325 WSM

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

I've been looking for a new gun and am kinda stuck. I was looking for a 338 wm, 338-06, or 35 whelen. All hard finds in left hand. Any way, I've been seeing a few 325 wsm at good prices. Any one here still have one and use it. Befor the masses chime in If you have never owned one then move along!

Vince · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:47 am Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

I'm not a trouble maker....moving now along Officer. Very Happy

Cheers, Vince

slimjim · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:30 am Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

Guess you got your answer why they are on sale at a good price.

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

sure says more than any ad or ballistics charts.

Vince · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

Southpaw wrote:

Fire up the Grill cuz Huntting aint catch and release Cheers

Ain't that the truth mate.

Don't have a WSM...and to be truthful, ain't heard an awful lot about them...but what I have heard doesn't exactly enthrall me to rush out and buy one either.

What sort of hunting are you planning on doing Southpaw? Maybe a little more info will draw the crabs so to speak. Very Happy

Cheers, Vince

fnuser · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

NOT EXACTLY I have a 320 Howell that I really like and make it out of .280 brass i have clocked 180 .323" noslers at 2950 with no signs of pressure this has actually become my load for this gun if you could find enough brass to keep you going I would say go for it I was really tempted by .325 as I am fond of 8's it should exceed the cartridges you can make out of standard cases performance-wise and the 70's that it is chambered in is a nice action. actually when the .325 came out I was working on a .376 Steyr necked to .323 it was about the same volume but fed from a standard action a little smoother. I am afraid this cartridge is another great one headed for obsolescence much as the .350 rem mag, with but a few factory rifles and some custom one holding it in existence. Sorry you are not getting more response maybe you should forge ahead and educate us with your findings.

Elvis · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

is this a 8mm/o6???

slimjim · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

Of the new "magnums"; Win Short Mag, Ruger Compact Mag, and Remington's Short Action Ultra Mag, the WSM series has done the best at staying in production. Jury is still out in RCM, but the SAUM seems to have the life of a snowflake. I notice quite a few WSMs on consignment. The cost of ammo for a .325 WSM has to be a consideration. I like the bullet selection in .338. 338 WM or 338-06 should have better production ammo selection and components for reloading.

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

Now Vince, you should have 'moved along' after you first said you were not a 'trouble maker'
"LONG LIVE THE WSM's"
And Southpaw I have a 300 not the 325.
So I can't make a comment

Ominivision1 · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:34 am Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

I jumped on the 325 bandwagon in 2003, at that time there was only 2 bullet weights available, 180gr and 220gr. The advertising for the ballistics is what sold me on this caliber.

However when it came to real world performance, imo it did not measure up. First of all using 180gr factory rounds rated at 3060 was chrony'd by me zipping along at 2800 - 2850. Not much better then a hand loaded /06.

Another thing is if you do get this, make sure you get a limbsaver as recoil is pretty substantial. To me, I think winchester when they came out with this round as a compromise between 30cal and 338cal failed.

I sold the gun and since I have a 340wtby it will do the job when the /06 can't.

Edit: Forgot to add, if you don't load your own, your looking at $40 - $70 a box of ammo. And if you do load, there's not a great selection of .323 bullets for this round.

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

well at least 1 guy tried it. I have and love my stainles 06, so this gun is for moose and elk. I've not yet scored on either so the 06 my be I need, but that would be no fun. I do hand load but the brass and bullets are in the hard to find slot. 8mm bullets will never leave thanks to our european freinds, but the brass is another story. Any way there is an A-bolt and a Savage on sale right now, like $200 off. Thats big savings for a new rifle. Then I have found a used stainles 338 A-bolt for about the same price. Tuff call. I've run some point blank loads against my fav 06 and energy gains for 200gr. are good, but computer loads are not real loads. A 7mm rem mag with a 160gr bullet is very close in the energy deprtment. Any how did not whant to start the stat b.s. Just wanted to know what someone who had one thought.

fnuser · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

Elvis, think 8-280Ackley I know its splitting hairs but it seems to really work in a under-bore case or maybe it is really close to being balanced someone else might have the numbers on it.

Elvis · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

thanks fnuser I think one of my manuals have 8mm06 loads in it somewhere. sounds great.maybe oneday when I finally wear out my .270 barrel but I cant see that happening any time soon with my mild loads.

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

we are completly off topic here, but 8-280 ackley, 8mm-06, 8mm-06 ackley, should be the same thing. It's all an 06 case isnt it? Aside from the small gains in the ackley forms.

fnuser · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: 325 WSM

Like i said it may be splitting hairs, but the .280 case's shoulders are a little farther foward, At the time I built it I was infatuated with replicating the 8x68s with easier to get stuff and not altering my action too much so this is where I went because I didn't like the short neck ona 8mm Gibbs.