what should I do with my 325 WSM??
- Thread starter BigPapi
- Start date
I have always found RCBS to be a quality product with outstanding product support and seeing as how the 325 isn't exactly a benchrest or F-class cartridge RCBS dies should work wonderfully for you. As to where to get them, start checking your local gun shops that sell reloading supplies or check out the sponsors here if you have to order them........last case is Huntingtons in California. I have ordered many sets from them and had great service with fast shipping, prices are good but in US dollars so not so great right now.
The 325 may die simply because it doesn't do anything the .300 WSM can. There is not a lot of difference a game animal would note between a bullet with a .323" bullet diameter and one of .308.
With that said the .300 WSM is here to stay and making .325 cartridges from .300 brass is as easy as one pass through a sizing die.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I like Hornady dies too. Most of mine are RCBS or Hornady with a few Forster and Reddings mixes in for fun (or necessity). I prefer the lock rings on the Hornady dies but you can buy them aftermarket.
Standard full length dies of just about any brand are brass killers if you run them hard into the shell holder. They will work better and give longer life if you buy a Hornady Headspace Gauge Comparator and set the die short of the shell holder to only bump the shoulder back about 0.001 to 0.002". That solves the case head separation issues, but they will still eventually crack at the neck. That can be slowed down by annealing every 5 reloads or so. Another solution is to get a custom sized neck in the FL die. Forster and possibly others offer that option. The idea is to only size the brass down the minimal amount to grip the bullet. You do end up with a die specific to your brass and it takes a little bit of work to figure out what size of a neck you really need.
I like my Forster dies more than any other brand, the set below will load very concentric ammunition.
Forster Bench Rest 2-Die Set 325 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM)
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/347553/forster-bench-rest-2-die-set-325-winchester-short-magnum-wsm
But I like Ganderite's posting also, especially if you are not burdened with all sorts of gauges telling you what are doing wrong. Life was simple when I just bought RCBS dies at my gun store and set them up per the directions and went shooting. Ganderite knows how to keep things simple. (KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid)
NOTE, I just looked at MidwayUSA and the cheaper dies are on back order and most of the rest are special order. So do a Ganderite and grab whatever you can find in Canada.
(you can fall in love with Forster dies later in life)
Forster Bench Rest 2-Die Set 325 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM)
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/347553/forster-bench-rest-2-die-set-325-winchester-short-magnum-wsm
But I like Ganderite's posting also, especially if you are not burdened with all sorts of gauges telling you what are doing wrong. Life was simple when I just bought RCBS dies at my gun store and set them up per the directions and went shooting. Ganderite knows how to keep things simple. (KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid)
NOTE, I just looked at MidwayUSA and the cheaper dies are on back order and most of the rest are special order. So do a Ganderite and grab whatever you can find in Canada.
(you can fall in love with Forster dies later in life)
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
well I just picked up a 325WSM, I guess I better stock up on brass.
so in wsm brass only the 7 mm are different than others ...
Yes, other than neck diameter.
The 270 wsm, 300 wsm, & 325 wsm are all 1.664" from the base to the shoulder. The 7mm wsm is 1.7018"
All 4 cartridges have the same maximum case length of 2.100" and maximum overall cartridge length of 2.860"
OK, so I have now heard several people recommend to someone to buy a lifetime supply of brass..........what exactly is a lifetime supply of brass........20, 100, 500, 1000, 10,000..........I know guys including myself where any one of these numbers (well except 20) could constitute a lifetime supply. Wouldn't the age of the shooter have a direct affect on this as well......... I think if the shooter is younger like under 35, he should probably look into the 5-10,000 bracket......what if he decides to shoot gophers with it or anarchy descends upon us........You know you guys got me worried now, even at 61 I may not have a lifetime supply for some of my guns..........
I think if the shooter is younger like under 35, he should probably look into the 5-10,000 bracket......what if he decides to shoot gophers with it or anarchy descends upon us........You know you guys got me worried now, even at 61 I may not have a lifetime supply for some of my guns..........OK, so I have now heard several people recommend to someone to buy a lifetime supply of brass..........what exactly is a lifetime supply of brass........20, 100, 500, 1000, 10,000..........I know guys including myself where any one of these numbers (well except 20) could constitute a lifetime supply. Wouldn't the age of the shooter have a direct affect on this as well.........
Lifetime supply should be the barrel life I would think.
A couple thousand of rounds divide by amount of reloads possible per case .Lifetime supply should be the barrel life I would think.
I agree that barrel life would be about 2000 rounds. You should get a minimum of 20 reloads from every case if you get a custom neck sized FL die, only bump the shoulder 0.001", and anneal every 5 loads. That means you could get away with as few as 100 cases, if you don't lose any in the bush...
I have to vehemently disagree, 20 loads per case is impossible, utterly impossible. How do you come up with that number, it is totally unrealistic........who cares about neck sizing and annealing the neck and shoulder when the primer falls out after 3-4 loads. JJJEEEEZZZZEEEE....who taught you to reload.............
Lifetime supply should be the barrel life I would think.
Okay, but wait, I have 5 X 243s, 6 or 7 30-30s, 1/2 dozen 308s (and on, and on, and on, and on...)..........like I said now you guys have me worried.........I don't think I have enough brass.........I've only got about 100,000 all totaled, that will never get me through all the barrels I have.....Then I have a barrel inventory of about another 50 or so..........
