Wow. Although this was an expensive and admittedly gross test it provided some amazing data on how these bullets perform on real flesh and bone. The high velocity of the .327 really shredded and blew up those first two layers of meat. Let me know what you guys thought and subscribe to see more!
So, how'd we do? Well,put some bg holes in our pork chop pectoral. Where the bullets hit the ribs on the front, pulverized them, did a lot of damage to our bag of oranges lung tissure, shattered the ribs on the back, and all of the projectiles were stopped by the t-shirt on the back of the target. None of them actually poked a hole in the fleece bullet stop. Now let me show you a close up of the projectiles.
Impressive results from the .327 People ask me about this round occasionally but I don't have one. I'll just start referring them to your videos on the subject. And yes, you're right. The meat target can get expensive and it can be a mess to clean up, but it sure makes a good point about how powerful/effective your gun/ammo is.
Hey Paul and thanks for stopping by! I hope you don't mind I borrowed your idea for the meat target. I find it to be a much more realistic testing medium than ballistics gel and I enjoy your video presentations with it. Thanks for watching!
Paul, your meat targets are very helpful in developing an intuitive understanding of what defensive ammo will do. It also provides an excellent avenue for comparing different loads or calibers beyond normal gel. I'd love to see you do a video on it, particularly comparing the LCR with 4" revolvers, and maybe comparing .327 with 9mm.
327 Federal Magnum is the Most Versatile Revolver Chambering. Full power loads are as powerful as 357 magnum. Also chambers the soft shooting 32 S&W Long. Six Shots instead of Five!
I'm one of those that have asked Paul to demonstrate the .327 (and the .41 mag) on the meat target - I'm glad he got to see your video on the .327 good job! And I thank you for all the effort, time and money you've put into this series.
Same here.im curious how potent 41 magnum is loaded now vs the original specs it was ment for. A few months back i had a snub nise 41 magnum and some of the 175 grain factory loads i bought had felt recoil similar to 40 S@W 165 grains ive fired out of compact 40s. so i wasn't to impressed with those 41 mag loads
Bought 2 of the LCR 327 Fed Mag Revolvers & test fired both rounds, my wife's & mine, at our range. We both agreed that the Hornady H&R 32 cal 85 grain was going to be our carry SD ammo. She has recoil problems & the Hornady was very smooth & she had no recoil problems. Thank you for your video. It confirmed our opinions about the 327 & the carry ammo.
Thanks for the heads up. I checked out the cost & they run approximately the same & unfortunately I don't reload. I'll buy a few boxes & let the Mrs. choose which one she likes.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I've asked Mr. Harrell through his youtube videos to test the .327 Fed Mag. If I could afford it, I'd buy him one to test. Thank you for doing this P.H. inspired test.
That was very impressive and I like your use of the Paul Harrel meat target. It seems to be one of the best human analogs out there and yields real world results. I carry revolvers and semi-autos in .380, 9MM, and .38/.357 Magnum. But I've been looking at the .327 Magnum for a while now. I like that it gives you that sixth shot in what would be a five shot revolver in a larger caliber and doesn't seem to give up much in power.
I was just looking for some 327 info and one of these video series was suggested. I checked it and started with the first one, I will complete the whole series today. I have been watching Paul videos for some time now, and also like your presentation format. You get one new suscriber
I have watched through chapter 5 of your series and I am enjoying it very much, HOWEVER, it seems that the 327 magnum has a bunch of positives with no negatives at all and not only is it more powerful, more damaging, and more user friendly than the 357 magnum, but it also has lower recoil and you get one more round too. It seems like you are making it sound almost magical. The 327 uses smaller lighter bullets that uses less powder in less case capacity to propel it, but it is somehow superior to the 357. Plus you get an extra round and it also has less recoil and muzzle flash. Almost magical. See where I am going with this? Don't get me wrong, I really like the 327 magnum and I have been thinking about buying one for several years now, but your attributes are adding up to be way more than it really is. It reminds me a lot of the people who think that a little 22 pistol with a 2" barrel that hold 6 is somehow better than a little 380 pistol with a 2" barrel that also holds 6. I have met quite a few people that have thought that.
