.32 H&R Rounds vs. Federal .327 Mags: What's the Difference?

McPatrickClan · June 20th, 2008, 12:52 AM

I am looking at a Ruger SP101 chambered for .327 Mag & was told that I could shoot the .32 H&R rounds to save money if I wanted to. What's the difference between the two cartridges?

crzy4guns · June 20th, 2008, 01:36 AM

The .327 Federal magnum is essentially a .32 H&R magnum lengthened by 1/8 of an inch.

The .327 Federal magnum has a chamber pressure of around 45,000 psi compared to 20,000 psi for the .32 H&R magnum.

You can shoot .32 H&R magnums in a gun chambered for .327 Federal magnums - but not vice versa.

Like the difference between the .38 special and the longer .357 magnum, where the much higher pressured round was lengthened by 1/10 of an inch to prevent it from being fired in a .38 special chambered gun and blowing it up.

nn · June 20th, 2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPatrickClan

I am looking at a Ruger SP101 chambered for .327 Mag & was told that I could shoot the .32 H&R rounds to save money if I wanted to. What's the difference between the two cartridges?

That's right and .32S&W and also .32S&W long.

McPatrickClan · June 21st, 2008, 01:33 AM

Will the felt recoil be much different between the four cartridges (Federal .327 Mag, .32 Smith & Wesson, .32 Smith & Wesson Long & .32H&R)?

crzy4guns · June 21st, 2008, 08:50 AM

Yes, as you go from the shorter rounds to the longer ones the recoil will increase accordingly.

Be sure to scrub the chambers good with a bore brush and solvent after you shoot the shorter rounds so that you won't have the carbon ring build up that would cause difficulty in chambering the longer .327 Federal magnum cartridge.

Low recoil though is one of the advantages of the .32 H&R and the new .327 Federal magnum cartridge.

McPatrickClan · June 21st, 2008, 03:14 PM

So am I correct in concluding that even if this .327 Federal Magnum cartridge "fails" and goes the way of the dinosaur, there are still two other major, relatively inexpensive cartridges available that I could shoot out of a Ruger SP101 (chambered for .327)?

nn · June 21st, 2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPatrickClan

So am I correct in concluding that even if this .327 Federal Magnum cartridge "fails" and goes the way of the dinosaur, there are still two other major, relatively inexpensive cartridges available that I could shoot out of a Ruger SP101 (chambered for .327)?

well maybe, .32S&W and .32S&W long are $25 and .32H&R at Geogra-arms.com are $18.75. [50 rnds]

McPatrickClan · June 22nd, 2008, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nn

well maybe, .32S&W and .32S&W long are $25 and .32H&R at Geogra-arms.com are $18.75. [50 rnds]

That's not too bad. From what I could tell, the Federal .327s are about a buck a round. I just wanted to make sure I was covered if this whole experiment went South!

nn · June 22nd, 2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPatrickClan

That's not too bad. From what I could tell, the Federal .327s are about a buck a round. I just wanted to make sure I was covered if this whole experiment went South!

I've been paying $25 for American Eagle 100 gr soft point jacketed
in a 50 rnd box.

itschuck · June 23rd, 2008, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nn

well maybe, .32S&W and .32S&W long are $25 and .32H&R at Geogra-arms.com are $18.75. [50 rnds]

Ouch, I see 32 long for 13 bucks a box here

32 S&W LONG : Ammunition To Go

June 20th, 2008, 12:52 AM	#1
McPatrickClan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: East of Ft. Worth, Texas Posts: 532	.32 H&R Rounds vs. Federal .327 Mags: What's the Difference? I am looking at a Ruger SP101 chambered for .327 Mag & was told that I could shoot the .32 H&R rounds to save money if I wanted to. What's the difference between the two cartridges?

June 20th, 2008, 01:36 AM	#2
crzy4guns VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,272	The .327 Federal magnum is essentially a .32 H&R magnum lengthened by 1/8 of an inch. The .327 Federal magnum has a chamber pressure of around 45,000 psi compared to 20,000 psi for the .32 H&R magnum. You can shoot .32 H&R magnums in a gun chambered for .327 Federal magnums - but not vice versa. Like the difference between the .38 special and the longer .357 magnum, where the much higher pressured round was lengthened by 1/10 of an inch to prevent it from being fired in a .38 special chambered gun and blowing it up. __________________ Kick the bums out of congress. Vote in 2010!

June 21st, 2008, 08:50 AM	#5
crzy4guns VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,272	Yes, as you go from the shorter rounds to the longer ones the recoil will increase accordingly. Be sure to scrub the chambers good with a bore brush and solvent after you shoot the shorter rounds so that you won't have the carbon ring build up that would cause difficulty in chambering the longer .327 Federal magnum cartridge. Low recoil though is one of the advantages of the .32 H&R and the new .327 Federal magnum cartridge. __________________ Kick the bums out of congress. Vote in 2010!

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June 21st, 2008, 01:33 AM	#4
McPatrickClan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: East of Ft. Worth, Texas Posts: 532	Will the felt recoil be much different between the four cartridges (Federal .327 Mag, .32 Smith & Wesson, .32 Smith & Wesson Long & .32H&R)?

June 21st, 2008, 03:14 PM	#6
McPatrickClan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: East of Ft. Worth, Texas Posts: 532	So am I correct in concluding that even if this .327 Federal Magnum cartridge "fails" and goes the way of the dinosaur, there are still two other major, relatively inexpensive cartridges available that I could shoot out of a Ruger SP101 (chambered for .327)?