.327 Federal magnum

[natsamjosh]

Hello,

I posted this question in the revolver forum, but I figured I'd post here as well.

Regarding the S&W Model 632 (and other .327 Fed. mag revolvers), I'm just trying to get opinions on how long it will take for .327 magnum to become more readily available, if ever. And is there any way for consumers to increase its availability besides buying an expensive gun that we can't shoot because the ammo is so hard to get and expensive? I e-mailed S&W customer service, haven't gotten a response yet.

Thanks!
Ed

 

[SMSgt]

I don't think it will ever become more available than what it is now, and may become less so as the stocks are reduced.

Many cartridges are the result of ammo designers/producers with too much time on their hands. Many are easily surpassed by more popular rounds already in production and don't fill any particular niche that other rounds can't also fill.

One of my favorite cartridges was the .30 Herrrett, essentually chambered only in the TC Contender. Basically a shortened .30-30, it was an awesome cartridge and very efficient in the 10- and 14-inch barrels. Alas it was never commercially produced, cases had to be handmade from .30-30 brass, and I don't think any company still chambers production firearms for it. Unfortunately, mine was stolen. "Good luck finding ammo" to the jerk who took it.

 

[mtgianni]

When Starline makes brass I will buy a gun. Until then the H&R does it for me.

 

[Goffman]

Hello,

I posted this question in the revolver forum, but I figured I'd post here as well.

Regarding the S&W Model 632 (and other .327 Fed. mag revolvers), I'm just trying to get opinions on how long it will take for .327 magnum to become more readily available, if ever. And is there any way for consumers to increase its availability besides buying an expensive gun that we can't shoot because the ammo is so hard to get and expensive? I e-mailed S&W customer service, haven't gotten a response yet.

Thanks!
Ed

I appreciate this question because the ballistics on the .327 Mag are very good (comparable to a 9mm +P from a short barrel), and one gets an extra round over the small-frame .357 Mag. I would love to buy a snubnose in this caliber, but I share the other responders' pessimism about the likelihood of reasonable ammunition prices any time in the near future.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have a satin stainless 632 CarryComp in 327 Magnum and it is a great pistol. I haven't had trouble finding the ammo (85 grain self defense load, 85 grain JSP or the 100 grain JSP). It is a bit pricy at about $28 for a box of 50. I'm sure the ammo will be hard to find, but at this point, for me anyway, 32 H&R is harder to find then 327 where I live.

The 327 is a powerful and loud round. The beauty of this round is that all the other 32 rounds can be shot through it as well (32 S&W, 32 Long, 32 H&R and even 32ACP in a pinch).

I bought this pistol because I like 32s and was interested in the caliber. I also didn't hesitate with the purchase because it fires all the other 32s as well and can be reloaded using the same 32 H&R dies.

I hope this caliber is here to stay, as it is what the 32 H&R was intended to be. With Harrington and Richardson's limited money for development, and choice of their handgun line, they made the cartridge as long as they could without making a new handgun.

 

[joell1210]

I was aware of the .327 ammo shortage. So I bought some ammo & all the components to reload as well. And for seven months my dealers have been unable to locate the S&W 2" version. I checked today & its still unavailable. 7 boxes of ammo, 500 rounds of reloads & no gun to shoot them!

 

[guesser]

I bought a 327 revolver about 18 months ago. Ammunition has been available from day 1 at the local True Value hardware store where I bought the gun. I built up a good supply of cases by shooting out the 100 grain AE that sells for $24.65 here. Now I cast and handload, great cartridge and a great gun, Charter Arms Target Patriot, that is.

 

[tackstrp]

5 boxes of AE 100 grain 50 round boxes are available on Gunbroker.com

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm just trying to get opinions on how long it will take for .327 magnum to become more readily available, if ever. And is there any way for consumers to increase its availability besides buying an expensive gun that we can't shoot because the ammo is so hard to get and expensive?

If the .327 Magnum doesn't catch on ammo may never be more available than it is now. Like any other caliber it needs a lot of shooters to make the ammo easily available at a better price. Right now the push to sell the revolver as a SD handgun isn't going well. IMO the only think that will save the caliber is if it's chambered in a SA revolver like the Blackhawk and a Carbine for hunting like the Marlin 1894. I think it's a so-so SD round but a great round for killing Varmints like Coyotes with a levergun. Just look back at how popular the 32 Cal was as a small game and field gun not too long ago, the .327 Magnum could make the 32 Cal popular again. (but not in a 3" revolver for SD)

 

[peyton]

Ruger has made three revolvers in this caliber, S&W needs to get going. A k frame would be a good start, plus the 2 inch centinnel that has pictures but not on the street.

