Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 325 WSM popularity

The 300 WSM shoots the same bullet weights as 325 WSM to the same speeds. Considering the much better BC's and SD's of the 30 caliber bullets the 300 WSM outperforms 325 both near and far. The .013" larger bullet diameter is less than the thickness of a fingernail. That is why 325 WSM never caught on.

I venture to say there is a huge difference in popularity for the 325 WSM from 2008 to 2020. Without having sales data, I think it's safe to say the '06 has a commanding lead over the 325 WSM now lol. To me, it offers nothing over a 300 Win Mag or WSM shooting 200gr bullets at 2850fps or so.

Super awesome cartridge for those of us with lots of 8x57s, plenty of bullets from sps, and a love of good deals on M70's and Kimbers so chambered. Some day I hope to fire correctly head stamped ammo in mine. Maybe I'll splurge before it's rebarreled to 7WSM.

Ahh the 06 has a commanding lead over most cartridges- lol.

I own two 325wsm rifles. I made sure I got plenty of brass. So much that I could go through two or three more barrels. Besides, there is still brass out there for it. Great cartridge.Is it close to dead? Pretty much so. No matter to me. Also, Winchester still offers the XPR in 325wsm and do a run of ammo every so often if someone were willing to venture into it.
Quite a few custom ammo makers produce it too. It’s the only oddball cartridge I have in my collection. And I love it. On another note, 8mm has been around a long time. There are only a couple of cartridges with it’s renowned history. To have an 8mm magnum is to have a time tested caliber with ageless performance. A magnum only makes it better in some ways. People that own 325wsm rifles love them. There is so much more I could say but I’ll spare you.

Darn skippy! I have an idea that should I find another XPR on fire sale, to get it and cut it down to match .30-06 over 500 yards. But only if I find a smokin' deal.

I hunted elk many years with a 300 Win Mag/180 Nosler Partition and never had a problem. I then picked up a Browning BLR in 325 WSM because I wanted a lever action elk rifle. I've been using 180/200 TSX and 200 ABs, but haven't had a chance to shoot an elk yet. The only benefit I see over 300 or 338 mags is you get a shorter overall gun with the 325's short action (270 & 300 WSM too). That aside, using similar constructed bullets I don't think there is really any big different between 300, 325 and 338 mags (338 gets the nod if you need to load real heavy bullets).

I need to get some .325 WSM brass.... I havent even been thinking about it. I have two rifles, but only about 40 rounds of brass. Funny thing is, I was trying to get more brass for my 7.82 Patriot and found that it is $100 for 20 rounds of brass. Been thinking about getting a couple boxes of 20. While getting ready for the range today, I found 3 boxes of 20 rounds of brass I had bought years ago, back when it was $40 for 20... and saved. I had totally forgotten about it. I need to pick up some 325 and do the same thing.

When 325 brass was hard too find (too expensive), I bought 300 WSM brass, neck sized it and it worked fine.

@Oakster
As MOW mentions, you can neck up 300WSM brass if you feel like doing that. Maybe more manufacturer selection that way. Otherwise, there is Nosler, Bertram, and Winchester brass available in size 325 WSM.

I always see 325wsm on the internet. I haven’t looked close enough to see if it says “out of stock”. 300wsm brass would work fine too. Necking up .015 is no big deal. Winchester does a run every couple of years. I used to have no problem getting Nosler brass for it(expensive though). Not sure if they offer it any more. I also got some Bertram brass in 325. You could just pay up and get cartridges from an ammo maker. Double Tap, Hendershots,Wisconsin Cartridge, Selway and quite a few more. Hendershots is highly expensive but the others average
$62 for a box of 20. I had Double Tap make me 200 rounds. It was accurate ammo. Some cartridges are expensive to keep when they are not mainstream. It is what it is. 325wsm prompted me to finally take up reloading. Good luck. You should find enough on the internet.

Shot my first elk with the 325, a decent spike at ~400lb. Off-hand at 200 yards while he was steeply quartering away. I had tape over the muzzle so I think the POI shifted from where I wanted because it was checked later the next day. No matter... 200 AB went through the left pelvis at an angle, sailed over the stomach and intestines, evaporated the back half of the liver. Couldn't find the bullet but maybe it rattled around in the body cavity after that because there was no exit. Overall am very pleased with the performance. And I will never tape over the muzzle again (to keep out debris).

A former coworker swore by the 325 WSM for the elk hunting he did - I know he's shot quite a few elk with it. Based on his praise, when I found a used Kimber Classic 325 WSM a number of years ago, I bought it. I have shot it some with mixed results - likely more a Kimber roulette thing than the cartridge. I do like the rifle so have been toying with the idea of rebarreling to something else in either a 6.5 or 7mm short fat something. I just dropped it off with a gunsmith yesterday to have a 7mm SAUM barrel installed and am going to have a lot of 8mm bullets to sell in the near future (or acquire an 8x57 of some flavor ).

The 8mm Mauser has always been a good cartridge, equal to the .30-06 for practical purposes. The 325 should do everything it does, but the WSM's never caught on because they don't do anything meaningful that the old cartridges do not. The PRC's take a better shot at doing more things better, but I still think they don't make much difference for most people in most situations. If I still had my 8mm (7.92x57mm), I'd be set for life.

No one mentioned the 8mm 06

8mm 06 is a fine cartridge. The 325 flat out bests it. Hail the 8mm bore, overlooked because it was "German".

Loved my .325 since the day I first pulled the trigger on it. Shoots good, feels good. Bought it when it came out, because I didn't have one, not because ballistics couldn't be matched by something else. It's now one of my go to rifles, my 14 yo is currently pulling the trigger on it for off range oryx. He was apprehensive on range day, but after the first shot, "Not bad" and sent several more. My aspect to reloading is a bit different, I pick a bullet for a caliber and don't generally change up. I run 220's in the .325, 180's in my .300rsaum, and 125's in my 300win Sendero.....with that being the case my calibers don't cross unless something comes up that I require them too. Chance to add one to the collection, chances are you'll like it, plus you'll own another rifle😁

I bought one right after they came out with it. It's what launched me into reloading. I bought 4 bags of Winchester cases, 8 lbs of H4350, 1000 CCI Mag primers. Bullets have been no problem, in fact, every time we have a Dem in the WH I've been glad I'm shooting a 8MM. As far as it's performance goes I have no complaints. I shoot 200 Grain TSX bullets and put a load together for the 160 Grain TSX as well although I've never hunted with the 160s. I shot a nice bull at 200 yards who took 2 steps and dropped. The deer I've shot with it just flop. It kicks like hell though (9 lb gun). It really could use a brake. My 300 Win Mag with brake is tame compared to the 325.

Yes there is Winchester,Nosler and Bertram brass. I’ve accumulated all three brands. It is not all that hard to get. A little pricey but attainable. Winchester is the easiest to come by.

I know a lot of hunters and shooters across the country and I only personally know 1 person that owns a 325 WSM and I don't think that he hunts with the 325.