Does anyone have a Henry Big Boy Steel in .327 Federal Magnum. If you do, how’s it shoot?

I haven't put it to paper, but I stepped out about 35 paces and hit a tin can the first shot out of the barrel. I then rolled it around with several more shots before switching to 2" steel plates, which I hit more often than not.

That's as good as I shoot these days, and I felt real good about the purchase.

Which model do you have?

I was referring to the 20" BBS -- H012M327

That’s the one I wanted but the distributor sent the one with the brass receiver. My dealer gave me a great deal on it. I have not shot it yet.

I don't think you will find yourself slighted.

Those brass ones are sure pretty.

I can't figure out what their good for?

Henrys, brass Henrys, or a 327 Federal Magnum?

Sounds like a good reason for you not to buy one.

Good thing others don't need your approval before they have fun, huh?

Tom

327 in a rifle.

There’s no doubt in my mind, at reasonable distances, that a 327 can take deer and hogs as well as smaller game including varmints.

What I like about it in a pistol is that it can be loaded from about a 22 lr up to just under a 357 mag. I loaded a single buckshot pellet over trail boss in a s&w long case and it was surprisingly accurate at 7-10 steps in my single seven. Since the last shortage on 22lr, I have been thinking about center fire alternatives (and also stocking up on 22lr). I don't see how it could be any less versatile in a rifle. If I had the extra $, I'd own one.

Probably true. But we know a .357 can do those things and with a whole bunch more ammo options.

You’re exactly right, but using your logic, a 44 magnum can do what a 357 can do and then some. That does not make the 357 a bad cartridge by any stretch. I like my 357, my 41, my 44, my 45 Colt, and my 480. On another note, handloading all these cartridges for different applications changes up everything.

Fair point

The 327 is a wicked little round out of a pistol. I imagine it’s more better with a longer barrel.

No hard feelings Mike. I might change my mind once I attempt a kill on a deer or hog with the 327. When I hunt open sights, I get as absolutely close as I can. I’d say inside 40 to 50 yards. The closer the better. I’ve even hunted out of my bow stand with an open sight rifle or pistol. My closest kill with open sights was with my 45-70 at 26 yards. I sent Henry an email about 2-3 years ago asking them to build a rifle in 327 and they said the same thing that you said. I guess the people spoke.

Whenever we discuss “fringe” cartridges and their firearms we see the same questions. Someone opines: A cartridge I am familiar with “will do the same thing….”
West Texas has a lot of “critters.” The small game cartridge is popular here. The.357 and .44 Magnum cartridges will do as small game cartridges but they do not really meet the definition – as it is defined – here.
The .22 Hornet and K-Hornet are more varmint cartridges than small game cartridges.
The small game cartridge is housed in an easy carry, fast shooting rifle. Read this as pump, lever and auto loader. Of the three actions the lever action rifle offers the most varied cartridge options.
The .218 Bee, .25-20, .32-20, and the newer .327 Federal offer the option of quick handling, easy to carry usefulness the larger cartridges do not have.
The .357 Magnum has a large following with the jack rabbit shooters. The .357 offering the portability, the reload options and the trajectory which does not guarantee first shot hits on running critters. There needs to be some uncertainty and excitement in this.
Part of the excitement in off hand shooting is iron sights and the availability of the rapid second shot.
There is some advantage to the flat top open sight when shooting cartridges with low velocity and high trajectory. When you learn how much sight to hold up you can make hits quite easily over a varied range. Still, most shooters prefer the receiver sight.
The tang sight is good but interferes with the thumb, even when held along side the wrist of the stock. Sad to say Marlin quit drilling their lever action rifles for the side mounted receiver sight and Henry never did drill their rifles. The XS, Skinner and other sights of this type are not readily adjusted for elevation and this makes a difference in the field.
The Williams sight using the holes on the of of the receiver is a joke and really does not deserve discussion.
These are not the best pictures but they illustrate three interesting .32 caliber small game rifle. The 327 Federal Henry, .32-20 Marlin 1894CL and the 1894 Marlin in .32 H&R Magnum. Sights are the key factor limiting enjoyment when hunting with these rifles. I wish Henry would listen and drill and tap their rifles for the coin slot adjustable Lyman receiver sight.
Rifles

Sights

I'd stick with the .357. I've found mine quite useful for everything from squirrels and rabbits to woodchucks and deer. My old Marlin 1894C was accurate enough that I could kill woodchucks regularly out to 150 yards and 200 wasn't uncommon. It worked very well on several deer inside 100 yards and I killed one at just over 200 with it. All were one shot kills and even the 200 yarder was a passthrough with 158 gr. soft point. I'd like to know why anybody would say the Williams receiver sights are a joke as I've killed more game with mine than you could fit in a boxcar over the past 40 odd years and have yet to have a problem with them.

