327 Federal Mag in S&W 432 PD?

Six-Ring · October 10, 2009, 11:03 PM

The owner of my local gunshop tells me it should be possible to safely ream out the chambers of a S&W 432 PD revolver in 32 H&R Mag to 327 Federal Mag (since the rounds are so similar in dimension). Any thoughts or opinions?

laytonj1 · October 10, 2009, 11:14 PM

The M432 is an aluminum alloy "J" frame. great for the 32 H&R but the 32 H&R operates at ~21K psi. The 327 Federal is 45K psi. At over double the pressure I would think it's a bad idea.

Jim

Claude Clay · October 10, 2009, 11:21 PM

reaming is futile

the cylinder is maxed out by the length of a 32 mag. the longer 327 fed would be hanging out.....ooops

laytonj1 · October 10, 2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

the cylinder is maxed out by the length of a 32 mag. the longer 327 fed would be hanging out.....ooops

The 432 and the current 632 (chambered in 327 Fed) use the same length cylinder, 1.59"

Jim

Claude Clay · October 10, 2009, 11:37 PM

interesting.....i was going by my out of production 332

news to me that the newer 432's had a longer cylinder
thank you for the correction/update

laytonj1 · October 10, 2009, 11:53 PM

According to the SCSW the 332 also had a 1.59" cylinder.
The 32 H&R uses a 1.075" case vs. the 1.2" case of the 327 Fed.
I quick check of my Ruger SP101 shows it's cylinder to be just over 1.58" and it's chambered in 357 Magnum.

Jim

Claude Clay · October 11, 2009, 12:05 AM

you are correct--i used calipers rather than a round i made.

i load 100 grain lead SWC on 3.5 of bullseye. this uses up all but a taste of the cylinder.....it is not a load found in any manual; it is however what i use.
and it is hot.

good luck on your project if you do ream it.
please post a follow up.

Six-Ring · October 11, 2009, 04:09 PM

I found similar questions posted on two other firearms forums.

The consensus is that firing 327 Federal Magnum rounds in the S&W 432PD 32 H&R Magnum revolver would most likely result in stretching of the alloy frame and/or erosion of the top strap above the cylinder-barrel gap due to the significantly increased pressure. Both of these could lead to catastrophic failure of the handgun while firing.

Note that S&W has a 327 Federal Magum revolver (Model 632 Carry Comp Pro Series), but this revolver has a stainless steel frame and cylinder.

tjh · October 11, 2009, 10:31 PM

Know a guy who got tired of waiting and had his sp101 cylinder bored to 327mag . Works great .

bigghoss · October 12, 2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Know a guy who got tired of waiting and had his sp101 cylinder bored to 327mag . Works great .

because the sp101 in .32 is made out of the same stainless steel as the .327 and .357 versions but the smith in question is an alloy

carguychris · October 12, 2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

The consensus is that firing 327 Federal Magnum rounds in the S&W 432PD 32 H&R Magnum revolver would most likely result in stretching of the alloy frame and/or erosion of the top strap above the cylinder-barrel gap due to the significantly increased pressure... Note that S&W has a 327 Federal Magum revolver (Model 632 Carry Comp Pro Series), but this revolver has a stainless steel frame and cylinder.

Here's the most telling fact: AFAIK S&W has never released a revolver with an Airweight aluminum-alloy frame chambered for a cartridge with a SAAMI max pressure above ~25k psi. S&W revolvers chambered for hotter rounds such as the .357Mag and .44Mag are only offered with a steel frame or a scandium-alloy AirLite frame.

This idea has "gun-destroying kB!" written all over it.

I'm wondering if this gun store owner had heard about reaming out S&W J frames in .32 Long (M30 & M31) to take .32 H&R Mag. This is fairly commonplace and, according to what I've read, quite safe. This is not surprising because .32 H&R Mag has a max pressure of 21k psi, only slightly more than a .38Spl+P; IMHO it's really more like .32 Long +P than a true Magnum round.

OTOH the max pressure of .327Fed is more than double the max pressure of .32 H&R Mag.

SaberOne · October 12, 2009, 09:23 AM

Based on your post it would appear the owner of the gun shop that provided you with such advice is a salesman with virtually no technical weapons or ammunition experience. If you want a .327 then consider an S&W 632 or equivalent.

In fact, I’ve been considering this same revolver for myself and I get the fever each time I visit my local shop. Because it’s so different, it’s unlikely to jump off the shelf although that’s part of the reason I want it. Likewise, I think it would make a nice match for my 642-P.
Regards,

Magnum Wheel Man · October 12, 2009, 10:06 AM

I have one of the guns in question, & a very knowledgable retired tool & die guy as a personal friend & gunsmith... he would not do the conversion for me, because of the extreme difference in pressure... he not only questioned the frame being able to handle the additional pressure, but the cylinder as well... & if the cylinder were to fail, in effect, you are holding a hand grenade

I'd advise strongly from doing the light weight S&W... of course the Ruger is a horse of another color...

bigghoss · October 12, 2009, 11:41 AM

personally for SD I'd rather just stick to the .357 mag however I think it might be cool if ruger made a .327 single six or a 4" sp101 with adjustable sights for critter control. or maybe just add adjustable sights to the 3".

