Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 325 wsm and elk... anybody??

Brother left with me a 325 wsm with dies, bullets and some RL19. It is a model 16 stainless savage w/ nikon 3x9 prostaff for glass. He knew I would be fiddle'n with it sooner or later.

I ended up at 68 gr. of RL 19 and a CCI 250 cap under a 200 gr. accubond for 2900 fps and groups the same size as the precision $3000.00 long range rifles built just south of my home and I have had the privilege to shoot on occasion. Brother may have issues getting his 325 back now....

I love the 338 win mag, but this 325 runt shoots just as good and with less recoil, and a bullet very close to the same diameter.

So, its inevitable It will go with me this october a time or three for elk, brother be damned..... How will this 8mm runt magnum cartridge perform on elk? I am very anxious to find out

I am loving the round so far. I've shot one big old cow elk the F&G estimated at 640lbs, and it rolled her in full run. The 200gr AccuBonds at 2,900 are just right in my Kimber MT.

I used factory Winchester 180 Combined Tec on two deer. The gun/round is a thumper that doesn't whack back nearly as bad as the 338 I got rid of after using it 12 years. I'll not be going back to it, either.

Years ago I bought a 300 WSM. Within a few weeks, they announced the 325. I've often wished I'd waited a while. I sure can't complain about the 300 but I'd love to have the 325 just for the fun of it. I've never heard anything bad about it...except from 338 owners.

I killed couple of moose and caribou with mine...

.325 wsm makes impressive holes in things! I'm still contemplating buying one. I haven't seen much brass around for it which makes me cautious to purchase? Other than that I can't see a downside to an all around caliber like it that wouldn't take all of N.A. game at typical hunting ranges.

I've read that 325 brass has been discontinued by Winchester.

However, there's a lot of 300 WSM brass out there and it can be easily resized to 325. Just use a tapered expander ball and full length resize it. Be sure to thoroughly lube the inside of the neck.
The only difference between the 300 and 325 cases is the neck diameter. You're only increasing it by .015" which is very little. It's less than expanding the 30-06 to 338-06 which commonly done.

A co-worker and his Dad both use the 325 and have been very impressed on several elk and one bear (that I know of). I haven't shot anything with mine yet, but hopefully I'll get the chance to find out this year...

A friend of mine killed 2 elk with one a couple years ago, one here in Oregon, one on an out of state hunt in Colorado. Worked. If it had not been discontinued by Kimber I'd own one now.

Dang - I guess that means my Kimber Classic is now a "collector's item". And here I was giving serious thought to building a 6.5 SAUM on it - gonna have to think on that some more

Thanks for the input fellas

That is a phat ol' cow there luv2safari The 8mm 200 grain accubond is a substantial bullet. The short/fat case kinda hides the bullets size and length. I would have NO qualms of steering it into heavy bone or hard angles on elk, moose or bear.

As far as brass goes, I do manage to spy a bag or two in different stores... Definitely not as common as the 300 wsm but they are out there.

The round is intended for larger game Just Like the .338 win mag was. It was not as popular as it is today for years after being put on the market, Took time for it to be discovered for what it is I guess. Unfortunately, 8mm calibers seem to meet a different fate state side.

I have been kick'n myself ever since selling my 338 win. Maybe this semi-new cartridge/rifle will fill the void... and create one in my brothers arsenal....

I use imr 4007 and 200gr Speer. First load I put together and it shot real well so I never tried anything else.

Rockchuck, good to know! That helps make the decision even easier.

Unfortunately the "metric" rounds other than the 7mm seem to never do well in the U.S.?

I watched a friend shoot a LARGE cow elk last year about 274 yards. He used a handload of h4350 and 200 gr Nosler partition. Through my glasses I saw the bullet hit just behind the shoulder.It was raining and I saw a big puff of water (Hair?)and the cow was down. The bullet exited and the lungs were mush. The rifle was a A bolt. Overall pretty effective.

lefty C

I'm sure a 325 WSM works fine. I just cannot think of a single reason I'd choose one over the 300 WSM. Both shoot the same bullet weights to the same speeds. The .015" larger bullet diameter is irrelevant, but the better BC .308 bullets shoot flatter and deliver more energy.

At even 100 yards the 325 starts losing ground fast to the 300 WSM with equal bullet weights. A 200 gr .308 Accubond (.588 BC) @ 2900 fps from a 300 WSM, beats a 200 GR .325 Accubond (.450 BC) @ 2900 fps from the 325 WSM.

They have equal energy at the muzzle, but at 300 yards the 300 WSM is almost 150 fps faster with almost 300 ft lbs more energy. And it shoots a bit flatter.

The difference isn't earth shattering, but I just don't see a point in using the 325 WSM if it offers no advantages while the 300WSM is so common.

The only 200 gr bullet I've shot in my 300 WSM is a Partition but I've read that some guns have short mags that give length problems with 200 and heavier bullets. That gives the 325 the edge if you want to go heavier. I see no need for that much weight for anything in North America with the possible exception of brown bear.

I built a load for a buddy's Savage .300 using IMR7828ssc and the 200 Partition. It shoots sub-minute at about 2850. Use the Nosler OAL recommendations and it will fit. The bullet looks deep, but shoots great.

Has anybody ran any of the 220's from the 325? Seems like that is where it really starts to compete with the 338 some.

Just asking, as I have always wanted a 325, just never took the plunge.

My 300 will shoot 180 gr Accubonds great, very accurate. With 200's, though, it sucks. The groups double in size from the 180. For heavier AB's, the 325 should be much more accurate.

I have not shot 220's threw the 325. Brother has a few factory power points that came with the rifle though. With that bullet it is very close to the 338 with FACTORY 225 loads...

A buddy who did have a kimber 325 for a short bit divorce, bills, bla-bla liked them for the almost two hunting seasons he had the kimber. A sheep, deer and bear one shot apiece complete with exit.

I have heard great things about the Power Point in the Winchester ammo for the 325 as well.

I had a 300WSM, I think I'd do a 325 next time. No real reason, though, just cause.. I like the odd ducks and the 325 is surely one of them.