Thoughts on the 327 federal

[Nobade]

Reading one of the new gun magazines that came in the shop recently, I was pondering the 327 Federal. The article was about the great new Ruger blackhawk and GP100 chambered for that round. 115grains at 1600 fps or so. Amazing new cartridge. What about the 30 carbine blackhawks they have been making for a really long time? (I don't know when they started making them, but it's been a while.) Pretty much the same thing. But you can get brass for those, they can be reloaded from mild to wild, really accurate, powerful, etc. OK, the new cartridge has a rim. Makes it easier to work with. But hey, the old one works darn good too.

[tacklebury]

My friend got one for concealed carry.  Probably works good from what I hear, albeit I prefer a bigger bored hand gun.  I didn't like the way Federal is holding the patent and won't let people reload their own ammo, however.  That wouldn't fly with me being stuck paying premium for it.  I'd probably just go .357 first if I wanted a small bore.  Personally, I like my .45colt/.45acp blackhawk, although a co-worker of mine swears by his .30 carbine too.

[Frank V]

My opinion of this cartridge, & it's only my opinion, is that it's probably as good or a bit better than the .38Special +P for defense. I feel it's not near as good as a .357. I think it's real calling could be a VERY fine trail/small game cartridge. I think it'd really shine in this application.
I don't have one, but am not opposed to one. 
Frank

[nicholst55]

IMHO, unless and until Federal lets everyone chamber their guns for the cartridge and make ammo and brass, it will remain a 'boutique' cartridge.  It will in effect become the 6.5 Grendel of the revolver world - interesting, but scarcely worth the time or effort to pursue.

I'm wondering what it will do that a tight-chamber .32-20 won't.

[Blackhawk44]

Having worked a fair amount with the .32-20 and .30 carbine Blackhawk, I can't help but ask- "how about the muzzleblast?"  For self defense, because of that  blast and flash, I've come to prefer cartridges at a more moderate pressure.

[Hank08]

Good question.  I have a .327 Ruger 8 shooter, several 32/20s, several .32 H&Rs, a Ruger 30 carbine (came out about 1965, I think, got mine in 1966) and the 30C is the best of the lot.  They'll all kill rabbits, squirrels, chucks, etc. as well as your eardrums.  1600 with a 115,
dream on, maybe with a 20" barrel.  Won't do much,if anything, the .38 or .357 won't or that's the way I see it. 
H08

[no guns here]

I think it would make a very fine lever gun or single shot cartridge.  If it'll get 1600 out of a revolver, then you'd think it's get 1900 or so out of a 20 inch lever gun.  That would make a nice truck gun.  Short range deer (small), feral dogs, cats, coyotes, javelina, pigs, and other varmints would be in danger from one of these.  I might order a G2 carbine barrel to play with.


NGH

[Hopalong7]

      I know there are some folks who had thier 32 Buckeye Special(32-20/32H&R Convertable) rechambered to 327 in the 32H&R cylinder and I've considered doing the same myself.  But, I've never heard any of them comment on the results.  I shoot my 32-20 a good bit but never use the 32H&R cylinder.  I also shoot a 30Carbine Blackhawk quite a bit and it IS a close race between the two.  BUT, the one I carry most often is my 32H&R Single Six and it can't be chambered(at least not without a lot of custom work) for the 327.
Walt

[Default_Required]

While I admit to having wanted one of the old H&R 32 H&R revolvers for some time not real interested in the 327.. I think the niche they are trying for is that you can squeeze 6 of the 327s into the same 5 shot 38 spcl platform , Getting an extra round with no increase in size might be very appealing to some ... As far as Fed holding the rights to the cartridge , how does that stop me from buying a few boxes of ammo and reloading the brass in a set of 32 H&R dies ?  

 As for the 1600 fps claim, Yeah I would be leary of that . Manufactures do like those 8-10" test barrels

[Brett]

While I admit to having wanted one of the old H&R 32 H&R revolvers for some time not real interested in the 327.. I think the niche they are trying for is that you can squeeze 6 of the 327s into the same 5 shot 38 spcl platform , Getting an extra round with no increase in size might be very appealing to some ...

That's about the only advantage I see in the .327 Fed. over 38+p or 357 mag

[tacklebury]

While I admit to having wanted one of the old H&R 32 H&R revolvers for some time not real interested in the 327.. I think the niche they are trying for is that you can squeeze 6 of the 327s into the same 5 shot 38 spcl platform , Getting an extra round with no increase in size might be very appealing to some ... As far as Fed holding the rights to the cartridge , how does that stop me from buying a few boxes of ammo and reloading the brass in a set of 32 H&R dies ?  

