327 Federal Magnum
| .327 Federal Magnum | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 3 1/16", * 5½" Blackhawk Revolver Source(s): Outdoor Writers * Ballistics by the inch |
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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 has also been used in full-sized revolvers with a capacity of seven rounds or more. 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.
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, the .327 Federal is a lengthened version of the original .32 S&W cartridge, which dates back to 1878. In 1896, the .32 S&W Long was introduced, which generated slightly higher velocities. The introduction of the .32 H&R increased pressures from 15,000 psi to 21,000 CUP, giving velocities of approximately 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s).
Based on the .32 H&R Magnum, with a 1/8" longer case, strengthened web at the base of the case, thicker case walls, and different heat-treatment and metallurgy, the .327 Federal can be loaded to much higher pressure levels (45,000 psi (310,000 kPa)) than its predecessor (21,000 CUP). The .327's actual bullet diameter is .312 in (7.92 mm) and achieves muzzle velocities up to 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s) with 100 gr (6.5 g) bullets, and up to 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s) with 115 gr (7.5 g) bullets, when fired from the 3 1/16" (78 mm)-barreled Ruger SP101 revolver.
With its strengthened case and increased pressure ceiling, the .327 Federal reaches the velocity levels of the .357 Magnum, if not the same power. Since the .327 still shares all case dimensions, excluding length, with the .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32 H&R Magnum, revolvers chambered for the .327 Federal can also safely chamber and fire these shorter cartridges, as well as the .32 ACP. This makes the .327 Federal unique, as it can fire five different cartridges from the same gun with no modifications.
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