You do not understand or have not encountered the “New and Improved” Williams receiver sight.
It is not really Williams fault. Marlin quit drilling their rifles for the sight and Williams changed the mount to use the scope mount screw holes.
Ken K posted this picture of his sight and it is better than mine.
The sight base now uses the scope mount screw holes.

The new Williams sight base causes the sight to hang off rear of the receiver.

This causes the sight to interfier with the thumb cocking the hammer.

Oh, I see. I wouldn't want one of those either. Mine are the old type mounted by the two holes on the side.

You’d have to use the hammer extension.

Yes, its "in the way"

We don't want to eliminate the variety of the sport. At least for me, that's the fun of it. If it's not, then it is just a discussion of utility and we don't "need" any of it. As long as we have grocery stores, a military and a police force we don't "need" a firearm. If we are waiting for just in case ... whole generations have died off waiting on that. It's like owning your own fire truck in case you have a fire. We might as well join the liberals and get rid of them all.

If you look at all those countries that have lost their arms, they are living and breeding just fine. Gradually taking over the world. I don't want to be them, but they are still thriving.

Our ancestors did just fine with whatever muzzle loader they could find and afford. When it comes down to it, we don't need all of these cartridges. There is nothing that can't be done with a .30-30. It's even more versatile if you hand load. You could make the same argument with a .357, though at a shorter distance.

So, although I like and own a lever in .357. I can load a .327 just a bit cheaper, and I can take a deer or a coyote with just a little less meat damage. And if I want to hunt groundhogs or coyote, I will feel better served with the .256 Winchester or even a .22 mag. Not that I couldn't do it with a .223 - but then I would get away from a classic lever.

Let's face the reality ... we do it because we can. it's fun. There doesn't need to be a practical reason. I like a variety of cartridges to play with. I move from one to the other and back again. Who want's just one option?

That is one nice set of rifles William.

The Small Game rifles are fun. As you point out, Great Grandad kept his family fed with .36 caliber flintlocks so we could take deer if we felt the need with small game rifles and cartridges.
I also have a 24" Contender barrel in .32 H&R Magnum which may be the best carrying and shooting rifle of the 4. The long barrel makes the TC a self opener when the lever is tripped. The rifle equipped with a Williams Guide receiver sight and Williams shorty ramp weighs less than 6 pounds.
ALL 4 rifles have a different bore diameter, a different COL and a generous throat. This creates an interesting problem when pairing ammunition between rifles and revolvers. A gunwriter could write an interesting article on the differences between the rifles and tailoring ammunition to suit them.

327 Rifles have been in the field for a while now. Have any of you killed an deer or hogs with them yet?

I'm loading for a buddy that really likes his 327 Henry.

He's not shot a deer yet as he couldn't see the sights in the dark evenings this past year but he'll try again this fall with a red dot.

I haven't cracked a deer with mine, but IL finally made some rifles legal for deer in May and 327 is one of the legal cartridges, so I'll be using it. Gotta make a mag plug for it soon. The rifles have to be single shots, or modified to only hold one round.

I just got a snub nosed 327 pistol, liking it so far. Iv not seen a Henry rifle in 327 yet, but federal make a 127 grain load that they claim is for deer. Iv shot deer with a 32-20, and 22 savage hps, they all died. I like being able to shoot different cal 32s. My little pocket pistol, shoots 32 longs great. The 327s are a bit snappy but not all that bad.

Light caliber CAN work, and there wll be guys that proclaim them. I prefer not to take a chance so I bought a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag as an option to my Marlin 356 Win or the Ruger No 1 in 45-70