 As for the 1600 fps claim, Yeah I would be leary of that . Manufactures do like those 8-10" test barrels

I believe the one pain will be that you cannot purchase brass.  You will have to purchase factory ammo and then reload that brass, which is fine if that is what you desire to do.  Also, there are some differences in length on the .32 H&R, so it might be somewhat troublesome to get the dies to work without modification.  I personally don't even really care for small bores, but that's me.  I like .45 Colt and .45 ACP.  The ACP's enjoy being cheap and abundant also.  I had looked into a .32 H&R at one point as a trapline/varmint gun, but even for that, I now download rounds for close in or make my own shotshells or round ball loads. 

[Merle]

I didn't like the way Federal is holding the patent and won't let people reload their own ammo, however.  

What do you mean by this? I see brass & reloading dies for sale.
32 cal bullets are also readily available.

    

[tacklebury]

Hmm.  I'm not seeing the brass available from suppliers, other than once shot.  The only dies I'm seeing are people using .32 H&R Magnum to reload them.  Which was mentioned in an earlier post.  The original statements pertaining to this was that Federal was limiting manufacture by holding the patent and requiring companies to get a license to load for it.  It may be that they've changed that stand also.  If you can post links to the dies and brass you've found, I'd appreciate it.  I'll pass it on to my friend, who really wants to reload for it.

[Merle]

Hmm.  I'm not seeing the brass available from suppliers, other than once shot.  The only dies I'm seeing are people using .32 H&R Magnum to reload them.  Which was mentioned in an earlier post.  The original statements pertaining to this was that Federal was limiting manufacture by holding the patent and requiring companies to get a license to load for it.  It may be that they've changed that stand also.  If you can post links to the dies and brass you've found, I'd appreciate it.  I'll pass it on to my friend, who really wants to reload for it.

I just took a quick tour of where I thought these items were, and found nothing.
Guess I was mistaking ammo for reloading componts, or maybe halucinating ....

Sorry for the false hope.

    

[mrussel]

Can you shoot 32H&R out of one? I understand the only difference is the length and of course the pressures are lower... and the brass inst as robust... so I guess there are a lot of differences. Still,is it like the 38 special in the 357?

 As for reloading Graf and Sons lists the brass but are out of stock. Bulls Eye Marksman Gun Club and Indoor Range also lists them,but again they are out. The picture they show implies that they are Federal cases.

[Lloyd Smale]

dont have alot of need for one. I shoot mostly cast in handguns and the h&r mag pushes cast as fast as i guy wants to push cast. A rifle would be cool but i allready have a 3220 that does everything a 327 would.

[Merle]

Can you shoot 32H&R out of one? I understand the only difference is the length and of course the pressures are lower... and the brass inst as robust... so I guess there are a lot of differences. Still,is it like the 38 special in the 357?

 As for reloading Graf and Sons lists the brass but are out of stock. Bulls Eye Marksman Gun Club and Indoor Range also lists them,but again they are out. The picture they show implies that they are Federal cases.

As far as I have ever seen the 32 H&R Mag ammo is only made by Federal of the big names. HOWEVER several companies such as Black Hills load "cowboy" ammo in Starline brass.
I have used some of it in my S&W M632 for various postal matches & it shoots pretty good.
Also, cowboy ammo has been more available than any of the Federal loads, so it might be an option.

    

[Heavy C]

Federal not keeping up with production, or allowing others to provide factory loads or components is an annoyance.  I had a Blackhawk rechambered to .327.  It allows me to run .327 and .32 H&R out of the same revolver.  Always wanted a 32 in the herd.  I have 8 shots available to me and it balances well.  I'm reloading my brass with 120 gr. cast.  It makes a nice trail gun, good on small game, and I want to try it on hogs.

Muzzle blast is pretty fierce, but I wear ear protection so it's not that much of an issue.  A .32-20 is certainly up to the task as are the many cartridges that have already been mentioned.

[Brett]

This little Blackhawk could make me rethink my position on the .327 fed. mag.

http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkStainless/specSheets/0353.html

[Hank08]

I had a Blackhawk rechambered to .327.    I have 8 shots available to me

Heavy C., Did you just have a Blackhawk rechambered? or did you have a new 8 shot cylinder made?  What blackhawk caliber could be rechambered to .327?

