KILLS WITH THE 327 FEDERAL MAGNUM

LATELY THERE HAS BEEN SOME POSTS RE THE 327 FEDERAL MAGNUM. I BELIEVE IT TO BE A GREAT SMALL GAME GETTER (COYOTES, JAVELINA, RACCOONS, SKUNKS, etc.) AND EVEN "THINK" IT COULD DO DOUBLE DUTY ON PIGS AND DEER BUT "I THINK" IS NOT ENOUGH, SO MY QUESTION IS: WHO HAS KILLED WHAT WITH THE 327 FEDERAL, AND WITH WHAT LOADS?

I CARRY A RUGER LCR IN 327 AS A POCKET GUN WITH A FEDERAL 85 gr. DEFENSE LOAD, AND HAVE USED THE FEDERAL EAGLE 327 100 gr. LOAD IN A 7 1/2 INCH RUGER 327x7 TO KILL RACCOONS.

I've used my 8-shot Blackhawk and Federal's 100ge load for coyote and armadillo. The .327 isn't 'deer legal' here in Oklahoma.

In Idaho any center fire is legal which is a silly & outdated law. That makes a 25 ACP legal for elk & moose! I use my 8 shot 327 mostly for smaller game like I mentioned, ground squirrels, rock chucks, badgers, skunks, porcupines, coyotes, weasels, foxes, jackrabbits, cottontails, etc using the 113 gr. HP. I also use the bigger 135 gr Ferminator HP that could easily be used on Javelina or deer at reasonable handgun distance. It's a long shanked HP that won't fit in the Single Seven's but its a dandy bullet if you wind it up with a max load of H110. It wouldn't be my first choice on deer but it would easily work within 50 yds or so. It shoots extremely flat, much like the 30 Carbine in a sixgun, recoil is mild & in the 8 shot stainless steel Blackhawk it's a bit heavy. I like a heavy gun myself, others may differ. Mine gets used 3-4 times a week, year round. All bullets are powder coated & running well over 1400 fps.

Dick

Did I shoot yours when I was there?
If not, I have never shot a 327...

Tennessee has the same cartridge restrictions (or lack thereof), but I don't find it silly. True, you could hunt deer with a 25 ACP or 17 Hornet and be well within the law, but the game department has enough faith in us sportsmen to use a proper round for the job.

I bought a Ruger Single Seven with a 7 1/2 inch barrel this year to compete in the local IHMSA Field Pistol matches. I was enticed by the rave reviews I found online. I was not disappointed .
I replaced the supplied ramp front sight with the silhouette front sight issued on the 10.5 inch Super Blackhawks.
This is the most accurate and well fitted Ruger I have ever owned. The great accuracy and flat trajectory make hitting targets easier. When others shoot the gun, they enjoy it.
The question of "What can I hunt with it?" obviously crossed my mind. I don't have the answer just yet.
I did have the chance to use my .327 on Franchise's forum hunt at Salt Creek Preserve in March. I took advantage of the unique opportunity to shoot a turkey with a handgun. The fine accuracy was definitely an asset. I used the Federal American Eagle 100 grain to make an approximately 70 yard head shot.

Note the bullet hole in the center of his head

TN Lone Wolf, I hope your Fish & Game is correct, we just aren't that smart out here in Idaho. I've seen quite a few hunters using AR223's on both deer & elk. Of course we all know that they will work if everything goes right, we also know that things don't always work out that way when hunting. Kind of like saying you can knock down the Statue of Liberty with a ball peen hammer.

Dick

Matthew makes ANY gun look good on TURKEYS.

l saw him ''kill'' ten in a row @ 150Meters in Lincolnton recently.

Bunch in Gainesville @ 75yds with his little Ruger in 327Fed..

Course Steel ones are a bit tougher then the feathered kind..

You have to cook those steel ones longer

WITH HIS NEW RUGER GP-100 IN 327 FEDERAL IT MAY NOT BE LONG BEFORE JAMES POPS A BIG HOG WITH IT. I HAVE A NEW FRONT SIGHT FROM "2 DOGS" FOR MY 7 1/2 INCH SINGLE SEVEN, AND I AM GOING TO SERIOUSLY TRY TO CONNECT ON A GOOD SIZED HOG AT THE HIGHPOINT.

