Rifle in .327 Federal

[gunman5646]

I have finally got my 327 to my LGS and will pick it up on Monday. I have been pursuing it since this last March. I will be doing an extensive range trial next week and be back with pics and my test results. I thought it was great to find that it will handle 32 S&W Longs. This will be my rabbit and squirrel load.

[JEBar]

congrats indeed .... looking forward to your comments and range reports .... be sure to take a look at our How Many ? thread (link below) and add it to our community's total

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 122#p47122

[Mgderf]

I have finally got my 327 to my LGS and will pick it up on Monday. I have been pursuing it since this last March. I will be doing an extensive range trial next week and be back with pics and my test results. I thought it was great to find that it will handle 32 S&W Longs. This will be my rabbit and squirrel load.

You'll really enjoy shooting the .32 S&W longs.
Better lay in a good stock of them. They are just too much fun to shoot.

[gunman5646]

My initial reaction to my Big Boy Steel in .327 Fed. was WOW! To use as a comparison , I fired the somewhat standard 100 gr soft point AE load in my 4 5/8" Single Seven as well. The chronograph told the tale of how much more you can get out of the little straight walled case. Also, as a test of utility, I ran 32 H&R and 32 S&W longs through it both by themselves and in aggregate. The 100 gr AE soft points were running a hot 1500 fps out of the Single Seven, very respectable velocity for a 4 5/8" barrel. The Big Boy with a 20" barrel, spit them out at a sizzling 2008 fps average in a 10 shot string. 500 fps increase is just unreal.
I loaded 32 H&Rs to see how they ran. Just fine ! I mixed 32 S&W longs with the 32 H&Rs and it ran just fine. Good job Henry Repeating Arms!

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[JEBar]

I wish Ruger would make a 327 in their GP double action revolver line .... I'm thoroughly enjoying reading the reports on the performance of the 327 .... please keep posting range reports and comments

[gunman5646]

I wish Ruger would make a 327 in their GP double action revolver line .... I'm thoroughly enjoying reading the reports on the performance of the 327 .... please keep posting range reports and comments

Actually they did for about a year, didn't sell well, due to the GP being an eight shot and way too large for this caliber. I have an eight shot Blackhawk that is no longer in production as well. The SP101 in the 4.12" with target sights is my favorite DA revolver in 327. The Single Seven handles the 327 very well, enough weight, so the hot loads don't hurt.

[TheDon]

I wish Ruger would make a 327 in their GP double action revolver line .... I'm thoroughly enjoying reading the reports on the performance of the 327 .... please keep posting range reports and comments

Actually they did for about a year, didn't sell well, due to the GP being an eight shot and way too large for this caliber. I have an eight shot Blackhawk that is no longer in production as well. The SP101 in the 4.12" with target sights is my favorite DA revolver in 327. The Single Seven handles the 327 very well, enough weight, so the hot loads don't hurt.

I've got the Single Seven in a 5.5", and the 8-shot Blackhawk as well (it only came in 5.5"). Missed out on the 7-shot GP-100 during their short run, and they are drawing way too much $$ for my blood right now due to their scarcity. Waiting to stumble into one for the right money.

In the meantime, trying to figure out which direction to go with the .327 Big Boy, steel or brass, rifle or carbine. I went with steel carbine for my .41, thinking to take it into the woods this fall. Do I get a look-alike .327, or go big and fancy with a brass rifle? Availability is still very spotty with the .327 from what I can see; few rifles out there, and the models seem to be showing up sporadically, i.e., a rifle here, a carbine there...

[Frontiersman]

For me, it's an issue of weight. The brass rifles are really pretty, no debate there, but they are heavy. I bet the small bore of the .32 will be even heavier. I think if it's a looking at gun, and an occasional range gun, then brass is the way to go. If you plan to carry it in the woods, I would go with the steel.

[gunman5646]

You're right on all accounts "Frontiersman". The brass guns are heavier, the 327 is heavier due the smaller hole in the barrel. I wanted the steel carbine, but settled for the 20". I still may still get the carbine, I like the handiness of it and the larger lever loop. My 357 and 327 are almost twins, but that's ok too.

[gunman5646]

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You're right on all accounts "Frontiersman". The brass guns are heavier, the 327 is heavier due the smaller hole in the barrel. I wanted the steel carbine, but settled for the 20". I still may still get the carbine, I like the handiness of it and the larger lever loop. My 357 and 327 are almost twins, but that's ok too. "Don" thanks for the info on the Gp100 model being a seven shooter, I assumed it was an eight like my Black hawk and an eight. My Blackhawk is a "Pinto "model, they only released 60+ of them to the public, out of the 130 or so they built.

[Frontiersman]

Having waited a year for a BBS 20" at my LGS, I decided to invoke Mr. Imperato's invitation to email him for help. I wanted to use it for deer season, and at a month out, figured I had better try harder.

He was very responsive for the first couple weeks, passing me to an employee. He seemed surprised I could not get one as they had been shipping them for months. There was some initial contact with my LGS to communicate distributor info. From what we can tell, distributors are only getting a trickle of guns for a high demand. This left me wondering ... did he actually think supply was meeting demand? I'm sure it is a fickle market.

4 weeks later, no results. My LGS found out they had forgot about me. I wasn't on the list. How do we know? They were contacting him for another customer that arranged a "drop shipment" direct to the dealer (invoiced through distributor), and he asked why the delay with mine.

They vowed to throw another rifle on the truck for me, but it appears to be the wrong one. So, another email sent.

