Magnum SHOWDOWN: 327 Federal Magnum vs 357 Magnum - Ballistic Gel Test 

Thank you for shining light on 327 Federal Magnum!

As I've gotten older, and arthritis in my hands has started to become painful, I have been moving away from .44 magnum and even .41 magnum revolvers, and lately have been favoring the medium and larger frame .357 magnums, where their weight mitigates recoil and reduces pain. Just this year, I began exploring .327 Federal magnum as a natural progression, and I really like getting "near 357 mag" performance out of a cartridge I find more manageable, plus I can still get 6 rounds in a small frame revolver. I now own both the SP101 in 327 and the Taurus 327... both 6-shot small frame revolvers... and I have options to run 32 H&R magnum, and even lesser rounds should I so choose. IMO, the 327 Federal magnum is a great cartridge, and much under-appreciated.

I'm a 357 enthusiast and one of my 357s is also an SP101 w/3" barrel. I'm sticking with it but that 327 is an impressive round. Good test.

very informative with a lot of comedic commentary. i think i found my new favorite channel!

Well presented without a lot of bias. Just plain fun to watch.

Great information. Thanks!

The 3" SP101 .357 is what i normally have on my belt.

327 Federal is specifically designed to replicate 38Spcl +P. Never intended to match even the lightest 357 Magnum loads.

I have arthritis pretty bad in both hands. I carry a steel framed J-frame .357 but I load it with .38 special +p ammo due to noise and recoil. If I need to lower recoil further, I can load .38 Special wadcutters. I have no desire to trade my .357s. If you think 5 rounds isn't enough, carry two snubbies.

Awesome shedding light on defense rounds love to sèe content with cost and damage for different rounds

Why not both a 357 and a 327...i own both in the Ruger SP101, and the Ruger LCR. Just my opinion, but i prefer the 327 for personal self defense. It is plenty adequate in power, less recoil, and get that extra round. Cant argue with the 357 if raw power is what you want, though.

Appreciate the testing. Would love to see the 30 Super Carry get some camera time!

I always go to comfort of shooting. I own SP101 327 and love shooting it. I even reload 32 longs up to the equivalent of 32 H&R. 327 is yes lower recoil and on average +1 in cylinder. 357 is average 5 per cylinder and harder recoil. Yes you can go to 38 special, and the same can be said for 32 H&R. Both too have been proven rounds in self defence. Now I never add in stopping power. People of different types can resist or not resist the damage.

I own several several .357's only one .327 but it's a seven shot and a few years ago Academy was selling Speer gold dot .327 20rd box for $8 and I bought their shelf stock so I have a good supply . The .327 is a very good round and often overlooked.

I'd love to see a rematch with the Speer Gold Dot version of both (or another premium cartridge that's available with both).

I feel as if the 327 is the 357 for short people😂

I have a GP 100 3 inch 357 so nice to see an approximation of what velocities to expect !!!Thanks fellers! Been eyeballing the 327 from Taurus, the LCR and the SP101... That SP 101 is sweet!

I just sold my 357. Man I miss it.

Find what's comfortable for you to hold, handle, and operate. Then practice, practice, practice!

Enjoyed your tests and comparisons. How about some 380 and 9mm, I’m sure there’s a ton of other videos about that but you guys did a great job. Keep it up.

Awesome 👏🏻 thanks for sharing

My 357's all hold 6, I'll stick with 357

Great subjective review. Thank you.

Seems to be many, in both camps regarding these two cartridges I for one have to side on the .357. As for the benefits you get with the 357. They seem to me out weigh the one extra round in the two example shown in this video. I have must admit I have several 357 and I guess I’m still hooked with the 357/.38 spl combination. . And I do not own a 327. I don’t believe in my situation I can justify another caliber that has shown to be less effective in most ammo loads. Thanks for your video. It has made a more committed 357 guy. lol.

