New Ruger LCR in 327 Federal Magnum Announced

QUOTE: I dreamed a dream and it came true.

Yep, same here. One can argue the merits of a .38 Special vs the .327 Magnum in terms of "stopping power" until the cows come home but I like the idea of having 20% more ammo on board in a revolver intended for self-defense. I'm getting one for pocket carry and I only hope that the speed-loader manufacturers don't waste any time in coming up with one for this latest LCR configuration. Kudos to Ruger for offering the almost "perfect" concealed carry revolver. "Perfect" would be one having a 3" barrel...:cool:
 
They make speed strips that fit them. thats what I carry they lay flat in your pocket making them easier to carry. And with a little practice they are quicker than most speedloaders. JMO
 
I would think that with a LOT of practice, they would be quick enough to make them worth purchasing, but I would love to hear a genuine argument at how speed strips would even come near the speed and ease of an HKS-style speedloader.

I can't play it out in my head anyway that supports the idea...?!
 
Originally posted by Jim March
The best variant of the LCR, in my opinion, is the 9mm five-shooter with moon clips.
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Yes, you're down one round versus the 327 but your reload speeds make up the difference in an extended fight and in the more common close-range sudden situation, five shots versus six isn't a big issue - again, in my opinion.
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Guess what is more or less exactly equal to those 357 "short barrel" loads? 9mm+P. Except the latter has more state-of-the-art projectile development going on AND goes in five-at-a-time with moons fast as hell.
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While I can understand why some might like them, moonclips are not perfect, expecially out of a small pocket revolver. My S&W 442 came cut for moonclips which I thought was a bonus at the time I bought it, but these days I don't really find them to be worth the trouble. For one thing, they're nearly as bulky as a speedloader. This may be OK for a belt gun, but for a gun that I bought for the specific task of pocket carry I want a reload that I can also carry comfortably in a pocket.

Moonclips are also, in my experience, somewhat flimsy and easily bent and a bent moonclip can tie up a revolver post-haste. I would not feel comfortable simply dropping a couple moonclips in my jacket pocket as I often do with speed loaders or speed strips for fear that it would get bent. The only way I'd feel comfortable carrying loaded moonclips would be in some sort of protective case which again, while OK for a belt gun, kind of defeats the purpose of a pocket revolver.

Worse still, a bent or otherwise damaged moonclip can not only render a revolver inoperable but they require a tool of some sort to remove the cartridges from the clip. If my speed loader or speed strip breaks, it will usually simply dump loose rounds which I can still pluck out of my pocket or pick up off the ground and load into my revolver.

To my mind the .327 is a cartridge that gives you 9mm +P ballistics in a revolver for those like myself who don't want to fool with moonclips.
 
HKS makes a .327 speedloader for the SP101 which might work for the LCR.

I carries moonclips for the Smith and Wesson 940 in my jacket pocket for many years at work and never had a problem with the gun binding. I still use the original moon clips that the 940 came with 22 years later.

I used to carry the moonclips one inside the other which made them much more compact to carry and also added stability.

I also never have a problem loading or unloading the moonclips, though it does take a little work to load or unload 50 rounds at a time.
 
You can fit a lot of loaded moonclips in a hard-shell eyeglass case that clips to the belt like so:

http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Fisherman-Zipper-Shell-Sunglass/dp/B0041G1ILE

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...kCode=as2&tag=wftl-20&linkId=X6KI36FRYWTTW3IJ

...etc. Or this type:

http://eyeglass.com/belt-loop-eyeglass-case.html#

Goes on horizontally instead of dangling - probably a better setup. That could probably hold half a dozen five-shot 9mm loaded moons. The others, at least three. None are "tactical giveaways".
 
I won't argue about the cartridge, at all. We have done that for 150+ pages, in various threads here.

For me, it comes down to two things:
1. I like .327 Federal, and already own two revolvers chambered for the cartridge.
2. I don't like my J-frame.

