Ruger GP-100 & Blackhawk now in .327 Magnum

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At last Ruger has decided to push the .327 Federal Magnum in more then one platform. Besides the SP-101 snubbies you will be able to get a larger, longer-barreled revolver that can take advantage of a cartridge which in terms of power and performance is close to the .30 M1 Carbine, and double earlier .32 revolver cartridges.

Ruger Announces New Model Blackhawk and GP100 In .327 Federal Magnum

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce two more Ruger® revolvers chambered in the impressive .327 Federal Magnum caliber. The Ruger New Model Blackhawk® and the Ruger GP100® will now benefit from the flat-shooting, high-velocity performance of the .327 Federal Magnum cartridge.

The .327 Federal Magnum offers near-.357 Magnum performance with less recoil, pushing a 100-grain American Eagle load at an astounding 1,655 feet per second out of the 5-1/2" barreled New Model Blackhawk, and 1,525 feet per second out of the 4.20" barreled GP100. In addition to the high-velocity performance, cylinder capacities have been increased, with the New Model Blackhawk holding eight rounds and the GP100 holding seven.

"We worked with Federal Premium Ammunition to introduce the first .327 Federal Magnum cartridge in our mid-sized SP101® revolver, and we're excited to expand this well-received round into our full-sized New Model Blackhawk and GP100 product lines," said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris Killoy. "The performance of this round is remarkable, and the longer barrels and heavier weights of these two models ramp velocities to new levels and keep recoil amazingly minimal. We feel pairing these revolvers with this cartridge will give our customers two more great options for recreational shooting, handgun hunting, or self-defense."

The New Model Blackhawk in .327 Federal Magnum has a 5-1/2" barrel and overall length of 11.38". It weighs 48 oz., holds eight rounds, and features a fully adjustable rear sight and a stainless steel finish. New Model Blackhawk revolvers have earned a reputation as the best value on the market due to their durability and affordability, and this new .327 Federal Magnum variation only compliments this already extensive family of single-action revolvers.

The new GP100 in .327 Federal Magnum features a 4.20" stainless steel barrel and an overall length of 9.50". It weighs 40 oz., holds seven rounds, and includes a fully adjustable rear sight. All GP100 double-action revolvers are known for their rugged construction and reliable performance, utilizing solid steel sidewalls (no side-plates) and frame widths that are increased with extra steel in critical areas that support the barrel. GP100's are built to last, and the addition of the .327 Federal Magnum adds diversity to a proven product line.

For more information on the new Ruger revolvers in .327 Federal Magnum, or to learn more about the extensive line of Ruger firearms, visit www.Ruger.com or www.Ruger.com/327.

To find accessories for Ruger New Model Blackhawk revolvers, GP100 revolvers and other Ruger firearms, visit www.ShopRuger.com.

About Sturm, Ruger: Sturm, Ruger was founded in 1949 and is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of high-quality firearms for the commercial sporting market. Sturm, Ruger is headquartered in Southport, CT, with plants located in Newport, NH and Prescott, AZ.
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I think this is pretty cool, too. It would've been nice if they'd decided to build a 6" .327 GP-100 as well, but the choice not to was probably the most market-savvy.

So, lead bullets at 18 BHN? It doesn't look like Missouri Cast has them. Are these what the doctor ordered?
 
I highly doubt that you will see a Single Six in .327 Magnum. This cartridge has chamber pressures in the 40,000 psi range - almost twice that of the older .32 H&R Magnum... :what:

Also I don't think the cylinder is long enough to hold the cartridge... :scrutiny:
 
I know there are custom .327 single-sixes available; might not be practical to do them as a regular production gun, though.

A .327 blackhawk seems, to me, just too much like a a .357 blackhawk. I'd bet that you could find a .38+P or mild .357 load that would be almost indistinguishable in terms of both recoil and performance.

A .327 single six would be something new, and would provide an awful lot of power and versatility in a very small package. It's be an awesome trail gun, and nothing else would really compare to it.