I carry SIX rounds of .357 in a 3" barrel Kimber. It's easily concealed, even with summer clothing and, as the video demonstrates, packs significantly higher foot pounds of energy than the .327. That sixth round cancels every advantage for the smaller bullet except possibly reduced recoil. That's why the .357 has long been known as a single shot man stopper. (I believe both rounds lose a lot of effectiveness in anything less than a 3" barrel and shine brightest in a 4" barrel.)

S&W makes a model 327 that holds 8 rounds of 357.

Good, Thx

Unless you reload, the 327 just isnt worth owning. It was a commercial failure. You wont find any other 32 load as well without being bent over a barrel.

Snubby, 327 hands down. My EDC is a LCR in 327 mag. No brainer if you reload.

I have both, and I’ve dispatched hogs with both. Long story short, the .327 Federal is no .357. The .357 is significantly more powerful. That said, I don’t think anybody is going to volunteer to get shot with a .327 Federal. It is a nasty little round, and will do its part if you do yours.

my 4.2in sp101 327 is my dress revolver. great gun

327 fed shines in a 4" to 5" barrel. Lower recoil in a snubie or full size is a big plus for a lot of folks

no one ever mentions the 38 short or 38 long. the 357 has the same options as the 32

Grew up with the .357. It will always be the first choice. That dosent mean the .327 is not a viable self defense round. It beats a sharp stick.

There are better rounds for the 327 fed but they aren't easy to find. You should have tried the 100 gr soft point, it expands over 55 cal and looks very much like the 100 gr gold dot in the same caliber.The 104 gr a frame and the 127 grain ballistic tips are amazing but scarce.

If I want to kill water I’m choosing the 327

Since you have the 357 , just add the 327 . That way if one you have a hard time find the ammo , you can use the other that is more common in use. Or if you have the 327 , you can add the 357 .

I use the 125 grain double tap magnum for the 327

I'd like to see .32 H&R vs .38 Special (+P)

you should have run the soft points in the gel, they look like gold dots water jugs.

I can shoot 8 rounds of 357/38+p in my smith and Wesson 327pc model. And it’s smaller than those and lighter. 2” barrel. Still not small as a 5 shot snubby. Modern ballistics make 38+p plenty strong. Plus very low kick. And now we have full copper extreme defender penetrating you are that concerned. My main carry piece is super light 22lr 8 shot and 22mag 7 shot.

Ammunition cost is a mitigating factor.

What is this deal about wheel gun round count? I, forgive my ancient ignorance, never heard of a five (5) round .357. The Colts and S&W I've seen are all six(6).

327 magnum is what 32acp dreams of when she goes to sleep every night😊

Taurus 357 Hold 7

With today’s modern bullet tech, the 327 is a great option for carry. Is it = to 357? Of course not, but , it’s a very viable option for a CCW. Yes it’s smaller in caliber than the 35s ( 38sp, 9mm etc). But with today’s bullets and the lower recoil, it may be a great alternative for some. Although it didn’t, and probably will never, catch on, it’s similar in its usefulness as a .41mag to .44mag, the .44 only really being .429, and yet some BIG names in the shooting world thought it was a useful venture. It’s the same with the .327. The .32 H&R already existed, and more than a few found it useful and viable , so pump it up and make it more useful, why not? Nobody is saying it’s a replacement for our beloved .357s, it’s an ALTERNATIVE. And who here thinks there are just too many cartridge options available? Certainly not me, I say we need MORE cartridges for every caliber, rifle or handgun. It’s not a ford or Chevy situation, it’s a buffet situation. If you don’t like chicken, there are myriad other options!! Long live the .327 mag, and .41mag and 10mm and any other not quite mainstream cartridges! As long as there are guns to shoot them and components to load them, keep them coming!

