.327 Federal Magnum...RIP?

[mdi]

"Doesn't make sense". If that were the case we wouldn't have many of the calibers available we have today. I bought a 32 H&R Magnum mainly because most of the 327 Feds I could find were "sold out". If I had to only have calibers that "made sense" I'd be down to 3, maybe four different calibers. Even the 32 Long and 32 H&R Mag, ammo is "sold out" in the dozen or so vendors I've tried. Not a lot of bullets available for reloading and Starline is the only place I've found 32 H&R brass. Dead? I don't think so, just "sold out" whereever I look...

 

[GarrettJ]

.30 Carbine????

So I bought a Blackhawk in .327 Fed a couple years ago, with the intention of selling the .30 Carbine Blackhawk. I have other handguns in various .32 caliber chamberings and I didn't see much sense in stocking two versions of the same bullet, one in .308" and the other in .312". And the .327 FM is just about equal ballistically to the .30C.

Of course I was able to buy brass for the .327 at that time, which was a good thing as I have seen zero loaded ammo on the shelf since buying the revolver.

And in classic form, I still kept the .30C Blackhawk. It seems any excuse will work to justify a new gun.

 

[CraigC]

327mag interests me, but I’m so invested in 38spl/357mag… just doesn’t make sense.

IMHO, the .327 makes the most sense as a sporting cartridge in the Single Seven and K-frame platforms. Not as any kind of replacement for the .357. It's a shame that S&W never saw fit to offer a new K-32 model 16 chambered in it.

 

[kcofohio]

I had the chance to buy a Charter Arms Patriot with a 4" barrel back around 2013. I kick myself for not getting it. They discontinued making them shortly afterward.

 

[Slamfire]

Your 327 Federal Magnum might have the same issues I encountered looking for 257 Roberts brass. It took almost a decade for the ammunition companies to make brass, and scalpers purchased all the stuff. I had to pay confiscatory prices on Gunbroker, but at least I was able to buy brass.

If you see a run of 327 Fed Mag brass, buy all you can. It might be a once in a lifetime event.

 

[Seedy Character]

So I bought a Blackhawk in .327 Fed a couple years ago, with the intention of selling the .30 Carbine Blackhawk. I have other handguns in various .32 caliber chamberings and I didn't see much sense in stocking two versions of the same bullet, one in .308" and the other in .312". And the .327 FM is just about equal ballistically to the .30C.

Of course I was able to buy brass for the .327 at that time, which was a good thing as I have seen zero loaded ammo on the shelf since buying the revolver.

And in classic form, I still kept the .30C Blackhawk. It seems any excuse will work to justify a new gun.

I have a Blackhawk. 30 Carbine. The ballistics are so close to .327 Fed, to be statically in discernable.
So close that having both is unjustifiable. Luckily, justified is required. My search continues. Dead, not even close. Hard to find, absolutely, too many people looking and very few people selling.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Deleted ! By poster

 

[GooseGestapo]

The 30 Super Carry didn't quite catch on,,,

Hasn’t been out a year yet!
Some ammunition such as Hornady has just hit the market.
Really too soon to say. Guns are all being bought up, likewise ammo. How is that a failure?

 

[jmorris]

"That cartridge is dead" is an over-used phrase.

But when you can't find it using a search engine, and nobody even seems to make BRASS for it, isn't it time to say it's effectively "dead"?

It will only be dead to you if you quit the round, others (that already stocked up on the brass you can’t find) will still enjoy theirs. Just something that happens when there is a run on everything and you enjoy something obscure but didn’t stock up before the run on everything.

I still enjoy rounds that have been out of production for decades, dead to lots of people, just not me…

Even rounds that were dead on arrival like the 9mm Federal, one can still get brass from the small custom makers.

https://www.rccbrass.com/9mm-federal/

You might call the number at the top of that link and see if they will make you some or wait for the big guys to get caught up with mainstream calibers and make some more of the obscure rounds like yours.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I think that sufficiently answers the question. The cartridge is not dead. I don't know how one can declare any cartridge dead during a pandemic/panic induced shortage.



No offense but aren't you the one who said it was dead and nobody made brass for it??? I think your measuring stick is broke. Starline, Hornady and Federal make brass for it. Henry, Ruger and Freedom Arms make guns for it. If we went by current availability of brass, you could say half the cartridges commonly available were "dead".

I've been shopping for .327 brass for over a year. Nobody has any except I recall finding a small buisness that had some at an exorbitant price.

 

[CraigC]

I've been shopping for .327 brass for over a year. Nobody has any except I recall finding a small buisness that had some at an exorbitant price.

Have you watched the news at all in the last three years???

 

[GooseGestapo]

I wish Speer would turn loose some of their 115gr .312” GoldDots !
My .30SuperC and .327Fed and .32H&R are craving for them....
Presently I’m feeding them a Lee 113gr FNGC “beagled” to .314”.
Lil’Gun for the .32H&R, Acc#7 For the .30Super, and #9/H110 for the .327...
They’re all “over achievers”...

