327 Federal Magnum

The .327 Federal Magnum is a cartridge introduced by Federal Premium Ammunition and also sold by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It is intended to provide the power of a .357 Magnum in a six-shot, compact revolvers, whose cylinders would otherwise only hold five rounds. The .327 has also been used in full-sized revolvers with a capacity of seven rounds or more.

Development

Introduced by the Federal Cartridge company, now known as Federal Premium Ammunition, the .327 Federal Magnum was an attempt to improve on the .32 H&R Magnum introduced in 1984. Like the .32 H&R, the .327 Federal is a lengthened version of the original .32 S&W cartridge, which dates back to 1878. In 1896, the .32 S&W Long was introduced, which generated slightly higher velocities. The introduction of the .32 H&R increased pressures from 15,000 psi to 21,000 CUP, giving velocities of approximately .

Based on the .32 H&R Magnum, with a 1/8-inch longer case, a strengthened web at the base of the case, thicker case walls, and different heat-treatment and metallurgy, the .327 Federal can be loaded to much higher pressure levels () than its predecessor (21,000 CUP).Pearce, Lane, ''Reloading the .327 Federal Magnum'', ''Shooting Times Magazine'', 4 January 2011 The .327's actual bullet diameter is and achieves muzzle velocities up to with bullets, and up to with bullets, when fired from the 3 1/16 in (78 mm)-barreled Ruger SP101 revolver.

While perceived recoil exceeds that of the .32 H&R, revolvers in .327 Federal are much easier to control than equivalent models chambered in .357 Magnum. Comparing the two calibers, Chuck Hawks says, "There is no doubt that, for most shooters, the .357 Magnum produces uncomfortable recoil and muzzle blast."

The .327's recoil energy is for an jacketed hollowpoint (JHP) load, for the JHP, and for the softpoint (SP). For comparison, the figures are for an .32 H&R Magnum load and for a .357 Magnum load.

Firearms chambered for the .327 Federal Magnum

Revolvers in .327 Federal Magnum were initially offered by Charter Arms, Taurus, Ruger, and Freedom Arms. The stainless-steel Ruger SP101 was originally selected as the development platform for the new cartridge. Freedom Arms made a single-action design, as did U.S. Fire Arms with its eight-shot Sparrowhawk. Ruger offered the double-action six-shot SP101 and seven-shot GP100, and the full-sized single-action eight-shot Blackhawk, revolvers chambered in .327 Federal Magnum. A version of the Ruger SP101 with a 3 1/16" barrel chambered in the .327 Federal Magnum was released in January 2008.

In late 2014, Ruger introduced the smaller-framed Ruger Single-Seven, a seven-shot single-action .327 Federal Magnum revolver based on the Single-Six. In March 2015, Ruger re-introduced the SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum. The current version of the SP101 features fully adjustable sights and a longer, 4.2 in (107 mm) barrel. In September 2015, Ruger also introduced the LCR in .327 Federal Magnum, a double-action only, six-shot revolver with a polymer subframe. Ruger also offers the similar LCRx with an exposed hammer in this chambering.

In early 2017, Henry Repeating Arms announced production of four new lever-action long guns (a rifle and a carbine, each available with its receiver manufactured from either steel or hardened brass), with shipping scheduled to begin in March. Hawks suggests that lever-action carbines in .327 Mag. will make "excellent, fun to shoot centerfire rifles for hunting javelina, jackrabbit, and coyote"; he also notes that revolvers with six-to-eight-inch barrels and adjustable sights "would be excellent hunting handguns for varmints and small predators, as well as offering flat-shooting protection from two-legged predators in the field."

Similar cartridges

The .327 Federal Magnum provides performance similar to the high-velocity rifle loadings of the old .32-20 Winchester, though these velocities are achieved in a much shorter revolver barrel, thanks to a much higher pressure ceiling for the .327.

Another similar cartridge is the .30 Carbine, which has been offered in Ruger's single-action Blackhawk revolver line since 1968. However, the .327 Federal Magnum has a higher maximum pressure (45,000 psi) than the .30 Carbine (40,000 psi).

Gunsmiths working with Ruger and Freedom Arms have offered custom conversions of single-action .32 H&R Single Six and Freedom Arms revolvers to .327 Federal. Test results from the long barreled guns showed even higher velocities than the .30 Carbine, along with excellent accuracy.

See also

*List of handgun cartridges
*Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
*8 mm caliber
*Super magnum

References

External links

''Ruger Blackhawk .327 Federal 5.5" 8-shot Revolver''

{{DEFAULTSORT:327 Federal Magnum
.327 Federal Magnum firearms
Sturm, Ruger & Company
Pistol and rifle cartridges
Magnum pistol cartridges