has anybody shot or does anybody own one of these? a friend of mine is looking for a new rifle, bolt action, with something a little bigger and more powerful than an '06. looking to make a 200-250 yd shot maximum, but with something with a little less recoil than a 338 win mag. from what i've read about the 325 wsm, this seems the ideal cartridge that fufills all specifications and requirements listed above. anybody seen or shot this cartridge, what was your opinion??? thanks

quote:

Originally posted by byf42:
has anybody shot or does anybody own one of these? a friend of mine is looking for a new rifle, bolt action, with something a little bigger and more powerful than an '06. looking to make a 200-250 yd shot maximum, but with something with a little less recoil than a 338 win mag. from what i've read about the 325 wsm, this seems the ideal cartridge that fufills all specifications and requirements listed above. anybody seen or shot this cartridge, what was your opinion??? thanks

Take the better 8mm take 8x68S...

Spoken like a true European Safarischorsch . byf42 I think your friend is on the right track with the 325. I don't know how much less recoil it'll have than the 338 WM. Can't be much. I'm a big fan of the 8mm Rem Mag and I've also got an 8mm/378 Weatherby that's a hell of a gun. With Winchester now putting out a factory 8mm that'll probably do good things for bullet selection.

Anyway, back to your friend's quandry... I think the 325 WSM would be a good choice for him. That's the short short version.

actually, i was picking out the cartridge for him. he told me what he wanted, and that's what i came up with. good friend, took me deer hunting with him when i lived in michigan, and owned a shop where he would let me work on my car. in his 50's, has has 2 heart attacks, so i bought his rifle (the 742) that i cleaned and sighted in for him before we went hunting last year as a way to remember him by.. (hopefully, nothing bad happens to him) enough of my rambling ..

safarichrosch- can't get him into the classic old cartridges, sorry good idea, but no-go

kingfisher- thanks for the input. love the 8x57 mauser, glad to see winchester finally coming out with a .323 cartridge. thanks again guys!

Another vote for the 8*68S I have seen it work on the range and in the field it delivers. Not what you want to hear I'm sure! The 325 WSM will become one of those obscure rounds that folks know about but have never seen one

Aleko

byf42,

I fired a friends 325 WSM M70 Super Shadow with the factory 180 gr loads. The recoil was not too bad but this rifle has rubber checkering that allows one to really grip the rifle.

With the 250 maximum range you mention and some more power than the 06 I would consider the 35 Whelan or 9.3X62. These rounds along with the 325 WSM will kick a little less than a 338 WM.

I would pick the rifle that I like first and then the cartridge.

The stock on that M70 is beyond ugly.

If been to the range once with my new Browning A Bolt.

Velocities seemed a bit slow, but but groups were good.

Recoil was lighter than expected.

If you are looking for a 250 yard shot on big game with less recoil than a 338, the first thing I think of is "Whelen".... JMO, Dutch.

I think this would be a great and useful cartridge, especially for anyone who wants a light mountain rifle with some bullet mass, punch, and a reasonably flat trajectory for elk, spring grizzly, goat, etc. The 325 WSM may not go anywhere in terms of popularity and sales, but it surely has its place, and I hope it catches on.

If I wanted one, my first choice would be a Kimber 8400 Super America........

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I'm not impressed with the factory ammo for the 325WSM. There is a lot more available in 338win. In fact it is difficult to improve on factory 338 ammo.