Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Post-Apocalyptic Versatility


In my recent review of the Taurus Model 327, I mentioned the versatility of revolvers in the .327 Federal Magnum chambering, noting that they'd fire four different revolver cartridges, as well as .32ACP in a pinch.

Now, while you can shoot semi-rimmed cartridges in these things, as a general rule you shouldn't. There's enough rim to headspace, but not enough to eject reliably, and you'll often wind up with cases under the star needing to be pried out with tools.

On the other hand, if you're roaming a post-apocalyptic wasteland and are completely out of actual .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum, and .327 Federal Magnum ammo, and you stumble across an old, half-empty box of .32 ACP Winchester Silvertips, it's not going to blow the gun up or anything; even .32 H&R has a higher SAAMI maximum pressure than .32 Auto. Just don't expect much in the way of accuracy, what with the bullet having to jump all that freebore.

I remember a dude coming into Randy's Guns & Knives way back in the day and asking if Taurus was going to make a .38 Super version of his .357 Magnum Tracker.
"Unlikely."

"Well, can your gunsmith make me an interchangeable .38 Super cylinder?"

*I waved my hand at his beltline* "POOF! There you go. Now you have a .38 Super cylinder."

"But..."

"Why do you want a .38 Super cylinder?"

"You know, for the versatility. Like in a zombie apocalypse or whatever."

"Dude, in what possible zombie apocalypse would you be unable to find any .38 Special or .357 Mag, but be able to score .38 Super? You can hardly do that now, without a single zombie around. There are umpteen cases of .38 and .357 on those shelves over there and, like, six boxes of .38 Super."
Definitely, though, avoid trying this trick with .32 S&W Long revolvers. Maximum pressure on the .32 Auto is significantly higher than the older Smith cartridge, by something like 33 percent.

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