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OT/ ? on .327 Federal shell

K

KYfarm

Member
I had every intention of purchasing a revolver today for my own use and also my wife's as in-home protection. I thought that the new .327 federal was a good choice because of low-recoil for the gun that I want my wife to be able to shoot well. I looked around the internet and decided that a Ruger SP101 in .327 would do the trick. Because of kick and noise I decided against .357, other than practicing with it outside with hearing protection the main use of this gun would be inside the house and I would rather not use a .357 inside a relatively small room.

So I went to my favorite store and talked with the same salesman that I have talked to many times before and they had a SP101 in .327 in stock, he strongly advised against me buying the gun. Not because of performance of the shell but because he says there is every possibility the the shell will fade out of existence in the future and I will be stuck with a worthless gun. He advised a .38 spl (which is what I wanted to traded-in, a cheap old stub barrel gun). I'm not against a nice new .38 in the specs I currently want, but they didn't even have the .38 that I want. He actually talked me out of .327 that I would have bought today for something that they didn't have.....SO

Here is my question, what are your opinions on the .327 and its future? I could always get one and buy-up a gross of shells, this gun isn't a farm carry weapon and won't be shot that much. Or should I follow his advise, which has been good in the past, and go with a .38spl+p?

Thanks for any advise, all is welcome!
 
If the piece is being used only to fend off an intruder, then recoil and noise won't be a factor.
If you are in the process of shooting someone you won't even notice those things.
 
While it's much to the benefit of the firearms industry to keep coming out with new calibers as a way of encouraging people to buy new products, a half dozen or so each of pistol and rifle calibers still account for the vast majority of shells sold, and I agree with your salesman--if you're looking for a "user", get something tried and true rather than attempting to get the "latest and greatest" that very possibly won't be there 5 years from now. The .38 will be around as long as pistols are, whereas the .327 may or may not, and the .38 can be handloaded to everything from "catch it with your bare hands" to nearly .357 specs if recoil is an issue. Repay your sales guy's honesty by ordering the gun you want from him and you'll have an excellent shooter with few worries about the ammo going obsolete.
 
There are many calibers, I believe that the sales guy is partially correct. But......the free market enterprise system will dictate that if someone wants a .327 bullet then they are willing to pay for it too. Then a cartridge maker will make money on it by selling it to you and the public. Of course you could buy all the stuff you need to reload that caliber?

If it was me.....Get what you want and buy a crapload of that .327 ammo (like 3 cases or something) and dont worry about it.
 
Agree with what's already been said but think I would go for a .357 if I was looking for a relvolver. Can't you run 38's in a 357?, never owned one.

Personally our home protection is a 9MM auto loaded with high preformance hollow points. I like the idea of having a couple 13 round magazines handy.
 

I think a gun fireing the 327 federal will also fire the 32 H & R Magnum and the 32 S & W Long so there should be some Ammo avaliiable for it. Ike the other post said, stock up on ammo. Learn to reload and use reloads for practice, leaving the factory ammo for serious social puropses.

KEH
 
You have to respect the gun salesman for being honest and losing a sale--I'm sure you do. I think he's right.

A lot of guys here will not agree with me but have you considered a revolver chambered for the 22 magnum rimfire. Sure be easier on the ears inside a room and very comfortable for your wife to shoot. AND PRACTICE WITH. Shot placement rather than brute force counts the most.

Using a rifle I shot a pigeon off of the top of one of our grain bins. Nearly took the bottom half off of that bird. You place the bullet right and the intruder is in big trouble.

Practice and bullet placement much more important than bullet size. Very important too that practice will make using a gun "second nature" to you. Mighty important in a stressful situations.

You need to be sure your wife can handle the recoil and muzzle blast of whatever you buy.

Don
 
Correct:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/327_federal.htm

Any .327 Mag. revolver can also fire .32 H&R Mag. and .32 S&W Long cartridges, much as any .22 Long Rifle revolver can also fire .22 Long and .22 Short cartridges. The reverse, of course, is not true. A .327 Mag. revolver could also safely fire .32 S&W (short) cartridges, although why one would want to do so is another matter.



