Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 325 WSM or 338 WM?

That IS the truth......

Even if we never "upgraded" again, with either existing cartridges that we may not own or any newer ones that will inevitably come out, I'm sure that most of us already have from mice to elephants well covered.

It is now, for me anyway, more about, "did it maintain the same POI and can I still put it where I want to given several different scenarios".

I fully expect that the majority of us more "senior" guys haven't made such a off base or mismatched "cartridge to animal choice" in the last many years as to have such a combination fail miserably, IF we do what we need to on all other fronts. Even our choices of bullets a few decades back would and often still suffice quite nicely, but trying different bullets/powders in an 'ole tried and true rifle keeps us "familiar" with that firearm and then just maybe, we might chance upon a new diamond in the rough.

If my 'ole and new timers shoot and work as expected and I can get my azz to do the same, then I have no doubt as my cheek comes to rest on the stock as to the expected outcome at the shot.

I'd agree.......I don't expect that there's "exactly the RIGHT one" for any BGA that a poll would place so far ahead of the next 3 choices as to make it the definitive answer. I think it's more about what I do or have done many days prior to the "actual" hunt that gives me much more confidence than any cartridge that I might be packin' along on that particular day...............

YMMV..........

magnumb: "Truer words...."....you know the rest

That may or may not be true; I dunno. I tend to agree though.

What I DO know is that I can tell the difference! My .325 comes in noticeably faster, lighter, shorter rifles than my .338, or any other .338 I've been around.

That's sort of the whole point of the WSM's, for me at least. The rifle that comes wrapped around it <G>...

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What I DO know is that I can tell the difference! My .325 comes in noticeably faster, lighter, shorter rifles than my .338, or any other .338 <G>...[/quote]


jeff, what do you mean, comes in noticeably faster? are you talking velocity cause i dont think so?shorter, well maybe 1/2 at action all else being equal.lighter maybe, but isnt kimber making 338s now?

Kimber is making 338 Win Mags now. If you get a chance go pick one up and handle it and then pick up and handle the 325 WSM Montana. They are distinctly different rifles. If you are a larger person with long arms you might prefer the larger and heavier 338 Montana. Most Average sized people I beleive will prefer the WSM sized rifle, Ladies would probably prefer a 84M in 338 Federal!.........................DJ

DJ, the only way the 338 WM Montana would work for me would be to shorten the barrel to 23" and shorten the forearm by an inch. That could be accomplished without much problem but the stock would need to be repainted.

The WSM Montana's are good to go as they are.

I think of the Kimbers as "Goldilocks" rifles, they come in too small, too large and just right .......................DJ

Hmmm... the 84's, for me, are "just right"... the WSM's don't quite satisfy the inner rifle looney, but since I put a smaller, lighter 6x36 on mine the handling characteristics and balance changed to make it more than acceptable.

I went 9.3x62 instead of WSM last year

Whoop, have tried Magnum Primers with the 300 WSM and various powders and it never did anything more than the standard primers, but gave bigger ES's.

As to the 300 WSM over the 308... I never quite liked the 300 with the 3-9x40LR on top... when I changed it out for the 6x36LR the handling/balance really changed the entire rifle for me. I kinda fell back in love with it.

When I change out the bolt handle for the Ti version from Schmaltz, the 300 WSM will come in just under 7lbs 2oz's all-up. That's about 14oz's more than the 308, but it's a lot more rifle beyond 300 yards than the 308, no getting around that.

So yeah... the 308 will get relegated to backup status most likely. Where I hunt woods ranges are the norm but the possibility of a 400 - 600 yard shot is always there and I've more confidence in the 300 WSM at those ranges.

Also, since I found out I'll not be using the monolithic-expanding type bullets anymore (like the TTSX/etip/blah, blah), I'll be using a 165 cup and core of some sort in the 308. Likely a 165 Partition or Speer Hotcore. They go 2,750 in my rifle and shoot plenty flat, but a 180 at 3,000+ is all that and more.

338RCM, by "faster" I meant faster-handling. I wasn't clear...

Brad, having that 300 WSM barrel bored out to 8mm REALLY makes 'em handle perfect... Heh heh...

The WSM Montanas are just... wonderful. They fit me perzactly and the "perch belly" stock doesn't bug me in the least. The LA Kimbers make me feel like a little kid holding dad's rifle; they are looong. And I'm 6-4"!!

It's really too bad they didn't make a minimum-scaled action for the 30-06 family of cartridges, the way they did the .308 and WSM's... That woulda rocked...

338WM all the way!

I am going 35 Whelen instead of WSM this year.

325WSM all the way! It shoots flater than the 7mm Ultra Mag loaded up with VLD's and hits harder that a 458 Lott..... :GRIN:

8 Rem mag

Of the 2 the 338.

trader......grin....

Hey,
What's this 8mm rem mag stuff?

Tim,
I think Mike like the belt... :GRIN:

Either will do the job, but it is easier to find 338 Win. Mag. cartridges on the shelves of smaller stores than it is 325 WSM cartridges. All else being equal, I'd go with the the 338.