Make Mine a .32 Mag? Ballistic Gel Tests

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Hondo - Ironically, I also have a 32 H&R Single Six, and an SP101 in 327. It's a small world after all. :)
 
I have a 3" SP101 chambered in 327. I haven't done much with it because I don't particularly care for the weight and balance.

I also have a 2.25" SP101 in 357. This is the Wiley Clapp model. Now this I like. I think the shorter barrel improves overall handling. Plus the gun has real sights. Not a groove down the top strap that's right out of the 19th Century.

What I'm currently thinking about is having a gunsmith take both guns apart and reassemble the barrels and cylinders on the alternate frame. Turn the 327 into a 357 and the 357 into a 327. The 3" barrel would be shortened to 2.25" and I'd probably have the hammer (or hammers) bobbed.

This would give me, in essence, a Wiley Clapp model chambered in 327.

Cost may or may not be an issue. The project doesn't seem too crazy on its surface.
 
A nice video on 32's. Note that the .22 Magnum has comparable power.

Not sure I'm tracking with you. .22 mag comparable to what? Maybe the .32 short as it is twice the weight of the .22 mag at 1/2 the speed. After that I think the mag falls behind. A .327 at 100grs going faster than the .22 mag 40 grain bullet is a lot more energy, larger diameter and more penetration. I like the .22 mag also but I would not say they are comparable once you get the the .32 mag or hotter.
 
I'm messing around with a 32 L (Smith 31-1) right now. Always been fascinated by the 32's. I'm a S&W snob so the price of a model 16 (mag) held me back. I found this 31-1 for a decent price so now I can start the experiments with powder and bullets. For sure an interesting little cartridge, very easy to shoot and extremely accurate. I suspect the 32 mag would work very well for SD with the right load. If Smith would get off of their butt and build a 32 H&R snubbie I think they might find it a decent seller. Oh well, we can hope.
 
I think many of us (me included) are looking at the new 7 shot Charter to be the way to go for a .32 Mag. We'll see though.
.32 in general, me thinks. The S&W .32 Mags are hard to find and expensive, so they're really not an option, thus that leaves Ruger and Charter. The only .32s that Ruger makes I feel are most sensible is the LCR and the single actions. The GP100 .327, after Ruger came out with the 7 shot .357 GP's, was relegated to niche use and fanboys of .327 looking for a more comfortable grip than what the SP101 offers, but the .32 revolver isn't just there for a small group of niche buyers, it has legit benefits for self defense, the problem with the .32 is lack of available guns and ammo.

Charter brought this Professional from out of nowhere and for what it is, a 7 shot, 22oz revolver, this thing blows the .327 SP101 and GP100 away in practicality for a carry revolver in .32 caliber.

For as good as the .327 LCR is, I question whether I'd ever carry it with .327 in it. If I never do, then it's an way overbuilt .32 Mag revolver that would be better served chambered only for .32 Mag and built on the Aluminum .22 & .38 LCR frame that weighs less and costs $100 less.
 
Not sure I'm tracking with you. .22 mag comparable to what? Maybe the .32 short as it is twice the weight of the .22 mag at 1/2 the speed. After that I think the mag falls behind. A .327 at 100grs going faster than the .22 mag 40 grain bullet is a lot more energy, larger diameter and more penetration. I like the .22 mag also but I would not say they are comparable once you get the the .32 mag or hotter.

In the video the 40 gr .22 Mag Gold Dot at 1140 fps (115 ft lbs) penetrated 13.6 inches and expanded to 0.34", while the 85 gr .32 H&R Magnum at 891 fps (150 ft lbs) penetrated to 14.4" and "expanded" to 0.32".

Those are indeed very similar. But, put some simulated plate of bone in there, then will the results look the same?
 
The extra 35 ft lbs for the 32 mag is pretty significant over the .22 mag, 23% more if I did the math right and the increase likely will allow it to perform better against some of the above mentioned obstacles. Also, that is the 32 mag rather than the .327.

People in the gun world will chase 3-5% more so that 23% is big in my mind.

This got me thinking that there has to be better .32mag ammo out there. Buffalo Bore does a 100gr +p now that does 1,187 fps in a Ruger SP101 3-inch barrel which is giving 313 ft lbs and is safe in any .32 but the old H&R's.
 
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The reasons to choose .32 Mag or .327 over .22 Mag comes down to centerfire is more reliable than rimfire, thus a lighter trigger is used, and the bullets are larger.
 
IMO the .327 Magnum failed for years because of the rollout. It was originally released in the Ruger SP101 and the ammo just was not available.

For years only the SP101 was chambered for the .327 when many shooters were asking for it to be available in a SA revolver like the Blackhawk. At least now there are many different platforms available but is it too late?
 
IMO the .327 Magnum failed for years because of the rollout. It was originally released in the Ruger SP101 and the ammo just was not available.

For years only the SP101 was chambered for the .327 when many shooters were asking for it to be available in a SA revolver like the Blackhawk. At least now there are many different platforms available but is it too late?
I think the fact that we are still talking about it and new models are coming out despite the terrible rollout says a lot about the potential and appeal of the 327. Will it ever be as popular as the 357? Probably never but I don't get the feeling it will die off anytime soon. Heck one of my local ranges just added it to their stack of rental ammo although in all fairness one of the employees wife EDC a 327 LCR so that might have been a factor.
 
Is there a reason a regular GP100 only hold a 7 rounds? If it can hold 7 rounds of 357 shouldn't it be capable of holding 8 327?
I'm not a firearm designer, but it looks to me like 8 rounds of .327Mag won't quite fit into a cylinder that will just barely hold 7 rounds of .357Mag. If you just look at rim diameter, it seems like it will work. The problem is there has to also be a small gap between the rounds and for every extra round you add, you must also add another gap.

A cylinder that will hold 8 rounds of .357Mag should accommodate 9 rounds of .327Mag.
 
.327 failed because when it came out there was a bad recession, then by the time it ended we had the best gun salesman in history shoot his mouth off after every mass shooting and people were rushing to buy AR's, not revolvers in some .32 super magnum.

It didn't help Ruger (and others) completely dropped production on .327 revolvers for a period of years.

There's also an undeniable fact that when it comes to handgun rounds, unless it's something fast like 5.7, people are resistant to them saying "*insert caliber here* has been around almost 100 years, why would I want this .327 instead of that?"

Rifles have it easier, look at all the new cartridges that have come out the past 20 years that have been successful. Look at how long 10mm and .40 have been around and even though the .40 is proven in the streets, there's a huge number of people that detest that caliber and 10mm, while it's popularity hasn't been this high since its inception, it's not exactly taking off as there are still major gun manufactures that don't currently offer a 10mm pistol.
 
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