Well you seem to have setup your sky screens for your chrono kinda sideways. They are supposed to be directly on top of the photo sensors to give them an even light bsckground. They way you set them up kinda does nothing for that purpose

My smith and Wesson 686 plus holds 7 rounds of 357

All my .357s are six shooters... so far as this test-- nothing unexpected. .327 is made for people recoil and noise sensitive. Happy to again have someone reinforce my decision to buy .357 rather than .45, even after fifty-plus years of packing them.

Interesting. But, i still think the .357 magnum is the better option. Imo

Glock 27 underwood 135 grain is shopping ass!!! 580 muzzle energy an 1400+ velocity

My 686+ holds 7 junior.Leave the 327 for the ladies

.357 is better suited to a heavier gun, as in the steel Sp101 and heavier. .327 is better suited towards light guns like the LCR. I have both and reload .32 S&W Long, .32 mag, .38 Colt long & Short, .38 spl, and .357 mag. My wife loves her LCR .327. Carrie's it with .32 mags. .327 at best is equal to a lightweight 9x19 +p. From a 2 in barrel it simulates a standard pressure 9x19. That means at best it meets the "minimum" performance standards of a "service" round. .32 mag provides performance similar to a .380 acp. .38 spl. Is similar to 9x19. .357 from a 2 inch barrel is similar to a full length barrel 9x19 or better with heavy bullets. .357 from 4" plus barrels can be compared to 10mm Auto.

327FM is never on shelves

Addressing the elephant in the room: If capacity is that big of a deal for you, why are you using a revolver? You can fit ten rounds of 10mm in the flush fitting mag of a Glock 29. Magnum power in a package the size of your revolvers, but with twice the capacity. Some micro compact 9mms are running fifteen rounds, and as you demonstrated, bullet technology will get you far. If you're using a revolver, you've probably already accepted that it is worth losing capacity for the other advantages, namely, something simple and proven, like the .357 Magnum.

This is no showdown!!! The 327 is inferior to the 357 in all categories...and those were watered down 357s...try some underwood 125 grains..or 158 grains..Buffalo Bore. ..or even green and white box 357 magnum 125 grain sjhp....an extra 327 round matters none...you will likely need more than that....its a 31 caliber bullet thats 100 grains or less...expensive and hard to find...357 is a much more capable round...for 2 or 4 legged threats..with good shot placement it will work...much much less margin for error with any run of the mill 357! You can keep that 327! Ymmv

Isn't a 327 also a MODEL of a 357 Magnum ?

327 Magnum is the Best Magnum!

PLEASE USE EYE PRO

I got 9mm also ....Way more better rounds and availabilty to shoot than a 327!Like I said ...ladies?

Very well done video! Check out my "Modern Meat Target" vids especially 1st one explaining tons. Is that homemade Organic Knox or what and can you try to keep it cold just before shots and calibrate? Please plz don't fight with me always put 4 layer of t-shirt or 4 layer Heavy Clothing or toughest 4 layer denim in front...without that any data is almost useless as changes expansion Neck which changes everything and which weeds out bad jhps vs useful ones that will actually expand real world.

327 has less recoil because it has LESS power!!! Duh! Next!

That’s funny the Kimber k6s is a 357, 6 shot in 21/2-3-4”” this is a biased take on 327

comparing bananas and pineapples. need to compare the same ammo out of both or you testing means nothing. Oh yeah, my 357 mag holds 7 rounds so now I win ! lol

Being able to shoot other, just as expensive and hard to find ammo, isn't a plus... Just let the 327 go away.

James Bond liked .32 acp. 🤷🏼😂

You didn't talk about the MOST IMPORTANT thing . . . . . . . Accruacy!!!!

If you're comparing cartridges that try to replicate 357 Magnum results with less weight and more velocity, it might be interesting to compare 327 Magnum with 357 Sig.

My s&w 617 22 holds 10 rounds and my s&w 627 357 holds 8. Shouldn't your 327 Mag hold 9 instead of 6?

327 is a dead 💀 roumd

. 357 is just a 9mm magnum cartridge #