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Post by whiterabbit on Sept 19, 2018 13:31:25 GMT -5
You guys figure it can be done? has been done? Figure it'll get a steady diet of H&R and down, so 327's would be limited to less than a couple thousand.
Internet chatter says the Al frame may be weak, but that's from people on the internet, who would worry about lifting 500 lb with a 1000lb cable just because mfg's use a 2000 lb cable.
I'm more interested in what work the S&W builders will take. Any of the S&W smiths out there routinely punch the cylinder out from H&R to federal mag? Is there any record of many folks having this conversion done?
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The alternative is a ruger LCR but by comparison it is just so darned ugly....
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Post by dougader on Sept 19, 2018 15:09:40 GMT -5
I know of exactly 1 S&W 432 that was reamed out to 327. The guy ran a few 327's through it just fine but, like you, is very concerned about the aluminum frame and shoots 32 mag in it to practice and carries 327 for self defense.
I have a 431PD and I decided not to do it. I run cast bullets at modest speed for plinking and carry "warm" 32 HRM loads for SD, a 100 grain XTP over 11.6 - 11.8 grains W296. Even then, I worry about the aluminum frame... I mean, just my luck, it would decide to break in the middle of a fire fight!
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Post by smirker on Sept 19, 2018 18:19:12 GMT -5
Most would say no, and they would be right for the obvious reasons, safety and durability. I have made it a habit of cutting the chambers of my .38 Special revolvers used for self defense to .357 Mag, including aluminum framed revolvers. I do it and carry them that way. My reasons are, 1) Increased Power. 2) More choices of avalible ammunition if needed.
So....I say cut it if the cylinder is long enough, and use it if you have too! You can get a new revolver if you are upright.
My 2 cent.
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Post by bushog on Sept 19, 2018 20:53:04 GMT -5
I'd just buy a .38 if I were wanting more or buy a Ruger...
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Post by whiterabbit on Sept 19, 2018 23:42:24 GMT -5
Well, what i want, is a lightweight revolver in 327 federal without spending $2,000. Don’t need or want the power of 357 mag, but DO want the power, occasionally, of 327 federal. Also want the caliber (32 cal, that is). Problem with the rugers is they are heavy except the bearcat (at 2 grand). And the stainless S&W arevthe same weight.
Thus the interest.
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Post by whiterabbit on Sept 20, 2018 0:20:00 GMT -5
What kind of velocity are you getting out of your 100 grain bullets with w296? H&R +p is likely just fine for my needs.
Do you think the gun can handle a steady diet of H&R loads at 25ksi or even kissing 30ksi? Honestly I dont need the full 40ksi of the 327, just that 18ksi of H&R mag is not enough.
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Post by 45MAN on Sept 20, 2018 6:33:55 GMT -5
MY EDC IS A RUGER LCR 327 MAG. IT WAS BRUTAL TO SHOOT WITH THE 100gr FEDERAL EAGLE LOAD SO I BOUGHT SOME 85gr 327 AMMO AND THAT IS WHAT I CARRY IN IT. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE LOOKS, THE LCR WILL GROW ON YOU.
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Post by potatojudge on Sept 20, 2018 8:05:38 GMT -5
I'm not a 327 shooter, but if I had the same goals in something like a 38 special, first thing would be to find a bullet that could be seated long and load it hot. The extra case capacity you get going from H&R to Fed you might be able to make up with bullet selection and seating.