I suppose the blackhawk would make a nice companion piece to a .327 lever gun, if they ever make one...
 
The .327 Magnum is the ideal cartridge for people who believe energy numbers without understanding the math behind them, or some of the other numbers used to look at how "powerful" a round is.

Years back, these were the same people who considered a .22 WMR to be "as powerful as" a .38 Special.

.327 has a bullet diameter of .312". Sectional Density for a 100 grain bullet is .147
.357 has a bullet diameter of .357". SD for a 158 grain bullet is .177 (My 158 grain .357 loads go about the same velocity as what they quote for the .327).

A 100 grain bullet going 1500 fps has a momentum of .664 pound-seconds.
A 158 grain bullet going 1500 fps has a momentum of 1.049 pound-seconds.

Bottom line? No matter how many times the marketers spout only energy numbers (because it's easy to make them sound good), there are at least two more numbers to look at. As you can see, a real .357 load (not a crazy load, just one that isn't artificially neutered to make the .327 look better) is head and shoulders above the .327 from a Blackhawk, for anything but punching paper. And the GP-100 weighs just as much as a 7-shot L-frame in full stainless, but in a real .357 Magnum, not the "almost as good as" caliber. I mean, make all the calibers you want, Ruger, but I don't really care. I like my BH-series revolvers, but my next one will be in .357 or .44 like the last ones, or maybe .45.

A 6-shot .327 LCR would, however, be interesting -- if the plastic part of the frame can hold up.
 
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LOL

I like single actions, but I've never really craved a hi-cap single action. :D

N-frames (lighter than Blackhawks) hold 8 rounds of .357...
 
It all depends on what one is looking for. I don't have any interest in a 7-shot .327 GP100, mainly because my primary use of service size DA revolvers is IDPA, and one can't shoot a .32 caliber gun in IDPA (expect in BUG matches), and no more than six shots can be loaded in the cylinder.

On the other hand, I've been wanting a .32 H&R Single Six for some time now, but with them out of production, they cost more than a new Blackhawk most of the time. I have a couple of .32 H&R revolvers already, so if the .327 Blackhawk turns out to be about the same price as a .357 Blackhawk, then I can see getting one (though I expect I would be using mostly .32 H&R and .32 S&W Long in it). It would be primarily for plinking, and perhaps some small game hunting, neither of which requires the power of the .357. Since I handload and cast my own bullets, loading for the .32 H&R/.32S&W L is cheaper than loading for the magnum or the special since it uses less lead and generally less powder. I don't care about the capacity one way or another, but for a plinking session, I suppose eight rounds might offer a little bit of added fun.

I do think its pretty funny that when the .327 came out an awful lot of people said that it was an interesting round, but it would be better suited for a gun larger than the SP101. Now that Ruger has two choices significantly larger than the SP with longer barrels to take advantage of the .327's potential, people want it in a 2" LCR. Can't please some people I suppose.
 
I've been wanting an SP in 327 since they came out. The new GP really muddies the waters for me! What Ruger really needs to do is get the component makers to step up and offer brass. Even if I pick one of these up, it's Federal loaded ammo or nothing. C'mon Starline!
 
I do think its pretty funny that when the .327 came out an awful lot of people said that it was an interesting round, but it would be better suited for a gun larger than the SP101. Now that Ruger has two choices significantly larger than the SP with longer barrels to take advantage of the .327's potential, people want it in a 2" LCR. Can't please some people I suppose.
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That sure wasn't me. I've never wavered in my opinion that the only good reason for the .327 is to get 6 shots into a pocket gun. See my post above re the numbers.

Now I do believe the intro of the .327 was ill-timed, because of the ammo shortage. Hopefully that will change, since, whether a cartridge stands or falls, I'd rather see that happen based on its merits, not overall lack of availability.

