It's time to bring back the 16-4

[gunman5646]

The 32 Federal cartridge is on a roll. It didn't die like the "so called" experts said it would. Most of this is due to Lipseys in New Orleans. Even Henry is chambering a carbine and a rifle in 327/32 H&R. I believe the folks enamored of the 32 family of cartridges are ready for a premium wheel gun and they would fly off the shelves.

 

[wadcutter1]

I'm not sure they will fly off the shelves but judging from used prices there is a lot of pent up demand for 327 Fed S&W revolvers.

I've kept my eye on my local stores for a used Ruger in 327 Fed and have yet to see one, so I wonder how they are selling.

 

[tjpopkin]

First, and foremost...most shooters that have them are keeping them....
I for one, have a Ruger Single Seven which is very nice, but my 16-4 modified for .327 Federal is amazing....accuracy is off the charts, and it still will shoot .32 Long Wadcutters as accurately as before the re-chambering (Bowens). It sits in a Galco holster for fun.

I'd call a 616 in .327 Federal a near perfect revolver....

I have the J-frames...632-1 and 632-2 Pro and they are a "bear" to handle. The .327 is a very hot cartridge.

 

[Jebus35745]

I went the same route Terry in the above post went. Took my 4” 16-4 to Andy Horvath in January and had him ream it to .327. Shot it once with 231 and it shot flames, gotta find a different powder. Sometimes if S&W don’t make it you have to do it yourself. Larry

 

[Sevens]

.327 Federal needs a slow burning powder... I do a lot of mine with AA#9.

 

[tjpopkin]

I use H110, but tried Powerpistol and it is stellar. Accuracy is great, and groups are tight.
Email me and I will send the data....
[email protected]

 

[gunman5646]

I guess I'm a 32 nut. I have two Single sixes in 32 H&R I bought in the 1980's. One of each barrel length of the Single Seven in stainless. An eight shot Pinto Black Hawk. (at the end of the last production run, Ruger ran out of Stainless cylinders and ejector rod covers and used blued parts, only 116 were made) A 7 shot gp100 in 4", a 6 1/2 bisely 32 H&R of 2018 production, a 2018 327 fed Bisely 5 1/2" , a 4 5/8" sp101, not to mention my Henry Big Boy Steel 20".
But a 16-4 is a classic and I would need 1 in each barrel length. "The 327 Combat Masterpiece", has a ring to it! A "J" frame is too light for the 327, H&R maybe. I find the SP101 a handful with 327's and the GP100 a bit large. Yes, a "K" frame would be perfect!

 

[gunman5646]

First, and foremost...most shooters that have them are keeping them....
I for one, have a Ruger Single Seven which is very nice, but my 16-4 modified for .327 Federal is amazing....accuracy is off the charts, and it still will shoot .32 Long Wadcutters as accurately as before the re-chambering (Bowens). It sits in a Galco holster for fun.

I'd call a 616 in .327 Federal a near perfect revolver....

I have the J-frames...632-1 and 632-2 Pro and they are a "bear" to handle. The .327 is a very hot cartridge.

I,ve got to agree. A 16,or a 616 would be as close to perfect as you could get. And please no ported guns, the 327 is a loud beast with full power loads, as it is.

 

[yaktamer]

If I didn't think they'd get an injunction, I'd call S&W ten times a day to ask that they reissue the 16-4.

 

[tjpopkin]

If I didn't think they'd get an injunction, I'd call S&W ten times a day to ask that they reissue the 16-4.

would be a 16-5

 

[Bastogne71]

I've got my checkbook in hand waiting for Smith & Wesson to announce the new production of a model 616 in 327 magnum! I bought a Ruger SP-101 in 327 because S&W has not made the revolver I really wanted. Why S&W has abandoned the 32 market to Ruger? Seems to me that one of the main distributors like Lipseys or TALO should see the market and order a special run of K frames 327's for us to snatch up.

I guess that I'll have to enjoy my 16-4 and 631 until then.

 

[oddshooter]

Put me down for a 16 as well.

Three months ago I got a Ruger Buckeye in 32-20 and the factory 32 H&R mag cylinder as well. I had planned to ream the 32H&R mag into a 327 Federal Magnum, but I have since changed my mind.

The Buckeye is just too perfect the way it is.
It is a tank like all Rugers and can shoot the hottest loads. I just started with the 32-20 handloads and shooting easily into the 1350fps territory using 115gr with 4227. I got so giddy shooting this beauty, that I went out and got a 32-20 barrel for my contender (really a 30-20).

I now am on the hunt for a Blackhawk in 327 Fed Mag.

Yes, I freely admit it. I have become a .32 junkie.


Prescut

 

[ddixie884]

I'd buy one. I wonder if S&W would make a run for Lipsey's if they would order 1K or so of them.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I'd buy one too if they left off that blasted full under lug.

 

[CH4]

I couldn’t agree more, as long as it was in its original configuration-no ugly, chubby two-part barrel. Unfortunately the ugly font and lock are apparently here to stay. Make it one of the classics.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I'd buy one if they kept the full underlug.

 

[Mercury]

Put me down for buying a 4" and a 6" WITHOUT the lock. Blue or stainless makes no difference to me.
In the meantime, I bought a 3".327 SP101. It's a fine gun but just makes me want a S&W even more.

ETA: the lock comment