.32 H&R Magnum / .327 Federal for Pistol Cartridge?

[Jetmugg]

No updates yet on my .327 Magnum results. The rifle is still sitting in my gun safe, unfired. I have installed a Williams rear sight, and also have a set of scope bases to be used when ammo testing at some point.

Yesterday was the first day I was able to get out to the local club to sight-in and sort out any rifles for the upcoming silhouette season which starts on March 15th.

Hopefully, yesterday was only the first of many such days. I have a couple of new rifles to sort out, and I probably spend too much time messing around with different sighting setups, trying to find the best combination of components.

[chicknsnipr60]

Took my 327mag out last Wednesday and was well pleased. Loaded two loads 5.0 and 5.5 titegroup.Got speeds 1655 to 1700 with no recoil. Bottomed out was shooting over chickens. Shot the pigs and was dead on with hits on top of each other on a swinger. Shot the ram with same setting and had a dead center hit. spread was 48 and had a dev of 14. Going to change front sight and put it on paper.

[Jetmugg]

Thank you for the report, Chickensniper for the report. Your results are definitely encouraging. Also - BIG THANKS for sharing your load data. My .327 is still sitting in the safe in unfired condition, but that should change pretty quickly. The first Pistol Cartridge lever action match is April 12th. I will most likely shoot my existing .22 WMR rifle in that match, but hope to shoot the .327 this weekend with some factory loaded ammo to get an initial break-in and sight settings.

Thanks again,

steve.

[Jetmugg]

Took my 327mag out last Wednesday and was well pleased. Loaded two loads 5.0 and 5.5 titegroup.Got speeds 1655 to 1700 with no recoil. Bottomed out was shooting over chickens. Shot the pigs and was dead on with hits on top of each other on a swinger. Shot the ram with same setting and had a dead center hit. spread was 48 and had a dev of 14. Going to change front sight and put it on paper.

Oooh - one more question if you are willing to share: Which bullet offering are you using with those loads? 80 grains, 95 grains, something else entirely?

[chicknsnipr60]

Sorry about that, I used 105 gr from Bear Creek out of California.

[Jetmugg]

Updates following the first Pistol Cartridge Silhouette match I shot with Henry .327 Mag and factory loaded .327 85 grain Federal American Eagle ammo.

This rifle has plenty of ZAP - very flat shooting from 40 yards all the way to 100. Way more power than necessary to take down rams with authority at 100 yards. I managed to shoot 30/50 in one match and 29/40 in the second match of the day. Pretty good for me, but not quite my personal best. It's currently set up with a Lyman 17ATC front sight and Williams FP rear sight which would also fit a Marlin 336. I had to use the extra-tall front sight in order to achieve a usable zero at 50 yards.

I shot some of the Federal American Eagle .32 H&R magnum ammo through this rifle as well. Accuracy was good with the H&R magnum, but feeding was not as reliable when compared to the longer .327 rounds.

Trigger on the Henry is not great. I have ordered one of the Ranger Precision drop-in triggers which should help a bit. We shall see how that aftermarket trigger works in the near future.

I've ordered a set of reloading dies, CCI #550 primers, and a box of 85 grain Hornady XTP bullets. My intent is to work up a reduced-power load with the goal of maximizing accuracy at 100Y. In all, I'm calling this first outing a success.

Steve.