CraigC · October 12, 2009, 11:58 AM

The gunshop dummy is right, it is possible to rechamber your cylinder to .327Federal. Whether or not the gun would withstand the pressures of the .327 cartridge are extremely debatable. Sounds like playing with fire in these lightweight guns.

October 10, 2009, 11:03 PM	#1
Six-Ring Junior Member Join Date: October 10, 2009 Posts: 2	327 Federal Mag in S&W 432 PD? The owner of my local gunshop tells me it should be possible to safely ream out the chambers of a S&W 432 PD revolver in 32 H&R Mag to 327 Federal Mag (since the rounds are so similar in dimension). Any thoughts or opinions?

October 10, 2009, 11:21 PM	#3
Claude Clay Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 325	reaming is futile the cylinder is maxed out by the length of a 32 mag. the longer 327 fed would be hanging out.....ooops __________________ NRA Instructor -- NRA Basic Pistol & Re-Loading Make a fire for a man and you warm him for the night Light him on fire and you warm him for the rest of his life

October 10, 2009, 11:37 PM	#5
Claude Clay Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 325	interesting.....i was going by my out of production 332 news to me that the newer 432's had a longer cylinder thank you for the correction/update __________________ NRA Instructor -- NRA Basic Pistol & Re-Loading Make a fire for a man and you warm him for the night Light him on fire and you warm him for the rest of his life

October 11, 2009, 12:05 AM	#7
Claude Clay Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 325	you are correct--i used calipers rather than a round i made. i load 100 grain lead SWC on 3.5 of bullseye. this uses up all but a taste of the cylinder.....it is not a load found in any manual; it is however what i use. and it is hot. good luck on your project if you do ream it. please post a follow up. __________________ NRA Instructor -- NRA Basic Pistol & Re-Loading Make a fire for a man and you warm him for the night Light him on fire and you warm him for the rest of his life

October 11, 2009, 04:09 PM	#8
Six-Ring Junior Member Join Date: October 10, 2009 Posts: 2	Thank You For Your Input I found similar questions posted on two other firearms forums. The consensus is that firing 327 Federal Magnum rounds in the S&W 432PD 32 H&R Magnum revolver would most likely result in stretching of the alloy frame and/or erosion of the top strap above the cylinder-barrel gap due to the significantly increased pressure. Both of these could lead to catastrophic failure of the handgun while firing. Note that S&W has a 327 Federal Magum revolver (Model 632 Carry Comp Pro Series), but this revolver has a stainless steel frame and cylinder. Last edited by Six-Ring; October 11, 2009 at 04:15 PM. Reason: Spelling errors

October 10, 2009, 11:14 PM	#2
laytonj1 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2005 Posts: 4,443	The M432 is an aluminum alloy "J" frame. great for the 32 H&R but the 32 H&R operates at ~21K psi. The 327 Federal is 45K psi. At over double the pressure I would think it's a bad idea. Jim

October 10, 2009, 11:53 PM	#6
laytonj1 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2005 Posts: 4,443	According to the SCSW the 332 also had a 1.59" cylinder. The 32 H&R uses a 1.075" case vs. the 1.2" case of the 327 Fed. I quick check of my Ruger SP101 shows it's cylinder to be just over 1.58" and it's chambered in 357 Magnum. Jim

October 11, 2009, 10:31 PM	#9
tjh Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2009 Location: North Central Ohio Posts: 171	Know a guy who got tired of waiting and had his sp101 cylinder bored to 327mag . Works great .

October 12, 2009, 09:23 AM	#12
SaberOne Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2009 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 292	Based on your post it would appear the owner of the gun shop that provided you with such advice is a salesman with virtually no technical weapons or ammunition experience. If you want a .327 then consider an S&W 632 or equivalent. In fact, I’ve been considering this same revolver for myself and I get the fever each time I visit my local shop. Because it’s so different, it’s unlikely to jump off the shelf although that’s part of the reason I want it. Likewise, I think it would make a nice match for my 642-P. Regards, __________________ “Monsters are real and so are ghosts. They live inside of us, and sometimes they win.” ~ Stephen King

October 12, 2009, 10:06 AM	#13
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I have one of the guns in question, & a very knowledgable retired tool & die guy as a personal friend & gunsmith... he would not do the conversion for me, because of the extreme difference in pressure... he not only questioned the frame being able to handle the additional pressure, but the cylinder as well... & if the cylinder were to fail, in effect, you are holding a hand grenade I'd advise strongly from doing the light weight S&W... of course the Ruger is a horse of another color... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

October 12, 2009, 11:41 AM	#14
bigghoss Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2006 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 2,664	personally for SD I'd rather just stick to the .357 mag however I think it might be cool if ruger made a .327 single six or a 4" sp101 with adjustable sights for critter control. or maybe just add adjustable sights to the 3". __________________ I don't collect guns, I accumulate them.

October 12, 2009, 11:58 AM	#15
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	The gunshop dummy is right, it is possible to rechamber your cylinder to .327Federal. Whether or not the gun would withstand the pressures of the .327 cartridge are extremely debatable. Sounds like playing with fire in these lightweight guns.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search