Ruger GP-100 & Blackhawk now in .327 Magnum

[ArmedBear]

I don't think that makes it a bad cartridge, just dishonest marketing.

I think that's the source of a lot of apparent disagreement here, but it shouldn't be. We should all try to recognize when we're being sold BS for profit.

I have been reading Elmer Keith's Rifles for Large Game, and that's essentially what he says about energy numbers, too. Contrary to what people think about the guy, he actually is not an opinionated "my way or the highway" old fool. In many cases, he talks about different sides to an issue. However, he is adamant that energy numbers are used dishonestly by marketers to make cartridges sound like what they're not.

I don't think that's changed in the 70 years since he wrote it.

I can't carry anything smaller than a .38 Special or .380 ACP by policy anyway

Is that a law where you live?

I quite enjoy packing a Mini Revolver, sometimes. I'm glad I live here.

 

[DWFan]

The .327 Federal Blackhawk....uh-huh. The .30 Carbine Blackhawk already does anything it can do and then some.....without any "beat the bushes for ammo" needed.
As long as ammo and loading components remain hard to find, coming out with new revolvers for this caliber simply doesn't make sense. If Federal decides to abandon the cartridge, as they did with the 9mm Federal and .357 Maximum, a lot of folks are going to own nice paperweights. They aren't filling the demand that exists now.

 

[Gryffydd]

If Federal decides to abandon the cartridge, as they did with the 9mm Federal and .357 Maximum, a lot of folks are going to own nice paperweights.
DWFan is online now Report Post Quick reply to this message

That's funny, a lot of people really like their .357 Maximum Blackhawks & T/Cs. I don't think they've realized they own paper weights yet.

 

[Landric]

Quote:
I can't carry anything smaller than a .38 Special or .380 ACP by policy anyway

Is that a law where you live?

I quite enjoy packing a Mini Revolver, sometimes. I'm glad I live here.

Nope, just department policy.

DWfan said:

The .327 Federal Blackhawk....uh-huh. The .30 Carbine Blackhawk already does anything it can do and then some.....without any "beat the bushes for ammo" needed.
As long as ammo and loading components remain hard to find, coming out with new revolvers for this caliber simply doesn't make sense. If Federal decides to abandon the cartridge, as they did with the 9mm Federal and .357 Maximum, a lot of folks are going to own nice paperweights. They aren't filling the demand that exists now.

The .327 will also shoot .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32 H&R Magnum. Even if the .327 tanks there will still be ammo to shoot in a .327 chambered gun.

 

[Walkalong]

like a modernized .32-20

With an even worse ear splitting crack.

But downloaded a little in a GP-100 it would be fun to shoot at the range.

I agree with AB, the best use of it in the real world would be more power in a tiny pocket gun.

A 4 shot NAA Mini Mag.....

Now that would be loud.

 

[Dr.Rob]

As a 8 shot platform that just got a LOT more interesting.

(As someone who owns a .32-20 and a .357 maximum.)

 

[contender]

i believe the 327 will follow in the same footsteps of the 32 h&r magnum......initial interest followed by a slow death from lack of sales..

nothing really against the concept. Just a firm believer in the much cheaper and more available 38/357..

The purpose of the 327 is to sell......not provide any great service that was lacking by the 38/357.

now if ruger wants to build something more than a 6 shot, then how about a 10 or 12 shot gp100 in 22LR?

 

[NMGonzo]

How to tempt a guy like me?

If the ammo was 15 cents a round, and they offered a lever action, single action, and 5 shot 3 inch snubbie then MAYBE ....

 

[JellyJar]

If Ruger had been willing to retool to make a single six type frame, with the only change being a window big enough to hold the longer cylinder needed for the .327, and still only six shots, that would have been great! But the cost involved was probably too high. Probably way too high!

But that is what is needed to make the .327 a success in a single action!

 

[m2steven]

Having an SP101 in .327, I can say, regardless of how it compares to a 357 round, that it's a really powerful round. Shooting a 357 feels as if your gun was hit with a baseball bat swung pretty hard. Shooting the 327 from the same sp101 feels as if your gun was hit with a baseball bat. It's very similar and the results on targets are very similar. I can tell the difference but it's not worth the trouble of bringing up actual facts...

 

[DWFan]

Quote from DWFan:
If Federal decides to abandon the cartridge, as they did with the 9mm Federal and .357 Maximum, a lot of folks are going to own nice paperweights.
Quote from Gryffydd:
That's funny, a lot of people really like their .357 Maximum Blackhawks & T/Cs. I don't think they've realized they own paper weights yet.
They don't own paperweights because Remington stuck with the cartridge...at least for a little while..and still makes brass for it. Federal abandoned the Maximum even faster than Ruger did. The .327 doesn't have the luxury of a second producer of brass or ammo and it can't be easily made from another case.

