Thinking about USPSA revolver shooting, 625 vs 327

[stgdz]

Rite now I use a 1911 single stack in USPSA shooting. A couple of guys there shoot revolvers and they seem to have a fair amount of fun. They shoot 625's and they have said it is easy to load with clips. I am looking at the 625 but I am also looking at the 327. One of the advantages I see with the 327 is that it is 8 rounds, same as my 1911 magazines so I don't have to change my strategies around. Disadvantage is that it is a 38 so it may take more then one hit on the steel, howerver I have considered a 357 clip for steel targets. Also how easy is it to load the 8 round clips vs the 6 round 45acps. The acps are supposed to fall in.


So just to recap
625
+clips fall in
+Major power factor for steel
-Have to change my strategies
327
+Don't have to change strategies
-May not knock steel on the first shot(the likelihood of this is low)
-clips may not fall in as easily

 

[Deer Hunter]

The .45 ACP is easier to load than the .38/.357.

 

[VegasOPM]

If you ever decide to shoot IDPA, your 327 can only be loaded with 6 rounds. I think that they recently introduced a rule limiting revolvers to a 4" bbl, so the 625 is out too. The full moons on the 625 seem to load easier for me than my buddy's 327 clips... but practice solves that. The 327 is a .357 if I remember correctly which means that power is not a problem. If you load your own, you can take steel down really easy with 180gr .357's at around 900- 1000fps. 180gr make major at 925fps and 158's make major at 1050fps.

If you are already set up for realoding .45's why add another caliber? Trust me, I just switched my reloader from .40 to .45 and the primer change is a PITA.

 

[Deer Hunter]

There are 4" 625s.

 

[Navy joe]

In USPSA you can load 8 in your 327 or 627 but only six can be fired without a reload. You can shoot the 8 shots at full capacity in
Production though.

 

[VARifleman]

What Navy joe said. If you declare revolver division and shoot over 6 without a reload, you get to play in Open.

 

[Gary Frost]

Steel doesn't go down with a solid hit from 9mm and above=range failure. you get a reshoot

 

[DragonFire]

The 45's reload quicker than the .357's and I've found the .357 moonclips to be more finicky about what brass they like.

But I have both, and love both.

I like the challenge of shooting a revolver in an "auto" world. (most people's idea of a "revolver neutral" scenario changes quickly once they try to actually shoot it with a revolver). I flip-flop on whether changing strategies is a good thing or not. My feelings are the more you have to think and be conscience of what you're doing (not to be confused of thinking too much WHILE shooting) is a good thing. I think you shoot better, and enjoy shooting more, than you do while on auto-pilot.

 

[71Commander]

There's no barrel length limit in USPSA. IDPA has the 4" max rule.

I use a 5" 625.