Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 325 WSM ???s

So I just picked up a Kimber 8400 Montana in 325 WSM as my dedicated high country elk rifle . Now I need to start discovering bullets to shoot in it etc.

Any suggestions on where to start?

Mainly high country elk and mule deer. Might consider a black bear hunt in the upcoming years, but nothing serious yet.

I tried to do a search here at the "fire", but seems the search feature is still having major issues, so I am reaching out all you.

What grain and style bullets would be considered a "must have" for this cartridge?

Favorite recipes? etc. would be quite helpful. Still need to pick up dies, brass, shell holder and bullets. Just looking for a place to begin.

I currently load for a 7mm Rem Mag and a 7mm-08 so I have a pretty wide range of powders to begin with.

Thanks!

FH

65.5 grains IMR 4350 200 grain Partition or accubond. 2950 fps

This is my boy's 325 WSM


Antelope taken with same load at 409 yards

Fotis,

That is some sweet shooting going on there. Good work.

Thank you for the idea. Accubonds and Partitions are both on my shortlist. Ive had great luck with them in my other rifles too.

FH

Either of these two bullets and any of these 3 powders:

.325 WSM / .325 Winchester Short Magnum (Using Nosler Bullets)

Warning! Notes: rifle: barrel: Wiseman; length: 26"; twist: 1-10"; case: Winchester; primer: WLRM; maximum SAAMI overall cartridge length: 2.860"; use maximum loads with caution

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Hodgdon H-4350 64.5 2925
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate powder tested

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Hodgdon H-4350 62.5 2872
Remarks: most accurate load tested; most accurate powder tested

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Hodgdon H-4350 60.5 2809
Remarks: most accurate powder tested


200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Big Game 63.0 2922
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate load tested

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Big Game 61.0 2853

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Big Game 59.0 2775


200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Hunter 67.0 2951
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Hunter 65.0 2860

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Hunter 63.0 2785
Remarks: most accurate load tested

This year my boy wanted the rifle re done so I did it

Alright, you bought it... good deal.

Enjoy, now go bust something with it.

Joel

Mine loved 195 Hornady Interlocks & RL17.

I picked up some 200 gr. Accubonds, a set of dies and a shell holder. Now, just need some brass so that I can start shooting this dude.

Thanks for your help. I may need to pick up some SSC 4007 and RL17 eventually. Have some IMR4350, Ramshot Big Game, IMR 4064, IMR 7828, H1000, IMR 4831. Should be able to at least get it started.

Hornady and Speer Hotcores might be an affordable option to practice with if I can find some loads. I am excited to give it a try.

FH

You might want to try the Big Game and IMR-7828 first, they're both known for providing good velocity, accuracy, and they don't lose much velocity in cold weather, or gain much in hot weather as they're not real sensitive to changes in temperature.

Primer - WLRM
195 or 200 gr bullet
IMR-7828 - 66.5 gr 2,681 fps 53,500 PSI - 71.0C gr (Maximum) 2,860 fps 63,800 PSI


Primer - WLRM

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Big Game 63.0 2922
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate load tested

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Big Game 61.0 2853

200 Nosler Partition Spitzer or AccuBond Ramshot Big Game 59.0 2775

My Kimber Classic 325 doesn't like Accubonds, but a pard and his Dad both love the Accubond in their A-bolt 325's with Reloader 17. Mine does really well with the three flat base bullets I've tried so far - 200 Partition, 195 Hornady and 196 Norma Oryx (all with H4350):

My nephew has a Kimber 325 and he tried 200 accubonds, partitions, and Barnes X bullets with H4350 and another powder real close to it in burning speed. He couldn't get it to group so he made a pretty big jump in burn rates and tried Varget with those Barnes X bullets. He's getting about 2850-2900 IIRC and he's under 1.5" at 200 yards.

200gr. TSX with RL17 , run em hot.