hornady 100 Gr XTPs? at Cabela's a couple weeks ago on sale at 16 bucks a box. Serious shooting bullets. I only have one 32 cal bullet mold about a 100 gr SWC. I am probably going to get out of casting. so will have to buy bullets for shooting.
Two things I wish I had bought(hindsight) is a Black Hawk in 32 and a Marlin carbine too. I'd even sell the Marlin 41 mag to get one in 32. The 32 is just fun to shoot
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ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have bought a lot of bullets from Missouri Bullets. The owners Brad and JoAnn are really nice people to deal with and the bullet quality is top notch.
If you don't like cast bullets give their Hi-Tek coated bullets a try. You will get what you order and if a mistake happens they will make it right immediately.
(No, I'm not connected to them in any way)
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