Does the .327 mag have a future?

[.38Catt]

So, does it have any longevity, or is it doomed to be a footnote in firearms history?

I just noticed S&W has a new offering in this caliper. Thoughts?

.38Catt

 

[jhenry]

Sure it does. I don't think it is ever going to be a major item for any manufacturer, but it does have it's merits, as well as a slug of guns out there chambered for it. I see it as more of a niche thing, and a reloaders darling.

 

[Ashlander]

Good chance it ends up like the 41 Mag, 357 Sig, 10MM, or (if worse comes to worse) the 45GAP. All were good calibers and nicely designed cartridges, but there was not enough different or better about them to push them past the 357 Mag, 9MM, 40S&W, or 45ACP. With respect to the .327 Mag, its has to overcome the 38 Special. The only way it could do that is if cops, security outfits, or the military starting ordering it in massive amounts -- to get the cost per unit manufacturered down into the same ballpark as 9MM, 38 Special, and the other high sales volume cartridges (and Walmart starts carrying it in 100 round cost-cutter boxes). Does not appear likely, but who knows -- maybe SEAL teams will start using it and the rest will be history.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

As good as a cartridge as it might be, I think it was doomed from the start. Introduced 100 years ago and it might have been a different story but it has a lot to over come in this day and age.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I just missed out on getting a nice K Frame 6" Smith & Wesson in 32 H&R Magnum in the late 90s. I've always regretted that the seller finally didn't sell it.

Given that, I'm waiting for S&W to come out with a 6" K Frame revolver similar to the old 38 Special K-38 in 327 Magnum. I don't see the calibre as a self defense round as I have better weapons for that, but I do see it as a great target shooting pistol as well as a small game gun for jackrabits and other pests.

As a reloader, I appreciate being able to cast .312 cal bullets of 90 to 100 grains v. the normal 158 cast bullet of the 38 or the 210 and 230 grain cast bullets of my 41 and 45 ACP that I also like to shoot. Those weight differences will make a 10 pound pot of lead alloy go a lot further than those projectiles of the bigger calibres and a pound of powder should last quite a while too. With the cost of components going up almost daily, the reduced cost of shooting a 327 should be welcome news.

Up to now, I've been shooting an old M&P S&W 6" in 32/20 for my 30 cal pistol. Brass doesn't last for many shots (it's pretty thin stuff) and I have to lube the cases prior to sizing. With the 327 Mag, a good carbide die will negate that need and make sizing a breeze. Still, the 32/20 always gets a lot of attention from my friends due to its flat trajectory and mild recoil and the 327 should easily exceed it without breaking a sweat.

A future? Probably not mainstream, but for us pistoleros and reloaders, I think that it will find many an accommodating holster.

 

[gak]

I think so, but it's been quite a debate! You may or may not have seen this 24 page thread, still ongoing:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448008&page=24

 

[B.N.Real]

No,not really.

People will need to have the rounds availible to buy to feed the gun they have already bought and those rounds will get way more expensive as time passes.

 

[Tom Servo]

As Gak pointed out, this is already under discussion, and a good one too.