327 Mag J-Frame....Carry This Or a Regular 38/357 J-Frame?

[Nalapombu]

Hey all,

I don't know much about this round. I watched a couple of YouTube videos on it and it looks like something I should research a bit.

I know S&W used to make one, but they dropped it from production. I think it's the 632, right? Ruger currently makes one in the LCR model.

Would you mind telling me what you think of this round? Would you rather carry this 6-shot revolver or one of the standard Airweight J-Frames that are 5-shot 38 or 357mag? It does look like an impressive package in the videos showing it off.

What's your thoughts on it? Worth it or PASS and get one of the nice 5-shot AirWeights?

Thanks for your time.
Larry

 

[eveled]

On paper it looks good.

But I stuck with the .38/.357 models just because I don't want to add another caliber.

You can't go wrong with any J frame, but my favorites have been the black Centennials. 442 is a great bargain, 340mp is a super gun, with its big dot front, and U notch rear, the 340pd is the best IMHO, but a little pricey, I got a deal on mine used, or I never would have got one. Now I see it really is worth it.

 

[Macinaw]

To bad S&W discontinued this model!

 

[Macinaw]

I had to buy the reloading dies for my Dillon so I could afford to shoot this caliber. Factory ammo is expensive and sometimes hard to find. It will shoot four varieties of .32 rounds.

 

[Arik]

It's s hard to find niche round. If I couldn't practice with it regularly I wouldn't carry it

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[Stopsign32v]

I like the 327 but I would never carry it. 38 special for me in a snub nose.

 

[CATI1835]

If memory serves, The ballistics of the .327 Fed Mag exceed the lower end .38 Special. You also get 6 rounds instead of 5, at least in the S&W J frames. I have no problems with the .327 round. I have two Rugers in that caliber. If I could find a Model 632 Snub under $1500 I would pick one up. It is really sad that S&W stopped producing this round.

BTW, for all those naysayers, consider this. The difference in bullet diameter between the .327 and .357 is .03" About the thickness of a credit card. And in most cases you get one more round. Also, the .327 Federal Magnum revolvers will chamber and fire .32H&R Magnum, .32 S&W Long, .32S&W, and .32ACP.

 

[mj2008]

Only downside I see with the .327 is availability for ammo. There's only a few companies manufacturing .327. Of course your could use .32 H&R magnum in it. There's more manufactures making this round. I think if Ruger was to be selling a decent amount of LCR's in .327 S&W might reintroduce one. Then you might see companies like Winchester and Remington get into making .327. The stats look good and it's nice getting an extra round. I'm going to stick with my .357's and .38's. But down the road if Smith reintroduced one in a J frame I might rethink it

 

[Jingles]

It seems to me the .327 is a solution looking for a problem. The .38 Special/.357 mag covers the bases pretty well already. .357 too powerful? Go with the .38. I just don't see a need for it.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

Looks good to me. But adding another caliber when you reload is a real pain. I made the decision to add another j frame. But it's a 360 in 357. Probably want shoot many 357's in it but have that option. Due to be delivered to my LGS today.

 

[H Richard]

The price of the 631 has grown astronomical, it is a collectors version now. But, I don't hesitate to carry a 431 or 432 PD, which is a 32 H&R Mag,shot in a J Frame lightweight, 6 shot. I don't consider a 100 gr. JHP at over 1000 fps from a 1 7/8" barrel a handicap. I'm thinking it could be reamed out for the 327 if one so desired. One advantage is you can shoot 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R Mag, and 327, as well as 32 acp in a pinch.

 

[Clarke Hammer]

I agree with others above that it is a round that is often difficult to find, many stores don't stock it, and it is pricey when you do see it. I've made it a point recently to stick with commonly available calibers. If you handload, then it's a different story.

 

[colt_saa]

For personal defense, I would rather have the power of 5 357 Magnums than the quantity of 6 327s.

No matter where you are on vacation in this vast Country of ours you can always find 357 Magnum or 38 Special ammunition. That is not true of the 327 Magnum.

As already stated, 327 ammunition is expensive, very expensive. So unless you handload, you will be able to afford to practice MUCH more with the 357 Magnum revolver

If you are a novice and/or perhaps recoil sensitive, the 357 Magnum is loaded to many power levels. You can even shoot the the very common but less powerful 38 Special and 38 Special +P ammunition if you like. After all 357 Magnum in a pocket pistol is not for everyone.

Just as the 327 revolvers will chamber and fire several of other 32 caliber rounds, so will your 357 Magnum. A Smith and Wesson 357 Magnum revolver will chamber and fire 357 Magnum, 38 Special, 38 Long Colt, 38 Short Colt, 38 ACP and 38 Super.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

I remember the various gun rags drumming up a bunch of hype about the 327. On paper it looked pretty good, and the thought of being able to have one more round than any given 357 was appealing. Only problem is S&W never produced a no-lock variant. I had one of those silly internal locks fail on me at the range and vowed never to carry a S&W revolver with a lock again. If S&W would make an alloy framed 6 shot J frame or 7 shot K frame without the lock I would be all over it.


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[haris1]

If memory serves, The ballistics of the .327 Fed Mag exceed the lower end .38 Special. You also get 6 rounds instead of 5, at least in the S&W J frames. I have no problems with the .327 round. I have two Rugers in that caliber. If I could find a Model 632 Snub under $1500 I would pick one up. It is really sad that S&W stopped producing this round.

BTW, for all those naysayers, consider this. The difference in bullet diameter between the .327 and .357 is .03" About the thickness of a credit card. And in most cases you get one more round. Also, the .327 Federal Magnum revolvers will chamber and fire .32H&R Magnum, .32 S&W Long, .32S&W, and .32ACP.

I have two 632's. The Blue One With that Carry Comp and the Stainless Centennial(no comp) The 100 grain round at 1500 FPS
equals 357 Magnum energies with the recoil of a 38 wadcutter.
As a defensive gun, its a no brainer!! I can shoot it as fast as I can pull the trigger and all hits are A zone hits!!Gold Dot Hollow Points at 1500 fps hit with 500 pounds of muzzle energy!!!

 

[iblearning]

I have both, and love both. To me you can't go wrong either way.

 

[haris1]

2nd amendment- If you have standard catalog 4th edition, look at page 312. Smith did make a no lock 632 in 327 fed mag. Its called a 632-2 Pro Series

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

2nd amendment- If you have standard catalog 4th edition, look at page 312. Smith did make a no lock 632 in 327 fed mag. Its called a 632-2 Pro Series

Thank you! I'll have to tell Santa.


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[CATI1835]

Thank you! I'll have to tell Santa.

Best of luck finding one. At any price...

 

[haywood]

I went from 357 to 38. I'm to into the Two rounds to change to another now. I have thousands of 357 and 38s at this time.