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327 Magnum?
heliman
Member Posts: 597 ✭✭✭✭
Has anybody heard of a new round developed by Federal and Ruger called a .327 Mag? The round is a 32 H&R magnum, lengthened. Ballistically supposed to be between a 38+P and .357 mag. It will be chambered in a Ruger SP101 with a 3" barrel. The advantage is 6 shot capability in a J-frame sized package. Heard about it on Tom Gresham's "guntalk" radio show. Sounds intriguing.[?][?][?]
Comments
quite a bit of info over there
as for why , lets see , more power in a small package , 6 rounds instead of 5 , it can also shoot the 32mag , 32S&W long
sounds like a nice little gun that would be great as a trail gun or even CCW
sign me up , i'm going to get one real soon [:D]
From Federal's website:
http://www.federalcartridge.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=6&id=171&brand=5&year=2007
"According to lead design engineer Larry Head, "The 327 Federal Magnum is ideal for personal defense and has the potential for future application in field use. Using a slightly longer 32 H&R Magnum case and our advanced powder and bullet technology, we're able to offer more performance out of a smaller platform. And its recoil is milder than the 357 Magnum. We're excited to partner with Ruger and bring this product to market in the SP101 firearm."
From Shooting Times:
"Based on a higher-pressure loading in a 1/8-inch longer .32 H&R case, the .327 Federal Magnum will initially be available in three versions: a Federal Premium 85-grain Hydra-Shok Low Recoil Personal Defense loading, an American Eagle 100-grain Jacketed Soft Point, and a Speer 115-grain Gold Dot.
From a 3 1/16-inch revolver, the 100-grain Soft Point .327 Magnum load develops 100 fps more velocity than a 125-grain .357 Magnum from a four-inch revolver, and delivers only 35 ft/lbs less energy. The recoil of the .327 Magnum 85-grain Personal Defense load is less than half the recoil of a 125-grain .357 Magnum.
Subjected to the standard FBI protocol tests for effectiveness through barriers, the 115-grain .327 Magnum load reaches 15 inches in bare gelatin, 16 inches through heavy clothing, 16 inches through plywood, 14.5 inches through wallboard, 13 inches through auto glass, and 20 inches through single-layer vehicle body steel--all with substantial bullet upset ranging from .40 caliber (steel) to .60 caliber (auto glass).
As announced at the 2007 NASGW Show in Reno, NV, on November 7, 2007, Ruger is offering the .327 Federal Magnum in its time-proven all-steel SP101 revolver, which offers compact size for concealed carry plus a pleasing 28-ounce weight (the same as the polymer-frame Ruger SR9 9mm pistol) for firing this potent little load--which for the first time elevates the .32 caliber to a level of authority for effective use in a life-protection situation."
And another:
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/video/GATV_Federal327/
Best.
Lemme see, a puny .32 caliber, almost as powerful as a 38 special, shoots additional puny .32 caliber ammo, 6-15 rounds(who cares?), and just in time for Christmas...........Think I'll stick with my 38Super and 18 rounds of .38 caliber fun.
Should be great news for the carnies among us though!
Did you read that...only 35 ft/lbs less than the famed .357 magnum load, and is running 100fps faster out of a shorter barrel. This little dude has potential. Also has the potential to have extremely high priced, and hard to find ammo.
Tim
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdSpecsView?model=5759
dang it is spendy!! $572--that is a bit much for a little revolver like that--can only imagine what the ammo is gonna run.
Since energy is proportionate to the SQUARE of velocity, small lightweight bullets can be given high energies.
Its the same reason (for example) why a 9mm Luger has a nearly identical muzzle energy as a .45 ACP, even though the .45s bullet is twice as heavy.
But the problem is that all else being equal the one with the greater MOMENTUM (aka "power factor") will have the better stopping power.
So while this .32 monstrosity might have the energy of a .357, its not going to have nearly the same stopping ability. Smaller bullet equals smaller wound channel, and lighter bullet equals less penetration with equal energies.
If you want a round that is ballistically between a .38+P and a .357 magnum, it already exists. . .its called the 9mm luger (+P), and if you like, you can even put it in some revolvers.
Alternatively, you can just go with a low-loaded .357 (IE .38 +P+), and then you can use the same revolver that you use for .38 specials.
To my way of thinking, the only thing this .32 gives you is one more shot out of a small revolver. . .its not worth it, IMO. I'd rather have 5 .357s than 6 of these from a similar sized gun.
Now, if they could put this into a SMALLER revolver than a J-frame, that might have some appeal as a more pocketable carry gun.