With that little bit of info I wouldn't be too scared of buying a .327. The .32H&R Mag is a very nice round. The .327 might come and go but the others will stick around for several decades more - although it may be a bit expensive. But if all you want is a defense weapon that only gets 20-30 rounds a year shot through it that's not much of a concern.
 
if the guy lost a sale like that, im sure he wasnt lying. id go with a more popular caliber so ammo will always be around.
 
38s in a 357 work just fine but not the other way around. Same with the 44 you can shoot the 44 special in the 44mag but not the other way around
 
You can shoot .38s though a .357 mag. That's why I like my Ruger Security 6. .38 wadcutters for practice, .357 hydra shok for business.
 
Their are millions of 357 cal pistols around so the shell going south is hard to understand.
Does make a rather loud bang. Check out this months issue of the NRA magazine.
 
Heck I never even heard of an .327
anyways hard to beat them new lightweight Ruger38s with the laser sight activated by the pistol grip.nice unit for a lady in home protection,that laser sight come in real handy in a house at night,even for the novice shooter.
They aint cheap though.

Good Luck
Stan
 
I shoot .38 specials in a .357 Ruger revolver w/6" bbl. I have .357's in it right now, but hope I never have to shoot it in an enclosed space. I've had a ringing in my ears since 1973 from a .44 mag w/o ear protection. I've thought about going to a semi-automatic, but I don't know exactly what I want to get. I took my handgun permit qualifying shoot with a .40 and liked the cartrage.
 
More gun makers are introducing revolvers for the .327 and the comments on the gun forums have been favorable. Many are buying for the use you propose. I would not hesitate to buy one if it was what I wanted.
 
I have to put in a word for the 22 magnum rimfire. I poo pooed that round for a long time. When I finally got one I was VERY impressed. That is an awesome round for what it is. My $.02
 
What about a Taurus Judge or Public Defender? Shoot a 410 shot gun shell, mine don't kick bad at all. At ten feet has a foot diameter pattern & 2.5 at 20 feet. Plus it won't go through a wall or two and kill somebody you don't want to
 
While your salesman has a point. I will also disagree in that if it is a flop it will be WORTH MORE ! Several of the Rugers of limited production sell higher then similar models in calibers that stayed popular. The 30 carbine and .357 maximun and the .32 HR in the single six come to mind.
 
CLTX is right. We [wife & I]. We both shoot 357s. We had hers ported so there's no muzzle lift It also cut the recoil down. 38 Specials shoot real well in them, and cost less also. There is a big variation of ammo for the 357. I too believe the 357 will be around a long time. as far as the brand, get the one that fits the hand the best.
 
I am still going to give that store/salesman the sale, either the .38 when it comes in or the .327 if I decide. The gun is actually a .357 but can be loaded with .38. It will also come with a laser grip, Hogue, which is real nice. My fear with the noise and recoil on the .357 is that after much practice you just know its there and if you have to shoot it without hearing protection I think the knowledge will effect your shot. I have shot a relatives S&W686 in .357 and it is real nice, will really lay them down range but it is a dang cannon, like firing a rifle.

I also agree, as discussed below that placement is more important than caliber once you get to .38 or above. If you lay a .38+p hollow point into something it is really going to make a hole, chest or head and that guy is gonna drop.

Guess I'll probably get the gun he said, the .357 and load it with .38+p, Ruger SP101, satin stainless, 3" barrel and Hogue laser grip

Thanks for all the opinions
 
Very true ! When clay bird shooting I always wear ear protection . Never have any on when hunting . The adrenaline takes over for the ear muffs . Never have any issues with noise then .
 
jim: good point about large pattern at close range. Easy to change size of pellets.. and not kill person in next room. ..ag
 
Do you always want to be able to find ammo?
Who will always have ammo? The cops and military?
What calibers do they use?
 