Arman75 It’s better than a J frame .357 with a 2-3” barrel all day. So if you’re looking at a snub nose j frame/SP101 .327 is the best. Because even if you do find a 357 loading that provides more energy from those tiny guns, the gun is nearly unshootable with anything you run through it and none of the bullets will expand. And after you put on a huge pachmayer or Hogue grip to compensate for the massive recoil you end up with basically a full size service revolver that holds 5 instead of 6 and there’s only the Barnes all copper bullets that will expand at the snub nose velocity. 4-6” service revolvers? Oh yeah 357 is better. But then we’re back to a Ruger GP100 327 having an extra round, still perfectly sufficient power for personal defense, lower recoil, and you can shoot all the other .32’s. Some people still suck at shooting a full size 357 service revolver because of recoil. For those people that end up shooting only 38 special, the 327 has advantages. It’s all what works best for you and what you’re confident and comfortable carrying. The cons to 327 are you are basically stuck buying some flavor of Ruger if you want a new gun. The gun is every bit as loud as a full power .357 so you should wear double hearing protection in an indoor range. The ammo is expensive and you will probably have to buy it online if you don’t reload. There are only 2-3 commercially available defensive ammo options, which again are expensive and you have to buy online. If you use speedloaders, they are scarce and you have to buy them online. The holes in paper targets are harder to see farther away because they’re smaller.
@@HughesEnterprises That was a very good explanatory reply and a lot of what you said makes sense to me so thank you for that. I think I am going to try the 327 and I will reload for it. I guess I will never truly know how a 327 feels and shoots until I buy one and shoot it a bunch.
Arman75 I would say It’s about the same as a .38 +P in a similar size gun. It will be snappy in an LCR. I would prefer the 3” SP101. The joy of reloading is even if you do find factory full power .327 unpleasant you can tailor the load to one you enjoy shooting and one the gun shoots well. And .32 S&W and .32 H&R are sweet shooting cartridges too which can be reloaded for almost nothing. .32 H&R when loaded hot with Hornady XTP’s also has some favorable ballistics to the vast majority of 38 Special hollowpoints which were designed to expand in a 4”+ service revolver.
feelnhott I was thoroughly impressed as well. Results are nearly identical to 125gr .357 Magnum, yet the cartridge has half the recoil and in a smaller gun too. Thanks for watching!
Late to the party, but so glad I found your tests, more so since you used a meat target for penetration and expansion like Paul does. Finding these couldn’t have come at a better time, since an old military buddy is wanting to trade me his .327 LCR for my .357 variant. Definitely happening now, especially since I will gain a sixth round of capacity. Looks like it’s time to stock up on more ammo! LOL
If you ever decide to do another one, please run one on the 32 H&R Magnum Critical Defense. I have been passing the link to this test around on RU-vid and hopefully attract more users to your channel.
+Pointblank2U I definitely will be trying out various .32 H&R loads in the future. I will add the Critical Defense to the list! I already have a video planned to test the Black Hills in .32H&R as a low recoil/noise option for the .327 revolvers/rifles and will at the CD to that one. I appreciate you sharing the video.
+Pointblank2U I ordered a box of the Critical Defense .32 H&R today along with some American Eagle 100gr softpoints in .327. We’re probably 3-4 weeks out from the meat target with .32 H&R loads. I want to finish up 100gr loadings for .327 first and meat target those before I move on to the smaller calibers.
I recently purchased a Ruger SP101 4.2 inch in .327. I also reload the round now. Your videos have been very informative on the subject. The SP101 is now my new carry gun. Pretty happy with the gun and the .327 round. Thanks for the videos.
Hey Joe, glad you enjoy my videos! I still have more planned for the series that I think you’ll enjoy including a few more reloading things. Enjoy your .327!
Good news for .327 Mag fans. LeHigh Defense now sells Extreme Defense bullets for the hand loaders. I'm loading my first 100 rounds, and will try a test similar to this, that is, when it warms up from 10 degrees!
That is some blazing velocity they published with Accurate no. 9 I think that bullet definitely has some serious potential. Maybe even subsonic in .32 H&R mag.
Just bought this gun. I think that w/ the smaller diameter lighter recoiling loads like the Fed HS or the Double tap 60 g TAC XP round are perfect for controllability and power. The Hornady Personal Def load in H&R mag is a real powder puff and probably sufficient, perhaps better if shooting out of a light weight alloy J frame or LCR. I shot some of the Gold Dots which are a deal more powerful, even more in energy than many 357 loads, but the recoil wasn't too bad in the SP101. Still I feel the lighter recoiling loads make a bit more sense for getting rounds on target quicker.
