is there a levergun that can be converted to 327mag?

[MacEntyre]

I heard that some cowboy shooters have converted 32H&Rmag Marlin 1894s to 327. Those are kinda expensive to begin with, though...

Could one convert a 94 chambered in 32 win special to 327 federal magnum? Maybe by re-chambering with a sleeve...?

Is there a better starting point?

Wouldn't there be a max pressure problem with just about every levergun? (Maybe that's why no one offers a 327 levergun...)

???

- MacEntyre

[AJMD429]

I'm betting the pressure problem would be the limiting factor with most levergun designs, although there ARE some very high pressure designs (Savage 99, Browning BLR). The other issue with some rounds is the overall length (like the 357 Maximum) requiring a 'long action' like a 336 or 94, vs the 1894 or 92, which means you could just as well (and more practically) use a more standard 'long' cartridge (like the 35 Remington) to get the same results in the same size gun. At least that shouldn't be a problem with the little 327 Mag round.

Maybe Bighorn Armory would do one as a smaller companion-piece to their Spike Driver in 500 S&W; they obviously have the 'pressure' thing ironed out...!

[earlmck]

We're not talking great pressures with the 327 Federal; it's just a 40K psi round -- well within capabilities of the '92 Clones such as the Rossi. It's just that nobody has got around to offering such a thing. Browning almost did for a while (they called it a 32/20) but they want a fair chunk of coin for those things also.

I'd think somebody who knew what he was doing with cartridge guides could get the job done on a '92 Rossi .357. I'll bet Nate Kiowa Jones (aka Steve's Gunz) could tell you what would be involved.

[AJMD429]

We're not talking great pressures with the 327 Federal; it's just a 40K psi round --

Wow - didn't know that; I thought it was up in the 50's... That's pretty cool then...!

Of course in a 'modern levergun' the 32-20 is a nice little 'thumper', actually - on par with a 30 Carbine.

Folks are looking for a levergun 327 Fed to go with their handguns in the same round, but. . . it would be even cooler if the revolver makers would make some CCW pieces in 32-20.

Wouldn't it be COOL to have a Ruger SP-101 in 32-20...

[MacEntyre]

My understanding is that 327 pressures can be as high as 45000 psi... I thought the 94 was good to just below that.

As for 32-20 vs 327, why not shoot both? I have a 32-20 winchester 92 and a 32-20 ruger BH. I converted the BH spare cyl to 327, and would love to convert my 94 in 32special to go with it.

If you wanted a 32-20 carry pistol, you could convert a 327 ruger sp-101... I'd rather complete the set with a 327 rifle.

[Buck Elliott]

I'll bet manufacturers could sell them by the ... DOZENS... !!!

[Buck Elliott]

It has become painfully obvious that you boys ain't engineers...

[MacEntyre]

I'll bet manufacturers could sell them by the ... DOZENS... !!!

It's clear that there is no market for it... cartridge has been out for seven years and no rifles.

I just want one.

It has become painfully obvious that you boys ain't engineers...

So please explain... besides max pressure, length of action, bolt face and chamber, what's the problem?



P.S. If I can't convert a levergun... how about a mini-30?

[rbertalotto]

My Rossi 92 in 454 Casull can handle upwards of full load Casull loadings. Over 50k pressure. Pressure is not the issue.

[earlmck]

My understanding is that 327 pressures can be as high as 45000 psi...

You're right Mac -- I stand corrected. This may well be past what we'd want to shoot in a '94 but it is still is not a pressure that is going to strain a Rossi or any other new manufactured 92 style rifle. And as for converting a 32 Special -- you are remembering that the 32 Special really is 32 cal. while the 327 Federal and 32/20 are really 31 caliber rounds?

My Rossi 92 in 454 Casull can handle upwards of full load Casull loadings. Over 50k pressure. Pressure is not the issue.

I think you can make that "over 60k" for the Casull there RoyB. Yes, the model 92 style is a stout design, and could easily be made in 327 Federal.

I've been thinking about this and here's what you might do, MacEntyre. First you need to hunt up one of the Browning 32/20's. Then get hold of some 218 Bee brass. The Bee brass is made quite a lot heavier than they make the 32/20 brass because it is intended to handle 45k pressures vs. the 32/20's 30k pressures. Now you'll have more case capacity than the regular 327 Federal and so can create a "super 327 Federal" or maybe a "32/20 super hi-velocity". And it may be that you'd be just fine with any old model 92 --32/20 rifle. But as Buck Elliott pointed out I am sure not much of an engineer (or metallurgist) and don't know if the steel used in the old Winny model 92's was up to taking the extra pounding of a lot of 45k psi shooting, even though the design is quite capable of handling it.

[cas]

A '92 in 30-357 would be much easier and probably more better'rer still.

Of course it still wouldn't be a 327.

[piller]

I like the .327 Federal, and PillHer has a Ruger SP101 in that caliber. If there were a way to make a Model 92 into a .327, I would probably have to get at least 2. I assume it would be sort of costly.

[MacEntyre]

Great suggestions... but what I want is a lever that shoots the same ammo as my 327 revolvers.

As far as I know, the only rifles that can be converted, without breechface work, are those that are chambered in 32 H&R magnum. The only such levergun is the Marlin 1894, which is scarce and expensive.

Oh, well!

- MacEntyre

[BenT]

Great suggestions... but what I want is a lever that shoots the same ammo as my 327 revolvers.

As far as I know, the only rifles that can be converted, without breechface work, are those that are chambered in 32 H&R magnum. The only such levergun is the Marlin 1894, which is scarce and expensive.

Oh, well!

- MacEntyre

You are correct. A 357 conversions in a Rossi 92 or Marlin 94 would require a new barrel,cartridge guides, and bolt because of head size. The Marlin in 32 H&R didn't have a loading gate and were loaded at the end like a 22 .

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Great suggestions... but what I want is a lever that shoots the same ammo as my 327 revolvers.

As far as I know, the only rifles that can be converted, without breechface work, are those that are chambered in 32 H&R magnum. The only such levergun is the Marlin 1894, which is scarce and expensive.

Oh, well!

- MacEntyre

That's pretty much the case. The marlin would handle the OAL for sure. But, at 45,000 psi the 327mag is getting kinda hot for the marlin.
on the other hand, the 92 could handle the pressure and OAL. But, there's another problem, the narrow width of the 32 rim. In order to handle the narrower 32 rim the cart guides would need to be much closer together. Then the problem becomes how to get the bolt through them. specifically the lower part where the ejector is.
Even the 32-20 & 25-20 original guns had special clearance cuts made to do this. But, those rims are bigger than the 32.
I believe this is why the marlin does not have a loading gate, too. If they had removed that metal they would have lost control of the cartridge.

[MacEntyre]

Thanks, Steve!

I'll just have to be content with my 94 year old 92 in 32-20...

- MacEntyre