Armybrat
Member
Gratuitous pic of my Single Seven .327
327 magnum... am I just crazy?
- Thread starter Tallball
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Tallball
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Yes, it's a 4.2" Ruger SP101. On one hand they're thick and heavy for their size. On the other, they aren't much bigger than a J-frame, other than thickness. Those Thai wooden grips were okay, but I replaced them with the ubiquitous Hogue Monogrip. My hands are large enough that I can't shoot an SP101 with any kind of decent accuracy using the factory grips.
My friend lets me shoot his 357 LCR from time to time: One or two cylinders is fun, but shooting a whole box of ammo would be a job.
I used to have a 357 magnum 2.5" SP101. I eventually sold it due to the dreadful trigger. Shooting 357 out of it was okay. It was heavy enough that the recoil was NBD and it didn't sting my hand at all.
I would like to have an LCR in 327, but it will probably be a long time before I stumble across a used one I can afford. I would use it as my main carry piece instead of my 38 special LCR, due to the extra round.
From what I'm reading, carrying 32 H&R might be best, since I've already lost more of my hearing than I wanted to lose.
Thanks for all of the interesting replies!
Old_Grouch
Member
The deal is that, unfortunately, there is always going to be a small minority (very small on this forum) of people who love to tell others why the only guns, calibers, ammo brands, wigits, or thingamajigs worth having are the ones they personally like. Everything else is useless.
I was told by someone on this forum not long ago that a J frame revolver was unsuitable for self defense because it wouldn't work for an El Presidente drill and that anyone who carries one is ill informed.
Charlie Martinez
Member
In the old days when we didn't know better we did not use ear protection and fired 38 Special, 9 mm and 45 ACP all day long without too much discomfort. Then one day I fired my first 357 Magnum w/o ear protection. I fired it ONCE. The experience was not just unpleasant, it was painful. After that I only fired 357 with a rag wrapped around my head (over my ears), toilet paper ear plugs or ear plugs made from empty 38 cases filled with cotton or toilet paper but never again w/o something as ear protection.
I have read that in the heat of battle the 357 blast isn't noticed but based on my personal experience I seriously doubt it. I use +P 38 Sp. loads in my 357 EDC revolver for that reason. If the 327 is the same I have no use for it as an EDC round.
I have read that in the heat of battle the 357 blast isn't noticed but based on my personal experience I seriously doubt it. I use +P 38 Sp. loads in my 357 EDC revolver for that reason. If the 327 is the same I have no use for it as an EDC round.
Do not confuse that with hearing damage.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I was interested in opinions on the .327 Federal Magnum because my LGS had a Ruger SP101 3” in their display for $500. It was lightly used. At first I thought it was the same one they displayed a couple months ago but it was a new consignment.
Anyway, it’s too late now. It’s gone now. I guess it’s just as well. I would have to find components and dies to reload for it anyway.
Anyway, it’s too late now. It’s gone now. I guess it’s just as well. I would have to find components and dies to reload for it anyway.
Dunross
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Why Henry does, in fact. And I already own one! 20" barrel. Debating with myself as to whether to put the large loop lever on it or not as the shorter carbine has. Not found of the look, but my extra-large hands would thank me as the ordinary sized loop is a bit small.
As for anyone thinking of picking up the 327 as a new caliber I would ordinarily encourage them, but since The Panic started both factory ammunition and brass are hard to come by at less than preposterous prices. Hopefully that will get better in the not too distant future, but who can say?
dickydalton
Member
I have a Henry carbine and it's a hoot to shoot and very accurate. I'm glad that I bought a lot of brass early last year, because I also have 4 handguns in 327.
TTv2
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I shot some .327 from my 4 inch SP101 today and I have to say that once you get over the blast the recoil itself is noticeably less compared to even 125 grain .357. As I've been saying for years the point to the .32 caliber is reducing recoil to improve your speed and shooting effectiveness concerning smaller, lighter guns.
I challenge anyone to come in here and tell me they shoot .357 or .38 in an SP101 or LCR better than they shoot .327 or .32 Magnum.
I challenge anyone to come in here and tell me they shoot .357 or .38 in an SP101 or LCR better than they shoot .327 or .32 Magnum.
Shivahasagun
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In my case it's that full, factory 100 gr .327 noticeably increases split times in a 17.5 oz LCR.
85 gr factory .327 is better about that but I dont care for the bullet choices they use.
So I carry hot (100 gr 1050 fps from my LCR) .32 Magnum instead.
85 gr factory .327 is better about that but I dont care for the bullet choices they use.