 

[GooseGestapo]

Re: Brass...
I’ve bought .32swl, .32H&R, and .327 Starline brass in the last 24mos. You just have to wait for Starline to run a batch. I bought mine through MidwayUSA as they sell in lots of 100rds instead of 500 or 1000 direct from Starline for only 2cents apiece more....
https://www.starlinebrass.com/32-hr-mag-brass
Back ordered means they’re accepting back orders pending a slot in the que for production.
Put in your order!
Might be 2-months, might be 2-weeks!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Have you watched the news at all in the last three years???

I haven’t watched “The News” or read a newspaper since I got discharged from the cardiac ward in May of 2019.
Why? Has something happened I should know about?

 

[mdi]

Have you watched the news at all in the last three years???

Probably just a prank reply. I have a new 32 H&R revolver waiting for pick up and the only brass I've found is new Starline. No once fired or any other manufacturer. Found some 32 Long, once fired brass, IIRC 50 for $35.00. Just checked 5 vendors this morning for 32 H&R ammo; "Out of stock". Saw some 32 Long wadcutter ammo for $40.00-$50.00 but after I found Acme 100 gr RNFP I decided to pass. Hornady XTP in 32 available. Wonder what "News" he was talking about?

 

[Shivahasagun]

Have you watched the news at all in the last three years???

https://giphy.com/gifs/guise-did-i-miss-it-I1r5jpUvdGra8

 

[Shivahasagun]

I've purchased .32 mag, .38 Colt short, and a few others over that last 22 months or so. They have not had .327 available even for backorder in that time.

They don't make .303 Savage or 11mm Mauser, either. (I know, go kick rocks, right?)

 

[Elkins45]

Ruger and countless others still sell every one they make.

The .327 Federal isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s a successful and popular cartridge.

Countless others? Who’s making 327 Magnum guns other than Ruger and Taurus?

I wish S&W hadn’t discontinued them.

 

[Frulk]

Countless others? Who’s making 327 Magnum guns other than Ruger and Taurus?

I wish S&W hadn’t discontinued them.

Well…Henry is making their rifles in them…and as committed as Ruger is to the caliber (11 handgun versions currently in production) I’m betting Marlin will roll that flavor eventually.

I’m sitting on 1K new Starline brass and have close to that in current rotation. Even prior to Covid when .327FM was ‘somewhat’ available I refused to pay the elevated asking prices.

Been hand loading it since I picked up the .327FM GP100 some years back.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well…Henry is making their rifles in them…and as committed as Ruger is to the caliber (6-7 handgun versions currently in production) I’m betting Marlin will roll that flavor eventually.

I’m sitting on 1K new Starline brass and have close to that in current rotation. Even prior to Covid when .327FM was ‘somewhat’ available I refused to pay the elevated asking prices.

Been hand loading it since I picked up the .327FM GP100 some years back.

Well, I don’t necessarily disagree because what you’re saying makes sense. However, if Marlin were to make a hi-powered .32, I personally would prefer they bring back the .32/40 Ballard. I’m not sure the .327FM can manage to drive a 165gr JSP to 1900fps at black powder pressure in a 22” lever gun, but I know the .32/40 Ballard can. Not gonna happen but it would probably make more sense economically.

 

[Targa]

My guess is that we wont see manufactures adding additional .327 platforms to their lineups. I know that Ruger has a number of offerings still listed on their website but I would be surprised if they are actually actively producing any.
I hope my guess is wrong and I hope I am surprised, I wouldn't mind possibly owning a revolver chambered in it.

 

[cfullgraf]

The last couple years are not a good indicator of the health of a particular round.

It is surprising that even before the pandemic shortages, 32 H&R Magnum was surviving even when it is not much more powerfull than 32 S&WL.

32 Fed Mag is a serious step up from 32 H&R Mag.

If 32 H&R mag is not dead, then how can 327 Fed Mag be dead yet?

I have an SP100, GP100, Single-Seven and a Henry 32 Fed Mag rifle that I need to work on finding an optimum load for. Fortunately I stocked up on cases from Starline beforen the pandemic so I should be good to go on components for testing.

30 Super Carry has come up in the thread. I would like to see a Browning 1911-380 sized pistol for 30 Super Carry. It is a bit trimmer than 9mm guns S&W chambers for the the Shield and not so small as the 380 Micros on the market.

I'd love to fiddle with 30 Super Carry but not with a 9x19 gun rebarrelled. That is not the potential advantage of 30 Super Carry.

 

[Elkins45]

Well…Henry is making their rifles in them…and as committed as Ruger is to the caliber (11 handgun versions currently in production) I’m betting Marlin will roll that flavor eventually.

I don't see the appeal over 38/357 in a pistol caliber carbine.

 

[Varminterror]

"That cartridge is dead" is an over-used phrase.

Pretty much the only part you got right.

 

[Riomouse911]

Funny, I literally e mailed Starline about the lack of production of this very cartridge today. Cindy in customer service e mailed back saying to keep watching the website and get in line when they start accepting backorders.

They’re committed to making the .327 Federal cartridge cases, but it’ll be on their schedule.

Just this past summer I bought an SP-101 4.2” and the last 300 cases I saw on GB, so far it has been fun to shoot. Luckily I was able to acquire about 1,500 .32 H&R Mag cases over the past couple of years for my Bisley .32. At least with these I won’t be starved for potential fodder for the SP should my .327 cases start to fail and I continue to have trouble finding replacements.

Stay safe.