.325 WSM vs. .338 WM?

Thorgrim

Thorgrim

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I had originally wanted a .338 Win Mag but the rifle I wanted isn't chambered for it (Savage model 14 American Classic). It is however chambered for the .325 WSM. I hand load and plan on stocking up on brass for whichever caliber I get so store bought ammo won't be an issue.

What do you guys think about the ballistics of the of the 325? does it stack up OK? Is the inherent accuracy better for this cartridge? I know bullet selection is somewhat limited but doesn't seem too bad for the 8mm bullets. Is the selection of bullets a limiting factor in your opinion? Any other thoughts. Will mainly be used as a elk/moose gun.
 
I'd take a 338 Win Mag any day over the 325 WSM, but if you must have the Savage Model 14 American Classic, then the 325 WSM is the closest you will get to the 338 Win Mag for ballistics and bullet weight. It'll be fine for Moose and Elk. I'm a big 8mm man, but the 325WSM is no 338 Win Mag, no matter how you cut it.
 
While I don't have the Savage in .325WSM I do have a M70. It isn't a .338 Win Mag, but it gets a lot done in a short action with a lot less recoil. Mine is extremely accurate with 220gr Sierras and averages about .75 MOA all the way out to 500yards which is as far as I've taken it. I've attached a couple of charts comparing the two. The 325WSM is my load that I have chrono'd and the .338 loads were taken off the Hodgdon site. As you can see the 220 vs 225gr load is pretty comparable, while the 250gr load hits with more energy it starts to fall behind in trajectory (not much I know within realistic ranges). I have been very happy with the .325WSM and it has accounted for several deer now and a bull elk.

325WSM with 220gr Sierra @2700fps

Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yds) (in) (moa) (in) (moa) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (moa)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2705.2 2.423 3574.3 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.6 0.6 2551.8 2.286 3180.4 0.114 20.1 19.2
200 -3.8 -1.8 2.4 1.1 2404.1 2.153 2822.9 0.235 41.4 19.8
300 -13.7 -4.4 5.5 1.8 2261.6 2.026 2498.1 0.364 64.1 20.4
400 -30.4 -7.3 10.1 2.4 2123.8 1.902 2203.0 0.501 88.2 21.0
500 -54.8 -10.5 16.2 3.1 1990.9 1.783 1936.0 0.647 113.8 21.7
600 -87.9 -14.0 24.1 3.8 1863.2 1.669 1695.6 0.803 141.2 22.5
700 -131.1 -17.9 34.0 4.6 1738.6 1.557 1476.4 0.969 170.6 23.3
800 -185.8 -22.2 45.9 5.5 1620.2 1.451 1282.1 1.148 202.1 24.1
900 -253.8 -26.9 60.2 6.4 1507.6 1.350 1110.1 1.340 235.8 25.0
1000 -337.1 -32.2 77.0 7.4 1401.3 1.255 959.1 1.547 272.2 26.0

.338 WIn Mag 225Hornady SP @2800FPS

Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yds) (in) (moa) (in) (moa) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (moa)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2800.0 2.508 3916.2 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.7 0.7 2595.5 2.325 3365.1 0.111 19.6 18.7
200 -3.7 -1.8 3.0 1.4 2400.1 2.150 2877.4 0.231 40.7 19.5
300 -13.4 -4.3 7.1 2.3 2213.1 1.982 2446.6 0.362 63.7 20.3
400 -30.2 -7.2 13.1 3.1 2034.5 1.822 2067.7 0.503 88.5 21.1
500 -55.5 -10.6 21.4 4.1 1864.8 1.670 1737.0 0.657 115.6 22.1
600 -90.7 -14.4 32.1 5.1 1704.7 1.527 1451.7 0.825 145.3 23.1
700 -138.0 -18.8 45.7 6.2 1555.8 1.394 1209.1 1.010 177.7 24.2
800 -199.7 -23.8 62.4 7.4 1419.8 1.272 1007.0 1.212 213.2 25.5
900 -278.6 -29.6 82.4 8.7 1299.0 1.163 842.9 1.433 252.2 26.8
1000 -378.2 -36.1 106.0 10.1 1195.9 1.071 714.4 1.674 294.6 28.1

