February 16, 2016
Went to see Old Dog yesterday, to give us both a break from cleaning up after Hurricane Irma. He pulled out his new Ruger SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum, then dug around for a variety of ammo to try out. We started on the low end with the .32 S&W (short), then .32 S&W Long, some .32 H&R Mag zingers and finishing with a Federal .327 Magnum.
We set up a target at 15-yards and took turns firing three rounds of each cartridge. The
85-grain .32 S&W short at 705 ft/s, 93 ft-lb was a .22-like powderpuff with negligible recoil. Even though the 98-gr S&W Long is rated at 718 ft/s 112 ft-lb, I couldn't really tell much difference from the short.
The light 85-gr. bullets in the .32 H&R Mag scooted along at a supersonic 1,263 ft/s, but still only manages 301 ft-lb. All six of these cases had to be forcibly removed and were all split. Interestingly, when we previously fired this same Federal brand ammunition in his Taurus revolver, all the cases split also. We even tried some out of another box from a different lot number, with the same result. The rounds did not feel over-pressured, so we surmise that the problem must be something with the case design, metallurgical alloy or wall thickness.
Finally, the 115-grain .327 Mag gave a nice little kick, delivering much less recoil than a .357 Mag, while reaching a velocity of 1,587 ft/s and 620 ft-lb energy. Yeah, baby !
Afterwards, we headed to Tony's Sushi for lunch which was awesome as always. On the way back, we stopped in at GTO AIrboat & Gun Shop for a quick look around. Ole Dog stocked back up on Speer Gold Dot .327 mag PD ammo and a 500-lumens LED flashlight for the lovely misses car. I walked out with a smile on my face.
Knowing that ... I'm working on a couple now.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
Glad you had fun! The cases remind me of when I didn't anneal some work hardened cases properly. No overpressure signs, they just cracked. Maybe there's a problem you should let them know about. Who knows, they may give you a fresh box?
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
Good to see you Florida boys could get together and shoot! I too have an Sp101 in .327 Fed, a very fun revolver to own. I load 38 S&W longs for inexperienced shooters to try and they work well. .32 magnums shoot well and are still mild, .327 Fed mags pack a punch but still not terrible as far as recoil. I tried some of the Speer HD rounds and thought they had the worst recoil but I did not get to chronograph them.
Us PA guys are overdue for a gathering.
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
Stinger said a new SP 101. It is new to me but it is one of the original 3" barrel models from 2008 and 2009. I have a fondness for 3" combat Revolvers. I have a couple of 3" DW BA's, a 3" Manurhin MR73 sport and now the SP 101. Although not a combat revolver, I also have a 31/2" S+W K 22 3rd model transition gun from early 1947. What a sweetie. It may be my most accurate gun I own. It went back to the factory in 1954, I suppose to shorten the barrel. I guess you could call it a prototype premodel 18. Maybe one day I will have a 3" Python.
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
Ah, one of the first batch of Sp101s, a nice acquisition. Mine I bought new about 2 yrs ago, 4.2" version. If Dan Wesson Firearms would make a .327 Fed Mag version of the new 715 I would buy one.
Ole Dog when you get a 3" Python share some pics! Now the Sp101 wasn't the only firearm at your get together was it????
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
Stinger said
lonwolf93 said
If Dan Wesson Firearms would make a .327 Fed Mag version of the new 715 I would buy one.You can have the .32 H&R model's cylinder bored out for the .327 Federal cartridge and the barrel is good to go.
Yeahhh, I considered that but I want a new one. I sometimes tend to want what I can't have I guess.
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
Lonwolf, the two puppies were inside the house shivering on the couch with my wife while we shot. Guns, fireworks and thunder are all scary to them. Unfortunately I have to make it quick if I shoot at home. It is also still hot and humid here. For longer shoots we go to a nearby indoor range. Lunch seems to be the important part of our get-togethers.
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