I've been looking at reloading data for the 325 wsm that is available online and it seems the .300 wsm can push a 200 and 220 gr bullet just about as fast as a 325 wsm. So the way I see it (having neither caliber)

- there is no premium bullet in 8 mm heavier than 200 gr

- there is a 200 gr .30 cal Nosler Accubond

-the 300 wsm can push the 200 gr Accubond roughly as fast as the 325 can

- The 30 cal Accubond has a higher BC than the 8mm Accubond

So where's the appeal of the 325 to someone who wants to shoot premium bullets?

good point, i have a 300 and feel that i can take down anything in north america (wouldnt be my first choice for grizz, they give me the willies)

That is exactly why I gave up the 325. I have a 300WSM load that shoots 200gr Partitions just under 2900fps with great accuracy. Even so, the 325 is an excellent choice for 200grn projectiles. Many of the 300WSM's do not have the throat and/or magazine length to make a 200grn bullet fit sensibly. The 325's will accomodate this a little easier.

WS, some folks are just obsessed by diamater would be one guess.
I see it a lot like you, but do know on some critters folks legitimately prefer larger frontal area.

I think they should have just focused on a 338 WSM, a friend of mine has a custom one, and it is pretty awesome, he has quoted me some specs that are surprising to me, enough so that I won't quote them , but suffice to say they rival a comparative to Bear/Kodiaks 300 numbers for 200 grainers.

BearKodiak, I would love to know details on that load for the 200 gr. partitions. I agree with your assessment of the throat length needed being absent to not have 200's invade powder space pretty badly. I would love to know your COAL and brass type, I would actually re-chamber to get the necessary length to get to those speeds with 200's, I can't seem to get past about 2650 or so, 25 inch barrels, one 26".

quote:

So where's the appeal of the 325 to someone who wants to shoot premium bullets?

or to anyone for that matter.

I'm firmly of the opinion that if one truly needs a larger gun than a .300 magnum (or even a .30-06 for that matter) then he should be looking all the way up to the .375 magnums.

I say this and still have three calibers in between these two mainstays.....why?....because I'm a gun nut.....not because I need them!

Why they made a .325 WSM instead of a .338 WSM is beyond me.....a very dumb decision!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Why they made a .325 WSM instead of a .338 WSM is beyond me.....a very dumb decision!

It had something to do with meeting a velocity threshold for the marketing types.

Swift makes a 220 grain 8mm A-Frame now, of course the 338 A-Frames start at 225 grains. Would have been nice to have a 250 grain A-Frame - for the 8mm Remington Magnum. Full length magnum case but never the big, heavy bullets that it needed to become popular.

The appeal to the larger caliber is really the frontal surface area of the bullet and the increased damage it does. For example, the 168 TSX in my .30-06 doubles in diameter when it expands. That makes its diameter about .615. The surface area of that expanded bullet front is .298 sq. in. (PI*r^2 gives you the surface area of a circle. Here, 3.1416*.308*.308). In my .375. the surface area is .442 sq in. That's a roughly 50% increase in surface area of the thing pushing through the animal for a 25% increase in caliber.

So the attraction to the larger caliber is the much greater tissue destruction though an adequate weight for caliber is certainly important to achieve penetration.

I'm with Vapodog on caliber choice. If my .30-06 won't do it, my .375 probably will.

LWD

Fish, I use Winchester brass, WLRM primer, IMR 4350, and a COL of 2.975". This just happens to be the longest that I trust in the magazine. It still leaves it .088" off the lands. This is one long throated Winchester. It's also the only "keeper" load in my WSM battery that doesn't use either Magpro or RL-19.
I also know a couple of rifles that like AA3100 for shooting the 200's.

Woodleigh makes 220 and 250 grain 8mm bullets, 'course they also make 220 and 240 grain .30s.

Why in the world Winchester chose the "kiss-of-death" 8mm caliber is certainly a mystery.

Wayfaring Stranger ----- Swift makes the 220 grain bullet in the A-Frame bullet. I am loading some for a buddy who has not been able to get a good group with the lighter bullets. I will be shooting his rig for a few weeks to determine loads. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by phurley5:
Wayfaring Stranger ----- Swift makes the 220 grain bullet in the A-Frame bullet. I am loading some for a buddy who has not been able to get a good group with the lighter bullets. I will be shooting his rig for a few weeks to determine loads. Good shooting.

I'd be REALLY interested to see how this goes. Shoot me a pm or post the results when yuo get them, I'd appreciate it.

Sierra also makes a 220 grain designed for the 8mm Rem Mag

LWD