S&W .327 federal magnum
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jjbrewst1
Member
632-1 with a 3 inch power port. That was the first S&W revolver in this caliber they offered.
bobf
US Veteran
Also the 632-2 with 2-1/8 fluted barrel
There was also an identical version BUT in the satin silver finish offered as a distributor exclusive - Sports South for one.
The factory initial offering was in the 'black; stainless finish.
Green Frog
Member
... but no matter how you count them, S&W's offerings in 327 Fed Mag were very limited at best. Their commitment to revolvers ("the horse they rode in on") seems to be growing weaker and weaker. 
Froggie
Froggie
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
... but no matter how you count them, S&W's offerings in 327 Fed Mag were very limited at best. Their commitment to revolvers ("the horse they rode in on") seems to be growing weaker and weaker.
Froggie
True that; the 327 Fed Mag cries out for a long barrel L-frame to really burn all the powder! If you shoot one of the shorties mentioned above be ready for blast and flash.
Green Frog
Member
I'm the guy that had the whole forum family waiting with me like an expectant father for my "Project 616" that I had built by Andy Horvath since it didn't/doesn't appear S&W will ever build one. My revolver has a 4" underlug barrel (rebored 617) and by the time I get up to even the mildest of Federal's factory loads, it is downright rowdy. BUUUUTTT, I like it like that. It's about like shooting a +P+ 38 Special as far as recoil, and when I shoot the Federal factory stuff or my own 125 gr SWC reloads, I'm not going to feel undergunned at all!
Regards,
Froggie
Reference: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/260686-project-616-a.html
Engine49guy
Member
There was also a Model 16-4 in 327 Federal mag non P&R with full underlug barrel.
Maybe Allan Frame will share a picture of his .
Maybe Allan Frame will share a picture of his .
Green Frog
Member
All of the Model 16-4s left S&W as 32 H&R "semi-Magnums." Any that are chambered in the true 32 Magnum (327 Fed Mag) got that way by being re-chambered. If the Model 16 were still in production, it would likely be chambered in 327 FM, or if there were a stainless K-frame 32 being built (as there really should be) it would be the Model 616 like I had built for myself. Since I used a Model 66 no dash as my donor gun and a Model 617 Cylinder, my gun in pinned and recessed as a S&W Magnum really should be.
Froggie
The 327 Magnum is a great cartridge and a versatile chambering. It's to bad it didn't catch on like it should have, but I have a 632 3" and I'm quite happy with it. Shooting 32s I discovered is quite enjoyable, so much so I added a Model 432 in 32 H&R Magnum to my collection. The 32 H&R was looked down upon by many, but with some truly excellent loads like those from Buffalo Bore and Hornady things are improving. Now I need a K32 Masterpiece.
Green Frog
Member
The problem with the 32 H&R semi-Magnum was the fact that it was designed to be used in the decidedly less-than robust platform of its namesake, the Harrington & Richardson... don't get me wrong, it is a good utility gun in its own way, but not up to the task of handling a high performance round. When S&W and Ruger chambered mostly small frame guns for it, that just reinforced the need to keep factory loads to "reasonable" levels (read that "wimpy.") Although a relatively few Models 16-4 and Blackhawks were built, the only way one could take advantage of the potential of the so-called magnum was to handload for it. With its longer OAL, the 327 FM could be loaded to true magnum levels with impunity since nobody made a small, weak gun that would chamber it.
Ruger took the lead in making a couple of full sized DA and SA revolvers and Smith made a H4lf-@$$ed effort with a few little J-frame offerings, but even these products have all been pretty much discontinued now. There was never a heavily heralded rollout of the cartridge or the guns that could shoot it, and ammo was never in abundant supply, so surprise, surprise, the cartridge never took off!
I'm just venting here, because I went to the trouble to walk the walk and have a proper gun built for the cartridge, and I am not likely to ever regret doing so, but in the best of worlds I shouldn't have had to make it myself. Every time the subject comes up her, or on the Ruger forum, or a reloading forum, the interest is high. Within the industry, not so much.
Rant over.
Froggie
Badquaker
Member
I have wanted a 327 for a while. It seems like a good candidate for a pocket gun. The lack of ammo has hampered my desire.
That is the reason why I started to reload .32 H&R mag. The ammo was expensive. Even .32 S&W were about $26 for 50.
locodriver999
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327 Magnum
I think they are great also.
I have a 632 ported
I have a Ruger single six Birds head in 32 H/R mag converted ( shoots 5 calibers now including the 32 acp)
And a Built up one from a S/W 66 using a stainless 617 cylinder .
Barrel liner made from a 7.7 Jap chrome lined barrel and bored old 66 4 inch barrel out for the liner works great.
Love the caliber and a great little gun .
I too think S/W missed the boat on the K framed 327 magnum.
Locodriver.
I think they are great also.
I have a 632 ported
I have a Ruger single six Birds head in 32 H/R mag converted ( shoots 5 calibers now including the 32 acp)
And a Built up one from a S/W 66 using a stainless 617 cylinder .
Barrel liner made from a 7.7 Jap chrome lined barrel and bored old 66 4 inch barrel out for the liner works great.
Love the caliber and a great little gun .
I too think S/W missed the boat on the K framed 327 magnum.
Locodriver.
32s were very popular from the time of their inception and even post war. The 32 H&R Magnum and the 327 are part of that evolution. If S&W ever came out with a K frame in 327 Magnum I think it would breathe new life into that chambering. Those of us here that own 327s know how much fun they are.
I'm still trying to research how many model 432s S&W produced this year and was pleasantly surprised when I found one.
I'm still trying to research how many model 432s S&W produced this year and was pleasantly surprised when I found one.
Green Frog
Member
I'm going out to my local club's range for a little shooting with a friend and his teen-age grandson who we will be introducing to handguns (in honor of his just getting his Rifle Shooting Merit Badge from Boy Scouts.) I'm taking project 616 and a bunch of old factory 32 S&W Longs to shoot up... not because that's all the gun will handle, but because it's one of 5 calibers that it can handle, and I have a bunch to shoot up. Just one more reason that a 327 FM revolver is a good idea, you can shoot just about any 32 handgun round out there with it.
Froggie
Froggie
jtcarm
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... but no matter how you count them, S&W's offerings in 327 Fed Mag were very limited at best. Their commitment to revolvers ("the horse they rode in on") seems to be growing weaker and weaker.
Froggie
Limited at best describes the public and Ruger's commitment to the .327. Why would S&W keep making them?
I got interested in the SP101 in that caliber when .22 lr ammo got scarce, reasoning I could reload .32 longs & have a cheap powder puff for my son & I to shoot (plus maybe a good home defense pistol.) Ruger isn't even making them, and who wants a ******* tank (GP100) in that caliber?
As for revolvers, I suspect S&W has as much commitment as is economically possible. The demand just isn't there, and I'm sure they're more expensive to produce than plastic semi-autos. The CHL market is probably the only thing that keeps any S&W revolvers in regular production.
The 632-1 disappeared from the S&W catalog a few months ago but a check last night shows its been put back in to their line-up!!
I reload the 32 H&R for my 16-4, and find that the Hornady XTP loaded to 1200 fps is an outstanding shooting load. One of the most fun shooting S&W's I have.
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