Is anybody here shooting one as their primary hunting weapon. What are your loadings for it. HOw has it performed for you.

It's new this year so I haven't hunted it yet. So far so good on shooting it, I can't wait to hunt it and my 9,3..................DJ

DJ, what is your barrel length?? I have heard different stories about the velocity obtainable from this cartridge. Although you don't get quite to published factory velocities (don't know realistic they are either), at least you get very decent velocity and superb accuracy out of your gun.

- mike

his barrel length is 24" still cant believe he is getting half inch with his kimber with factory loads.

My neighbor just got back from RSA, and he used the 200 TSX in the 325 with wonderful results.

Does anybody have recoil figures for a .325 WSM with a 200 grs bullet @ 2900-2950 fps??

If yes, how does this compare to recoil of a .30-06 and a .300 Win Mag (each with a 180 grs bullet) in a rifle of comparable weight??

(Yes, I know recoil figures in foot pounds is not the whole story, but such figures do provide a basis for comparison).

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
Does anybody have recoil figures for a .325 WSM with a 200 grs bullet @ 2900-2950 fps??

If yes, how does this compare to recoil of a .30-06 and a .300 Win Mag (each with a 180 grs bullet) in a rifle of comparable weight??

(Yes, I know recoil figures in foot pounds is not the whole story, but such figures do provide a basis for comparison).

- mike

If the rifle is a scoped Kimber Montana (about 7.5lb), you'd get about 36 ft/lbs of recoil with that load. That's getting up there, depending on stock design. In rifles of the same weight, the 180gr .30-06 would produce about 27 and the 300wm about 34. In a rifle of more typical weight, say around 8.5lb scoped, you can reduce these values to 32, 24 and 30, respectively.

FWIW, my own 338 produces 32-37 ft/lb depending on the load. You notice it going off, but I don't find it unpleasant to shoot at all. Thankfully, no muzzle brake.

Thanks Fireform. It is interesting how the WSM cartridges are marketed as soft recoilers. I guess they are to some extent, but it depends on what you compare them to. There seems to be little difference in (measured - as opposed to felt) recoil between a .325 WSM and a .300 or even a .338 Win Mag.

- mike

mho, than you can choice the 8x68S, it can do all the short mag can do, and can do all a bit better! I never shot a powerfull cartridge without recoil!

/

Alf, here in Germany in the areas where we have a lot of red stags, the 8x68S is a quite common cartridge, while the short 8mm Wini is absolute unknown. You can buy ammo in 8x68S in nearly each gun store and you can order cases, so that you get them in 2 or 3 days. But I believe, that outside Germany this will be a problem!

Monastery Forester, the 8x68S is in many ways the ideal caliber - if you can shoot it well. Sadly, it is probably just a tad much in the recoil department for this ole boy, otherwise it would be the natural choice in Europe.

I had been toying with the idea of a .325 WSM, thus my interest in the caliber. I think for now, I'll wait and see if the reloading data you kindly supplied me with will bring the kind of velocities you see in your 8x64S. I'm still waiting for my 8x64S dies to verify this, though.

If I can get close to your 8x64S velocities out of my 22" barrel, in all honesty I won't *need* a .325 WSM - whether I'll still want one is a different matter

Btw, now that I have your attention (sorry about hijacking the thread), have you ever shot the RWS 196 grs RN in your 8x64S, and if yes how does it perform?? In particular, does it stay together and produce exit wounds on heavy game?? I'm looking for a round- or flat-nose bullet to be used for close distances on driven hunts. Most of the piggies will probably be small, but just in case Mr Big shows up, I'd like not to be caught out with a bullet not up to the task.

- mike

The reason I ask is because I have three of those heavy winchesters (1 .300 and 2 .338s) and although I like them very much I am starting to pay more and more attention to what I have to carry around, and I am thinking to myself I can probably get rid of about 10 rifles and actions and scopes that I have sitting around here and buy one gun that I can use for deer and elk and whatever else I may hunt in North America ( and I know for a fact that I don't have any desire to hunt Brown Bears).

So I am thinking either .325 WSM or a custom job in .338 WSM.

I am not worried about a few hundred FPS veloticy because I don't take shots longer than 250 yards as measured by my Swarovski Rangefinder which is extremely accurate.

So DJ and others, what do you think? DJ, what about the recoil factor in that lightweight Kimber. Doesn't look like it bothered you too much with those groups!!

Mho, I never tried the 12,7g TR from RWS in the 8x64S, but I saw a lot of game taken with this bullet in the 8x57IS. But I think, it could bee a little soft in the 8mm Brenneke, try the 12,7g Alaska from Norma!
You are right, the 8x68S is a hard kicker, too hard for many shooters, which are using it. The result is often a bad hit, I often see the same with the 9,3x64, the .300Weath. and other hardkickers!

22WRF, I've got a Custom 338 Win Mag:



It's going to stay in the safe while the Kimber goes hunting this year.

As far as the 325 vs 338 WSM for me that's an easy choice - 325. I'm not a big fan a wildcats, I have enough reloading to do without fireforming cases etc.. So since 325 WSM brass and factory ammo is easily available that's an easy choice for me. The weird thing is I've got a set of RCBS factory 338 WSM dies! They came out before the 7 WSM did. I have no idea what the actual case dimensions are but I'd be they just necked up a 300 WSM to 33 cal.. The place I got them at had 4 sets. 3 years later they still had 3 sets, so if you want a set let me know and I'll see if they have any left, they were only $25 or so.

The Montana is shaped so well that to me the recoil of the 325 isn't bad at all. I have a wood stocked Beretta Mato in 300 Win mag and I found the 325 Montana more comfortable to shoot.
I let another shooter at the range try it and he was also impressed. The next time I walked into one of my favorite gun stores they thanked me for selling a rifle for them......turns out the guy went right in and ordered one after shooting mine. I bet you'll love one too...............DJ

I took a Winchester Ultimate Shadow in 325wsm to South Africa in Sept 2005.I shot a Black Wildebeast at a measured 400 yards,I hit him between the neck and shoulder on his left as he was sort of facing me and the bullet exited thru the right ham.I also shot a Red Hartebeast at the same range.I shot him twice.The ammo was Winchester factory 180gr Ballistic silvertip.I did not recover any bullets.I also shot an Eland that trip with a 9.3x62.So take both guns and enjoy them.Ilike the 325 it recoils between 06 and 300winny.It is very comfortable to shoot in my rifle. Dave

You've got some fine shooting irons, DJ! I'd have a hard time leaving that one in the safe.

How about that Mato? I just picked one up in .338WM, with the synthetic stock. I'm very impressed with the workmanship and fitting. The action is practically suction fit to the bedding block, the trigger is excellent, and the box magazine is super. I'm not normally a fan of box magazines, but this one is beautifully made and very long. That's a nice bonus for a handloader--you can seat your bullets any way you want.

Fireform, I almost bought a 338 Mato recently, it might have been the same one you ended up with. My only real complaint about the Mato's is that they are a little heavy for a 270 or 280, but probably just about right in 338 Win mag. All three of mine shoot very well, congrats on yours!.............DJ

It probably was the same one--there aren't a lot of them around. It's got just enough weight to be a very comfortable shooting rifle.