.327 Federal Magnum

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= .327 Federal Magnum


caption=
origin= USA
type= Revolver
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=Federal Cartridge and Sturm, Ruger
design_date= 2007
manufacturer=
production_date= 2008-Present
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=.32 H&R Magnum
case_type=Rimmed, straight-walled
bullet=.312
neck=.337
shoulder=
base=.337
rim_dia=.375
rim_thick=.055
case_length=1.20
length=
rifling=
primer=
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=100
btype1=JHP
vel1=1400
en1=435
bw2=115
btype2=JHP
vel2=1300
en2=431
test_barrel_length= 3 1/16"
balsrc= [http://outdoorwriters.atk.com/news/press_release/press_release.aspx?id=171&brand=5&year=2007 Federal Premium and Ruger Introduce New Revolver Cartridge—the 327 Federal Magnum] The .327 Federal Magnum is a new cartridge introduced by Sturm, Ruger and Federal Cartridge, intended to provide the power of a .357 Magnum in six shot, compact revolvers, whose cylinders only hold 5 rounds of the larger .357 Magnum cartridge. Based on the .32 H&R Magnum, stretched and loaded to higher pressures, the .327 (actual bullet diameter .312 in, or 7.92 mm) achieves velocities up to convert|1400|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on with convert|100|gr|sing=on bullets (420 m/s and 6.5 g), and up to convert|1300|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on with convert|115|gr|sing=on bullets (390 m/s and 7.5 g), from the 3 1/16" (78 mm) barreled Ruger SP-101 revolver. The Ruger SP-101 chambered in the .327 Federal Magnum was released in January 2008.cite web |url=http://outdoorwriters.atk.com/news/press_release/press_release.aspx?id=171&brand=5&year=2007 |title=Federal Premium and Ruger Introduce New Revolver Cartridge—the 327 Federal Magnum |accessdate=2007-11-27] cite web |url=http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/st327_110707 |title= Lethal Combination |author=Dick Metcalf |accessdate=2007-11-27]

Development

The .327 Federal Magnum is an attempt to improve on the .32 H&R Magnum, introduced in 1984, a round which failed to attract shooters or manufacturers. This is the third updated version of the original .32 S&W cartridge, which dates back to 1878. The original was a black powder cartridge with a case length of 0.61 in. (15 mm), which developed a velocity of around 700 fps (215 m/s). [See main article, .32 S&W] The first improvement of the round came in 1896 with the introduction of the .32 S&W Long, which had a case length of 0.920 in (23.4 mm) and generated slightly higher velocities. [See main article, .32 S&W Long] The introduction of the .32 H&R Magnum nearly a century later increased the case length to 1.075 in (27.3 mm) and pushed the pressure up from the very low 15,000 psi to 21,000 CUP, which is similar to .38 Special +P. This gave velocities of over 1,200 ft/s (365 m/s), a respectable increase, but was not enough to garner any great interest in the cartridge. [See main article, .32 H&R Magnum]

While the .32 H&R Magnum is a near equivalent to the .38 Special +P, the .327 Federal Magnum reaches the velocity levels of the .357 Magnum, if not the same power, with velocities of up to 1400 fps (420 m/s) from the short-barreled Ruger SP-101. The case is 1/8" (3 mm) longer than the .32 H&R, and the pressure, at 45,000 psi, exceeds that of the .357 Magnum and approaches the level of the .454 Casull. Since the .327 still shares all case dimensions, excluding length, with the other .32 caliber cartridges going back to the .32 S&W, it can safely chamber and fire all four cartridges.cite web |url=http://www.chuckhawks.com/327_federal.htm |title=First Look: .327 Federal Magnum Revolver Cartridge |author=Chuck Hawks] cite web |url=http://www.handloads.com/misc/saami.htm |title=SAAMI Pressure Specs]

imilar cartridges

The .327 Federal provides performance similar to the high velocity rifle loadings of the old .32-20 Winchester, though in much shorter barrel. Similar to the +P cartridges of today, the rifle loadings of these old cartridges were loaded to higher pressures than standard; they were discontinued because they could destroy .32-20 revolvers if fired in them. The .32-20, while long considered obsolete, has lived on in the sport of handgun metallic silhouette shooting, with handloaded rounds from single shot pistols like the Thompson Center Arms Contender far exceeding standard ballistics, and with the growing popularity of Cowboy action shooting, .32-20 lever action rifles are again being made. If chambered in a suitably modified .32-20 rifle, the .327 Federal should provide a significant boost over the .32-20.cite book |title=Cartridges of the World, 10th Ed. |publisher=Krause Publications |author=Frank C. Barnes, ed. Stan Skinner |isbn=0-87349-605-1]

Another close comparison is the .30 Carbine, which has been offered in Ruger's single action Blackhawk revolver line since 1968. [cite web |url=http://ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/PS-SerialNumberHistory-RE.html |title=Ruger Revolver Serial Number History |publisher=Sturm, Ruger] The .30 Carbine was essentially the same ballistically as the .32 Winchester Self Loading, which was itself basically a rimless .32-20. The .327 Federal works at even higher pressure than the .30 Carbine (45,000 vs. 40,000 psi). The long, 7 1/2 inch (19 cm) barrel of the .30 Carbine Blackhawk, with suitable loads for a handgun, offers performance levels with similar bullet weights in excess of the factory loaded .327 Federal, along with excellent accuracy. Those who favor the .30 Carbine in a revolver do so due to the excellent accuracy, flat trajectory, and low recoil, all of which the .327 Federal provide. [cite web |url=http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt30carb.htm |title=Taffin Tests: .30 Carbine |author=John Taffin] Both custom gunsmiths working with Ruger small frame single action Single Six and commercial maker Freedom Arms began offering conversions to convert .32 H&R revolvers to .327 Federal by early 2008. Test results from the long barreled guns showed even higher velocities than the .30 Carbine, along with excellent accuracy. [cite web |url=http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom-Harton327.htm |title=Freedom Arms Model 97 & Single Action Service Custom Ruger Revolvers Chambered for the New .327 Federal Magnum |author=Jeff Quinn |publisher=GunBlast.com]

References