327

kumatelives

thinking of getting a blackhawk in 327,what are the opinions of this cartridge.it looks fun to shoot,and it's got to work on close varmits,but I've never shot one so how bout a little input

elubsme

There is an extensive article in the May 2010 issue of THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN testing both the Blackhawk & the GP 100. They speak favorably of both of them. E.Z.

rufe-snow

If your a reloader it would work out OK, as you could use .32 S & W Long, and .32 H & R Mag., along with the .327 brass. Just shooting commercial .327 ammo probably would be be quite expensive, you would be way better off with a Black Hawk in .357. The .327 is a hot, noisy cartridge, from a handgun like a BH it's not going to be a heck of a lot different then the .30 Carbine from the same platform. Since you can also shoot .32 S & W Long and .32 H & R Mag., it's more versatile then the .30 Carbine BH. though.

beantownshootah

quote:Originally posted by kumatelives
thinking of getting a blackhawk in 327,what are the opinions of this cartridge.it looks fun to shoot,and it's got to work on close varmits,but I've never shot one so how bout a little input

Most of the reviews and marketing/hype surrounding this round emphasize that it has less recoil than a .357 magnum. Of COURSE it does. . .its less powerful than a .357!

Ballistically, this is something on a par with 9mm luger (or 9mm+P), though with a smaller diameter bullet.

The .327 offers three advantages, in my opinion:

-Smaller diameter cartridges mean you can cram one more round into a revolver cylinder. That's a plus in a defensive gun, a bit less so in a hunting gun.

-You can fire the other .32 caliber revolver rounds from the same gun. Huge advantage (and no-brainer) if you are already a fan of the other .32 caliber rounds. Not so much if you're not.

-Interesting ballistics from a RIFLE (see below). Like a .357 (and UNLIKE a 9mm), you get much better performance of this round from a long barrel:

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/327mag.html

Unfortunately, so far as I know, there are no repeating rifles chambered in this round (yet), so this is still more theoretical than practical.

Biggest disadvantages would be decreased availability and increased expense of ammo compared to .357 or 9mm. Not a disadvantage if you're reloading your own ammo here.

Federal has been marketing this round as a defensive round, but in my opinion, that's probably NOT its best application. Again, from a snubnose, the only real advantage this gives is you one more round in the cylinder. . .at the expense of smaller bullet diameter and increased cost. If you like the "lower recoil" ballistics, you can nearly exactly replicate them with light-weight .357 rounds or 9mm +P rounds:

Winchester 110 grain .357 magnum, $30 per box of **50**, 1295 fps, 410ft-lbs energy.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=562341

Speer 115 grain .327 magnum, $21 per box of **20**, 1335fps, 440ft-lbs energy.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=172468

Corbon 115 grain 9mm luger +P, $25 per box of 20, 1350fps, 466 ft-lbs.
http://www.dakotaammo.net/Self-Defense-JHP/9mm-Luger-Plus-P-115gr-CORBON-Self-Defense-JHP/SD09115-20/100/Product

Best use for this, I think, is small game hunting, or maybe silhouette type shooting. If that's what you are after, and you're reloading the round, I think you'll be happy with it.

As rufe suggests, the way ammo prices are now, if you're not reloading it, I don't think there is enough advantage over .357 to justify this one.

wtroper

I have a FA M97 with a 327 cylinder. I also have a blackhawk in that caliber on order. The M97 (7 1/2" bbl) is extremely accurate with the Federal 100 gr factory 327 ammunition. The recoil and muzzle blast are considerably less than a 357 mag. Mine shoots "on a string" out to 100 yds. My lady has arthritis in her hand and can no longer tolerate signicant recoil. She shoots the 327 with no issue.

Hope this helps.

wpage

Looks like wether or not you reload or have disposable income is the key to your decision.