327 Federal Magnum. Would like opinions.

H

houser52

New member
The more I read about the .327 Federal the better it sounds. I've located a LCR in that caliber and will probably buy it tomorrow.

I will definitely be reloading for it just as I do for everything I shoot. The only factory load I will have will be for defense carry. I'm not new(30+ years) to reloading and will be reloading on my Redding single stage and not my Dillon.

I'd like to load some mild loads for plinking and something light enough for my wife to practice with. She does have her CCW but never shoots or carries. I'm hoping to change that with the purchase of the LCR.

I'm trying to decide on which route to take when rounding up my components. I want to get them at the same time as the pistol if I can.
>For mild loads I'm going with 90-100 grain SnS Casting coated RNFP for sure.

>I had thought about just having one size brass, 327 Federal Magnum. Is it possible to load 327 Federal Magnum to mild 32 S&W Long levels?

>Go with other 32 brass for mild loads for plinking and have only factory 327 Federal defense loads for carry?

>Primers? Small pistol, small magnum pistol primers, small rifle or small rifle magnum?

>Preferred brand of dies to load all 327, 32 H&R, 32S&W Long. (I have read where guys had problems with RCBS and cases sticking to expander)

>Preferred powder. I already have most pistol primers to try.

I'm getting excited about the LCR and caliber. I kinda hope my wife hates the LCR.

Thanks
 
I have several .327s, including the LCR. Though not something I ever want to fire without hearing protection, especially indoors, I have no doubt that it's a suitable tool for self-defense. (And who does want to fire any revolver indoors without hearing protection?)

The .327 LCR is controllable, but does have some bite. In bitter cold weather, it is actually the only handgun that I've ever had to stop shooting and put away due to the level of pain. But, I suspect that under those particular conditions, any other 'snappy recoil' revolver would have seen the same treatment.

As mentioned in the thread linked by Sevens -- I didn't check, I'm just assuming, since it has come up in nearly every thread -- one thing to keep in mind is that high pressure loads should only use bullets designed to take the pressure. Using 'soft' bullets may result in forcing cone damage (or worse).
So, for full pressure loads, use bullets designed to handle the situation.

For bullets intended for lower pressure applications, and cast bullets, keep the pressures down.


Otherwise...
I use quite an assortment of dies for .32 revolver cartridges (ranging from .32 S&W to .327 Federal).
The primary die set is RCBS ... #21412, if I remember correctly. [Yep, that's it. Why I have that committed to memory, I have no idea... :rolleyes:]
For .32 S&W and .32 Auto, I use a Lee 3-die set (it's a combination of .32 Auto, .32 S&W, and .32 S&W Long dies).
With cast bullets (and sometimes even jacketed bullets), a Lyman M die is used for expansion.
And I crimp all .327 Federal loads with a Redding profile crimp die. (Taper crimp that transitions into a roll crimp, and supports the case body as it does so.)


For your light loads, I recommend using .32 S&W Long brass. Most 'mild' .32 S&W Long loads use about 3.0 gr of powder, or less; and those light charges can lead to position sensitivity and erratic ignition in .327 Federal cases.
You can also split the difference. Moderate .32 H&R loads are still very tame and controllable, without eating much powder. My wife, who is very recoil shy and hates muzzle blast, prefers a hot .32 H&R load (using an 85 gr XTP) over the .32 S&W Long loads that are my bread and butter for 'plinking'.

In full power .327 Federal loads, run standard small rifle primers. For lighter loads, you can get by with small pistol primers.
In the rest of the suitable cartridges (at normal, sane pressure levels), small pistol primers are more than adequate.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Sevens- I'd read through that thread earlier and it had a lot of good info.

FrankenMauser- Position sensitivity was what I was wondering about with such low charges in a long 327 case. As you said, the H&R case may be better for lighter practice loads and carry the 327 Federal for defense.
 
One blip about small powder charge in large case: I have never found a powder BETTER for dealing with that (very genuine!) problem than Titegroup. While I am not a Titegroup fan, generally speaking, if I want small charges in large cases for light loads, Titegroup is almost the ONLY powder I will use.

Titegroup simply does not mind and does not get erratic with massive empty space. Every other powder I have tried in the same situation acts stupid and wildly inconsistent to the point that I find it dangerous.

.32 Long brass is a fine idea if you have the brass. Note that a box of factory .32 S&W Long typically has a nonsensical, eye-popping price tag. It's economy of scale and you won't soon forget buying that box of ammo. ;)
 
Second the motion on primer choice. All factory ammo ships with small rifle primers, this is a 45k PSI Max round. If you are making mouse loads, a small pistol primer is fine, but don't make .327 Federal full-spec with pistol primers.

I simply load all my .327 Federal with the normal Lee 3-die .32 S&W Long die set. Thousands of rounds in, zero issues. And I have been known to load up some just plain goofy .327 ammo. :D
 
There is an extensive article by Brian Pearce in Handloader about a year or so ago that you should read. Was oriented around the Ruger Single Seven. I'm not where I can look up the precise citation.
 
The more I read about the .327 Federal the better it sounds. I've located a LCR in that caliber and will probably buy it tomorrow.
Click to expand...

