.327 Federal Magnum

Type

Revolver

Place of origin

United States

Production history

Designer

Federal Cartridge and Sturm, Ruger

Designed

2007

Produced

2008 – present

Specifications

Parent case

.32 H&R Magnum

Case type

Rimmed, straight-walled

Bullet diameter

.312 in (7.9 mm)

Neck diameter

.337 in (8.6 mm)

Base diameter

.337 in (8.6 mm)

Rim diameter

.375 in (9.5 mm)

Rim thickness

.055 in (1.4 mm)

Case length

1.20 in (30 mm)

Overall length

1.47 in (37 mm)

Ballistic performance

Bullet mass/type	Velocity	Energy
100 gr (6 g) Federal JSP	1,500 ft/s (460 m/s)	500 ft·lbf (680 J)
115 gr (7 g) Speer GDHP	1,380 ft/s (420 m/s)	486 ft·lbf (659 J)
100 gr (6 g) Buffalo Bore HC-FN	1,450 ft/s (440 m/s)	468 ft·lbf (635 J)
115 gr (7 g) Buffalo Bore HC Keith	1,400 ft/s (430 m/s)	567 ft·lbf (769 J)

Test barrel length: 3 1/16", * 5½" Blackhawk Revolver
Source(s): Outdoor Writers * Ballistics by the inch

The .327 Federal Magnum is a cartridge introduced by Sturm, Ruger and Federal Cartridge, intended to provide the power of a .357 Magnum in six shot, compact revolvers, whose cylinders would otherwise only hold 5 rounds. The .327 Federal Magnum is actually a super magnum having replaced the .32 H&R Magnum as the pinnacle of power in this diameter revolver cartridge.

First introduced by Federal Cartridge company, the .327 Federal Magnum is an attempt to improve on the .32 H&R Magnum introduced in 1984. Like the .32 H&R Magnum, the .327 Federal Magnum is a lengthened, magnum version of the original .32 S&W cartridge, which dates back to 1878. The .32 S&W was a black powder cartridge developed by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company (UMC) with a case length of 0.61 in. (15 mm), and developed a velocity of around 700 ft/s (215 m/s). In 1896, the .32 S&W Long was introduced, which had a case length of 0.920 in (23.4 mm) and generated slightly higher velocities. The introduction of the .32 H&R Magnum nearly a century later increased the case length to 1.075 in (27.3 mm) and increased pressures from 15,000 psi to 21,000 CUP, giving velocities of approximately 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s). However, the .32 H&R Magnum cartridge failed to attract much interest from gun owners.

Based on the .32 H&R Magnum, but with a 1/8" longer case, a strengthened web at the base of the case, thicker case walls, and different heat-treatment and metallurgy, the .327 Federal Magnum can be loaded to much higher pressure levels (45,000 psi) than its predecessor (21,000 CUP). The .327's actual bullet diameter is .312 in, or 7.92 mm, and achieves velocities up to 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s) with 100-grain (6.5 g) bullets (420 m/s and 6.5 g), and up to 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s) with 115-grain (7.5 g) bullets (390 m/s and 7.5 g), when fired from the 3 1/16" (78 mm) barreled Ruger SP101 revolver.

...
Wikipedia