wnycollector
New member
I'm interested. I'm a sucker for 32, especially if it comes in a barrel length I don't currently have in my collection.
I load 85gr 32 mag loads with an 85gr bullet that gets 1305fps from a 5.5" Ruger single six and 1250fps from a 4" SP-101. And those are book loads with Hodgdon L'il Gun powder.
Thats why I have no real interest in a 327. If that won't do the trick then a little more from a 327 won't help.
Geez...while I've always considered Charter Arms revolvers sort of clunky in their looks, but this one is downright purdy!
A handloaded 327 Federal with a 85 gr XTP runs 1700 fps from my 4.2" SP101, so it's not what I would call a 'little more'.
what charge weight are you using. Hodgdon doesn't even show L'il Gun on the 85gr load data with the three powders they list for this cartridge.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
Here are some loads from Load Data written by Brial Pearce and he always loads hot but I don't see any loads approaching that speed. He is using a 3.5" barrel so just a little shorter than yours but not enough to explain the vast difference in speeds.
https://loaddata.com/articles/PDF/LD-13 Pearce LR1.pdf
I looked in my old 2004 Hodgdon annual and te 327 isn't even listed. I guess its time for a new one huh?
Not doubting you but would like to know what you are loading and where you got the data. The 327 is only 1/8th inch longer than the 32 mag so a 400fps difference is huge.
The 327 is only 1/8th inch longer than the 32 mag so a 400fps difference is huge.
the older .32 Longs were 6 shots on the small frame. they later went with the same small frame of the 5 shot 38 and just made it a .32 mag. it could have easily been a 6 shot on that same frame.Here's something from unblinkingeye that mentions the 6-shot H&R Mag, but I'm pretty sure it was on the Bulldog frame since it's called a "Police Undercover":
"In the 1985 issue of Gun Digest the first Charter Arms revolver chambered for the (then) new H&R .32 Magnum round was announced: a 6 shot Undercover. In the back of the issue it is more correctly identified as the Police Undercover, available with a 2 or 4 inch barrel. All of the 2” barrel guns were called the Police Undercover instead of Police Bulldog which at this point were 4” barrel only."
I believe their old 5-shot 32s were .32 S&W Long on the smaller Undercover frame. Their .22s only held 6, which is kind of lame imo.