I suppose I should be amazed they respond to customer email at all, but having been offered false hope, I can't help share the disappointment.

I have faith they will sort it out eventually, I'll keep you posted.

[JEBar]

4 weeks later, no results. My LGS found out they had forgot about me. I wasn't on the list. How do we know? They were contacting him for another customer that arranged a "drop shipment" direct to the dealer (invoiced through distributor), and he asked why the delay with mine.

for me, that's impressive .... I wonder what percentage of Owners of companies with such a large customer base would remember that he hadn't heard anything from a request made a month earlier .... I'd suggest another email to him

[Frontiersman]

"Him" was my dealer in that comment. They totally forgot about me. I just didn't get added to someone's list, even though they had contacted my dealer for his info. I did email his employee and cc'd Mr. Imperato from my original email. No reply today.

It's not that I don't understand, I deal with a tremendous customer base myself, it is a real challenge to address everyone as if they are important. The spreadsheets alone are a full time job.

[Frontiersman]

So, I received my rifle today. Yes, it's the model I asked for. It's a very beautiful rifle. There are a couple minor fit and finish details that have been better in my other Henry's, but certainly not enough for me to send it back. Very, very nice overall. The action and trigger are incredibly smooth. I can't imagine how it will get even better after a few hundred rounds, but it probably will.

First, it is amazing that they will deal with their customers at this level, it shouldn't be amazing, but it is. Every company should be doing this.

Now, if I could offer suggestions for improvement ... Mr. Imperato was incredible. Above and beyond. Once assigned to an employee, they should have emailed me and let me know they were working on it. And I should have been affirmed of what was being shipped, when, etc. Once, Mr. Imperato passed the torch, I heard nothing from them. They did communicate with my dealer enough to get it to me. I suppose even that was way above and beyond in today's market. But I should have been bragging all along the process, instead of wondering if and when this was going to happen.

Now, what I will look for ... is if and when these become regularly available to the public. I'll be really surprised if these become common. But as we can see. Anything is possible with Henry.

Information you might find insightful. My rifle was proofed NOV 16. Low 500s serial number. That is like 10 per state, so far. No wonder we are not seeing them on the shelves. So again I wonder, how could we be surprised I didn't already find one?

I will continue to buy Henry rifles. I have more than a few to add to my collection.

[Mgderf]

I had similar issues locating mine too.
Not as bad as yours, but it was an agonizing 8 months.
My serial number is under 120 and I was astounded that it was that low.
Mine was drop shipped to the dealer as well.
I did not request this. It was graciously offered by Mr. Imperato, and I couldn't accept fast enough.

Still, it took 8 months to receive mine from the time I placed the order.
Mine was supposed to have gone through Davisons Gallery of Guns for the distributor.
I was told by the Henry rep that Davison's would be credited with the sale, but they never saw the rifle.
In fact, Davison's STILL doesn't have them in stock.

Love my Henry(s).

[dondra]

I have a weakness for 327 Fed. Mag. fire arms. Four rev. and finally a lever action rifle!
I read over a year ago Henry was going to start Manufacturing them! Hurried over to LGS was informed "it will be a while before we see them here". Finally a year later I stopped in to get some screws for my shotgun. Got them in hand, decided too go look through the Lever guns.Had to read the tag three times before I believed it finally has happened! I laid it away on the spot! Didn't even confer with my bride! ( I've found it's much more enjoyable getting a new gun if she is on board)
Just before Thanksgiving she gave me a check and told me to go get my gun! "Early Christmas Present" . Very exciting , and no buyers remorse.I apologize for the long winded post, but it covers over a year of waiting.

[CharlieW]

Had been having no luck ordering a .327 carbine thru the friendly LGS in town. Caught one on the web while everybody was digesting their turkey dinners, and got it for the opening bid. Took it to the range today, right out of the box, and had a pretty good time. The carbine is tiny and light compared to my .44 Big Boy. It shot well once I adjusted the elevation, tight groups a little to the left, but I think that is mostly me. I ran 85 grain Federals thru it with no issues, had a couple of light strikes on 100 gr Federals - all fired on the second try. I will continue the break in and check some other boxes of Federals. I reload some for my .327 pistols, but the rifle is soft shooting even with the 100 gr. Federals, which are the hottest rounds I have found. These darn Henry's are addicting...

[JEBar]

glad you were able to find a 327 ... please keep us up to date on your search for loads to use with it ..... we have a growing number of 327 owners and from what I can tell, most load their own ammo

[Frontiersman]

So far, I have only tried hand loads. That is probably what I will stick with. I have a number of rifles that I have never fired a jacketed bullet. I have no lead issues using trail boss powder. Here is what I have tried so far.

100 rounds of .32 H&R 94gr (.312) RNFP with Trail Boss.

50 rounds of .32 H&R 115gr (.312) RNFP with Trail Boss.

200 rounds of .327 100gr (.312) RNFP with Trail Boss.

I set my measure to throw TB at about 1/10th inch below the seated bullet base. Most measures throw +/- .1 grains of powder. The little bit of space helps assure you don't get a compressed load. The only time I have seen TB behave erratically, is when you compress it. It is a very easy to load powder. You can load any cartridge with TB using the same method.

All loads were very mild. With the pleasant pop that you don't get from a .22. I don't have a chronograph, but you could tell some difference between .327 and .32 H&R. The extra case capacity probably picks up a 100 fps or so.

[Barbarosa]

Just picked mine up today, used $525 out the door. As new, the guy who purchased it wanted the carbine instead. Hope to shoot it this weekend.