S&W in .327 Fed Mag

[washerman]

FWIW...i carry a bobbed hammer 431PD. I use Georgia Arms 32 H&R magnum hollow points in it. 270 foot pounds out of the small 6-shot is plenty for me. I believe thats about the same energy as my 38+P i use in my S/W 638. I get extra round though with the 32 Mag revolver

 

[smitholdtimer]

As much as I agree with you all concerning the ,327 Federal Mangum

I'm afraid that S&W will not be the manufacturer we can depend on, they seem to have abandoned the .327 Mag. as well as .32 H&R Magnum. Only they know why they are not interested but I can say for sure they have caused me to buy the Ruger brand just so I could own these calibers. Now to convince the COMPANY to reconsider their decision and make some more for us.

 

[wrangler5]

FWIW...i carry a bobbed hammer 431PD. I use Georgia Arms 32 H&R magnum hollow points in it. 270 foot pounds out of the small 6-shot is plenty for me. I believe thats about the same energy as my 38+P i use in my S/W 638. I get extra round though with the 32 Mag revolver

FWIW, my chrono measurements for the GA Arms 100g JHP gave a velocity of 895fps from a model 432, for energy of 193 foot pounds. The Buffalo Bore 100g JHP out of the same gun had a velocity of 1100fps, for energy of 269 foot pounds. I've shot Remington's 158g LSWCHP 38 Special +P out of a model 49 and measured 820fps for energy of 236 foot pounds.

The Buffalo Bore 32 H&R and Remington +P 38 Special rounds feel pretty similar to me when shot from similar (aluminum or steel) J frame guns - neither is much fun for many rounds, especially so if I don't have grips that cushion the backstrap. The GA Arms round feels considerably less potent. Again, to me.

 

[jack the toad]

Happy to have picked this up this past weekend.
ETA:
Oops, forgot pic.

 

[jack the toad]

Was finally able to load...
632-2 pro series in .327 Fed mag.

 

[series guy]

Like challer61 I was inspired my froggie to build some .327 Federal K Frames. I collected the parts and had Andy Horvath build a 4" and an 8 3/8" gun. I really enjoy them and they both shoot very well. Not cheap but then again I've never run into another one at the range.

 

[jack the toad]

Bet the .327 really shines in that 8"...
I think the K frame and .327 are a perfect match.

 

[Green Frog]

Jack,

If that thing had an exposed hammer, I'd be beating down your door and waving a fistful of dollars! I'm really an adjustable sights kinda guy, but I could make an exception in this case. Great find, my cousin amphibian!

Froggie

PS The adjustable sighted 631 with 3 or 4" barrel is my dream small 32, but I could overcome my aversion to gimmicky features and go for that fluted barrel. That's sweet!

 

[CScott]

Like challer61 I was inspired my froggie to build some .327 Federal K Frames. I collected the parts and had Andy Horvath build a 4" and an 8 3/8" gun.

What parts did you end up using? You can easily guess what I have in mind to do.
Scott

 

[series guy]

Scott I used a well worn Model 19 as the base gun. I bought the Model 16-4 8 3/8" barrel on ebay for too much money. Then I did the same for the .22lr cylinder. Andy assembled it and I added the target hammer and trigger and did a bit of action work. Not cheap but it's exactly what I wanted.

 

[series guy]

The 4" gun was more of the same only I used a model 15 as the donor gun. You can see in the photo that there is a slight gap where the underlug meets the frame. The result of the Model 15 not having an underlug. I called the 19 project my "kit gun".

 

[Green Frog]

What parts did you end up using? You can easily guess what I have in mind to do.
Scott

CScott, you asked somebody else I know but as a two time 32 builder of different variants on the theme I'll chime in with my input, forgive me if you already knew all of this. It might be worth your effort to go back and read two old threads, the latest describing my "faux K-32" and the earlier one about my "Project 616, the gun S&W should have built but didn't."

For both of my builds I used a K-frame 38 or 357, had a K-22 cylinder (6 round, of course) altered to one degree or another, then got a 32 barrel, one factory (a near mythical feat itself) and one 22 barrel rebored. Some folks just start with a K-22 revolver of some vintage, but then you have to pay extra to convert the frame to center fire.

From a financial standpoint it makes little to no sense unless you just decide you simply can't do without one, but the stainless version was never available from the factory and the blue ones are so *#@+* hard and expensive to find they might as well have not made any!

Although S&W made a limited number of J-frames chambered in 327, even I am willing to admit this may have been too much of a good thing. YMMV. I certainly wouldn't pay a premium to get one.

