Caliber Choice

[SJPrice]

I am feeling a need for a Freedom Arms 97 to use as a varmint / small game / predator gun.  My dilemma is what caliber?  I have narrowed it down to 4 choices.

1.  32-20
2.  327 Magnum
3.  22 Magnum
4.  Wait for the 327 Mag necked down to .224

I am looking for the pros and cons of each.  I am thinking that the 32's will be more versatile than the 22 calibers.  The 22 Mag is rimfire and easy to find ammo anywhere, but the center fires will let me load my own.  The 22's will be easier on pelts and small game, maybe.  One question I have is how much difference is there between the 32-20 and the 327 mag?  Okay, opinions?
 

[Ken ONeill]

I have a 97 in .32 H&R that I have been very pleased with. It's quite accurate and adequate for close range groundhogs.
Given the choices that you offer, I would select the .327, for the extra velocity that it offers over the .32 H&R. FA struggled with the .32-20 from an accuracy standpoint, to get themselves satisfied that it would meet their accuracy criteria. The thin- necked brass is also "delicate". I'd pass on it.
The .22 Mag. is available as an option with .22LR being the base gun. That's fine, if you want a versatile convertible, but the power level leaves me cold for any live targets other than squirrels and prairie dogs at reasonable distances, for which either the LR or Mag. are excellent.
The .224/32 etc. are too far in the future and as yet untested enough to suit me, although I expect nothing but good.
You haven't mentioned the .17 HMR or the .357. Perhaps you could also consider them. Still, my choice and recommendation would be the .327.

[Steve P]

I would consider all of your choices good for what you want the gun for.  For me, it would not be that hard to decide.......

First I would take out the less desirables.....327 necked to .224 is going to give you fits as in brass and primers backing from the cylinder at the loads get hotter so they don't wanna fit no more.  .22 mags are $9.00 a box of 50 and you cannot reload them.

Down to the 327 and the 32-20.  For me, I would take the 327 because I don't have one. (Yet!)  Good responses in the prior post regarding the brass.  You can, for all intents and purposes, shoot .32 S&W, .32S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum, and 327 Federal in the 327 Cylinder.  Lots of options there.  As long as you have the brass, you can also work up loads using shorter brass with longer bullets.  (I have a load with RCBS 165 Silhouette bullet with 32 S&W Long brass for my Ruger.)

The 32-20 is also a sweet round.  You can have 750fps plinking loads or work up to 1500fps powerhouse loads. 

If you get the 32 caliber gun, you always have the option of getting another cylinder, or in a sense, both 32-20 and 327. 

Either of the 32s would be a top choice out of your 4.

Steve 

[Graybeard]

Personally for the uses you stated I'd go with a .357 Magnum with an extra .38 cylinder. Use the .38s for small game so as not to tear up so much eatable meat and use the full house mag loads for varmints and predators.

I'm not much into lubing handgun cases so the .32-20 really wouldn't even be a consideration for me but yeah the .32 mag or .327 would do OK for your uses but unless  you use cast and slow them down are gonna be overly destructive of meat on small game.