Reloading for the 325 WSM

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saskminer

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Hi all
I have a 325 WSM built on a Mauser 98 DOU '44 action with a stainless steel barrel, timney trigger, hand painted camo Bell and Carlson stock and a Leupold scope. The basic rifle was put together by someone unknown to me and has been a bit of a project gun since I bought it a couple of years ago. When I bought it the gun had a horrible black rubberized coating on the stock and would not feed cartridges properly. After working out all the kinks it sat in my safe until last weekend when I took it to the range. The rifle is a tack driver so I am going to put it to use this coming hunting season. I had originally intended to use it as a moose gun but I'm just not rigged up with everything else required to hunt large game (quad, etc.) and I'm way too old to pack out such a large animal. I would like to hunt deer with the 325 WSM but the rifle is quite powerful and may be a little much for Bambi or his cousins. Looking at the reloading charts, I'm having a hard time getting a 150 grain load worked up.
No problems with load development for moose and elk but there's not much out there for deer loads. I realize this is not the hunting forum - I'm looking for reloading information.
I am also looking for suggestions and maybe personal observations about the caliber. Can I safely use 170 grain bullet against a medium sized deer? The internet says it's possible but pretty devastating.

I have a lot of load data for 170 and heavier bullets but nothing below 170 grains.

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170gr Hornady SST loaded down to around 2800 fps. Try 60grs H4350 or IMR 4350 and tweak up or down from there as needed
 
175 gr sierra is what i've used and it doesn't wreck deer. The heavier the bullet usually means less damage to the deer. I shoot deer with big guns all the time and it seems to be the case.
 
I would just load the 195 Hornady, and shoot everything with it.
It will do less peripheral damage in the meat than the 150/170
grain bullets. Dave.
 
I don't know where people get the idea that a "light" for calibre bullet is needed for deer.

The lighter the bullet the faster the impact velocity will be and tissue damage will increase. Also, lighter cup & core bullets in any one calibre are generally constructed softer than heavier bullets.

If you want to reduce blood-shot meat go to as heavy a bullet as your rifle will shoot accurately.
 
'Boo said:
I don't know where people get the idea that a "light" for calibre bullet is needed for deer.

The lighter the bullet the faster the impact velocity will be and tissue damage will increase. Also, lighter cup & core bullets in any one calibre are generally constructed softer than heavier bullets.

If you want to reduce blood-shot meat go to as heavy a bullet as your rifle will shoot accurately.
Click to expand...

This. I would just load it like you would for anything else (maybe stay away from the really tough bullets like swift a-frames). I would be looking at the 200gr range for an 8mm magnum, all a really light bullet will do is go faster and expand more explosively. If it'll kill a moose, it'll kill a deer.
 
Personal, I would use a 196-198gr bullet.

Warning!#Notes:#primer: Fed 215; case: Win; NOTE: All loads are maximum. Reduce by 10% to establish a starting charge weight.
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
150 Speer S-SP Alliant RL-17 71.5 3348