Do you have a 3 inch revolver in 357? I’d love to see the difference in loadings you do and compare the rounds. I have a 3 inch sp101 in 357 but I’m not sure yet if a 3 inch sp101 in 327 is in my future yet
I used to have a Smith 60-15 in .357. Key word is used to. I’ve also shot a Ruger LCR and SP101 in .357. The 60-15 was totally uncontrollable with full power ammo, would bust up your knuckles, and I didn’t want to shoot it. I put a bunch of different grips on it. Only a big Pachmayer actually helped but then the gun printed as much as a K frame and it wasn’t easily concealed. Might as well just carry the 4” K frame model 13 and get an extra round and real 4” service gun 357 ballistics. So my feeling is even if there is some incremental improvement in meat ballistics in 3” 357 over 3” 327 it isn’t worth anything to me because I can’t shoot a j-frame 3” .357 anywhere near as accurately or fast as a 327. And my hand isn’t bloody after 200 rounds practicing.
Hughes Enterprises thank you for the reply. Your videos alone have intrigued me so much that I bought my first loading press just for the 327. I hope to get a Henry soon and load for deer/boar
Willie Jamehufff Nice! The AE 100gr load is probably the best option for factory hunting ammo. A hard cast Keith type 115 or 130gr bullet would also be nice. Are you getting the steel or brass Henry?
Willie Jamehufff Only trouble with the 130 is reduced case capacity. H110 or 2400 won’t get it moving fast enough. Accurate #9 would be the first one I would try- probably get the best velocity. .327 in a rifle is what .32-20 always wished it could be.
I really like the .327. Have the same SP101 as you and think it's an awesome carry revolver. Have you considered getting the Henry Big Boy lever action in .327 to go along with your revolver? I bet those loads you have cooked up would be nasty out of a rifle barrel. Good series of videos!
I'd also love to see that. If you get around to doing another video on .327 Federal, I'd be curious to see these and other factory ammo tested from your pistol and the 20" rifle. Keep working on the meat targets. I know it only adds expense, but have you considering using gel instead of water jugs? A main reason I ask is there seems to be a lack of gel tests for this wonderful little round.
+Chronovore I’ve considered buying gel but it’s a huge storage hassle and expensive. True gelatin is expensive, one time use, and goes bad fast. Simtest is a more stable, but you have to dig for the bullet like tnoutdoors9 did. Clear ballistics gel is the most durable and gives immediate feedback but it is too springy and elastic to give a realistic comparison vs real calibrated gelatin. Meat targets are expensive, but very easy to assemble and you don’t have to store a 60 pound stinky block of gel. I definitely will be doing another meet target soon with 100gr 327 loadings I just can’t afford to do more than one a month right now otherwise I absolutely would.
+John Smith Not that I have seen. They have the big boy steel in 16”/20” and the big boy classic in 20”/(16” to be released soon). I’m picking mine up this evening.
Great round, frankly. If it gains traction and cost effectiveness in the near future, something to consider given the practicality of a small snub nose.
Lifted_Above Or just invest in a significant stock of factory ammo and start reloading for a consistent supply. I just got in 500 rounds of American eagle which should last a long time. Plus I have a couple thousand pieces of brass to reload. Also remember you’re not limited to just .327 you can also shoot .32 H&R and .32 S&W Long/Short
I recently bought the LCR 327 knowing that ammo is harder to find. I don't need much ammo for the LCR to perform its function for me, which is to be at my fingertips and save my life in a pinch. If I want to bust off a lot of rounds, there are other guns/calibers for that. And though I have nothing against the .38 Special, I really like the idea of six rounds of .327 vs. five rounds of .38. There will always be .327 Magnum available, because the manufacturers know they'll sell any batch they make at a premium price. You just have to plan ahead a little, for instance using ammoseek dot com, or asking your local dealer to pick some up next time he places an order. I also find the recoil to be very manageable, even with the American Eagle 100 grain, although the batch I bought was very difficult to eject afterwards. Glad I found that out during practice and not during an emergency. I tried a few Hydra-Shoks and a few Gold Dots, and they ejected just fine.
