Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Useless .325 WSM?

I'm starting to like the idea.

A compact rifle that can throw a 220 grain true spitzer with a high bc & sd. A fast, flat trajectory and 3940 ft lbs. energy.

I was one of the group that was waiting for the 338 WSM, but this could just be the perfect big game cartridge...if the manufacturers start making premium 220 grain bullets.

The Sierra 220 SpBt Game King is a pertty good bullet. Thick jacket and originally designed for the 8mm Rem Mag. High BC too.

I'm still waiting for someone to fill the gaping void between the 6MM Rem and the 243 Win.

i am sorry but i dont understand why they keep trying to sell us something we didn't ask for. the most requested cats since the freakin' case came out was a 338 and a 25. over and over and over. just build the stupid things already.
where they pull this stuff from is beyond me. an 8mm for petes sake. i am not flaming the 8 at all. i dont ever, ever recall a single soul even remotely hinting at the slightest bit of info regarding such a cat. never. so, they introduce one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
ugh.......
woofer

I feel that Winchester will fill your wants in time. (Even if there research did find the smaller bore to be more efficient...
They are more than likely using marketing strategy. Sell the odd balls first, and then give them what they want.
Sells more guns that way..

If I had a 338 or a 358 why would I need any thing else?

I for one am glad they are offering my 8mm first. I wanted a WSM, but could not justify replacing the standard magnum design.

I know the 8mm Remington Magnum. Little to much for my thinking�

Way more fun than I can handle in one day..

Later all�

I don't own a WSM of any stripe, or a rifle of the magnum stripe whatsoever, but now that elk are starting to catch on good here in Kentucky, I may have to break down and buy one. I know that the .30-06 will kill any elk we can grow, but shots across the strip pits can get long, and the "hollers" are deep. Because of this, I can sort of see a use for this cartridge around my house. If I already had a .338, or a .300 weatherby, then no, I probably wouldn't have a need.

At least 325 brass will be available to neck up to the 338WSM and 35WSM wildcats. One pass and you are there. Also one step closer than using 300WSM brass. This is depending on the 325WSM's case dimensions...............

I can see em now - 338/325WSM and 35/325WSM! Oh, the horror, the horror! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

MtnHtr

I would not call it useless yet, with a 200 grain Matchking at 2950 fps it will be balisticly superior to the 300 win Mag. both in tragectory and downrange energy. I am building a rifle to test the round to see what its field potential is. Weird thing is noone seems to make good 8mm barrels. Mike Rock is tooling up for it for the project. Ill let you guys know how it turns out.

mntn hunter, good point <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
woofer

Mr. Gardner, I look forward to hearing about your results.

btw, who ever put your web site together really knew what they were doing. It's A+.

Nice Beligain Malinois as well, now we know who is really in charge.

The 325 supposedly is based on the 7mmWSM, which is a bit longer in the body than the 300WSM. Theoretically it should hold a bit more powder but when I expanded a 7mm to 338, it held exactly the same water weight as the 300. I guessed this was because of a thicker web.

The brass is attractive to me, and who knows, I may just ream out my 338/300 to a 338/325, depending on the case capacity of the brass.

I don't see it getting 2950 fps out of a 200g bullet however, at least not within SAAMI safe pressures.

To call a chambering "useless" just because it does not appeal to oneself is shortsighted, indeed. While the 325WSM may not fly, it might surprise you, and the fact that the 8mm bore size has languished this side of the ocean has nothing to do with effectiveness or practicality, but more to do with mindbent. [If it wasn't made here, it isn't worth considering] The 8mm Mauser has never been particularly popular here, and is traditionally loaded "soft" by North American companies, simply because most are not interested enough to educate themselves on the difference between the original 8x57J and the slightly larger diameter 8x57JS. The soft loading allows the manufacturers to escape the litigation sure to follow if some poor schmuck fired a hot loaded JS [.323] round in a rifle with the J [.318] bore size. The 8x57 will do anything the 30-06 will do, properly loaded, that in a slightly shorter package that is better suited to some actions. This is NOT knocking the '06, it is my favorite big game cartridge. This is one of those bore sizes that has been neglected, and it would be nice if it enjoyed a bit more popularity so us who shoot it had a few more bullet choices. [FWIW, I hear Nosler is tooling up for a .323/200 grain Accubond...yippee!] Regards, Eagleye.

