Ruger's new .327 cartridge

[Stan in SC]

Ruger has recently introduced a new cartridge for their SP101 pistol.It's the .327 Federal.The pistol so chambered will also shoot .32,.32Special and .32 Maximum.I was doing some reading up on the cartridge and the specifications show 1300 FPS out of a 3-1/2" barrel.Recoil is supposed to be much less recoil than a .357Magnum.Then the thought hit me that this might be a dandy cartridge for a rifle and then of course the NEF Handi rifle came to mind.I got kind of enthused thinking about the possibilities and the applications.
Since all of the manufacturers were so quick to jump on the .17HMR bandwagon is it a possibility that there might be new rifles in our future?Your thoughts on the subject please,gentlemen?

Stan

[mcwoodduck]

I have not heard of the .327 round yet but the 32H&R Mag gave you the ability of shooting all the other Pistol 32's giving you the same as shooting .38S&W, 38Special, and .357 Mag out of the same revolver.  This was done because the H&R revolver frame was not long enough to chamber 32-20.  It is not a real popular caliber and the other .32's (.32S&W and .32long)[I think I even read that the .32 Acp could be shot out of the H&R Revolvers because the .32 ACP is semi rimed, but verify that before trying it!] have become rather expensive not to mention the .32H&R are not cheap compared to .38 special.  The only thing cool about a .32 is that it will hold 6 in the same size frame that will only fit 5 .38's.  But you do not have the bullet selection that you would with .38/.357.
I would look to get a used .357 Mag in an L or K frame, if I were you and use .38 Specials for any small game and if you really feel like spending big $ on ammo buy .38S&W's to plink with and use .357 mag ammo for your predator or medium game hunting.
I would start with the book Cartridges of the World and see what else would fit in the .327 if any thing at all.  My copy does not contain .327 Federal. 
I'm sure one of these guys could give you an outfit that will take a barrel and re chamber/ bore it to .327 for you for a fee.  I think you would be happier with a .22 Hornet as a rifle. 

[moxgrove]

The odds are the 327 federal won't be chambered in a Handi. They didn't bother to chamber their own 32 H&R so why would they ? Of course I'd be thrilled to death. I can't think of a better small to medium game number- oh yeah they call it  a 32-20.

[quickdtoo]

Here's more on the .327 Federal Magnum...

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/st327_110707/

[Cheesehead]

What rifles will be the first to chamber this new round?

Cheese

[moxgrove]

I really would like to see it in a marlin 1894 or the Handi. Since it is a Ruger endeavor maybe a version of their levergun or the 7722 action. Who knows if they even eill?. I think a lot depends on how popular it becomes. I think more of us would buy it in a single six as a trail/kit gun than as a sp101 defense configutation. Just my 2.125 cents

[mcwoodduck]

Thanks Tim.  Read the article.  It's basically a 32 H&R Mag Mag!  or better name would be 32 maximum. 
Still don't think it will catch on.  38's are effective as a personal carry gun and as for a small to medium game rifle there are much better rounds like 32-20, 22 Hornet,.223, 221 fireball and even the magnum rimfires for small to medium game with longer reach.  Heck the other day I found a 30 carbine case that was necked to .22.  The only thing cool about a Handi chambered in the 327 is the ability to shoot the little 32S&W's around the house.  If they are not loud out of a handgun they should be quieter than the pellet rifle to get rid of ground squirrels and digging cotton tails in the garden.  But has Moxgrove pointed out they have not made one in .32 H&R.  Do other than 32 mag loads have the poop to make it out of a rifle barrel?  Notice that no one bothered to chamber the 32 S&W or 32 long in a lever action rifle either.  They all went with the 32-20.
If Ruger chambers one of their 77/22's  or lever actions in it, it will only be able to shoot the .327 as the rotary mags do not like shorter cases.  My 99/44 Deerfield will not feed .44 Specials and the 10/22's I own will not feed 22CB long's from the Mag.