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Post by dougader on Sept 20, 2018 9:16:03 GMT -5
What kind of velocity are you getting out of your 100 grain bullets with w296? H&R +p is likely just fine for my needs. Do you think the gun can handle a steady diet of H&R loads at 25ksi or even kissing 30ksi? Honestly I dont need the full 40ksi of the 327, just that 18ksi of H&R mag is not enough. The short barrel takes away some velocity, of course. IIRC, 6 shots had an avg. of ~1167 fps, or was it 1008 fps? I'll try and find my notes. This load is from Brian Pearce in Handloader magazine. He used up to 11.8 grains 296 with the 100 grain XTP but was shooting in a Ruger Single Six... which was my main 32 mag revolver until I gifted it to my daughter. Now the only 32 mag I have is the 431PD... oh, actually I picked up another Single Six before I left Cabela's but that's not for pocket carry. I think those loads are around 35k psi, or about the same as 357 mag. I can't recall if that info was in the article by Pearce or not, or if I gleaned it from somewhere else but the data was meant for stronger guns like the single 6. I have only fired about 12 total of the 100 xtp/11.6 W296 in the 431PD. It has a strong cylinder but I'm thinking the aluminum frame will stretch or crack with a steady diet of hotter loads like that. So I load 94 grain Meister cast bullets with 3.0 - 3.5 grains W231 for practice and plinking. |
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Post by rjm52 on Sept 21, 2018 5:13:25 GMT -5
According to this article the 431 is 13.4 oz...a LCR .327 is 17.0 oz... I have one of the LCRs in .327 and it is pleasant to shoot... I carry it with the Federal 85 grain Reduced Recoil loads...they ran 1180 from my gun... www.gunblast.com/WBell_SW32s.htm |
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Post by 45MAN on Sept 21, 2018 6:31:16 GMT -5
According to this article the 431 is 13.4 oz...a LCR .327 is 17.0 oz... I have one of the LCRs in .327 and it is pleasant to shoot... I carry it with the Federal 85 grain Reduced Recoil loads...they ran 1180 from my gun... www.gunblast.com/WBell_SW32s.htmrjm52: I THINK THAT IS THE LOAD I AM USING IN MY 327 LCR, THE FEDERAL HYDRA-SHOK 85gr JHP LOW RECOIL LOAD, 1180fps SHUD WORK UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. |
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Post by whiterabbit on Oct 4, 2018 21:58:58 GMT -5
Thinking about this again (it happens when I'm on travel out of the country, away from my toys). What do you guys suppose would break first? If I did this to just have the option, and exercised it for 20-50 rounds a year, but otherwise stuck to 32H&R or 'barely +p' (or SAAMI spec), I'm wondering what harm could befall the gun, or worse, me.
Reason being, I like the idea of the ability to shoot 327. And if I make the decision not to rechamber, I'm likely to compensate by shooting a steady diet of buffalo-bore-like 32 H&R. Whereas opened up, I'm likely to shoot a box of 327 mag a year to scratch the itch, but otherwise (itch now scratched) shoot lighter 32H&R as the daily shooting load.
Makes me wonder if those two conditions are a wash. If so, it kinda sounds like the rechamber is a good idea, since overall the revolver shoots lower stress rounds. But not so great if that 1-box of 327 is like annually proofing the gun. Not my intention...
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Post by needsmostuff on Oct 5, 2018 9:44:03 GMT -5
► DISCLAIMER ◄ This is all straight up personal opinion with no science involved.
I think perhaps you are seeing a potential in the gun that may not be there. Any of the published high velocity super giant killer 327 loads require a full case of slow burning powder and 4 plus inches of barrel to utilize it. Coming out of 1 1/2 inch snubby barrels you merely recreate a flash /bang grenade. Cool but not efficient.
Efficiently driving a bullet in a short barrel requires a fast to medium powder and there is more than enough room in a 32 mag case to push as far and fast as you want to go with room to spare. The extra capacity in a 327 will gain nothing.
Any 32 mag revolver not made by H&R is capable of pushing far beyond published data.
My personal 32 get off me gun is using 100 gr. double ended wad cutters and a good dose of Unique and will hit something very hard. But any powder in that range works just as well . My longer barreled 327s get fed H110, #9 and 2400 but they are way different guns.
I believe if you MAX out the 32 mag route in that snubby you can match what a 327 can do ,,,,, in that snubby.
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Post by dougader on Oct 5, 2018 9:50:13 GMT -5
Too true. I know how surprised I was at the increase in velocity from my 3" SP101 to my 4-5/8" Single Seven: 1300 fps v. 1525 fps. This with Speer 115 grain GDHP ammunition.
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Post by whiterabbit on Oct 13, 2018 1:19:07 GMT -5
► DISCLAIMER ◄ This is all straight up personal opinion with no science involved. I think perhaps you are seeing a potential in the gun that may not be there. Any of the published high velocity super giant killer 327 loads require a full case of slow burning powder and 4 plus inches of barrel to utilize it. Coming out of 1 1/2 inch snubby barrels you merely recreate a flash /bang grenade. Cool but not efficient. Efficiently driving a bullet in a short barrel requires a fast to medium powder and there is more than enough room in a 32 mag case to push as far and fast as you want to go with room to spare. The extra capacity in a 327 will gain nothing. Any 32 mag revolver not made by H&R is capable of pushing far beyond published data. My personal 32 get off me gun is using 100 gr. double ended wad cutters and a good dose of Unique and will hit something very hard. But any powder in that range works just as well . My longer barreled 327s get fed H110, #9 and 2400 but they are way different guns. I believe if you MAX out the 32 mag route in that snubby you can match what a 327 can do ,,,,, in that snubby. Ok im sold. How to find load data for this case? Don’t need to max out, but how to trust any +p load data is on our side of the lunacy line? |
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