.327 magnum K or L frame

[challer61]

SS, full lug in 4" and 6". These are becoming my favorite trail gun and I do not know why Smith has not jumped on this. The round languished for a few years but is now beginning to show signs of growing. Ammo is relatively easy to get.

 

[BEEMER1]

I agree!

I would love to see a new Model 616.

 

[Bastogne71]

I'd rather not have the full lug but I'll put a deposit down the day S&W announces they are making a model 616. I'll even get it with the useless lock!

Sadly, S&W as abandoned the 32 market to Ruger.

 

[steelslaver]

I have several J and I frame 32 S&W guns as well as a 32-20 I fit a 32 S&W cylinder made up from a K22 cylinder. I like my 16-4 best. I thought about reaming it to 327, but got a another K22 cylinder, reamed and fitted it.

I agree S&W is making a mistake by not making a K frame 327 and for that matter a J frame one also.

 

[tjpopkin]

I am in for a 616 especially a 7-8 shot....
I reamed a 4" Model 16-4 to .327, and of the 5 guns in this caliber, the 16-4 is the winner...accuracy is far better than my Ruger Single 7. Handloading for this caliber is easy with a .32L-.32Mag set of dies, and the 100gr. GC lead bullet flies at 1650fps....out of a 4"...Accuracy with the .32L wadcutters seems unaffected, but for Bullseye, I still use my Pardini .32.

 

[Muley Gil]

I stashed away a M16-4 cylinder a few years back. I bought a M53 6" barrel that has been re-bored to .32. My M15 is fixin' to become a .32 and yes, I'm going to ream the cylinder to .327 Federal.

 

[challer61]

I stashed away a M16-4 cylinder a few years back. I bought a M53 6" barrel that has been re-bored to .32. My M15 is fixin' to become a .32 and yes, I'm going to ream the cylinder to .327 Federal.

Why did you rebore the barrel? I understand .32 magnum and .327 are the same diameter

 

[Muley Gil]

Why did you rebore the barrel? I understand .32 magnum and .327 are the same diameter

The M53 is chambered in .22 Jet. I wanted one of those because they have the traditional S&W half-lug barrel. The M16-4 was the last K frame S&W built in .32 caliber.

 

[Tom K]

Rather than wait for S&W to do it, start gathering parts and have your own made. All it takes is time and money. Probably less time than waiting for S&W to get around to it, and you can have a gun without the pointless lock and the attendant ugly frame profile that it causes on K (and J) frames.

The seldom-seen 8-3/8" K32

 

[Muley Gil]

"Rather than wait for S&W to do it, start gathering parts and have your own made. All it takes is time and money."

See this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/595721-m15-38-special-no-mo.html#post140487901

 

[Bucher33]

The new September issue of Shooting Times has an interesting article on Ruger and the .327 Federal Magnum. Quite informative and even they lamented the fact that S&W no longer offers anything in this caliber.

 

[Green Frog]

I guess it’s been long enough to suggest posters might want to do a search and read “Project 616” This is what I regard as the gun S&W should have built but never did. Of course now, the idea of a L-frame seven (or even eight) shooter in 327 FM is percolating through my brain. Hopefully, I’ll be able to hold off the temptation.

Froggie

 

[SuperMan]

Turned my Model 53 .22 Jet into a .327 by having the barrel rebored and .22 Long Rifle cylinder rechambered. Gets a lot more use as a .327 than a Jet...

Bob

 

[Sevens]

I am in for a 616 especially a 7-8 shot....
I reamed a 4" Model 16-4 to .327, and of the 5 guns in this caliber, the 16-4 is the winner...accuracy is far better than my Ruger Single 7. Handloading for this caliber is easy with a .32L-.32Mag set of dies, and the 100gr. GC lead bullet flies at 1650fps....out of a 4"...Accuracy with the .32L wadcutters seems unaffected, but for Bullseye, I still use my Pardini .32.

Everything about this entire post makes me happy, makes me grin! If you had said 6-inch or 8-3/8" rather than 4-inch, even a little bit happier!

 

[challer61]

I am interested in building my own 616 now! Question, what is the advantage, other than SS, of this approach vs reaming the cylinders of my 16-4? In addition to the host gun, barrel and cylinder, what other parts would be required?

 

[Muley Gil]

I am interested in building my own 616 now! Question, what is the advantage, other than SS, of this approach vs reaming the cylinders of my 16-4? In addition to the host gun, barrel and cylinder, what other parts would be required?

None that can think of. I had a 6" M16-4 and thought about doing the rechamber of the cylinder. However, I wanted a half lug ejector rod shroud. Wound up selling the M16-4. Didn't want to, as it was very accurate. But, I needed the money.

 

[PattonTime]

327 Magnum

Ok, it is not the S&W I would have preferred, but Ruger did this one reasonably well.
Only Ruger DA I have owned that I did not want to "improve" trigger on.
That includes its cousin, my Match Champion 10MM, whose trigger isn't near as nice as this GP100's.
Could it be because this is only blued Ruger DA I have owned?
I do own a 16-4 and really enjoy shooting it, but hankered for a 327 Federal and couldn't bear to rechamber the 16-4 as they are so collectible, but at the rate I shoot it that probably doesn't matter anyway.
But, if I could get new cylinders for my Freedom Model 97 and or my Buckeye Special...
Its only money.