.338 Win Mag 250gr Hornady @ 2650 FPS

Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yds) (in) (moa) (in) (moa) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (moa)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2650.0 2.374 3897.6 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.7 0.7 2467.5 2.210 3379.2 0.117 20.6 19.7
200 -4.2 -2.0 3.0 1.4 2292.3 2.053 2916.4 0.243 42.9 20.5
300 -15.1 -4.8 7.0 2.2 2124.1 1.903 2504.2 0.379 66.8 21.3
400 -33.6 -8.0 12.9 3.1 1963.2 1.758 2139.2 0.526 92.6 22.1
500 -61.2 -11.7 21.0 4.0 1810.1 1.621 1818.5 0.686 120.6 23.0
600 -99.5 -15.8 31.5 5.0 1665.5 1.492 1539.6 0.858 151.1 24.0
700 -150.3 -20.5 44.7 6.1 1530.8 1.371 1300.6 1.046 184.1 25.1
800 -216.0 -25.8 60.7 7.3 1407.3 1.260 1099.2 1.251 220.1 26.3
900 -299.2 -31.7 79.9 8.5 1296.9 1.162 933.5 1.473 259.3 27.5
1000 -403.2 -38.5 102.4 9.8 1201.6 1.076 801.3 1.714 301.6 28.8
 
I'd buy a 325 WSM..... but not over a 338WM.

You might also be able to spin a 338 WM barrel onto a 7mmRM or 300WM Savage 114. If you shop around you should be able to find a pre-chambered and threaded barrel for around $300 (Brownells carries them, and will do the necessary export paperwork).

Grab a Savage barrel nut wrench and a headspace guage (or just fill a 338 WM brass with epoxy and use that), and then sell off the unfired factory barrel for $100-200
 
Here's another vote for the 338. While I do think the 325 would be a good elk / moose rifle, there are far more bullet choices available for the 338 for both handloaders and guys who use factory ammo.
 
there's also the cartridge availbility issue at stake- the 338 is well established and has been around for a relatively long time- the 325 is realtively new
 
If you are a handloader cartridge availabilty shouldn't be an issue. I've never had a problem finding bullets or brass at Russels. Factory ammo could be an issue.
 
325 is certainly capable on anything in north america. Id shoot something like a 200 gr TSX or Partition or Accubond @ close to 3000 fps
 
Shot a big Mulley doe the other day with the 325 WSM (M70) using a 220gr Sierra doing 2700 fps (same load as above) at 200 yards. Complete pass through, double lung with no noticeable meat damage. Barely any recoil and she didn't make it far. The only weird thing about it was part of her stomach burst. Not from the bullet as far as we could tell, but from the shock wave.

Having never shot a 338 I don't have much to compare to, but the 325 in that rifle/load combination was very accurate and nice to shoot. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up. In fact I'm kind of on the lookout for one myself.
 
I also like the "cool" factor surrounding the 325 WSM. 8mm offerings have never enjoyed a lot of popularity in North America, but why I cannot fathom. I have a M700 Classic in 8x57JS, And I regard it in the same class as a full load 30-06, but with slightly better heavy bullet capability. Additionally, my 8x57 is very accurate with any bullet I have loaded for it, with the 180 Ballistic Tip and the 200 Accubond both averaging well under MOA. Shot a large Cow moose this fall with it at about 150 yards. She took two steps and collapsed right there, 40 yards from the road. Hard to argue with that! Also shot a young bull Moose two years ago at 250 yards...dropped right there, and penetration was complete (200 AB @ 2650) I can see a larger capacity 8mm in my future. FWIW, This is not to put down the 338, a chambering I have the utmost respect for. Regards, Eagleye.
 
You are a handloader, so ammunition availability isn't an issue.

The selection of 8mm bullets is smaller than 338 bullets, but there are enough options to kill anything in North america.

I doubt that you would notice much difference in deadness between a 338 WM and a 325WSM, given the same shot placement.

Get whatever interests you, there isn't much difference in this situation.:)
 
Thanks for the imput guys. I don't know if it helped me decide or not. I think it will come down to whichever gun feels best for me. Nice to hear from those of you who have used the 325 though and get some feed back on that caliber.
 
As with all the WSM cartridges I tend to place more emphasis on the gun they are chambered in than the caliber. If they are chambered in a sweet short lightweight rifle then my choice is WSM on the other hand if I can't gain any advantage with the rifle my choice would be one of the older standard cartridges. A case in point would be something like a Kimber 8400 Montana, it's sweet in any WSM caliber.
bigbull
 
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