The new .327, first outing

[Bill in Oregon]

This was mostly just a "see if she goes bang" initial outing with the little Taurus 327. I used Starline brass and CCI 500 small pistol primers and shot offhand at about 10 yards. First load tried was the little .32 S&W "short" as opposed to "long," 2 grains of Unique under an 85-grain lead bullet. Recoil was of course minimal and the bullets struck low and right.
Second batch was that same 85-grain bullet, but powder coated, over 5 grains of Bullseye in the full .327 case. These struck at 12 o'clock about three inches above the bull. Very pleasant to fire.
The last five -- getting a bit snappy -- were closer to full-house: 12 grains of Accurate No. 9, my first use of this powder, printing pretty much dead center. Hodgdon's 2024 manual shows 11.7 of No. 9 at 1417 and 33,000, and a max of 13.0 at 1574 and 37,000 -- but with Winchester primers in Federal brass. I was getting light cratering with the CCI primers in the Starline, and am thinking Winchesters might be a little harder and worth trying. Otherwise I like the load for personal defense.
The revolver cleaned up nicely. I've generally avoided Taurus handguns up to now, but this one might just be a keeper, and at about half the price of a Ruger SP101, which would have been my first choice.

[JimT]

Thanks Bill.
Interesting.
Never had much use for the .32 pistols though Paco loves and swears by them.
First time I was shot was with a .32 Long.
I was about 8 years old.
Dad was shooting his .32 in the basement. One bullet hit the backstop and bounced back and whacked me in the leg. Didn't hurt badly but scared me at the time.

[Bill in Oregon]

Jim, long and thin experience here. I had a couple of pocket pistols in .32 ACP over the years, a beautiful Mauser HSc and a sweet little old Savage 1917 that shot very nicely. Also bought one of the Ruger Single Sixes when the .32 H&R first came out. I liked it, but sold it decades ago. I like a snub, having relied on a Charter Bulldog in .44 Special for a long time, then talked myself into Tupperware. "The fool never lets well enough alone." This little Taurus marks my return to the snubby, and I wanted to give the new .327 a try as I have had the J-frame Smith in .38 Special and not bonded with them. So far I am impressed.
I did learn one thing -- the Lee .32 H&R dies set will indeed load .327 and .32 Long but it is most unsatisfactory for the smallest S&W, as the case mouth expander die and the crimp in the seating die will not reach far enough to do their job. You get shaved lead upon seating, and you can't apply a crimp. I am debating on whether to pay for the dedicated Lee .32 S&W set. If I decide to get one, I will stick with powder-coated bullets in the pipsqueak so that I don't deal with lead fouling in the middle of the chambers.

[Ray]

Deleted.

[gamekeeper]

I like the versatility of being able to use .327mag, .32mag, .32S&W long and .32 S&W. Covers everything from self defense, hunting or just plinking and with ammo shortages nice to have more choices.

[Bill in Oregon]

Ray, thanks for both those links. What do you think of the "HiTek Super Coat"?
The Lyman 51st shows their 115-grain FN cast slug for the .32-20 running more than 1400 over a max charge of Accurate No. 9. That's some pretty serious freight in my book.

[AmBraCol]

I like the versatility of being able to use .327mag, .32mag, .32S&W long and .32 S&W. Covers everything from self defense, hunting or just plinking and with ammo shortages nice to have more choices.

Don't know about Bill's Taurus, but in a single action you can add 7.65 Browning/32 ACP to the list of usable cartridges.

[AmBraCol]

Bill, I don't know about for use in your Taurus, but Todd Corder and some of the other Shootists were experimenting with heavier projectiles in their 327's. If I recall correctly they were using up to 135 gr cast in the full length brass. OK. Took a look. 135 grains it is, bullet nose designed around the 327 Single Seven cylinder.

https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail ... et=31-135S

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Bill in Oregon]

Paul, that bullet looks like a real performer. I wonder what velocities they were getting.
Ray, thanks for the link.

[AmBraCol]

Paul, that bullet looks like a real performer. I wonder what velocities they were getting.
Ray, thanks for the link.

I lost my notes on it, unfortunately. It wasn't a barn burner, but with that kind of weight and a nice flat meplat it should perform well on any reasonable kind of target.

[Bill in Oregon]

Paul, I think one of these little Texas whitetails or a hog would be at grave risk from that pill under 50 yards -- but not from a 2-inch snubby in my old hands!

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Ysabel Kid]

First time I was shot was with a .32 Long.

"First time"?!?

[JimT]

First time I was shot was with a .32 Long.

"First time"?!?

Life gives us unexpected moments.

[Ysabel Kid]

First time I was shot was with a .32 Long.

"First time"?!?

Life gives us unexpected moments.

It does at that...

[KWK]

I think one of these little Texas whitetails or a hog would be at grave risk from that pill under 50 yards

Over at Field and Stream, Richard Mann has reported success with a Buffalo Bore .327 on deer and hog. He doesn't seem to have reservations regarding size. The BB round is a 130 gn hard cast FN at 1400 fps (from a revolver) which he claims will shoot through 3 feet of ordnance gelatin. "Many have questioned my recommendation of this cartridge, but I know it works because I’ve used it successfully so many times."