[Smokin Joe]

Although I'd like to see it stay, I've got a sneaking suspicion that it'll go the same way as the 9 mm Federal, the 45 Win Mag and the 9 mm Mag.
 I wouldn't buy any stock in the .338 Federal, either.

[mcwoodduck]

Because it's based on the 308 case I can see the 338 fed hanging around for a while.  338-06 resurfaces every so often as does 358 win in new rifles.  I would like to see Ruger make the 338 in the international model with out sights.  Mounting a 4X scope on it would make a handy hog and bruin rifle with some nice clean lines as well as deer, elk or moose in brush.

[ironglow]

  In would like to see a .32 H&R in the Handi..it would make a great short range coyote/woodchuck rifle, I believe. Don't expect it will happen though, I have been chiding
  H&R for years now..because they don't even chamber their own cartridge; but to no avail !  Rots of ruck !!!

[stimpylu32]

  Do other than 32 mag loads have the poop to make it out of a rifle barrel? 

mcwoodduck

I have a 20" H&R that i had bored & chambered to the 32 H&R Mag , also shoot quite a few shorts and longs out of it . Granted its no speed demon but they don"t just drop out of the barrel either , i'm guessing that the shorts are running around 500 to 600 fps .

Very quiet , fun gun to shoot and with the longs & mags it makes a great rifle for tree rats out to about 70 yards .

stimpy

[Cat Whisperer]

.32 what ever -  I WANT ONE!

IF and ONLY IF they do a reasonable job on the chamber.  Their .357 Mag is nowhere near a SAMMI chamber.

[mcwoodduck]

Nice Mortar Cat.  What does it shoot.  Are those bowling balls?

[ironglow]

Stimpylu;

  Does the 32 H&R mag not have enough to use for coyotes and woodchucks at short ranges ? I thought that the 32 H&R mag would be hitting at least 1350 fps out of a rifle. being as it hits about 1100 fps from a pistol..

  What am I missing in the picture ?

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Stimpylu;

  Does the 32 H&R mag not have enough to use for coyotes and woodchucks at short ranges ? I thought that the 32 H&R mag would be hitting at least 1350 fps out of a rifle. being as it hits about 1100 fps from a pistol..

  What am I missing in the picture ?

Those stated speeds were with the 32 S&W, I think.  With a .32 H&R Mag, you can also shoot the .32 S&W and the .32 S&W Long cartridges.

Jim

[stimpylu32]

ironglow

Yes the 32 mag has more than enough punch for yotes out to at least 100 yards , the speeds were for the 32 short @ 500 to 600 fps , while the 32 long will run around 600 to 850 fps depending on the loads and bullets used .

stimpy

[Big Blue]

Although I'd like to see it stay, I've got a sneaking suspicion that it'll go the same way as the 9 mm Federal, the 45 Win Mag and the 9 mm Mag.

Sorry to say that I'd have to agree. I hate to see any cartridge lose out, but sales will be sure to govern it's future. I have the 3" SP101 in .357 mag. and if I felt the need for less recoil I can always load the .357's down or use .38's in it so I can't really see this making a huge splash. I think it might stand a better chance if Ruger offered it in a Single-six, both in their fixed and adjustable sight models.
Don

[ironglow]

 Thanks Stimpy;

  Sounds like that 32 short would be a really quiet load for close-in sniping at squirrels etc..

[Cat Whisperer]

Nice Mortar Cat.  What does it shoot.  Are those bowling balls?

 

Thanks!

It's 4.5" bore.  A 4" PVC pipe (4.5" OD) filled with concrete weighs in a 7.5 lbs  -  about 350 meter range with an ounce of FFg.  Those are zinc cast 4.5" balls - weigh in about the same as iron.  (Join us on the blackpowder mortar and cannon forum - www.gbocannons.com .)


I wonder if Ruger will come out with the #1 in their .327 ?