Was thinking Ruger 327, but where cheap ammo?
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Your own reloading bench. 
Fast Frank
Member
SGammo online.
You will soon get all your ammo there. good prices, good selection, good service.
.327 federal is expensive, but you don't have to shoot it.
.32 H&R mag is still fun and cheaper.
You will soon get all your ammo there. good prices, good selection, good service.
.327 federal is expensive, but you don't have to shoot it.
.32 H&R mag is still fun and cheaper.
There is no cheap 327 ammo other than loading it yourself.
I have a Taurus 327 2" which really doesn't get the full effect of the 327 with the short barrel. You can do this with a 4" or longer barrel. I can load 32 S&W Long which is close to the 327 in the short barrel.
I think 327 is a good round in 4" or longer. Works okay in shorter barrels but not an earthshaker.
I have a Taurus 327 2" which really doesn't get the full effect of the 327 with the short barrel. You can do this with a 4" or longer barrel. I can load 32 S&W Long which is close to the 327 in the short barrel.
I think 327 is a good round in 4" or longer. Works okay in shorter barrels but not an earthshaker.
S&W .32 , S&W .32 long , H&R .32 Mag , .327 Federal Mag , and .32 ACP in a pinch all work . For plinking I generally use S&W .32 longs in my .32 H&R chambered M731 Taurus. They are the cheapest to buy for factory loads. I shoot a few rounds of the Mag stuff on occasion to keep in practice .
I used to reload, but am now in an efficiency apartment so I let my brother reload for me. He also has a .327 mag gun so mine fit into his schedule and reloading equipment well. (I carry with factory .32 H&R rounds)
I used to reload, but am now in an efficiency apartment so I let my brother reload for me. He also has a .327 mag gun so mine fit into his schedule and reloading equipment well. (I carry with factory .32 H&R rounds)
Reloading gets you the least expensive 32 caliber ammunition.
Starline has cases. Bullets are available or cast your own. Lots of choices for powders.
I like to load wadcutters for my 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R, and 327 Fed Magnum revolvers. (I'm happy with soft shooting rounds these days in my retirement years).
Starline has cases. Bullets are available or cast your own. Lots of choices for powders.
I like to load wadcutters for my 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R, and 327 Fed Magnum revolvers. (I'm happy with soft shooting rounds these days in my retirement years
).Reloading is not cheap. It's cheaper per round, but if you're not already doing it, you'll spend far more on reloading than most people will on factory ammo. You can calculate the break-even point, but I'd advise you to double your initial estimate of your capital expense for reloading equipment. If you're the type who'll take an interest in .327 for a few months and then move on to other things, you'll never reach the break-even point on the reloading equipment with just .327 savings, and you'll be looking at more expense for gear for other cartridges.
toivo
Member
Don't give up! If we can make the .327 as popular as .38 or .357, ammo prices will come down. It make take 15 or 20 years, but it'll be worth it ...
Well, you have to start somewhere.
If you have the base reloading equipment on hand, adding additional cartridges to reloading is not expensive and you get the benefit of high quality, hand crafted, ammunition for bargain prices.
On the other hand, reloading is not for everyone but...
Relying on cheap factory ammunition being available is going to catch up with you during the next ammunition shortage. It is not a bad idea to be prepared.
If watching pro sports on the television is more your speed, then, "no", you will not have time for reloading and reloading will be too expensive.
js8588
Member
I just brought home 2 more 327 Feds this afternoon. Post to be forthcoming. This makes 4 327s in the house. It'll be 5 as soon as Ruger gives us a 327 3 inch LCRx
lincen
Member
Not even sure how many 327's and 32 H&R chambered guns I have but it is definitely forcing me into reloading. Last years rebate from Federal must have wiped out a lot of inventory. Average price is still 40-50 cents per round and the 32 H&R is more like 58-60 cents per round. I do enjoy the 32's very much and am actually looking forward to reloading as my retirement hobby !
BobWright
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
If you do any amount of shooting at all, it will pay for itself in short order. The cheapest factory ammo available is American Eagle at $27/50rds. One can easily handload ammo for $5-$6 per 50rds. So figure every box of ammo you're saving $20. I started with an RCBS Turret kit, which is now $400. Add a set of dies and a shellholder and you're in business. So let's figure $450 to start-up, or equivalent to 22.5 boxes of ammo. If you shoot only twice a month and two boxes per session, which is not very much shooting at all, you've gone through those 22.5 boxes in six months. After shooting for six months, you've paid for your equipment. How many other hobbies pay for themselves??? I can't think of any. I'm still trying to break even on all my leatherworking tools and equipment after 5yrs.
