The SP 101 is perfectly proportioned for a 6-shot .327 Fed. Is one extra shot really worth the bulkier dimensions and weight with a GP 100? Guess it’s up to you.
HELL YES! if you care about performance and accuracy! And that is not possible in an SP101!! You need a serious handgun to understand what a 327 can be and truly is!! Like I say below, it is far from an ideal SD weapon in my opinion, as I have much better options in that size revolver with other calibers, as well as lighter packages!!
I'm still kicken myself in the azz! The 327 Federal is a true varmint revolver in the right format, and that aint a SP101, in fact I really don't know what this caliber is good for in that configuration? I certainly have better SD options in the same size frame, with less weight and noise, as the short barrel noise is severe and one does not were earplugs when he relies on a weapon for SD!
But once loaded correctly, and your on your own their as the manuals are worthless for this caliber! I will also assure you the bullet selection sucks if you don't know what and how to make your own! I found until I got the 140 grain sledgehammers, (I liked the large HP version, cast slightly softer than #2 alloy) this thing was just a trinket that made to much noise for the performance it returned!!
This was probably good enough for deer, but would have needed a small HP to slow the expansion, which I also make! But with the large HP it made it a true 150 Varmint revolver with ease! At velocities few would have imagined, it was also flatter shooting that 460 smith or any other revolver round one wants to entertain!!! After owning several Freedom Arms in the model 83, from 44 mag thru and including the 454 and 475, it is equal to the task of the available accuracy any revolver is capable of when cast, sized, and made with the proper alloy, and makes a very compact hunting package!
I found the lighter bullets and jacketed bullets just weren't as good when you got out to 100 yards and beyond! In fact even at 25 yards the 140 Mihec Sledgehammer was equal or better with more devastating damage on fruit and water and pop bottles! But at 100 back to back It proved one thing you mentioned,,, the 7th shot was not worth it, as both targets at 100 yards proved 6 of the chambers were excellent, and that last one, the same marked chamber, always thru the bullet out of the group. But even the right target as these were shot back to back with 132 grain HP @ 1467 fps gave a 2 5/8" CTC 6 shots group that were always capable of head shots on coyotes at 100 yards, and with enough power to open the large HP on the 140 sledgehammer,,,, (now a 132 grain in the large HP configuration). The sixth shot is under the tape about the middle rivet location. It was capable of consistent kills on body shots out past 150 yards,,,, as long as you used the 6 good chambers for your serios work, but even that last marked chamber proved sufficient if you used the first 6 and needed that last shot up front and personal on a point blank charging yote,,,,
Make no mistake, in my opinion, a 327 federal is a pathetic choice for serious SD, and worthless in a small pray and spray handgun, to me it is just a blowhards noise maker! But in the hands of skilled pistoleros, in the right frame, with proper and useful bullets, for serious small game work, it is as good as it gets, near and far! But make no mistake, if at nearly 70 years old, with bad eyes and shaky hands, this is a gun as well as caliber that truly will test the best marksman for his own ability to be able to shoot as well as the gun and caliber can!! But one still needs to no their particular weapon, as this gun even at close range with other ammo proved it one chamber that was not reliable,,,, but 6 that would not let down the most demanding pistolero as a couple different loads proved at 25 yards with the 132 HP from the 140 sledgehammer mold!!!! Always that same chamber that just got worse out to 100 yards, but make no mistake,, it aint no belly gun, and as I've said over and over, if it were, there are way better choices!!