.327 Federal Henry owners - favorite loads, general comments?

[John E Davies]

I still have a hankering for a BBS carbine (or better yet a short barrel Single Shot, but I am not going to hold my breath for that.) How many of you have either version, and can you comment? Still like it? What do you use it for? Favorite factory ammo ? Pet reloads? Chrono data? I think the .327 would really shine from an 18” barrel….

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Hatchdog]

I shoot the Federal 100 gr factory load that is way too powerful to shoot in a handgun. I have several boxes I picked up for handgun use and I’m happy I have the Henry 20” to shoot them in. I’m currently working on a load in 32 H&R to shoot in my Ruger Single Seven and it’s so nice to shoot them in a handgun. The Federal 85 grain 327’s are much less painful to shoot in a handgun but still have a thump compared the the H&R’s.

I have a couple of boxes of the Hornady 100 and 85 XTP’s that I’ll use for reloads once I’m out of the factory 100 gr thumpers.

The Federal 100 grain are very mild in the Henry. No intent to hunt with it but with the right bullet it would be a whitetail thumper within reasonable distances.

[North Country Gal]

Hi John'

When I was shooting a 10" Contender with the hottest factory load I could find, the American Eagle 100s, I was getting 1950 fps according to ballistics by the inch. They list 2186 fps for the 18". Really is a pistol cartridge, so the biggest jump was going from the usual 3" barrel at 1398 fps up to the 10".

Has some wicked recoil in a short snubbie with those AE loads, but no big deal in the 10" Contender.

[220]

AE averaged 2100fps out of my henry, reloading 100gr XTP's with 296 at over 2000fps cant quite match the AE velocity.
Lots of variation in load data with 296 up to 2gr difference on what is listed as max. My load is below the maximum loads listed from some sources but above what is listed by others.
Using a lee 90gr SWC mold in 32s&wl cases at around 1100fps as a small game load. Accurate enough to head shoot rabbits at 50y and just like a standard velocity 22lr only a little more emphatic.

[Shakey Jake]

I'm reloading 85 gr Hornady bullets and True Blue powder with excellent results. I don't know the exact amount of powder since I have handloaded in a while. I'll have to go to my recipe binder and report back later.
Jake