Warning!#Notes:#Case: Winchester; twist: 1:10"; primer: Winchester LRM, Large Rifle Magnum; barrel length: 24"; trim length: 2.090"; bullet diam.: 0.323".
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-4831 71 2945
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 44,100 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-4831 75 3115
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.810"; 52,800 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4831 69 2960
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 49,300 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4831 73 3162
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.810"; 59,700 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-4350 69 3138
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 51,600 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-4350 73.5 3345
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.810"; 63,700 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-414 70 3217
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 54,600 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-414 73.2 3360
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 63,100 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4350 68 3008
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 50,100 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4350 70.5 3198
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 61,500 psi
150 Hornady SP Winchester W-760 70 3217
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 54,600 psi
150 Hornady SP Winchester W-760 73.2 3360
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 63,100 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-380 67.5 3174
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 53,600 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-380 71.5 3336
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 62,500 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon Varget 61 3137
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 54,200 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon Varget 65 3305
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 63,600 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4320 61 3012
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 52,200 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4320 63.5 3171
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 61,500 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4064 59 3076
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 53,600 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4064 62 3207
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 61,100 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon BL-C(2) 64 3190
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 53,500 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon BL-C(2) 68 3362
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 63,300 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4895 60 3075
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 53,900 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-4895 63.2 3245
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 63,100 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-4895 60 3156
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 53,600 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon H-4895 63.5 3313
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 63,300 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-8208 XBR 56.1 3059
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 55,400 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-8208 XBR 59.7 3171
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 61,000 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-3031 56 3027
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 52,600 psi
150 Hornady SP IMR IMR-3031 58.7 3184
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 62,200 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon Benchmark 57 3074
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.810"; 50,200 psi
150 Hornady SP Hodgdon Benchmark 60.5 3253
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.810"; 62,400 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-4831 70 2819
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 51,400 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-4831 73 2960
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.855"; 61,400 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4831 66 2798
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 50,300 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4831 70 2996
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.855"; 61,900 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-4350 64.5 2835
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 51,100 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-4350 68 3024
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.855"; 63,400 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-414 64 2874
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 53,600 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-414 68 3025
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,000 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4350 64.3 2820
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 51,100 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4350 68.4 3011
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.855"; 62,000 psi
175 Sierra SP Winchester W-760 64 2874
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 53,600 psi
175 Sierra SP Winchester W-760 68 3025
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,000 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-380 62.5 2857
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 54,100 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-380 66.3 2994
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 61,800 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon Varget 58 2862
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 55,400 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon Varget 61 2975
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,300 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4320 58 2801
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 52,200 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4320 61.7 2960
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 61,500 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4064 56.5 2812
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 51,900 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4064 59.8 2976
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 61,800 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon BL-C(2) 60 2870
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 54,100 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon BL-C(2) 64 3030
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,800 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4895 57.5 2848
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 53,000 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-4895 61 3002
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,400 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-4895 57.5 2858
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 54,100 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon H-4895 61 3000
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,900 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-8208 XBR 52.6 2793
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 54,300 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-8208 XBR 56 2923
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,800 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-3031 53 2791
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 53,200 psi
175 Sierra SP IMR IMR-3031 56 2923
Remarks:#max load; COL: 2.855"; 62,300 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon Benchmark 51 2743
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.855"; 54,000 psi
175 Sierra SP Hodgdon Benchmark 53.7 2863
 
Eagleye said:
I would just load the 195 Hornady, and shoot everything with it.
It will do less peripheral damage in the meat than the 150/170
grain bullets. Dave.
Click to expand...

I'm a one kind if bullet to one gun kind of guy. It's always zeroed the same , shoots the same.
Don't go through the shoulder or the hams. Used 190 in 300wm on two deer never lost a lb of meat.
 
nowarningshot said:
My favorite caliber is the 338 win mag. I'm not blowing quarters off deer. Course thats Mulies, and now i live in the land of lilliputians, a 243 is overbore.
Click to expand...

One of the nicest deer rifles I have is my 338-06. Loaded with a 200 grain Ballistic Tip ( a VERY tough bullet) @ 2800 fps it is good to go to 400 yards or so and leaves Loonie size entry and exit wounds with next to no blood shot. As they say: "Eat up to the hole."
 
Thanks to all for their insights. I always think about the relationship between tissue damage and bullet weight - I'm certainly not an expert. I'm scared to load a light bullet and blow through the animal but by the same token I don't want an exit wound that will fit a Mack truck. I've got a bunch of bullets in the 170 to 220 grain range, my favorite is the 190 grain which is pretty consistent in the wind. A long as the kill is clean and quick, I'll stay with the 190 grain bullet because it seems to work best in the gun.
Now I guess it's time to work up the most accurate load for deer at 200 to 400 yards.
 
Hitzy said:
Deer won't care what you hit it with...I like the 200gr Speer Hotcores, they shoot and perform well.
Click to expand...

Not 8mm, but the 308 diam 200 gr Speer is one of the most overlooked bullets made. Very accurate, holds together well, and digs deep. Buddy of mine uses it in his 30-06 for everything, including our 2000+ pounds woods bison.

It has a very flat trajectory when launched in 300 Mags at over 3000 fps.

Please excuse the 308 hijack.

Ted
 
I’m a bit of a one bullet does all guy as well. Load a good bullet that will work well on moose, elk, etc. They will kill deer just fine to from my experience.
 
195Gr-200gr is my prefrence and is used as a do it all load. Choose which one shoots most accurate. 195 Hornady Intl, 200gr speer, 200gr Parition or Accubond and 200gr woodleigh!
 
I've had good luck with RL17 in my 325 behind 200gr Nosler ABs, and 180gr Barnes TSXs. Both good performers on moose and elk. Haven't shot a deer with one yet.

Also had good luck with IMR 4350 behind a 170gr Hornady Round Nose Interlock. (Got a bunch cheap so I use them for practice in the off season...)
 
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