Ruger Forum banner

Blackhawk .30 Carbine vs .327 Fed Mag

32K views 60 replies 29 participants last post by  AZNimrod 
#1 ·
Myself and a buddy of mine are in an argument over small caliber loads in a Blackhawk. Specifically the .30 Carbine vs the new .327 Federal Magnum. The .30 isn't the new and shiny any more and has never had a wide bullet selection but is listed from an unknown barrel length in a handgun as 110 Grain bullet moving 1850 FPS vs .327 115 Grain at 1301 FPS. From the big uptick in numbers there alone it would seem the .30 Carbine would be screaming better. So what are some real world values or experiences that would prove this point or otherwise? Or would this make a good feral hog dispatch. I'm not talking Russian Boar Hogzilla's here, just the average squealer trotting through the woods that would cook up good in a pot. These aren't the kind of hog that you need to tote a .44 anything to knock down.

Thoughts? Opinions? Remarks? Blood curdling screams?
 
#2 ·
well first since the .30 isn't a rimmed cartridge that presents problems right there. next the .30 holds 6 while the .327 holds 8. that fact right there would make me get the .327 over a .30 just because it irritates me when a company can put more rounds into a gun but doesn't for no good reason.
 
#3 ·
yes a .30 carbine will smoke a .327 by 300+ FPS with similar weight bullets.
My thought would be why carry a heavy 30 cal Blackhawk when my lipsey .44 special 240gr cast SWC @ 900fps would do the trick just fine.it's several oz lighter and won't bust your eardrums like a .30 carbine BH will.
 
#4 ·
I own both and prefer not to use 30 carbine ammunition and instead, use 32/20 cases. The 30 carbine is much hotter than the 327 but unless you handload, it's a full metal jacket or a round nose soft point which aren't the best hunting bulets. As already mentioned, the 327 is rimmed which lends itself well for revolver use. All things considered, I'd rather have the 327 for hunting but with using the 32/20 cases in the carbine, one seems just like the other.
 
#5 ·
I wouldn't use either the .30 Carbine OR .327 Federal for hog hunting. I believe hogs are best served with something that starts with a "4".

My choice would be a minimum of a .44 Special (reloads), .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt (w/reloads).

But, that's just me...

Dale53
 
#8 ·
I know exactly what you mean. I wonder how someone comes up with a "4" in an arrow shaft and bow hunters kill boar all the time. I've taken deer with a 22 Hornet but of course, if we want to shoot through them and have the energy spent in the hillside behind them, we ned a "4". :) Kind of like deer hunting with a 7mm mag or a 300 Winchester.
 
#9 ·
The .30 carbine is a .308 caliber and the .32-20 uses .313 caliber bullets. Is that even safe? The cartridge dimensions aren't even that close. Maybe the Blackhawk frame is strong enough but that is a heck of a thing to take on faith.

HOWEVER...

I have been curious since the .32 H R came out why we don't just make a decent revolver in .32-20... It has always been a decent deer rifle and I personally think all the lever actions that were bored out to .357 is the only reason the .32-20 lost so much popularity. Maybe a BH in .32-20 would be one nice thing to wish for...
 
#10 ·
I know exactly what you mean. I wonder how someone comes up with a "4" in an arrow shaft and bow hunters kill boar all the time. I've taken deer with a 22 Hornet but of course, if we want to shoot through them and have the energy spent in the hillside behind them, we ned a "4". Kind of like deer hunting with a 7mm mag or a 300 Winchester.
While I agree that too many hunters attempt to make up for lack of skill (either shooting or hunting skill) with power. the bow analogy is a pretty good streach as I wouldn't respect any hunter who used field tips on biggame and broad-heads are way bigger than .4.:eek::D
 
#14 ·
That's another matter in itself.
A broadhead is bigger than a 4? The original post refered to a "4" as a caliber begining with the number 4. Since the post was specific to handgun calibers, he must have meant the 44. A broadhead is bigger than a 44? So is a coffee cup but I'm assuming by the term "Bigger", you must mean more powerful. Now an arrow with broadhead being shot from a bow with a 70 lb. draw weight, will be in the neighborhood of 700 grains. This arrow will be flying at around 250 fps, plus or minus. This produces about 100 foot pounds of energy upon release. A 240 grain bulet from the 44 mag, flying at 1100 fps is about 650 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. The 327 using a 100 grain bullet at 1300 fps, produces close to 400 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Again, I am confused about how you arrived at the basis for your statement that the broadhead is bigger than the 44 but...........whatever you say.
 