I am not trying to say that the .325 cartridge is useless! Perhaps reduntant with all the other calibers out there but who cares if it's redundant? I am curious in ine myself. The useless part is to load a heavy barreled varmint rifle in .325. I can not see a use for this, but to each there own.

AHA! I may have missed the gist of your initial post.... apologies are extended! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I agree with the thought that this chambering would probably be served in hunting weight barrels better. The sales of the HB version will quite likely be mediocre at best. Regards, Eagleye.

Its quite obvious that this cartridge doesn't appeal to many here. Just ignore the round and enjoy what you do like.
Winchester isn't trying to sell you anything you don't want. Don't like it, don't buy it.
I'm sure this cartridge will be bought by those that do want one, and they'll be happy they own one.
One man's water is another man's poison. Why suffer the drink when no one is forcing to swallow but yourselves? ~~~Suluuq

Wise words, R-G.

While I'll likely not buy one, for a variety of reasons, this one actually makes some sense. It's a big enough bore to gain reasonable bullet weights, yet a small enough cartridge to gain the benefits without beating the shooter to death. If you look at the realistic pantheon of over-.30 caliber rifles available from factories, with factory ammunition, the .338 win Mag is by far the sales leader. Remington is trying to resurrect their .350 Mag, in response I would guess to the same perceived market niche. The .338 RUM and .340 Weatherby kick too much, and cost too much to shoot, for "most" hunters and shooters. (This would not include the loonie clan, but we know who we are and we don't count in this equation.)

So -- if a guy has his heart set on a "short-action over .30 cal elk rifle" -- there are only two choices -- .325 WSM or .350 Rem Mag. One is old and belted; one is new and sleek. One comes in nice rifles, and one comes with a shark fin. I don't know that Winchester will sell a ton of the things, but I bet they meet their market objectives -- particularly if they can get ammo on the market at less than $20 a box.

Hell -- maybe I will buy one... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

I won't have one but I imagine there will be those who do and who will like it. It may spawn a run on new 8mm bullets if it has any lasting power. I can imagine with good bullets you won't be able to tell it from the .338 Win in the blindfold test as to its field performance. Scovill seemed to like it in his test; at least he provided some rationalization for why Win went this way (.325). I don't think anyone connected with it thought it would fill a new niche; just another answer for one already there. For the churners?
What amazes me more with the WSMs is that some of their advantage initially was thought by some to be lighter rifles, right? Shorter action = lighter rifle. This is apparently completely lost within the mental meanderings of the Win folks. Look at their rifle weight of the WSMs compared to the others. Their terms of Featherweight or Lightweight concerning some models is completely lost on me. Compared to what? Otherwise, otherwise...I like their looks.

George

According to the article, .338 would not work on this case. gets invloved with expansion ratios & such. In fact it would not equal the original 338 Win Mag. ( truth be told the 300 wussy wont hold up to the original 300 either, except in the gun porn mags).
Anyhoo, the design folks decided that 8mm was about as big as they could go & retain efficiency.
As for bullets there are about 3 different weights commonly available for 8mm & in fact that is about all you need any way.
I will stick with my old M98 8x57. It will kill any thing the wussy will, just as far & just as dead & a whole bunch cheaper.
As far as any of the wussys go I finally read an article in which the "tester" finally admited that the sharp shoulder will not feed reliably for a rapid reload.
Yes they are more powder efficient. Fine for bench rest where even if the paper target did attack you it would trip over all the wind flags & give you a chance to run away.
NOTE Ruger's comments in their ads for the new 204 Ruger & it's case design.

If I recall it correctly, the article said that the 338 WSM didn't work well when held to the SAAMI overall length of 2.86". But I am hoping that seating the bullets out longer changes that, if the magazine and throating will allow. I am dropping some serious (at least for me) coin on a MT Rifleman 1999 338-300 WSM, and the magazine box is 3.1" Stay tuned.

10x..should you check some of my prior posts, you will see I`ve already done that. 2 years ago, in fact, and the cartridge works well on game. BTB, with our action/barrel we move the 200 grn MK to 3150fps. PAC-NOR makes an excellent barrel.
I would also suggest that to get the most out of this case, you use a standard length action.
I will look forward to your test results, as no one else has built this wildcat, at least not anyone on this site.
Redding has dies on the shelf. { In bed with Winchester?}

Clayton