Of course one can go for a less expensive kit and pay for it even quicker.
If you're that flaky then you need help we can't give.
Don't forget to add a workshop, shed, or garage space. Add a workbench and a powder storage cabinet. Unless you want to just shoot whatever, you'll want a chronograph to verify velocities and standard deviation and help in load development for your guns which the manuals do not do for you since they use 7" barrels or whatever. The chrono will need a tripod and a tripod head. The RCBS turret kit doesn't include a scale, calipers, or a reloading manual. You won't want to reload dirty cases, so don't forget to include a case cleaning system. That usually involves a tumbler, media, and a media separator. The less costly and less effective dry media makes a lot of contaminated dust, so you won't want it in your kitchen. And if you really want to save, you'll need to buy all kinds of bullet casting equipment.
Some people have spare workshop space, an extra shed, workbenches and all kinds of tools that are useful to other purposes as well as reloading, but not everyone. Even those who do are still looking at a lot of expenses besides the press and dies to get into reloading. I still think it's worth it, but for someone who just wants to shoot inexpensively, 9x19mm and .22LR are better solutions.
js8588
Member
While they ain't cheap, I'm really glad that the 100gr gold dot load is back.
expat_alaska
Member
I'll be dead by then. IMO, it will never happen. The .32 caliber stuff in an SP101 or other guns will never surpass the easily available and cheaper .38/.357 , especially considering the "tank-built" SP101 platform you are basing it on. The .32 caliber guns are a niche item and ammo will always be expensive to non-existent locally. If you have money to blow, go for it. I will stick with my SP101 .357 using .38 Spl +P HP rounds.
Jim
Zaydok Allen
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You are diving down the path of "You have to have everything right now!" When loading pistol cartridges one can forgo a case trimmer in some instances, a rotary tumbler doesn't have to cost a mint, and a bench can be bought for $120 that is perfectly adequate. All in for my equipment I'm maybe in it for $1500 total and it includes Dillon, Lyman, RCBS, Thumlers, several loading manuals, and maybe another $500 for components so far. I load two cartridges at the moment. I have been collecting these tools, dies, and equipment over the last 3 years or so. I only started loading in December, and I have loaded 1350 rounds so far. My savings as I've tallied it is around $220 vs buying factory ammo of the same cartridges so far. My pace is picking up now too, and that ammo is getting shot up, not sitting in a box because it's too expensive to shoot.
I'm estimating that if I load around 3500 rounds a year, I will have saved what I spent on the equipment within three years, and I have a feeling I'll load faster than that. Over a lifetime, it will save you significantly if you shoot with any sort of regularity, or it will save you nothing and you will just be able to shoot more. Either way, it's a win.
Reloading is like a 401K, you need to be in it for the long run if you're going to make it pay. If the OP doesn't want to reload, that's fine, but your comments are implying that there is no savings to be had with reloading, and that isn't true.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
When I bought mine it came with a scale. Big deal. Add a scale for $50-$70. You can also buy equipment used and save a bunch.
I started reloading in a closet corner with a bench I built from 2x4's.
Just buy a couple cans of powder, no need for a dedicated cabinet.
Very little need for a chronograph. I didn't buy one until years later and rarely use it now.
Get the Midway tumbler kit for $85.
Calipers are unnecessary for the .327. You're loading to the crimp groove, not a specific OAL.
Dry media does not "make a lot of dust". It makes very little dust, which is kept down with polishing compound. Tumble inside, separate outside. No big deal.
The numbers I quoted were for commercial cast bullets. Casting is a rabbit hole you don't have to go down unless you want to.
Yes, the 9mm and .22LR are great for cheap shooting but the OP didn't ask about cheap shooting. He asked about cheap shooting with the .327.
So we're looking at another $140 over what I initially outlined. Seven more boxes of ammo to break even. BFD.
buck460XVR
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Do folks ever calculate the "break even" point of individual firearms? How many deer does someone have to take to break even on the price of a new deer rifle, as opposed buying beef? Does just having a EDC on you, cover it's initial investment? Reloading can save one, money per round. For most of us, it just lets us shoot more with ammo tailored to our gun and our preferences. For most of us, it's a hobby' like shooting. Taking game with ammo you produced can be more satisfying. I have made my own arrows and bolts for 40 years. I don't save much by doing it in the small quantities I do, but I do like to see my own sittin' in the quiver or covered with blood. There are some calibers that will always be expensive. My .460 is expensive to shoot, even with my reloads......still my reloads are much cheaper than factory and IMHO, more accurate and versatile. There are a myriad of things to consider when buying a gun, cost to shoot it enough to really enjoy it is one of them. I've always said, guns are like kids. If you can;t afford to feed them, you shouldn't have them. I think the OP has made a reasonable choice to consider something else before making the investment in reloading. He can always change his mind.
