32 H&R vs 327 fed mag

A

aaronsc

New member
I'm looking to get my wife a carry gun. Right now she shoots a Walther P22.
Since I, 1) don't trust semi-auto 22s and 2) don't know how I feel about 22 rim fire for personal protection, I was thinking maybe something in the 32 cal range.
Which would better for her, the 32 H&R mag, or the 327 federal? I have no experience with either so any info would help.

I was thinking about the charter arms undercoverette or the Ruger sp-101. I own and have shot many Ruger but have no experiense with the newer Charter Arms. Any thoughts on them from people who have owned or still own one?

Thanks
 
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A .327Mag revolver will also chamber fire .32 H&R Mag along with .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W "Short". I would buy the .327 for the added flexibility.

Although I regrettably still have yet to actually fire a .327Mag revolver, be aware that gun press reports and user reviews consistently say that the .327Mag cartridge, although easier to handle than .357Mag, is NOT a low-recoil pussycat like .32 Long or .32ACP. Its recoil impulse (i.e. recoil force) basically splits the difference between a hot .38Spl+P load and a full-house .357Mag, and is about on par with a good 9mm+P self-defense load. Top-end .327Mag defensive loads are also seriously supersonic just like lightweight .357Mag loads, so you can expect it to be LOUD. :eek: This will often greatly increase felt or perceived recoil to an inexperienced shooter.

That all being said, I would still choose a .327Mag revolver, because it's better to be able to start mild and work upwards than to start mild and be stuck there. :(
 
jmortimer-

Was that a 2" or 3" barreled 101?

I had the 3", and it was a handfull with full house .357 ..... not too much to shoot occasionally, but not enjoyable afte a few cylinders.

It was too heavy and wide for CCW, IME, especially considering there were only 5 rounds in the cylinder.

The .327 sp101 is supposed to be a bit lighter recoiling, and has 6 rounds. I will still carry my EMP, though and hold off buying another revolver until I have more money than I know what to do with ..... not soon in this economy.
 
.32H&R is one of my favorite rounds and I'll take one for just about anything, including small game hunting, over a rimfire handgun. I have zero experience with the .327F. Now that you know where I stand.........

Just looking at the numbers I think the .327 may be ideal for SD in small revolvers. 5 instead of 6 being the main reason. My only issue: It seems like you are a little worried about recoil and from what I understand it can be a little snappy. More so than a .38sp IIRC.

Now looking over at the .32H&R it's only drawback is it's just doesn't have much poop in factory form. Better than a .22lr? Definitely. Better than a .22M? Yeppers. But it's not a powerhouse. It is a joy to shoot and I wouldn't feel my wife was unarmed while carrying one.

Keep in mind, if you buy a .327 you can use .32 longs and .32H&R is it then move up to full house .327's if/when she feels comfortable.

If I was pickin the .327 wins just because I can shoot other cartridges in it. But honestly I wouldn't look at either if I wasn't a reloader and instead look to the .38sp.
 
327 for the previous reasons stated. You can run 32 H&R in it as well as the S&W long and short.

32 Long is a total pussycat if low recoil practice is needed, but it does cost a bit. OTOH, the 32's are easy on powder and cheap to reload.

Factory 32 H&R is compared power wise to a 38 Special and is still fairly mild as far as recoil is concerned. There are some hot H&R offerings that are more in line with 9mm in power if more oomph is desired.

327 85 Gr. Hydrashocks are definitely in the 9mm power levels and were designed to emulate the recoil of a 38+P while developing more energy (370 ft. lbs.). These are the "Mild 327 loads".
The 100 gr. soft points are the wild side developing 500 ft. lbs.; certainly into 357 territory.
 
"Was that a 2" or 3" barreled 101?"
I had the 3" and I liked it but it was too much of a compromise. Now that I think about it, a six shot .327 at around 27 ounces might be where the SP101 hits a sweet spot. I'm not a recoil junkie so the .357 full power loads were just not for me and the SP101. Again, I would recommend the Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special to anyone. At 21 ounces you get a fair amount of bang for the weight and it is a joy to shoot.
 