I have made up my mind that the LCR will be replacing my S&W 642 (.38 +P).
The deal is as good as done. ....assuming my dealer can GET one.
 
As with the 357 being a brute to shoot in a little gun, I would want to try out a 327 first before putting my money down. I will at least wait for range reports by those on the bleeding edge. My SP101 3+" handles 327 Fed Mag acceptably, while commercially loaded 357 in the sibling gun is a deal breaker. I also have the same gun in 32 H&R, and that is the real winner in the pack.
 
I would think that with a LOT of practice, they would be quick enough to make them worth purchasing, but I would love to hear a genuine argument at how speed strips would even come near the speed and ease of an HKS-style speedloader.

I can't play it out in my head anyway that supports the idea...?!
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On my LCR 357 the hks speed loaders bind against the grip, causing a little finessing to make them work, with the speed strips I dont have that problem and have found them easier to use. JMO
 
If Ruger brings back the SP101 in .327 w 3" bbl, I'll buy it, no questions asked. If they don't but bring out the LCRx w 3" bbl, I'll get that. This new barrel is just too short IMHO.
 
QUOTE: And with a little practice they are quicker than most speedloaders. JMO

No amount of practice will make a "speed-strip" even close to how rapidly a typical speedloader can reload a revolver. If your revolver won't allow a speed loader to fit correctly, that's entirely another matter. But most will, and those that won't generally can be made to work with an appropriate aftermarket grip.
 
new LCr

I got the memo from Ruger announcing the .327 LCR but waited two days before calling my LGS. He called around and all distributors were sold out. Davidson sold out their stock immediately and I'm on their list for the next shipment. I reload and really like the .327 round. Standing by.
 
If Ruger brings back the SP101 in .327 w 3" bbl, I'll buy it, no questions asked. If they don't but bring out the LCRx w 3" bbl, I'll get that. This new barrel is just too short IMHO.
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I thought of that and searched out a picture of the current 3" LCR. The extreme looking sights on that gun makes me think it should be fixed sight just to avoid being another ugly black gun. There is a VERY big difference in appearance between the snub and the 3".
 
I don't see anything in this thread about the subject ever being cleared up, so I figured I'd add:
The .327 Federal version IS based on the .357/9mm models. Aside from the spec sheet on the website, that clearly states such, Ruger even has a supplement in the manual that states that, other than the parts shown in a small exploded diagram (5 parts, including cylinder, ejector, and barrel), it is identical to the .357 Magnum model.

So it does have the blackened stainless steel frame.



And, on to some other informational points (I posit, nor respond to no argument here - this is purely informational/observational):
1. HKS speedloaders do bind on the grip. They can still be used, but if you insert much more than the bullets in the cylinder, you may have issues getting the speedloader back over the rims.
2. It's a snub. It's loud. No surprise.
3. It's not as "snappy" as most .38/.357 snubs that I've fired. ...And, so far, I've only fired the "big daddy"/"hot tamale" 100 gr SP American Eagle load (the one that makes 1,500 fps in a 3" barrel and over 1,700 fps in my Blackhawk). Other loads are more mild, at least in other .327s.
4. Cylinder length is 1.550".
And I just got distracted by a child, so I forgot #5... :rolleyes:


I bought one. I'm satisfied.
 
Inquiring minds have been frantically scouring the internet for chrono data on the three main loads for the .327 in an LCR. If the 115-gr. Gold Dot manages 1200 fps or better, I will buy one in a heartbeat.

Just terribly torn between this one and the 9mm. I sold my .38 LCR and kind of regret it.
 
Inquiring minds have been frantically scouring the internet for chrono data on the three main loads for the .327 in an LCR. If the 115-gr. Gold Dot manages 1200 fps or better, I will buy one in a heartbeat.
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I'll chronograph some loads at the first opportunity.

However, the only chronograph readily available for my use is 185 miles away. I sling some bullets across it once a year, if that. Don't hold your breath. ;)
 
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