GunCritic
GunCritic

.327 Federal Magnum VS .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

Head to Head Comparison

.327 Federal Magnum

Guncritic Icon
50%

Critic Rating

0 Reviews

Guncritic Icon
50%

User Rating

0 Reviews

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

Guncritic Icon
50%

Critic Rating

0 Reviews

Guncritic Icon
50%

User Rating

0 Reviews

MSRP:

$23.05

Used Price:

$23.05

New Price:

$25.61

MSRP:

$19.54

Used Price:

$19.54

New Price:

$21.71

Gun Specifications

Specifications

.327 Federal Magnum

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

Height

1.20

1.16

Average FPS

1427

876

Average Grain

100

138

Average Energy

452

235

Recoil

0.67

0.53

Ballistic Coefficient

160.00

140.71

Gun Stats

Recently Deals

.327 Federal Magnum

Guns.com

$0.00

See Deal

EuroOptic.com

$0.00

See Deal

Sportsman's Warehouse

$0.00

See Deal

MidwayUSA

$25.61

See Deal

GrabAGun

$25.29

See Deal

Guns.com

$0.00

See Deal

Firearms Depot

$0.00

See Deal

Cheaper Than Dirt

$34.26

See Deal

Optics Planet

$0.00

See Deal

KYGUNCO

$29.99

See Deal

Brownells.com

$29.99

See Deal

Academy Sports + Outdoors

$0.00

See Deal

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

Guns.com

$0.00

See Deal

EuroOptic.com

$0.00

See Deal

Sportsman's Warehouse

$0.00

See Deal

MidwayUSA

$21.19

See Deal

GrabAGun

$14.29

See Deal

Guns.com

$0.00

See Deal

Firearms Depot

$0.00

See Deal

Cheaper Than Dirt

$24.89

See Deal

Optics Planet

$0.00

See Deal

KYGUNCO

$21.71

See Deal

Brownells.com

$18.39

See Deal

Academy Sports + Outdoors

$0.00

See Deal

Gun Descriptions

.327 Federal Magnum

About The .327 Federal Magnum Ammo is a cartridge that was designed in 2007 with the intention to create the power of a .357 Magnum Ammo in a six-shot, small revolvers, whose cylinders otherwise would only hold five shots. The .327 Federal Magnum Ammo has even been used in revolvers with a maximum capacity of seven shots or more. The .327 Federal Magnum Ammo was an attempt to improve the .32 H&H Magnum Ammo and therefore was based on its casing. The .327 Federal Magnum Ammo was given a 1/8-inch longer cartridge, with the strengthened web at the base, thicker walls of the casing, and different metallurgy and heat-treatment, all of which allowed it to be loaded to higher pressure levels than its predecessors. The overall length of the .327 Federal Magnum Ammo is 37mm, and the bullet diameter measures 7.9mm. The 100-grain bullet variant of the .327 Federal Magnum Ammo can travel at a velocity of 1,655 feet per second while creating an energy level of 640 ft.lbf.  Manufacturer The .327 Federal Magnum Ammo was designed in 2007 by Federal Premium Ammunition and was sold by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Uses  With the lighter variants of the .327 Federal Magnum Ammo, hunters can seamlessly and accurately hunt down small game while enjoying a low recoil. The heavier variants of this cartridge can take down the deer family and protect you from specific predators. 

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

Designed by Smith & Wesson, 38 Special ammo is a centerfire rimmed cartridge commonly used in handguns. It is also compatible with a few semi-automatic carbines and pistols. Also known as 38 S&W, .38 Smith & Wesson Special, or 38 Spl, this handgun cartridge is popular for its accuracy and manageable recoil. It was used as the main service cartridge for most US Police departments between the 1920s and the 1990s. 38 Special Specifications: Cartridge Case: .38 Long Colt Cartridge Case type: Rimmed, straight Diameter of Bullet: 9.1 mm (.357 in) Base diameter: 9.6 mm (.379 in) Neck diameter: 9.6 mm (.379 in) Rim thickness: 1.5 mm (.058 in) Rim diameter: .44 in (11 mm) Length of Case: 1.155 in (29.3 mm) Overall length: 1.550 in (39.4 mm) Case capacity: 1.52 cm3 (23.4 gr H2O) Max pressure: 17,500 psi (121 MPa) Smith & Wesson is the manufacturer of 38 Special Ammo. But now, several other companies are also manufacturing 38 Special Ammo. 38 Special Ammo is good for hand loaders. 38 Special Ammo is almost similar to 38 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt, and 357 Magnum, except for the difference in case length. As the construction is identical, 38 Special Ammo can be used in handguns chambered for 357 Magnum. 38 Short Colt and 38 Long Colt can be fired safely from handguns chambered for 38 Special. The straight walls of the cartridge, rim’s head spacing, accessibility of earlier fired cases, and the compatibility with 357 Magnum firearms made it much popular.

Suggested Comparisons

.32 H&R Magnum vs .327 Federal Magnum

.327 Federal Magnum vs .380 Auto (9mm Browning Short)

.327 Federal Magnum vs .357 Magnum

.32 H&R Magnum vs .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

.357 Magnum vs .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) vs .38 Super

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) vs .38 WCF

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) vs .38 LC

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) vs 45 LC/ 410 GA