So just put it on the shelf next to the paint and the can of gasoline for the mower? Then I hope you bought the $$,000 Liberty or Fort Knox with the long fire-rating for the guns at least. It is prudent to store powder in a flammables cabinet or away from your house.
Seven boxes of ammo? They haven't even bought one and they're complaining about the price.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not down on reloading, but would be truthful in promoting it. The fella who admitted spending $1500 and expecting to break-even in 3 years, after paying still more to load and shoot over 10,000 rounds has a more realistic perspective than most people who buy one gun, one box of ammo and park it. Even if it could be done for $400, that would buy over a thousand rounds, more than most people who own a gun will shoot in their lifetime. Reloading can offer tremendous value even for someone for whom it never saves money, but it doesn't do much of anything for someone who doesn't shoot. Even for someone who will shoot many thousands of rounds, 9mm offers effective performance at a price that is hard to beat reloading. For sure, reloading offers a lot more than cost-savings if it even saves anything, but I wouldn't say it's everyone's answer to, "where's the cheap ammo?"
Getting into reloading does not have to be expensive. Buy used. I like to frequent yard sales and thrift stores. Just over a year ago I bought a second home to be close to work. Put a reloading nook in the den.
RCBS Jr 3 press - $25 - yard sale
Ohaus Scale - . $20 - yard sale
RCBS bench priming tool - $30 - LGS (used)
Redding powder measure - $15 - yard sale
Wood desk (bench) -. $20 - Thrift store
HF dual drum tumbler -. $00 - gift
Food dehydrator - $05 - Thrift store (to dry brass)
Ohaus case trimmer - $10 - yard sale
Total cost - $100
9mm was mentioned as a low cost plinking round. I load 9mm for 5.15 per 50. I buy 125 grain cast bullets in bulk, as well as primers and powder. Cases are free pickups at the range. Compared to $10 for a box of 50 at the LGS (rounding down to $4 savings per box) ROI would be 25 boxes. 327 Federal would be considerably less, even considering you are not picking up the .327 brass for free.
Storage of just a few pounds of powder is best done in the factory containers. You want to store them open. Over 20 pounds needs to be in a 1 inch walled wooden powder box. Another cheap pickup if needed.
Case prep tools? Screwdrivers and pocket knives work well, as does steel wool to clean cases. Economical tool kits can be had from RCBS, Lee, and Lyman.
And finally, I like the 32 rounds. I have a H&R in 32 Long, a NEF in 32 H&R Magnum, and a Ruger Single 7 in 327. Liking the SP101 in 327, but like a previous poster, I am waiting for the LCRX 3 in 327 as my next 32 pistol.
RCBS Jr 3 press - $25 - yard sale
Ohaus Scale - . $20 - yard sale
RCBS bench priming tool - $30 - LGS (used)
Redding powder measure - $15 - yard sale
Wood desk (bench) -. $20 - Thrift store
HF dual drum tumbler -. $00 - gift
Food dehydrator - $05 - Thrift store (to dry brass)
Ohaus case trimmer - $10 - yard sale
Total cost - $100
9mm was mentioned as a low cost plinking round. I load 9mm for 5.15 per 50. I buy 125 grain cast bullets in bulk, as well as primers and powder. Cases are free pickups at the range. Compared to $10 for a box of 50 at the LGS (rounding down to $4 savings per box) ROI would be 25 boxes. 327 Federal would be considerably less, even considering you are not picking up the .327 brass for free.
Storage of just a few pounds of powder is best done in the factory containers. You want to store them open. Over 20 pounds needs to be in a 1 inch walled wooden powder box. Another cheap pickup if needed.
Case prep tools? Screwdrivers and pocket knives work well, as does steel wool to clean cases. Economical tool kits can be had from RCBS, Lee, and Lyman.
And finally, I like the 32 rounds. I have a H&R in 32 Long, a NEF in 32 H&R Magnum, and a Ruger Single 7 in 327. Liking the SP101 in 327, but like a previous poster, I am waiting for the LCRX 3 in 327 as my next 32 pistol.
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