#15 ·
I have shot a couple of .30 carbine Blackhawks, and they are awesome, huge muzzle blast, and big noise. I would actually prefer to have one over the .327, but the .30 carbine ammo is harder to find around here. The owner of my local gun store carries a .327 s&w, so he keeps a good bit of .327 ammo on the shelves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DaddyO66
#16 ·
cup but I'm assuming by the term "Bigger", you must mean more powerful.
there's one mistake. By bigger I meant just that Bigger.
Since the post was specific to handgun calibers, he must have meant the 44.
there's another 40 S&W, 41 mag, 45 colt, 45 acp, 480 Ruger and a dozen others start with 4.

and kinetic energy is not always a good representation of power,especially since a bow really doesn't use kinetic energy to kill. it uses momentum and the design of the razer sharp broadheads to make a large wound channel.
If your still confused I can explain more or you might try reasearching it on your own. Be sure to get someone to tell you what the big words mean.
 
#19 ·
there's one mistake. By bigger I meant just that Bigger.

there's another 40 S&W, 41 mag, 45 colt, 45 acp, 480 Ruger and a dozen others start with 4.

and kinetic energy is not always a good representation of power,especially since a bow really doesn't use kinetic energy to kill. it uses momentum and the design of the razer sharp broadheads to make a large wound channel.
If your still confused I can explain more or you might try reasearching it on your own. Be sure to get someone to tell you what the big words mean.
I wasn't talking about kinetic energy, I was talking about hydrostatic shock. That incapacitates and kills quicker than blood loss by damaging tisue by it's hydraulic effect. Kinetic energy is generated by momentum, aka speed, velocity. But you say the bow doesn't use it but then again, it does. And if you don't think it does, shoot your arrow at 50fps and see how well it does with making a good wound channel.
Now you are going to say that a 800 fps 45acp is better than a 1300fps 327 for hunting?
 
#18 ·
I wouldn't use either the .30 Carbine OR .327 Federal for hog hunting. I believe hogs are best served with something that starts with a "4".
I believe you need to aim better. My .30 carbine and .357 mag blackhawks will drop them where they stand everytime. Oh, and .30 carbine mil surplus ball will go through and through a 100lb hogs head.
 
#20 ·
Elmer Keith was the last word and he chose heavy handgun bullets over light bullets zipping along. Check out his book "Sixguns". If I remember correctly, the 30 carbine was designed to wound the enemy instead of making them dead so that one or two others would have to tend to their wounded, taking more than one person out of action.
 
#35 ·
Not true. The carbine was designed to replace the .45 Pistol for those who are not front line riflemen. It was designed for soldiers who were radio operators, mortar crew men, machine gun crews, field grade officers. No weapon in the US military arsenal was intended to be non-lethal, at least WW II era weaponry.

Bob Wright
 
#21 ·
That 327 Federal is tempting, all right. I have 30 M1 Carbine ammo, brass, moulds, and dies with nothing to do, though. A 30 Carbine BH is the least expensive route these days to having a firearm to shoot the caliber with.

Yes, the rimless casings can be problematic in a revolver. The 32-20 casing can be a resolution to this issue. Just use the 30 Carbine die set and .308"-.309" bullets, and all will be well. Factory 32-20 loads usually run .310" bullets, and the charges are quite docile. No way will these loads hurt a Blackhawk.

A 30 Carbine BH is on my short list of toys to find, as soon as that money tree in the side yard produces a market crop. It would look really good with Bisley accoutrements, but one thing at a time. :)
 
#22 ·
I wasn't talking about kinetic energy, I was talking about hydrostatic shock.
I really wish you had a better understanding of the terms and concepts your trying to use. It'd be easier to have an intellegent conversation.
But you say the bow doesn't use it but then again, it does. And if you don't think it does, shoot your arrow at 50fps and see how well it does with making a good wound channel.
I said the bow uses momentum (P=MV) if you reduce velocity,momentum will be reduced linearly.
 
#24 ·
I really wish you had a better understanding of the terms and concepts your trying to use. It'd be easier to have an intellegent conversation.

I said the bow uses momentum (P=MV) if you reduce velocity,momentum will be reduced linearly.
LOL There isn't an easy way to have an intelligent with you since you know it all. Now that you have such a firm grasp on the principals of physics, you should pull your communication skills out of the toilet and polish them up a bit.
 
#25 ·
The .30 Carbine has a definite advantage in velocity over the 327 Federal because the case is about .080" longer than the 327 and is also somewhat larger at the base, thereby increasing the case capacity.

This makes the use of slower burning propellants feasible, which will result in higher velocities with bullets of similar weight and with similar pressures.

It also provides for a great ball of fire at the muzzle and ear splitting noise.

Probably the 327 Federal is better that way, but I would think not by much.

