Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 325 WSM test report

Bought a Kimber Montana in 325 WSM about five years ago and just now got around to working up a load for it. First, I had the barrel cut back to 22 inches, because 24 inches is simply too long for my taste with that cartridge. I mounted a 2.5 X 8 Leupold with Talley QD rings. Total weight with scope mounted--6 lbs, 14 OZ. Today I worked up a load of 66 grs. of H4350, Fed. 210M primer, Winchester cases, and Barnes 200gr. TSX. My muzzle vel was just over 2800 fps and after some intial sighting in, my first four shot group @ 150 yards measures 1.3 inches. Under 1 MOA and not bad from such a light weight powerful rifle. This is a very comfortable recoiling load and almost has the power of a 338 Win. Mag. Whats not to like?

I've not shot the .325, but have shot the Montana's (which I like), and lots of .338's.

I gotta believe that 2" off the barrel makes it bark a bit, other than that, looks good.

Bullet selection always kept me from snuggling too close to the .325's though.

H4350 is my favorite powder in the 325, though I hear very good things about RL 17.

Who's rifle (brand) do have in the three, and a quarter?

I have a Montana in 325 WSM and will keep the 24" barrel. It jumps and barks plenty with the longer barrel, and accuracy with factory ammo has been around MOA. These do let you know that you just jerked the trigger.

I got it to replace my heavier Ruger MKII 338 SS, which shoots like a target rifle with 225 Nosler AccuBonds after I installed a Timney trigger.

I would have prefered the same rifle in a 338 WSM over a 325 WSM as bullet selction would have been much better, but since the 200gr. TSX happens to shoot so good in this particular rifle, I'm happy with it. This 325 WSM wont be replacing any of my 338's any time soon, but I do like it a lot. I dont know wy Winchester chose to develope a 325 WSM over a 338 WSM?

They tried to get the 338 to work with the WSM chambering but were not able to develop the round satisfactorily.

The 325/8mm worked great, so says Winchester, but the 338 was a real problem. I love the round as a compact and hard hitting medium bore, but I may be in the minority, as American shooters seem to shy away from the 8mm for some strange reason.

In reality the 338 and 325 WSM are two peas in a pod. I love the 338 Win, but that doesn't mean I dislike the 325 WSM. For fair chase elk hunting I can't imagine a much better combination than my Kimber Montana in 325 WSM.

Mako,
I (until recently) had a Kimber Montana with a Leupy 2.5-8X in Talley LWs.
I will get another one eventually, I think.

I dont use the words "ideal" or "perfect" much when talking about rifles. There are just so many excellent choices for every application out there that its too hard to isolate the best one for any particular situation.

That being said, I believe my Kimber Montana 325 WSM to be as close to perfect as anything I have ever used (or anything I am aware of in existence) as a balance of power and portability in a rough country elk rifle.