So I carry hot (100 gr 1050 fps from my LCR) .32 Magnum instead.
Shivahasagun
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Having owned .357 Sp101's, .38 and .357 LCR's, and currently LCR .327's, you are correct.
Crosshair
Member
As others have pointed out, flash is not the issue. The issue is the significant muzzle blast. Especially out of snub barrels.
IMHO, they should have kept the pressure to that of the 357 and 44 Magnum. Not 10k PSI higher.
IMHO, they should have kept the pressure to that of the 357 and 44 Magnum. Not 10k PSI higher.
TTv2
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I don't think it matters much, whether it's 35K or 45K PSI (btw, not all .327 is going to be right at 45K PSI) you're likely going to be damaging your hearing.
This is certainly an area where some .32 H&R Mag +P could be worked on, say 30K PSI max. I think it would be perfect for snub revolvers simply for the reduced recoil.
toivo
Member
Correct. What you don't notice can still hurt you.
toivo
Member
Not gratuitous at all -- definitely worth seeing!
RealGun
Member
I have never seen any 327 Federal Magnum load data rated as high as 45K psi. I mostly use Brian Pearce's subsonic load using Power Pistol. That is the only way I would carry my SP101. I used the hotter stuff when I had a Single Seven and always shot poorly with it, probably just me.
fxvr5
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Lyman 50th Edition, page 394-395:
85 gr XTP, 1.450" OAL, A#9, 14.2 gr, 1597 fps, 45,000 psi.
100 gr Speer JHP, 1.465" OAL, A#9, 13.0 gr, 1507 fps, 45,000 psi.
Now you have!
Lyman and Western Powders have several loads over 44,000 psi.
I fired a single 140gr .357 mag Barnes vor-tex without hearing protection from a 3" gp100 indoors during a loose moment at an unpopulated range. Completely my fault. Too many guns, too much ammo floating around, too many distractions. No one else around to assist with social reinforcement of range etiquette. Big mistake. The sound hit me right between the partitions and echoed off of the cement room. My ears rang for days. Probably a worst case scenario for firing a magnum without hearing protection. It shook me good.
I found .357 mag from a Ruger LCR to be punishing and uncomfortable, but it never made me regret any life choices.
RealGun
Member
My Lyman 49th does not include 327 Federal at all. I don't recall ever loading this cartridge with jacketed bullets. I have plenty of Gold Dot ammo for that. 12.0 gr AA#9 with 100 gr lead is as high as I have gone.
Shivahasagun
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Me too.
About 25 rds is it. Like many of us I used to be able to fire more hot stuff through light guns.
Now .357 through a light snub feels like it could actually break bones or send me in pain to the Dr office anyway.
TTv2
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One reason I became enamored with the .32 calibers was that I realize we only get older and weaker and less capable over time, so while today I could take the recoil of bigger bores, decades from now I would not. While I shoot it just fine compared to 9mm, I can understand why many avoid the .40 to keep recoil as low as possible.
That said, I'll always encourage people to try different calibers and not just buy whatever ammo or gun is available have a bad experience and make a judgement solely off that and then sell/trade the gun a few weeks later.
That said, I'll always encourage people to try different calibers and not just buy whatever ammo or gun is available have a bad experience and make a judgement solely off that and then sell/trade the gun a few weeks later.
I don't know about that, but I suspect it has some ear killing report.
Seedy Character
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I had this .357. It was not bad with 125gr JHP Full House rounds. The heavy trigger took a lot of concentration to keep sights on target, but I got to where I shot it well.
My buddy has the same gun in .327Fed. Muzzle blast is worse, but recoil considerably less. Trigger equally bad.
He also has a Single Seven SS 6". It is a joy to shoot and tack driver.
A Single Seven and Henry set are on my bucket list.
I am glad Fed loaded the round to 45k. It attains all it can in a carbine. In a Single Six, I would load it somewhere in the 30-35k range.
And some Cowboy loads of 85gr @700-750 fps would be a joy. Even a cast 75gr would be good.
dickydalton
Member
An excellent plinking load for me has been 9 to 9.5 grains of 2400 under a Badman Bullets 100 grain coated semi-wadcutter.
I hear tell of Ruger SP101s with good triggers but I've never seen one and it sounds like you haven't either. I dreamt of a Gemini Customs DAO SP101 for ccw but I figured at best it couldn't beat the trigger on my LCR the day it came home and for far less money. I like steel guns as much as the next guy but my two SP101s had crap triggers even after polishing.
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