 

[Landric]

Actually, Speer makes .327 ammo also (yes, that is sort of still Federal), and Starline is said to be making brass. We will see.

 

[Ed Harris]

Where everbody is missing the boat is not offering the .327 Federal in a handy, trim small game rifle. Ideally something in the proportions of an English rook rifle, 25 inch barrel, 5 pounds with iron sights, drilled and tapped for scope blocks.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For revolvers, if you're already making a revolver, it's no big thing to offer a new chambering. If no one buys, you aren't out all that much. But I'd think you'd want to do some serious maket research before going to the expense of tooling up for a new rifle.

For one thing, in some states, it would be illegal for hunting -- for example, in Arkansas, the law for small game is "nothing larger than .22 RF." For coyotes, the law says "Nothing larger than .30 caliber."

 

[Chuck Perry]

For revolvers, if you're already making a revolver, it's no big thing to offer a new chambering. If no one buys, you aren't out all that much.

You know, that was my original thought too when I saw the two new revolvers. Woo hoo, they drilled different size holes in existing guns-yawn. But really, Ruger did some work here. They bumped the GP up to 7 rounds and the BH to 8. Earth shattering it isn't, but Ruger did a little more work here than just a simple rechamber.

I am slighty dissappointed that they couldn't squeeze 8 rounds into the GP. I'd like a double action 327, and I think that the SP still makes the most sense for this round. One extra round is not worth the additional size and weight of the GP- to me. If I were to buy a GP today, I would still grab the 357.

 

[peyton]

I agree with Ed, there needs to be plinking rifle in this caliber. I have two single six's in 32 h&r and have been tempted to get the conversion done, however the ammo needs to be available before I make the change.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I suspect something like a NEF single shot would a good way to test the water and see if .327 Mag rifles will sell. That would be a simple chambering job and a low cost rifle in that caliber would tell us whether more expensive rifles would sell.

 

[ArmedBear]

They bumped the GP up to 7 rounds and the BH to 8.

8-shot BH is a good thing?

Does this thing have the reverse-indexing pawl? Then it would be good. Otherwise, smaller holes and more of them would just make loading/unloading a NMBH that much more of a PITA (which is the main reason I don't own a Single Six).

 

[Gryffydd]

Hey, at least it's not a 12 shot single action
http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/12-22.asp

Though I'm willing to bet it'd be much easier to load than a "Click-crap gotta go around again" Blackhawk...

 

[Chuck Perry]

Armed Bear,

How about if Ruger throws in a sandwich and a beer, would that make you happy? I'm thinking the 327 revolver is just not for you!

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm thinking the 327 revolver is just not for you!

That's what I wrote.

 

[RJM]

I have a .327 fed mag TC contender barrel on order, can't wait to get it. After shooting this round in my sp101, I knew I would want a longer barreled hunting carbine chambered for it. The blackhawk would be a great partner to it while out in the woods, as long as Ruger makes it accurate and reliable. I am actually very excited about the blackhawk, its pretty much what I wanted in a single action hunting handgun.


I am a huge fan of the .327 federal mag and prefer the sp101 I have chambered for it over the .357 magnum one I have. Its easier to shoot for me and have carried the gun for awhile.

 

[ArmedBear]

BTW I'd be A LOT more excited about Ruger's new revolvers if they announced that ALL of their revolvers would now have the reverse-indexing pawl.

I'd even go buy new ones, instead of the used ones I've been buying, although I would still consider the new plastic grips to be throwaways.

 

[DWFan]

Starline makes .32 H&R Mag brass but can't make the .327 Federal. Federal has the sole rights to it. If anyone remembers, they did the same thing to the .32 H&R Magnum and it was seven years before brass came from anyone but Federal. Freedom Arms reportedly has 40,000 .327 cases in stock; but you might remember what they used to charge for .454 Casull brass.

 

[Old Fuff]

BTW I'd be A LOT more excited about Ruger's new revolvers if they announced that ALL of their revolvers would now have the reverse-indexing pawl.

I suspect that will happen, because it wouldn't be difficult or expensive too do. At the moment the primary demand for that feature is coming from SASS, so that's where the focus is. In fact I think it would be an easy aftermarket modification for gunsmiths to do. Don't junk your older revolvers quite yet.