Has your wife shot any other calibers?

Recoil, if a shooter is coached appropriately, can be tolerated. Starting with mild recoiling rounds in a gun that is comfortable and not too small or to large, and working up to hotter loads can be a fun challenge. If she has fired heavy recoilers, you have some idea where she stands with this.

Some people are really put off by recoil. Introducing a shooter to heavy recoil a bit at a time, and with proper form and execution, consistent practice, good hearing protection, and practice and practice and pratice, your wife should be able to handle the best 32 H&R loads you can buy.

The Ruger SP101 is a nice piece. The 3 inch barrel would be concealable in a lady's purse. 6 rounds of Buffalo Bore 100 gr. SWC at 1180 fps (32 H7R Mag) would produce over 300 ft. lb of energy at the muzzle. Not too shabby for self defense.
 
thanks for the input. My wife has shot my 38 and was alittle, lets say surprised by the recoil. She was use to her 22, and I let her shoot the 38 because she said she shot one at her ccw course. I guess that gun was heavier the my j-frame.
I like the sp-101 and like that I can start small and move her up from there. But I also like the price on the Charter.
Maybe I'll just start with the cheaper and save for the Ruger. The way you guys talk makes me want it for myself.:D
 
Many do not advise it, but the .327 mag (and, I suppose, the .32 H&R) will also chamber and fire the .32 acp (which is a semi-rimless case.) The objection seems to be the thinner rim than the other 32s. I have fired the .32 acp in my SP-101 without difficulty.

willr
 
The .327 will give you a number of options as stated. The question is which gun. The SP101, while a bit hefty for a CC piece ideally, seems a good frame for the Federal round--almost like the two were made for one another IMO. H&R should be a pipsqueak in it too. The Smith 632 (non ported) is pricier but should be a slightly lighter despite also being steel, being a little bit smaller of frame.

The H&R shouldn't be dismissed. I've shot it since Ruger first chambered it in its Single Six in 1984..and would never be confused with a .22-anything even in so-called mild factory loads - quite the little popper. I also have a 431PD .32 H&R Airweight (discontinued many years ago along with its hammerless 432 brother, but still around) and really like it. Perfect CC piece or BUG. As its name suggests, weighs next to nothing. The Georgia Arms 100 gr JHP is a very nice load, warmer than "factory" but less than the recently intro'd hot Buffalo Bore (and Corbon I assume) - a very nice controllable comporomise in a light gun like that, and I don't feel undergunned with six of the GA's loaded.

I should add, my main "open carry" (occasional/rural) SD and bump-in-the-night HD piece is a Smith 65 .357, but the little .32H&R goes with me virtually everywhere--in one role or another.
 
I showed my wife both guns last night and she liked the Ruger better. Based simply on looks of course.
That's just fine with me. I wouldn't mind having it my self. I know some have said it's to big for cc, but I've read on other reviews it can be concealed relatively easy with the right rig. Any opinions?
 
I have the Ruger SP101 in 327, and it carries just fine. As a matter of fact, it's a great carry piece.

I'm a nut for the .32's and the 327 is a powerhouse, no question.

I just popped off 50 rounds of reloaded .32 H&R Mag this afternoon, and while the 327 can be a hand full, the little brother 32 Mag can make a good defense round as well. BTW, it's also a real pleasure to shoot!

Buy the Ruger SP101. You won't regret it.
 
Farmboy

Nice grips! Don't ya just fall in love with the SP101 after a while? Years ago, my lil wifey and I were at the LGS drooling over various guns, and she liked the looks of the SP101. I didn't. But I eventually evolved, fell for the .327 and bought it, and that .327 turned me into a SP101 nutcase. Had to buy the 4 inch barrel .357, and really like it too. If Ruger came out with a 5 inch barrel, I would probably have to have one of those.:D
 
Thanks! If I remember right, they're Badger Secret Service grips. I picked them up from another member on this forum.

You say you have the 4" .327. Do you have the GP100 4"? I didn't think they made the SP101 .327 with a 4" barrel.(?)
 
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