@@edmonddantes9135 I don't agree that you should relegate the LCR 327 to your self-protection gun most, and ignore it for normal higher volume practice. If you want to be really familiar with, or very proficient at using the LCR 327, you need to put a lot of ammo through it. I'd use that weapon more than your other weapons when you practice. Up to you of course, but my advice is that your CC weapon should be getting a lot of use in practice if you want to have it be very intuitive come time to protect yourself. Happy firing!
Hughes Enterprises Thanks for taking the time to reply. I imagine the lcr is the most common platform for the cartridge given its size and 6 round capacity. Based on ballistics by the inch, it really needs that 3rd inch to perform. But nothing settles a SD ballistics question like the meat target imo.
Mark Johnson I think I will probably get to meat target testing .32H&R loads before I get an LCR. The hot Black Hills .32H&R in the 3" should be similar to .327 in a 1.5". The Black hills is loaded with a 100gr Hornady XTP, so we can compare that result with the 100gr XTP test for .327 I have planned as well. Just need the time to do it.
I carry an LCRx in .327 Federal as my EDC and I worry if the ammo I carried in summer, the solid copper Double Tap rounds, would lose effectiveness through heavy winter jackets. Any thoughts?
Yeah, I can get them on target a little too fast in fact [wasn't paying attention to the recoil and my LCRx wore a hole in my trigger finger]. Just in case I switched to 130gr Buffalo Bore rounds since they'll have the mass to go through padded jackets and I'm hoping the bare lead will deform in flesh enough to not just ice-pick through.
Jd Moore Oh yeah. Unless they specifically say they are soft cast, they’ll be hard cast. Hard cast will not expand and is very slippery so it’ll punch deep. Best case scenario is it hits a bone and tumbles but I have a feeling they made it as an outdoors bear/cougar defense load so as much penetration as possible is preferred.
I'm not getting terrific groups out of my sp101 3" with 100gr hard cast. 1.5" at 10 yards. Tried w231, TG, and Long Shot. Best was 3.5 gr of w231. Thinking of dropping to 85gr. What are your thoughts?
John Zimmermann The first thing I would do is look at bullet size vs your cylinder’s forcing cone. If your cast bullets are sized .313 and your forcing cone is a .313 or .314 that will give you bad accuracy. Ideally I would want a Keith style alloy or softer not super hard and the bullet sized 1-2 thou over forcing cone diameter. This should give best accuracy no matter the powder or charge as long as the charge is consistently thrown and ignited. Ideally the forcing cone would slug at .313, the bore at .312 and a bullet at .314 or .315 assuming that size bullet will chamber without resistance.
Bob Coleman For a few reasons. A single shot may or may not hit bone and/or different thicknesses of meat/oranges. Six rounds gives a reasonable sampling of results over the whole target. This is necessary to give an average since the meat target is not a homogenous product like Gel. I'm also using the "standardized" process that Paul Harrell fans know so there are comparable videos to compare to. Having the target shredded by these rounds is a result that is useful to note. Other meat target tests with buckshot at longer ranges and FMJ and hollow points that fail to expand do not do this level of damage and simply leave clean round pencil size holes. This damage really shows the effect of rapid expansion and energy transfer of the .327 compared to other calibers.
John Smith The only published gel tests for .327 were in the American Rifleman magazine from 2008. All factory ammo expanded perfectly and fell within FBI specs. I'll do gel tests if I can re-coup my costs. I've got a few Patreon supporters right now but I'm still pretty far off from paying for a clear ballistics block.
Hughes Enterprises this one w the single action? www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2014/11/11/lipseys-exclusive-ruger-single-seven-327-fed-mag-revolver/
Can not find it online. I find the article about the single 7, and article from '15 about release of a 4" 327 mag & an article about it recent re-release, but nothing from 2008.
Dead meat is not a valid simulant for live tissue. Corpses are known as "stiffs" for a reason. Even if your tissue simulants were valid you only tested a direct, unobstructed frontal shot. In an actual gunfight you may need to shoot through an intervening limb or may only have an oblique or unusual angle that requires additional penetration. Please stop spreading invalid bullet testing data. Ah... who am I kidding. I've made similar comments on Paul Harrell's videos and he's still doing the same stupid crap too.
@@mattskag2 Nothing short of (several) living people could satisfy all of those requirements. (I believe dead bodies soften back up after the rigamortis runs it's course).
