yes and i own both don't know where the.327 gets the rap as a ladys gun but they are very loud sharp recoil high pressure round,in a lite small frame they jump around ,both of daughters have shot the .327 and like the .38 better even to the point of .38+p over .327,now you can shoot .32mag and weaker rounds in the .327 but that kind of takes the only factor it had away,plus you can shop all the differant ammo in .38 till you can get a happy medium for your mom in the .327 you are not going to get much to choose from.

 

For at the range or home defense? If recreational shooting the Taurus .22s are pretty nice price/quality....sorry not meaning to stray away from the rounds mentioned

 

HD/SD

 

The good thing about the .327 Mag. revolver can also fire .32 H&R Mag. and .32 S&W Long cartridges which are not that strong. That being said .38 wadcutters are in the same line as "puff" rounds and are way easierto find and cheaper. Is she planning on carrying or if it's just HD one of the best is the good old S&W Model 10 w/ 3" barrel. Not cheap but it a good size for her hands and weight to lessen recoil ... that and $1.79 will get you a cup of coffee at McD's.

 

I cocked and locked a .45 for my Grandmother and she kept it by her bedside until she needed it. She was 93 then. Made me bring her a lighter gun as she had to rest it on her walker because she couldn't hold it up while she waited for the perp to enter her house. I laughed until I cried, then took her another gun.

 

45 Long Colt. Easy shooting revolver round

 

That's a hard one. If she can't rack a slide, you definitely have a challenge.

Does she have a concealed carry permit?
If she is going to use it around the house, have you considered a shotgun?

I know that doesn't answer your question.
I'm useless. (walking away with head down and tail tucked)

 

how is the felt recoil

my mom (small framed lady in her mid 60's) wants to get a revolver (she doesn't have the strength to rack the slide on a semiautomatic)

was wondering if anyone had experience with BOTH the .327 and the .38

thanks!

I have not shot the .327 but have been told by ones who have it is pretty snappy.But as mentioned before there are lots of .38 loads to pick from and guns chambered for it. I'm all about revolvers for inexperienced shooters one FTF and all that person has is a stone to throw. Also don't go with a snubby, a 4 inch barrel gives a much better sight picture. IMHO in this world of the latest, greatest, super tactical gun of the day we forget to K.I.S.S.! Keep It Simple Stupid something we forget in progress and purpose.

 

Really, the only reason to go with the .327 is to get something approaching .357 numbers with one more round in the cylinder on the snubbie. If you're going with a recoil sensitive shooter, go with the .38. It can still do the job.

 

My mom's pretty much in the same boat as yours, she's early 60's with weak hand and a bit of recoil sensitivity (although not one shooting related discussion goes by that she doesn't tell me how much she loves shooting a 1911) anyway back on topic, she's also shot a S&W airweight .38 with a 1-point-something inch or 2" barrel and a S&W Model 10 with a 3" barrel. She hasn't shot any hollow points or +P's but she does great with wadcutters. So that would be my recommendation for her. You can also find plenty of gunsmiths who can lighten the trigger pull of a double action revolver if its to much for her. Good luck, I hope I helped at least a little bit!

 

I'm with @therange on this one. If my Mom was in here mid-60ish and I was going to put a shooter in her hands, it would be a Taurus or Baretta flip-top .22. She wouldn't have to rack the slide, her follow-up shots would be "spot-on" and the trigger pull wouldn't be that of a double-action or having to pull back the hammer She has only to take it off "safe", and start pullin' the trigger. 8-10 rounds on tap. Cheap to practice with, no "big-boom" and easy on the wrists. If a .38 or .327 (.32) is shot inside a house....imagine the noise and flash to add to the equation along with the adrenalin already going on. A .22 has great potential and CDNN has the Taurus for $189.00. The CCI ammo or any of the brand-name studd isn't gonna let you down. I keep reading about the un-reliability of the .22 ammunition. Thats hogwash. Todays "quality, brand-name" stuff is as good as any of the centerfire stuff. JMHO. Regards, Semper-fi MIke

 

maybe a .22wmr w/ a 3" or 4" hornady makes PD rounds for it

 

maybe a .22wmr w/ a 3" or 4" hornady makes PD rounds for it

I have a Charter Arms .22wmr. Great weapon! No recoil to speak of, but it's LOUD!

 

The 125/130 gr loads in 38 Special have a lighter recoil than 158 gr WC's, even at decent velocities, and carry a lot more energy than a 22. I'm not sure how much more energy you get from the hot loads in a <2" bbl anyway. Maybe just more flash & noise?

The tip-ups are easy to load but tend to be very difficult to rack the slide, if you have to, and the Beretta 22 I had was very inaccurate.

I agree with the comment above---if for home defense a 38 w/4" bbl and +p 125 grain HP loads should be comfortable and potent. Cost of 38 ammo can offset the higher cost of a good quality revolver, like, say a Ruger Gp 100 357 4". No offense to Mom (I'm older than she is), but you might want to inherit that many years down the road, after it has served her well.

 

I considered a 327 for my wife. However, after firing a friends I found the recoil to be much more than she would be comfortable with.

 

St8er has a brand new SR22 for sale.
I've been considering getting one.

 

I have a .327 FedMag revolver. I love it. I would not recommend it as a weapon for someone with weak wrists or any difficulty with handling recoil if firing the magnum rounds.
.32 S&W Long wadcutters have almost no recoil and very low noise level, and in the scenario of HD/SD probably quite sufficient. Also barrel length is not a great consideration; a 2" barrel (Ruger SP101, for ex.) is just as good as a 4" barrel when used in the normal HD range of less than 25 feet.

Personally, for a person like you describe, I'd go with a revolver. I also would not dismiss the .22LR. If I were getting a gun for my mother (86 yrs. old), I would probably get her a .22. She is active, although the dirt bike and snowmobile have been parked, and is experienced with guns. I would not get down-range from her (note for Rotor here: she taught me to shoot ).

 

my :twocents: would be the same as colonel said. as i too have not shot the .327 mag but have done lots of research on the round as i am thinking of buying one. the chamber pressure of the .327 is more than a .44 mag. i have seen it shot at my local range. the recoil is sharp (and the gentleman shooting was not small by no means) and it is loud. the rounds for the .327 are not too easy to find either. look at the ammo selection at your local wal mart. bet they dont have any .327 but a couple different flavors of .38 special. and the .327's are more expensive than .38's. i would say go .38 all the way. but that is just my opinion. rent one if you can and let her shoot the .327 and the .38 side by side and let her choose!!