With a gun that small you may immediately seek out milder ammo or go to 32 H&R. The 327 Federal Magnum I find best experienced in a gun with some mass to it. Examples would be the Single Seven or the 4.2" SP101. I haven't shot the LCR version but consider it one that will promote sales of the next step down in power, i.e the 32 H&R.
 
As I stated earlier I planned on getting a LCR 327 Federal and I picked it up this afternoon.

The only ammo available was 327 Federal Premium defense loads and some 32 SW Long so I bought a box of each just to shoot. The SW Long was VERY MILD to say the least. The 327 Magnum was a different story. Recoil wasn't as bad as I was expecting but you can really feel the muzzle blast. I only shot 4 of those rounds since I didn't want to waste them but I did shoot about 20 of the Longs and I won't be buying anymore of those.

I've decided to reload the 32 H&R magnum and I also picked up some Starline brass to get me started. I'm going to shoot the crap out of them and the little LCR. After I get familiar enough with shooting it I'll check out the IWB and OWB holsters and carry the 327 Federal Premiums.
 
.32 Long brass is a fine idea if you have the brass. Note that a box of factory .32 S&W Long typically has a nonsensical, eye-popping price tag. It's economy of scale and you won't soon forget buying that box of ammo.
Click to expand...
It's best to buy brass and start from scratch.
.32 S&W Long factory ammo pricing is, for lack of a better word, insane.
And the few 'cheap' options are tremendously underwhelming.
 
I am not sure where you guys are buying your 32 S&W Long. Midway lists Fiocchi wadcutters 50/$16.91, MagTech RN 50/$22.25, PPU RN 50/$15.56, Sellier & Bellot FN 50/$22.50, Remington Target RN 50/$30.11. These are certainly not insane prices. I have used them all with good to very good results. The Sellier & Bellot are outstanding in my S&W Mod 30-1. The "cowboy loads" offered by several makers are more expensive because they know the enthusiastic cowboy crowd will pay it.
 
Thanks again for all of the replies.

Sevens- Thanks for the head's up on the Titegroup. I like it and use it quite often for 45acp and 9mm. Just so happens I already have several pounds of it.
I also have a bunch of SR primers and SP pistol primers in the cabinet.

A lot has gone on since my last post.
I went ahead and ordered Lee 32 H&R dies from Graf's along with some Starline 327 Fed brass.
I also have the coated 90 grain RNFP coming from SnS Casting. They have always had fast shipping so I should have them this week. According to the Hodgdon manual the 90 grain LRNFP can be pushed close to 1300 fps and possibly a little more with the coated lead in the 327.

Now it's just a waiting game.
 
Good choice glad you got it.
327 is the perfect caliber to train a wife on.
Start her out with some 32L and get her used to the function and trigger.
Once proficient you can move up the ladder.
It breaks the whole learning process into manageable chunks.
learn the gun then learn recoil management.

Do a search for Star Line brass and order what ever you need brass wise.
Last time they had a run I ordered a life time supply of 32L, 32 H&R and 327 brass. You can find smaller qualities on Gun broker.

Allot of places sell cast bullets. I have a few thousand from King Shooters supply. They can get a bunch of 32 bullets in a flat rate box.

A couple of grains of Bullseye per load and you can shoot 32L until your finger hurts.
 
I own the original GP 100 .327. Load some .32 S&W long with 3gr Bullseye and Rainier plated 100gr bullets. Basically no recoil, very quiet, very cheap to load, very accurate, but also very dirty.
 
I got my order of SnS Casting coated 90gr. RNFP yesterday. I also received my dies and Starline 327 Federal cases.

Hopefully I'll get to put together some loads this weekend.
 
I like to load everything in 327 brass just to keep things simple. I use enough Unique to give me about 900 - 1000 fps under a 98grn home cast bullet for plinking and a near max load of AA9 with the same bullet for magnum levels. I use a SP primer in light loads and a SR primer in the heavy loads

I don't have a LCR yet, but I do shoot these loads in a couple of Single Sevens, a SP101, a GP100 and a Blackhawk. Recoil is non-existant with the light loads and not bad at all with the heavies. I expect it would be some stiffer with a LCR
 
I load all my .327 FM loads also in .327 FM brass. I use 231 for the light loads and use an SP101 3". I shoot them at 25 yds offhand standing unsupported and usually keep all in an 8"circle or smaller.
The light loads are 90gr Lee mold semi wadcutters made for Liquid alox. Wheel weight lead.

Hardly any recoil. My heavy loads are maximum loads of 2400 and even with the heavier SP101 they still have a lot of recoil and are hard to handle accurately.
 
I am hearing impaired [nerve damage] and my left ear is totally gone. I just purchased my SP101 in .327 FM. All I can say is I LOVE it - and so does my son.

I've had a 12ga go off right next to my left ear [shoulder distance away] and it didn't phase me. I shot the first round with this little thing and it stung my ear drum! Definitely want to use protection unless in a serious situation [then you most likely wont hear anything anyway].

Great round, not as much recoil as a .357magnum, but sure does bite like one. She's the only other lady in my bed besides my wife.
 
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