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.327 vs .30 carbine

6K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  armyrat1970 
#1 ·
Anyone shot the new .327 in Ruger or Charter Arms?
Looking at www.chuckhawks.com/327_federal.htm article, it looks very close to .30 carbine performance in an 18 1/2 " bbl.. The .327 gives away only about 500fps going from an 18 1/2 " bbl to a 3 1/16 inch barrel; 435 ft-lb from a snubbie isn't shabby. I don't know how the .30carbine performs in a snubbie. I am thinking that the .30ammo will always be easier to find, but the .327 is rimmed aiding its use in revolvers. I know that Ruger and Tauras make .30 carbine larger revolvers already.
 
#2 ·
When I tested the Ruger in .327 the Federal 115 gr. Gold Dot load produced velocities superior to the 9mm+P+ out of my Glock 19. If you are a round gun fan I think this new round is a winner. I'd like to see S&W bring out their new K-frame Night Guard in this caliber with a 7 round cylinder!
 
#3 ·
30 Carbine, with the usual laods, will perform poorly, with enormous muzzle blast and flash and significantly reduced velocity in a snubby. Proper load development should improve that, but it is really a rifle round and not a pistol round.

I have shot 30 carbine in a Ruger Single action, with a 6.5" barrel. Awful lot of noise and commotion indicative of powder wasted on the open air past the muzzle, didn't have a chrony to determine exact velocity, though.

Considering that the 327 Federal was designed and loads developed for handgun use, I suspect it will normally be a better choice. Besides - nobody chambers a snubby in 30 carbine...
 
#4 ·
#7 · (Edited)
If your talking for a handgun with those two cartridges I would choose the 327. If your talking for a rifle I would choose the 30 carbine. Now if anyone would make a rifle, (like a Marlin 1894 or a Ruger Semi-Auto like the 44Mag Carbine) for the 327, I could see it as a more viable cartridge over the 30 carbine and it would make a better handgun, rifle combo cartridge. That has yet to be seen. Will it happen? If your a 327 fan, one can only hope.
From a 3 1/16" barrel the 115gr. 327 delivers 1300fps. The 110gr. 357 from a 4" is 1295. The 115gr. load in 327 from an 18 1/2" barrel gives a velocity of 1750fps. Rifle loads for the 158gr. 357 run 1830fps. If using the lighter faster 110gr. that should increase. I can't find any data for this as a rifle load.
Now of course, if a rifle is manufactured for the 327 it will probably have the correct twist to stabilize the 115gr. bullet. I believe rifles for the 357 have a twist to better stabilize the heavier bullets and so accuracy comes into play also if using a lighter bullet like the 110gr.. Maybe not much of a factor.
Unless you already have handguns in 32 H&R Magnum or 32 S&W long or short, why get the 327?
I still feel the 357 is the better cartridge and really see no need for the 327. And the 357 is a proven cartridge that has been around for decades. Especially if you handload. And before it's said, I know everyone doesn't handload and some want a little less recoil and blast than the 357 125 or 158gr. loads but, there is always the lighter 110gr. factory load in 357 that will fill that niche.
YMO.
 
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