ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.327 Mag Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Federal
85 gr.
Hydra-Shok
American
Eagle
100 gr.
JSP
Speer
115 gr.
Gold Dot
18" 1910 2186 1880
17" n/a 2158 1848
16" 1900 2141 1894
15" n/a 2128 1875
14" 1869 2112 1816
13" n/a 2072 1815
12" 1838 2063 1785
11" n/a 2023 1773
10" 1803 1950 1738
9" n/a 1957 1727
8" 1752 1913 1681
7" n/a 1874 1659
6" 1675 1808 1639
5" 1581 1701 1535
4" 1462 1604 1451
3" 1331 1398 1316
2" 976 1056 1042

 

real
world
weapons
Federal
85 gr.
Hydra-Shok
American
Eagle
100 gr.
JSP
Speer
115 gr.
Gold Dot
Ruger
SP-101
3.0625" barrel
1385 1422 1356
Bond
Derringer
3" barrel
1283 1378 1282

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.