The rimless part of it is meaningless in a single action revolver, so if it is a blackhawk that you have in mind, don't worry about that.

As to it's usefulness, that is highly debatable.....my opinion is that neither one is actually very useful in a handgun.

In a lightweight rifle, that may be different.
 
#59 ·
The .30 Carbine has a definite advantage in velocity over the 327 Federal because the case is about .080" longer than the 327 and is also somewhat larger at the base, thereby increasing the case capacity.

This makes the use of slower burning propellants feasible, which will result in higher velocities with bullets of similar weight and with similar pressures.

It also provides for a great ball of fire at the muzzle and ear splitting noise.

Probably the 327 Federal is better that way, but I would think not by much.

The rimless part of it is meaningless in a single action revolver, so if it is a blackhawk that you have in mind, don't worry about that.

As to it's usefulness, that is highly debatable.....my opinion is that neither one is actually very useful in a handgun.

In a lightweight rifle, that may be different.
In a ruger blackhawk think of a freedom arms revolver. The cylinder is massive for the little cartridge. Handloading will generate way higher velocities than the .30 carbine. HOWEVER we are not talking about the single seven.
 
#26 ·
I've had my .30 carbine Blackhawk for over 5 yrs and find myself shooting more often than my .357 SP101, simply because it's funner.

BTW, my .30 carbine Blackhawk is certainly NO LOUDER than my .357!

I reload using:
1. 110 gr Berry's plated bullets
2. 15 gr of Hodgdon H110
3. CCI small rifle mag primers
4. Starline brass

Never once had a misfire; never once had an extraction difficulty.
 
#27 ·
I lived in Hawaii in the early 1970's and apparently a lot of .30 M-1 carbines were sold there on the surplus market following WWII. I started hog hunting with some of the locals and that was the only weapon 90% of them carried in those days. To my surprise, I witnessed many one shot stops on big Hawaiian tuskers up to 250 lbs. with the little round. Only the surplus military 110 grn. rounds were used and typical shots in the thick cover weren't much beyond 25yds. The locals were quite skilled with the little carbines and second shots were rare (plus the well-being of their dogs depended on their marksmanship). I really don't see why the Blackhawk in this caliber wouldn't be just as effective in thick cover at ranges under 25 yds. as well.
 
#28 ·
Cant comment on the .30. but I have the 327 FM Blackhawk. My favorite trail / hunting revolver. And it certainly makes a mess of coyotes. Accurate as hell too. Coffee cans @100 yards is no problem. 150 yards off the bench with the same results. It is alot more accurate than I am. I use American Eagle 100 grain 99% of the time. The 85 grain tend to float around a bit beyond 50 yards for some reason. The "sonic crack" of the 327 makes ear plugs a must,, which can sometimes be problematic while hunting. but its an excellent hunting round. I wouldnt be too afraid to try it on deer, although I have not had the opportunity yet. I know hogs can be tough, but IMHO, i think it would get the job done.
The American Eagle 100 grain are 1701 fps on a 5" bbl. 1874 fps on a 7" bbl. So I dont know what ammo/ chart you were looking at.
 
#29 ·
I currently own a single seven 327 mag and I owned a .30 Bh for a while and still have a m1 that my dad bought for $20 from a nra surplus deal in the 60s I believe. And while the .30 carbine blackhawk was fun to plink around with, it did have ALOT of muzzle blast and a huge fireball not to mention ear splitting report. Only creature I ever shot with it was a armadillo at around 25ft and it did take multiple shots to dispatch him completely but the bullets were just passing straight through without doing much damage due to the high velocity and .30 carbine factory ammo isn't great for hunting. In my opinion the .30 is a ok choice for hunting if you handload it. I find it to be a "boutique" round for those who want to play around with it. After all it was designed as a people shooter not a hunting round. As far as .30 Bh vs 327 Bh for hunting, I'd have to give the nod towards the 327. Better factory ammo selection along with more handloading options, choice of barrel lengths, option of shooting 5 different calibers in one revolver, 2 more shots as the 327 Bh is a 8 shot, and in my personal experience with south Louisiana pigs, bigger heavier bullets with more knock-down power perform better than lighter higher velocity rounds. Just my .02
 
#48 ·
Yep, cost you about $2 a pop, no thanks. I can shoot a .41 mag faster and harder for about 10 cents a pop.

The 327 makes a lot more sense than a 30 carbine. More platform choices with basically the same velocity and energy at a lesser cost.

The advertised FPS on that BB load is in a carbine not the Blackhawk. I believe in the Blackhawk they were getting about 1525 FPS vs the 2000+ for the carbine. I can get 1500 fps with a 115 bullet for about 8 cents in the 327.
 
Top