AMEN

Rey.. You will probably take a pig at Highpoint before the paperwork is done so let me know how it goes and load you use in your 327.... good luck....if I ever get the chance to use mine it will only be broadside double lung.....

I STILL HAVE A BUNCH OF THE 100 gr FEDERAL EAGLE AMMO. THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF INFO OUT THERE RE GETTING 1,600fps WITH 100 gr XTP's, WHICH IS WHAT I MAY TRY NEXT. IN THE LONGER CYLINDERED GP-100 YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LOAD LONGER/HEAVIER CAST BULLETS.

I've toyed with the notion of having an Encore barrel made in 327 Magnum to try out on deer. I'd just hate to be that guy, the one who used the "underpowered" cartridge and wounded the deer. No, I think it's best left to more experienced handgunners than me at this point.

Rey...Picked up some really nice 100 and 115 grain cast HP`s from
GT Bullets along with some PC 116gr HP-GC and PC 130gr LNGC from sixshot... the PC solids shot pretty good from my S&W 32 mag....
As for jacketed have 85 and 100 grain XTP`s and Sierra 90gr
JHC and a bunch of 85 and 100 grain JFP`s that were pulled.

Now I have to find the time to load and test

I waited a long time to jump on the 327 bind wagon, to long! My mistake!

I wanted this for one gun for Varmint up to Coyote as well as edible small game. I found it! That long 140 grain Mihec bullet performs great out of that longer GP cylinder, and velocity and accuracy are just what I was hoping for, out 100 yards for my purpose. I have six chambers that shoot better than I could have hoped for,, and with lighter bullets pushed hard it shoots just as good.

As for Deer Ohio also restricts it's use for deer, thankfully! Not that our sportsman don't know better, but we have plenty that use the term sportsman far to liberally, and they do need it! As far as working for deer, I have no doubt at close range, under 50 yards it could do the job swiftly with good bullet placement. But then what would I need the bigger bores for.



For Varmint this will be the load, I have shot a couple possums and ground squirrel with it but yet to get a yote to cooperate. But for deer or hogs, I think I will continue to use the 45 Colt or 480, and soon a new 475 I am waiting on. But from here out for varmint smaller than the yotes this little 327 has proven worthy of the task.

Most of you have seen these photo's before. I took this Utah doe antelope a couple months ago on a land owner tag using my Ruger 8 shot 327 at 73 yds using a 135 gr cast HP. Complete penetration through both lungs with an exit & she only got turned about half way around before the lights went out. A very quick kill, I was impressed how well it worked.





Dick

The 327 Federal is the most interesting new handgun cartridge to come along in quite sometime.... A true magnum...

I would bet that it would be the Ideal Mt Lion Round when shooting them in trees.

Wis I had a 327 for my Contender

I did it. I killed a deer with my .327 Single Seven. I will start another thread with all the details. Until then, here's the picture.

Way to get it done Matthew!

Good job.

Awesome Matt

As always, you did good Matthew!!!

OH YEAH!

Congrats.

I wouldn't think so. You piss that cat off and he comes down and starts killing dogs, you're going to be in a world of hurt with the outfitter. I wouldn't even be comfortable with a .357 on a treed mountain lion, even though they have been used successfully on mountain lion.

Guys, it's a .32 caliber. There are better choices for big game that still don't recoil hard if that is the concern -- like the .41 Mag -- or even the .357. JMHO.

I am not siding with anyone on this but I do want to bring up the point about bullets.
Sure we have read about the guy who used to hunt Mountain lions and shoot them with his 218 Bee in his 10" barreled Colt. I believe it was a Frontier model.
That is fine for him and I want to point out that, The 218 Bee and several other calibers we have enjoyed in Pistols started as Rifle calibers, and several came from an Era that when these calibers were offered, they were offered as Small game and varmint calibers. EX: 32-20, 25-20, 218 Bee, 22 Hornet, And the list can go on for awhile. And yes the Jordan Buck was killed with a 25-20 and I do know of several folks in Missouri that still use the caliber in a Rifle for Deer Hunting.
Shot placement is Paramount, and no one ever wants to talk about how many shots it took to bring down the animal or how far it had to be tracked. But they use RIFLES NOT pistols. Rifles being more precise in most hands, and better velocities with most ammo.
The second thing here is the bullet design and Type. I do not feel that we have much of an offering in Hunting bullets, and especially in a jacketed bullets for the 32 caliber.
JMHO,,, But if the 32H&R can use a 85gr XTP then why can't we have a 100gr or even a 115gr HP in a Jacketed bullet for the 327? The velocities should be more than adequate for the caliber.