A little OT, we've also discussed the idea of a L-frame 327 with a seven or eight shot cylinder, but that would involve the challenge of making a cylinder from scratch as well as the barrel problem. I've got the Ruger Blackhawk eight shooter in 327 and it's definitely a stud hoss! Debate rages whether the RBH or the proposed L-frame is "too much gun" for the "little" 32 caliber round, but don't confuse me with the facts, I've already made up my mind!

Froggie

 

[Jebus35745]

Andy built 2 guns in .32 long for me in the past. Gave him a model 17 for one and a 15 for the other which ended up a PPC gun with a heavy barrel I was lucky to find. Just had the 4" 16-4 reamed for .327 recently by Andy.

The last was gonna be a project by me, had Andy make a .22 cylinder into a .327. Bought a 15 for the frame, pulled the barrel and tried to fit the cylinder. Too long. NO LUCK, gave it to Andy last week to do his magic. Now the 2-3 month wait. "Remember that Froggie". *It will end up being a 3" full lug in .327 with a Weigand interchangeable front sight base*. He will fit the cylinder, cut the 4" barrel to 3" and call me to get it. He will stamp the barrel with .327 & Horvath Custom. I will round butt it myself then decide on blue or hard chrome. Will do a thread on it when done. Larry

 

[p8riot]

The only other option for a S&W revolver is to purchase a decent 30-1 or 31-1 chambered in .32 S&W Long. The cylinder in the dash 1 can be reamed to accept .32 H&R. And that's as far as you can go.

I was wondering about that as I have an unfired 3" 31-1 flat latch complete with box and paperwork and was measuring the cylinder length and it seemed it was long enough. I would sell it before modifying it though. Would rather pick up and modify a shooter grade 31-1. Would it really stand up to the H&R?

 

[series guy]

Just to verify the scarcity of .32 barrels I didn't realize it at the time but when I was waiting for Andy to build my .327 Federal gun I looked up Froggie's post that inspired me and found that it had taken me 3 years to find the barrel on ebay. To be fair I never posted a WTB on any of the forums.

I just did some research on my computer. I started reading Froggies 616 project thread the day he started it 7-26-12. It took until 6-20-15 to acquire the cylinder and barrel. I had the completed gun it my hands 1-25-16. So besides the dollar investment you will need a peck of patience.

 

[CScott]

CScott, you asked somebody else I know but as a two time 32 builder of different variants on the theme I'll chime in with my input, forgive me if you already knew all of this. It might be worth your effort to go back and read two old threads, the latest describing my "faux K-32" and the earlier one about my "Project 616, the gun S&W should have built but didn't."
Froggie

I've read and re-read the project 616 thread! I keep talking myself out of doing a similar project. I have a Mod 632 that I like very much but a longer barreled K Frame just keeps calling to me.

C. Scott

 

[epj]

The Model 632 Pro Series was available in .327 Federal for a short time. When one comes up for sale occasionally, it usually takes around $1500 to buy it. .32 H&R was produced in the 631/632, 431/432 and 331/332. These were, again, produced for only a short time. When you can find one, expect to pay in the vicinity of $1000. As stated, the only other option is the K frame Model 16-4. Expect to pay a minimum of $1000, if you are really lucky.

The only other option for a S&W revolver is to purchase a decent 30-1 or 31-1 chambered in .32 S&W Long. The cylinder in the dash 1 can be reamed to accept .32 H&R. And that's as far as you can go.

If you do not have any objection to carrying around a tank, the Ruger SP-101 can be had in .327. Or if you don't mind carrying ugly, the LCR in .327.

Lastly, if a .32 H&R is on the table, Charter Arms produces a few. I, for one, am tired of waiting for S&W to come out with a decent concealable revolver in .327. Looks like a Ruger is in my future.

Edit to add: I forgot that the Ruger GP100 can be had in .327, if you want an even heavier tank.

If I'm not mistaken, the GP100 is a 7 or 8 shot configuration.

 

[Rbo]

I tried bidding on a S&W revolver in .327 Federal a few years ago on one of the big gun auction sites.

I say tried because the price went asymptotic instantly and the sale closed before I got the "What the .." out.

So, I ended up buying a Ruger SP-101 in .327 Federal. It's rather a fun gun to shoot, but the Federal American Eagle ammo is about the filthiest "smokeless" powder ammo ever made. Seriously, Federal, clean up your act. That stuff is practically black powder.

A while later, I decided to get a Charter Arms "Undrcoverette" in .32 H&R magnum. It's actually a great little gun. I don't really care for the plastic grip frame and trigger guard, but it shoots well and is very concealable. And Georgia Arms .32H&R magnum ammo is great. And it will shoot cleaner in the Ruger.

 

[350mag]

[emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[reccpd101]

I love the 32s and loved Project 616 of Froggies but I can't see the patience
or the funds when compared to the cost and immediate gratification of the Ruger.