That round barely even made it out of the gate. It was touted as the next best thing but then just died. I can see why. It does nothing that something else can't do better.
Was at Academy last night and saw something on their ammo shelf I'd never seen before. .327 Federal Magnum?
Had to research it on wikipedia, etc. Looks like a failed cartridge... anyone have experience with it?
It was expensive and they only had a few boxes. Clerk had no idea what it was.
-- Mike
I read many good reviews of it in magazines but it just didn't catch on.check out the ballistics, with lighter bullets equal to or better than any .357 with much less recoil & muzzle blast. Not published but actual chronograph. I have a S&W mdl. 632 that I carry often. Taurus, Charter Arms, Ruger along with S&W chambered revolvers in it. The 115gr. Gold Dot clocks at an honest 1275 outa my 2.1" barrel 632. You can shoot several different cartridges in this little gem. Like the 32 H&R mag, effective with little recoil or blast. I've had great luck with women shooting the H&R mag. Seems like the gun scribes just didn't rave about the cartridge for some reason, maybe because it could easily replace the cherished .357 mag with lighter bullets... IMO
It puts 6 rounds in a 5 shot revolver. With reasonable numbers. Not saying I don't understand why it seems to have failed, but it is a niche cartridge that has a place.
Increasing the capacity of a snubnose magnum from 5 rounds to six was it's biggest selling feature, but that obviously wasn't enough to cut it.
check out the ballistics, with lighter bullets equal to or better than any .357 with much less recoil & muzzle blast. Not published but actual chronograph. I have a S&W mdl. 632 that I carry often. Taurus, Charter Arms, Ruger along with S&W chambered revolvers in it. The 115gr. Gold Dot clocks at an honest 1275 outa my 2.1" barrel 632. You can shoot several different cartridges in this little gem. Like the 32 H&R mag, effective with little recoil or blast. I've had great luck with women shooting the H&R mag. Seems like the gun scribes just didn't rave about the cartridge for some reason, maybe because it could easily replace the cherished .357 mag with lighter bullets... IMO
IMO, what killed it was ammo price and availability.
Hardly anybody sold it and bullet selection always sucked.
A BIG mistake the manufacturers always seem to make on these new whiz-bang calibers is not producing a CHEAP bulk round for practice shooting.
If all you produce is top dollar premium SD ammo the Average Joe ain't gonna buy it.
It's a fine cartridge but it doesn't do anything better than much more commonly available calibers already out there.
What got my attention was a 6 shot J frame hammerless revolver with more controllable power than a 38sp. The key controllable. I tried to make peace with a S&W mdl. 60-3, a 3" J frame 357 with adj sights. Might as well been a single shot.....recoil/muzzle blast with 125 gr 357 loads was epic. Ammo prices are $18.00/20 Speer Gold Dot 327 Federal from Buds. It's a great cartridge