A friend asked if I had any knowledge of the 325 wsm. I told him that I know nothing about it, but I know of a bunch of guys (and possibly a lady or two) who are bound to have an opinion. He's thinking about a new rifle in either the 325 or the 338 win mag. Thanks Marshall
Your Thoughts On The 325 Wsm
- Thread starter MHUNT
- Start date
Too bad they couldn't have made a 338 work in the short mag case. Way better selection of bullets available.
That being said, the 8mm rounds have a strong record in European chamberings... the write ups say it should be a good round, but it's not a 338WM, which is what the marketeers made it out to be.
That being said, the 8mm rounds have a strong record in European chamberings... the write ups say it should be a good round, but it's not a 338WM, which is what the marketeers made it out to be.
I don't have any faith in the articles and revues that fill up the gun magazines. The writers don't get paid to tell us that things suck, but to tell us that we need to go out and buy whatever has just arrived on the market. I also don't understand the appeal of short cartridges, but that's just me. Maybe I'm to old to see the need to change something that works.
I've shot one a bit, a stainless ABolt with the BOSS. Kicked like a 270 winchester, with 200 grain Accubonds @ 2725 fps. Accuracy was ok. I handload 180 grain Triple Shocks for a guy with a case full of H4350, he shot a 53" bull moose with that load this past fall. It will kill as well as any 300 Magnum, but I feel it is not in the same class as the 338 Win Mag, as you'd be hard pressed to find a good bullet over 200 grains in the 8mm bore, where there is many terrific 225-275 grain bullets in the 338. Big heavy bullets work excellent on big critters. The 325 doesnt offer enough over a 30 cal IMO, although it surely works.
.02
.02
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The two .325WSM's I loaded for last year bothe killed moose, and a few deer as well.MHUNT said:
The one fellas shot a moose at 225+ and it dropped stone dead, and his buddy used the same rifle to take one slightly farther .
Both went Bang Flop.
The other rifle shot two deer and a moose, and the field report was the same.
Both rifles BTW, are Browning Medallions, one with a Leupold and the other with a Burris.
Accuracy was "very good" from both rifles as well.
All hunters that used the rifles and shot them liked them very much, and when asked about recoil said the rifles behaved well.
Bullerts were 195 Hornady Interlocks.
I also know when I talked to Jack Barton at Barton's in Grande Prairiet he told me he sold a slew of them last fall something like 21 of them?
The reason I was contacted was we cannot get ammo in the Fort for the 325WSM, so I sent to Higginson' for dies and brass.
This is a very big consideration that I ask fellas when they are buying a new caliber.
"do you handload, and if no, can you get easy access to ammo?"
I know that many places did not have a good selection of ammo for this
cartridge in outlying areas of Alberta.( something to consider)
Cat
I think that the .325WSM is a noteworthy choice for hunters looking for a cartridge within the 300 -338 range.
Bullet choice and ammo availability is the only downside to the cartridge at this point for factory ammo users.
I have wanted to try one since the inception but I cannot find one in the platform I want.
No questions were asked by Winchester and the answer will be the sales figures alone.
Bullet choice and ammo availability is the only downside to the cartridge at this point for factory ammo users.
I have wanted to try one since the inception but I cannot find one in the platform I want.
No questions were asked by Winchester and the answer will be the sales figures alone.
No experience with the 325 wsm, but I shoot an 8x68S magnum, which has nearly identical ballistics and also shoots an 8mm bullet. What the 325 WSM has done is provide an incentive to bullet manufacturers to put out quality premium bullets worthy of 325 wsm ballistics. Std 8mm bullets are intended for 8mm mauser velocities and will come apart like a cheap suit when driven to the higher velocities of the magnum.
I am intrigued by the caliber, and think it is a winner as a long range heavy hitter with manageable recoil and serious knockdown. The question is, will it sell? I have had great luck with 220 grain sierra gameking boattails. Heavier jacket than the .308 cal gamekings. Extremely high BC and SD, and fly flat and accurate. They hit like a pile driver and hold together even when hitting bone in a moose. Usually a complete pass through. Price is right too. If you do your part, one shot will plant a moose within spitting distance of where he stands. You don't have to chase 'em
I am intrigued by the caliber, and think it is a winner as a long range heavy hitter with manageable recoil and serious knockdown. The question is, will it sell? I have had great luck with 220 grain sierra gameking boattails. Heavier jacket than the .308 cal gamekings. Extremely high BC and SD, and fly flat and accurate. They hit like a pile driver and hold together even when hitting bone in a moose. Usually a complete pass through. Price is right too. If you do your part, one shot will plant a moose within spitting distance of where he stands. You don't have to chase 'em
I have an 8x57 in one of those great M700 Classic Remingtons. It will safely drive 180 grain bullets to 2800fps 195 Hornadys to 2700 and 200 grain Accubonds to 2675, about what you would get with a 30-06. I have shot one good sized Black bear and one moose with it. Neither stepped out of their tracks. The moose was about 260 yards, the bear about 75, complete passthroughs on both. I am impressed with the 8mm, and feel that the 325 would be just a bit more of the same. It would be nice to see this offering fly, but time will tell, I'm sure. Regards, Eagleye.
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ruger briefly offered its 16.5 inch barrelled Frontier in .325 WSM. I'd love to get one if only for the better stopping power potential- while the relative lack of good premium quality bullets is a consideration for normal velociites, the 250 FPS or so reduction from the shorter tube may reduce the chance of bullet breakup.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I'd love to try one, however, if I had the money for a new moose rifle, without question, I'd go back to the 338WM. It's the last word in moose cartridges. IMO.
Eagleye said:
Eagleye's and todbartell's posts sum it up well I think. You'll launch a bullet of a similar weight to a 30 cal, a bit faster, but will have a slightly larger frontal area.
Ballistically there is still a fairly noteable step up to a 338WM, and the issue of ammo for non reloaders may be an important consideration.
8mm/.323" cal is very popular in Europe, same like 6.5 and 7mm.
It is an excellent cal, if you know how to use it.
I would rather go with 8x57, proven cal, then .325WSM.
The only WSM which make sense to me is .270WSM and too bad, they didn't come with 6.5WSM.
Greetings
It is an excellent cal, if you know how to use it.
I would rather go with 8x57, proven cal, then .325WSM.
The only WSM which make sense to me is .270WSM and too bad, they didn't come with 6.5WSM.
Greetings
I have one in a new M70 Coyote. I have only fired a box and a half of ammo through it so far, but accuracy is encouraging. It's exactly halfway in diameter between .308" and .338" and I have always been fond of the 8mm rounds. I am sure this will be a good round, it fits into a very usably category, even though I don't think it's groundbreaking. It will work fine on game, and is mild at the bench. It's nothing to get too excited about but it's a solid performer. The 8mms have never been popular in NA but it's a fine caliber. I see little difference between the 30s, 8mms and .338s, they all will do the job on medium size game reliably with good bullets. I will give this .325 a try on some game and see how it works for me.
