Ruger Single Seven Bisley Part II

The more time spent with the Ruger Single Seven Bisley, the more difficult it was to put it up. It is a well balanced pistol and one of the most comfortable to shoot. The Single frame lends itself to the 327 Federal Magnum cartridge, right down to the five and one-half barrel length. I’ve read comments about recoil and muzzle blast, but I can’t see that as an issue. The 45,000 psi SAAMI MAP makes for bit more report, but nothing unmanageable and recoil is moderate at most. At 39 oz, the Ruger Single Seven is not a featherweight, enough heft to make the 327 Federal Magnum easy shooting.

Restating points made in Part I, if you haven’t noticed, it is a very good looking firearm. A combination of traditional and modern function and materials that work well together. The sight system is appropriate for a revolver with this ballistic potential. One click in any direction shifts point of impact 3/4″ at 25 yards. If there is one issue for 327 Federal Mag shooters, it would be ammunition. When the cartridge was announced, there was a good selection of firearm immediately available. Unfortunately, ammunition was not and the supply didn’t catch up for a good six months. Consequently, popularity has been cyclical, typically following the release of new firearms.

At the moment, there are eight loads for the 327 Federal Magnum, coming predominately from four companies, in bullet weights from 75 grains to 130 grains. Prices range from 50¢ to $1.55 per round with the with the two on the high end attached to always excessively high Buffalo Bore ammunition. The 50¢ ammunition is all name brand American loaders, made from very good components. The $1 per round ammo is loaded with specialty premium bullets.

For the reloader, quality brass runs between 22¢ and 30¢. I’ve not had a problem getting ten reloads out of a casing, so conservatively 2.3¢ to 3¢ per handloaded round amortized over the life of the brass. A pound of CFE Pistol powder runs $20/lb, which yield approximately 945 rounds of mid-weight bullet loads, or approximately 2¢ per round. Primers run $29/1000 or approximately 3¢ per round. This all places us at 8¢ as a subtotal and looking for bullets.

Good cast bullet cost approximately 10¢, good jacketed bullets approximately 20¢ so excellent ammunition can be assembled for 18¢ to 28¢ per round. For folks who cast their own the cost is approximately 13¢ per round, depending on source of lead and if gas checks are used. $9 to $14 per fifty rounds for those who buy their bullets is a pretty good deal for this level of centerfire output. Less than most 17 HMR and 22 WMR ammunition.

Bullet selection

The five bullets selected were to provide examples of different weights, not so much performance in any given application. That said, I use all of them with frequency, however, the center Cast Performance without a gas check is typically kept to lower velocity than those that appear on the table and use for general plinking. I tend to shoot 100 grain and above. Some people like to load the light weights to very high velocity.

Depending on the reloading manual, typically small rifle or small pistol magnum primers are called out. I’ve been handloading with standard small pistol primers since the cartridge was introduced without encountering any problems and round to round velocity has been very consistent. None of the loads below would be considered compressed. Power Pistol was very sensitive to charge changes, tending to spike at maximum. All were roll crimped. The Sierra Sports Master had a very shallow cannelure.

Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity, pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may be excessive in others. All loads should be reduced by 5% as a starting point for development where cartridges have greater than 40 grains in capacity and 10% for cartridges with less than 40 grain capacity following safe handloading practices as represented in established mainstream reloading manuals. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.