.327 Federal Magnum EFMJ Ammunition

At the 2008 SHOT show, Federal Premium Ammunition announced a new load for the .327 Federal Magnum: the EFMJ. The EFMJ, or Expanding Full Metal Jacket, bullet is a bullet that has an internal rubber piece that collapses when the bullet impacts thetarget, allowing the front edge to widen, expanding to a width much greater than the unfired bullet. Unlike a hollow point design, it is literally impossible to “plug” it with any material, thereby guaranteeing expansion.

Federal is already loading the Hydra-Shok and a soft point round for the .327 Magnum. Federal’s sister company, Speer, is also loading the Gold Dot bullet in a .327 Federal Magnum offering.

Editor’s note:  The .327 Magnum EFMJ round was eventually discontinued due to a lack of demand.  As of this update (March 2013), the .327 Magnum has not caught the imagination of much of the buying public.  While good quality self defense rounds exist for this cartridge, the EFMJ is no longer loaded.  Currently, the Hydra-Shok and Gold Dot are still offered.

Other manufacturers, such as CorBon and Buffalo Bore are also making quality rounds for this caliber.  Noticably absent are ammo makers Winchester, Remington and Hornady. (Ed. note: as of October 2014, Winchester, Remington and Hornady still have not produced any ammo for the cartridge. While there are still a few guns being made for the caliber, it does not look like – at this point – the round will hit critical mass for public adoption. I would not expect to see anything from these manufacturers.)

This is a Federal introductory video to the handgun cartridge.  They show the use of the Speer Gold Dot, but not the EFMJ round.

As you can see in the video, the 327 Magnum cartridge is designed to provide greater velocity and energy than a .38 Special, while adding a sixth round in small-framed revolvers. While there is obviously greater recoil, it is considerably less than than the .357 Magnum.