My advice is go with the 357 and put the 38 ammo in it for your wife. It is well estsblished that you can shoot the 38 in the 357. (Never put any shell in a gun of a different caliber unless you are positive it is safe.) That way you can step up to 357 if you want. The 357 will hold its value much better than a 38. (And the gun will outlast you.) The 327 is a great round , but calibers come and go. We have seen a burst of new ones lately. Not all of them will last long term. If you reload , buy 500 rounds of brass , the die set and a bullet mold and you're set. If you don't reload , yes the 327 ammo could be hard to come by someday. Good Luck. Hope I was some help.
 
I have a few 357s - like to shoot them at long range across the farm. Wouldnt use any of them inside. For inside I keep a 45 and 9mm loaded. the 45 is first choice, I think its the nicest shooting of them all. Other thing is ammo price, 357 is pretty expensive today while the 45 is plentiful new or reloaded. BTW the short fat 45 is probably the easiest to reload.
 
Why not tale her with you to pick out what fits her hand? Her hands are probably smaller than yours and those big grips can be to large for her to handle. That being said try the Lady Smith from S&W it has a very modest grip on it that might just fit her hand well. If she can"t hold it well it wont be shot well. It comes in 38 and 357 that can be loaded with the 38. I myself like the Para Ordinance from Canada They used to be pretty reasonable but now have gotten rather pricey. I also like my single action Rugers too.
 
I may be a "thick as a brick hick" but that is something you and I can agree on there!

In a pistol what more do you need than a 9 or 45? Why by the coolest new little bitty varmit gun when a 223 will kill'm just as dead for half the cost? Why spend $40+ for a box of the newest fastest all the magazines say you have to have one deer rifle when there has never in the history of the world been a deer that could out run a 30-06 or 308?

I don't get it.

Dave
 
Before you buy, just to ease your mind, can you get your hands on your relative's S&W pretty easy? If you can buy you a box of the lightest 38sp HPs you can find and pop off a few rounds behind the barn. You know what it shoots like with 357, let your wife shoot it with some watered down 38's and see if you and her think it will make a good night stand gun. If so, the SP101 with lazer grips will be great.

I am not a real big fan of any new rounds, if the local hardware store don't stock ammo for it I tend to loose intrest real quick.

Dave
 
I have 38 spl. AW stainless snubnose its worthless at anything over 6 ft. away. But makes a lot of noise so might scare the bad guy off.

My favorite pistol is my TC/Contender I have it .357, 44 Mag, 17/223, 22 Hornet and my favorite 30/30 that will not scare the guy but take a chunk out along the way. The contender is very accurate up 100 yards with open sites. Well when i was a lot younger and could see the darn sites.

The 17/223 is 4000 FPS and will go though a beer empty can stacked 3 high and never move one of them. Fill it with water or beer and the whole thing will explode.
Walt
PS get the 357 you will be lot happier.
 
What make/model?

I can shoot a 270+ out of 300 possible @ 25 yards with my S&W 66 Snubbie. The "inherent inaccuracy" of snubs is a myth.

No, they're not going to shoot to MOA at 100 yards like a contender will, but with practice you can keep 6 rounds in a pie plate all day long at 25 yards, unless the individual weapon is shot out or a cheap POS to start with.
 
Gunmakers routinely introduce new cartridges to stimulate sales among those who always have to have the latest thing. Sometimes these cartridges have staying power (.40 S&W being a good example), but most don't stick around. I really don't think anyone will be making .17 HMR or .204 Ruger rifles in a few years.

In the case of the .327 Federal, it seems to be a solution looking for a problem. The idea is to get six rounds into a compact revolver. But that problem was solved long ago: you simply don't need that extra shot so make do with five. A .357 Magnum revolver is a MUCH better choice for your wife. It will shoot a wide variety of readily available ammo, all the way from inexpensive .38 Special wadcutters that have very light recoil up the way to 158 grain .357 Magnum loads. It's best that your wife practice with wadcutters and stay clear of the .357 loads. Midway between the two are .38 Special +P loads that are powerful enough for self-defense without too much recoil.
 
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