TexasCHLforum.com

The biggest 327 MAG loading by Speer has the same ballistics of the much venerated Illinois State Police load, which delivers a115 grain, 9mm bullet at 1300 fps/432 me. I would like to see an offshoot of this modern revolver round chambered in a lightweight high capacity semi automatic pistol. Springfield has got 19 rounds of 9mm crammed into the XD Nine now. I'm thinking 24-25 rounds might be possible with a 327 ACP. That would be a good thing when the chips are down. And a single stack? Let's don't even go there.

By overkill I meant more caliber than necessary when used against the average person. The 45 ACP was a takeoff from the Colt 45 Long, which was designed to take down horses when armies used mounted calvary. The 44 Special was intended to duplicate in a revolver the ballistics of the 45 ACP. The 44 MAGNUM is simply off the charts for people. This is not to say they aren't all highly effective rounds when used against humans. But they're not going to kill 'em any deader than a properly placed shot from a 38 Special.

If I was buying a new gun, I might run in the opposite direction and get the 327 MAGNUM in a six shooter. It's a shame the first truly modern revolver ammo design since the age of the dinosaurs seems to have hit a brick wall and could crater out. It's got great power to weight ratio, superb ballistics, expansion and penetration. The guns for it are light and easy to handle and conceal. What more could you ask for in a carry gun for PD? They're gonna sell a million copies if it gets chambered in an eight shot K frame 315 Night Guard. Or an aluminum SP101 Ruger.

Keith,

Somewhere in between 125 grains and 180 grains lays the perfect bullet weight for use against humans, disregarding cross sectional area for the moment. And somewhere between 900 fps and 1200 fps is the perfect velocity for that magic bullet.

A 152.5 grain bullet at 1050 FPS/373 ME is in the middle of all that. Pretty darn close to what you would get from a 2.5 inch barrel with a 158 grain Gold Dot hollow point.

Actually, that's probably a little too much on average sized people. Something about 135-140 grains may be closer to the optimum.

44 Special is nice, but overkill with today's modern hollow point ammo unless you want to shoot ball or EFMJ. Ditto the 45 ACP.

JMHO. This topic never ends, and I never get tired of working it over.