 

[C.S.63]

I traded my ruger sp in 327 towards a S&W 432, The 327 round is real nice and the ruger was a tank but not real comfortable to carry. I also load for the 32s family but will stick with the H&R till the centennial becomes available, Those SS centennials are awsome. If you are going to shoot the 327 a lot You may have to reload for it.
Carl

 

[brucev]

I would be very interested in a K-frame .327 S&W w/ a nice 4" barrel. Round-butt and adjustable sights would be nice. Stainless steel would be obligatory. Would be a ideal field gun for small game, etc. And with good ammo it would do fine for HD. With brass and bullets one could have a lot of fun working up various loads for the range, plinking and even hunting. With a normal weight barrel, the weight would be fine for carry and shooting. Hope they will produce it. Until then I'll just keep carrying my 28... or my 686... or my 625.

 

[arkdweller22]

In my neck of the woods finding premium ammo is no issue. There's plenty of the 115Gr. Gold Dots and 85Gr. Hydra-Shoks in most stores.
The issue has been finding the AE 100Gr. Soft Points. That's as near as you will get to plinking ammo.

If you're going to practice with any appreciable volume without breaking the bank, you need to reload.

Freedom Arms is selling Federal Brass (primed!) in 100 and 500 count containers. I ordered a 500 count bag from them, it got here within 2 days. My H&R dies are arriving today so I will start loading tomorrow morning!

Here's the order form for Freedom Arms brass. You'll have to call them:

http://www.freedomarms.com/2009 New Products.pdf

Here's an article from shooting times with good load info:

Reloading the .327 Federal Magnum

Here's another page with decent data:

Reloading .327 Federal Magnum

So as you can see, there's plenty of load data out there.

I'm not sure if the cartridge will ever "take off" to be honest. Look at .357 Sig and .45 GAP. Those are viable LE cartridges and they're having a hard time achieving the popularity of the .40 S&W. Even though some LE agencies have adopted them.
I don't think the cartridge is "going away" either. It will be around and in use by folks like me who love the .32 and feel that this cartridge puts it where it needs to be. Kinda like 10MM (which I also love and for which I reload).
Like others I would love to see a lever action gun in this caliber!

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Coming in 2011

I was just looking around on Buffalo Bore's site and was pleasantly surprised to see that they will be offering two or three .327 Federal Mag rounds sometime this year, as well as an equal number for the .32 H&R Mag.......

When they do I'm going to be all over that!

 

[bobf]

According to their webpage Speer uses small rifle primers in all their .327 loads.
See special note regarding primers
http://www.speer-bullets.com/pdf/327_Federal_Magnum_GDHP_115gr_3988_DataFile.pdf
Bob

 

[jmathis84]

I see the Sd loads everywhere. The problem around here is the plinking ammo or target loads are nearly impossible to find. That is one fo the main reasons I have considered getting one myself.

 

[guesser]

I see that AE is now loading an 85 grain soft point as well as the original 100 grain soft point. The local True Value hardware store has had AE 100 gr. continuously ever since the 327 came out. I bought it and shot it out to build up my brass stock to hand load.

 

[W.E.G.]

Compared to other calibers, its very much a niche caliber.

Expect manufacturers to produce small lots of ammo and components only once per year (or manufacturing cycle - which I understand is typically annual).

I ordered some Hornady XTP Bullets 32 Caliber (312 Diameter) 100 Grain from Midway in April 2010. They only just arrived a couple weeks ago.

 

[mistermills357]

The .327 Federal Mag

It may never become readily available: it seems to have been born under a bad sign. The timing may be off for it to become a mainline cartridge.
The economics are bad too, it is too expensive by half: as is ammunition in general.
Do a work-around and buy factory for use in self-defense: and load yer own fer practice. If I ever get one, those are my plans.
Good Lord, ammo is expensive.

 

[guesser]

I don't see the ammo as being terribly expensive by comparison. I picked up a box of AE,(50 rounds) for 24.65. The Remington 38 Special, 110 gr, SJHP right next to it were marked 36.95 (50 Rounds). I cast and load for both and now I have a healthy supply of 327 cases and a couple 5 gallon buckets of 38 Special cases. 327 seems a bargain when compared new to new.