Lets match the bullet and caliber to the Game. This is a Varmint cartridge. NOT a Medium Game cartridge.

What ever you use you want a dead Lion to hit the ground so choose your caliber & your bullet placement wisely.
What happens is once you tree your Lion you tie the dogs up in a safe spot & they keep going crazy all the time this is going on & then the shooter moves around until he gets a good look at the Lion & then the guide tells him to make a good shot, Bingo!
When I shot my Lion at about 5 feet or less with my S&W 357 & a Keith cast slug I easily took out both lungs, the Lion hit the ground, took one giant leap in the air & went limp in mid air & was dead.
Would a 327 Magnum have done as well, possibly, many Lions are taken locally with 22's when all goes well but as mentioned, you don't want to lose a dog that's worth a whole lot of money with a misplaced shot or an under powered gun. Your call, you're paying for the hunt & the dog if you mess up. A dog is built to chase, not kill, a Lion kills for a living & if he's wounded he will kill at least one dog before you can even blind, trust me.

Dick

I have said I don't plan on using my 327 Federal on anything bigger than a coyote, but I will assure everyone when it comes to any animal that could make me their dinner for the day, I would never even consider it. The 44 mag or the Ruger only 45 Colt might be a possibility, but on any intended hunt I would take for any game that looks at me like supper, I want my 454, and for this thin skinned man eater I want a good dependable HP like a Swift 260 grain A-frame, or compatible bullet, and I wouldn't spare the powder loading them.

Just my opinion, but if there ever was such as thing as over gunned, any animal that can ean eat me, I want more than I need, this is one case I don't believe in an caliber being 100%,,,,,,

I guess it's just my nature but I tend to like to stack the odds in my favor. Sometimes animals die easy, sometimes they take a whole lot of killing. Trouble is you don't know which type of animal it is until after you've taken the shot.

Which is why I've come to the conclusion one should carry the largest gun they can shoot well, and place the shots accordingly.

If all I had on me was a .327 and I had the right opportunity to take a deer would I? Absolutely! Would I choose a .327 with the intent to go out and hunt deer? Absolutely not.

Very well put.

I shot this meat hog with the 100 grain American Eagle. The shot was from about 15 yards, and she died within seconds, after a frantic 20 yard run.


A single bullet punched through both lungs and exited. The effect was immediate and the shot was decisive. She weighed approximately 225 lbs. I was pleasantly surprised that the bullet exited. I thought an animal of this size would challenge the .327.



The JSP showed a minimum of expansion, but still caused adequate damage.



There is a cartridge case next to the wound for size comparison. Note the jelly from the chest cavity,she really pumped lung blood from both entry and exit wounds.

I shot my first exotic ram with the 100 grain American Eagle factory load. The shot was about 25 yards. The ram didn't immediately show the effects of the bullet, but rather ran 15 yards, stopped, wobbled, and then fell into a death flop. He died within seconds of the shot.



Only a single bullet was needed for this approximately 140 lb animal. The shot was broadside, through both lungs, and the bullet exited. The exit surprised and amazed me, as sheep wool is known to slow bullets and hamper penetration.



The rams lungs showed signs of more expansion from the JSP.

CMNASH: GOOD REPORTS, GOOD KILLS. NEED TO GET IN SOME HUNTING TIME WITH MY 327's, IT IS IN MY QUEUE.

nicely done! well placed shots and pass thru's to boot.

how many mountain lions have you killed?

Wish I hadn't read this thread. Didn't know I needed a gun in this caliber until I did. Would make an interesting fall turkey round.

Well done, Matt! That?s a nice looking ram!