Should the .327 become popular, I'm sure we'll see a growing number of silly posts claiming that the 100 grain pill it spits out is much more effective than a .44 Magnum, with modern bullets, just like we see posts claiming that the 115 grain 9mm is plenty, and the 230 grain .45 doesn't do anything the 9mm won't do.:p
 
Should the .327 become popular, I'm sure we'll see a growing number of silly posts claiming that the 100 grain pill it spits out is much more effective than a .44 Magnum, with modern bullets, just like we see posts claiming that the 115 grain 9mm is plenty, and the 230 grain .45 doesn't do anything the 9mm won't do.
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I'm guessing that the interest in it would be a desire to have a "woods gun" that's the next step up from a .22 Single Six. Woodchucks, beware!
 
I don't see it as a self defense cartridge at all. The .357 is already minimal for that role. I do see it as a potentially fantastic levergun and carbine round for meat bag hunting and small game, like a modernized .32-20 without the odd bottleneck of that round. A flat trajectory without tearing the bejesus out of small game like a .223 tends to do. I suspect it would be exceedingly accurate as well.
 
I do see it as a potentially fantastic levergun and carbine round for meat bag hunting and small game, like a modernized .32-20 without the odd bottleneck of that round.
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Agreed. Maybe Ruger knows something we don't, and introduced the Blackhawk in anticipation of Marlin or Winchester offering a .327 lever gun...
 
Every time I see the TV commercial that claims "performance rivaling the .357 Magnum", I hit the floor laughing!
 
A .327 blackhawk seems, to me, just too much like a a .357 blackhawk. I'd bet that you could find a .38+P or mild .357 load that would be almost indistinguishable in terms of both recoil and performance.
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That's kind of my take on it, too. I have a Colt SAA (2nd generation) in .357 and a Colt M357 (the Python without the cosmetics.) I shoot a lot of mild .38 Special wadcutter loads in these guns -- for small game, a 148 grain wadcutter at about 800 fps hits like the hammer of Thor. And for bigger critters, the full charge loads from 125 to 158 grains can't be beat.
 
Cosmoline lives in Alaska, with 32,000 Brown Bears and, even more frightening, 686,000 Alaskans.
 
The .357 is minimal for SD? I have never heard that before.
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Sorry I've been reading Elmer Keith's gun notes recently. I think you can go down as far as .38 Special LSWCHP, but I wouldn't want to drop much further. And I wouldn't want to use 125 or similar undersized bullets, given the limitations on velocities from a small handgun. To bring this back to context, I don't think the increased velocity of the .327 makes it the equal of the .357 for self defense. But I can absolutely see it as covering a range of small game from squirrel and hare up to the smaller deer--just like the .32-20 did so well.
 
Sorry I've been reading Elmer Keith's gun notes recently. I think you can go down as far as .38 Special LSWCHP, but I wouldn't want to drop much further. And I wouldn't want to use 125 or similar undersized bullets, given the limitations on velocities from a small handgun. To bring this back to context, I don't think the increased velocity of the .327 makes it the equal of the .357 for self defense. But I can absolutely see it as covering a range of small game from squirrel and hare up to the smaller deer--just like the .32-20 did so well.
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I agree that no matter what energy numbers are thrown around, the .327 Fed (obviously named to sound more like the .357 Mag, it really should be the .312 Fed) isn't and never will be a .357 Magnum. I don't think that makes it a bad cartridge, just dishonest marketing.

While the idea of a 6-shot .327 as a snubbie defense gun is interesting to me academically, I don't see that function as the best use of it. I can't carry anything smaller than a .38 Special or .380 ACP by policy anyway, so even if I wanted something along the lines of a LCR in .327, I couldn't carry it. I don't think it throws heavy enough bullets for self-defense anyway (115 grains is the heaviest I've seen, and most are lighter).

I see the .327 as a great handgun hunting round for small to medium sized game and for plinking (mostly with .32 S&W L or .32 H&R Mag to keep costs and wear and tear down). I lever gun in the same chambering would be interesting also, for the same functions.
 
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