Mrussel, You can shoot .32 acp, .32 S&W, .32 S&W long, .32 H&R, as well as .327.
H08

[Brett]

Why convert one when you can buy a new factory one? 

[mrussel]

Can you shoot 32H&R out of one? I understand the only difference is the length and of course the pressures are lower... and the brass inst as robust... so I guess there are a lot of differences. Still,is it like the 38 special in the 357?

 As for reloading Graf and Sons lists the brass but are out of stock. Bulls Eye Marksman Gun Club and Indoor Range also lists them,but again they are out. The picture they show implies that they are Federal cases.

As far as I have ever seen the 32 H&R Mag ammo is only made by Federal of the big names. HOWEVER several companies such as Black Hills load "cowboy" ammo in Starline brass.
I have used some of it in my S&W M632 for various postal matches & it shoots pretty good.
Also, cowboy ammo has been more available than any of the Federal loads, so it might be an option.

    

If you were REALLY desperate,you could perhaps swage down 32-20 brass and trim the rim on a lathe.

[Merle]

Can you shoot 32H&R out of one? I understand the only difference is the length and of course the pressures are lower... and the brass inst as robust... so I guess there are a lot of differences. Still,is it like the 38 special in the 357?

 As for reloading Graf and Sons lists the brass but are out of stock. Bulls Eye Marksman Gun Club and Indoor Range also lists them,but again they are out. The picture they show implies that they are Federal cases.

As far as I have ever seen the 32 H&R Mag ammo is only made by Federal of the big names. HOWEVER several companies such as Black Hills load "cowboy" ammo in Starline brass.
I have used some of it in my S&W M632 for various postal matches & it shoots pretty good.
Also, cowboy ammo has been more available than any of the Federal loads, so it might be an option.

    

If you were REALLY desperate,you could perhaps swage down 32-20 brass and trim the rim on a lathe.

I don't have a manual in front of me, but I'm fairly sure that the base of a 32-20 WCF is way too big to swage down.

    

[Hank08]

If your in the mood for swaging your best bet would be the 30 carbine.  The rim is large enough for extraction and the body is only .020 larger than the .327.  If you can swage it down to the rim you'd be in business.  If I get time today I'll see how hard it is to do it.
H08

[Hank08]

Actually with a new case the 30C was only .013 larger. Swaged easy in a .32 S&W die put it in my vice to swage that last 32nd" then knocked it out with a punch, trimmed it to length.  .30C brass is a little thicker, would be better if it were reamed but works.

[Hank08]

both in the cylinder.

H08

[Merle]

Actually with a new case the 30C was only .013 larger. Swaged easy in a .32 S&W die put it in my vice to swage that last 32nd" then knocked it out with a punch, trimmed it to length.  .30C brass is a little thicker, would be better if it were reamed but works.

From your 1st post I was wondering about that last little bit where the web gets thick. I thought it would be tough, even for a Rock Chucker press. What kind of lube did you use - I'd expect that to be a very important detail? I believe you made a few people happy with your experiment - thanks for your efforts.

   

[Hank08]

I used the RCBS lube that comes in a tube.  I had a gal. of it about 35 yrs. ago, I'm down to my last few ozs.  The 30C case went into the .32 S&W die (in my rockchucker) with very little pressure, it comes out with a little belt , about a 32nd" or so. with the decapping pin out put the die with the case into a vice and squeeze the case into the die to the rim, knock it out with a rod, trim it to length and your ready to load it. some cases might be thick at the mouth and need to be reamed.
H08

[Merle]

I used the RCBS lube that comes in a tube.  I had a gal. of it about 35 yrs. ago, I'm down to my last few ozs.  The 30C case went into the .32 S&W die (in my rockchucker) with very little pressure, it comes out with a little belt , about a 32nd" or so. with the decapping pin out put the die with the case into a vice and squeeze the case into the die to the rim, knock it out with a rod, trim it to length and your ready to load it. some cases might be thick at the mouth and need to be reamed.
H08

Most dies have a bit of a chamfer to ease starting the case, and it seems to be that the carbide dies are more noticeable about this. That chamfer plus the thickness of the shellholder leave a bit of the case unsized, but I'm sure you already know this. Somehow I thought it would be tougher than this, but those RockChuckers have a LOT of leverage. Sounds like you have found a good solution; thanks for the info.

    

[Hank08]

Merle, You could also place a flat piece of metal on top of your ram or shellholder and push the case all the way to the rim then knock it out with a rod just like making short .44s out of .45 acps.
H08