Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 RCM vs 325 WSM

I have a 338-06 and was looking at the 325 WSM and couldn't figure out why in the world I'd want one.

I'm still going to buy one, mind you, but don't really think it has much over the 338-06.

I say that cuz you mentioned the RCM, which appears to me to be a ballistic twin to the -06.

If I were you, and I know you didn't offer this as an option, I'd go w/ the 338-06 because brass is much more available and you don't need Hornady magic loads to wring the most out of the cartridge.

Just my $.02.

ewf, I like the idea of the 338-06 would be a great choice for elk or deer IMO....

338-06 is bitchin', no doubt, but it won't shoot a 200-gn bullet at 2900 fps.

Now does that matter? I don't know, maybe not. But .338-06 is the epitome of a great non-magnum rifle. .325 is a magnum. For better and worse.

in the end shooting a 250 grain at 2400 or so seems better somehow to me than shooting a 220 at 2500 or there about. In other words if you buy a medium rifle 250 grain bullets seems like part of the equation

I know of at least a dozen loads for the 338-06 that push a 200gr bullet well over 2800fps. Barnes 4 has 210gr TSX loads going 2831fps.

Cartridge have lived and died based on 100 fps but a 200gr 325WSM is just about that much faster than a 200gr 338-06.

There are a dozen 250gr 338-06 loads that get into the mid 2600's as well.

To the OP, I think the 338-06 deserves a place in this fight. Unless of course the 1/2" and 4 oz. of extra length and weight of a long action are deal breakers.

Jeff-my 338/06 does 2900 with R17 and 200 NBT's and H4350 is just under it. I could hit 2900 with it if I really wanted to..

The new Horn manual has 3 load I think that list 2900 with the 200's. And like was mentioned it can also run a 250 @ 2600 if one wished to use a heavy weight.

I used the 340 for years and kind of look at the old OKH as a 340-P..

For whatever all that gack is worth...grin

Dober

338-06 can get in the fight if it likes but it would be like Haiti declaring war on the United States..... The United States/325 WSM will still be top DOG!!!!!

That 338 RCM with it's 20 inch barrel would be tough to beat, especially considering the velocities they are getting out of that round.

Whoda thunk Haiti was that close to the US?!?

And Haiti carries more in reserve too!

264guy it's true the 338RCM with a 20" barrel are getting some great FPS but thats with Hornady factory loads with there magic gun powder. Us handloader's will never get that kinda velocities safely with the powders available to us handloaders....

This could be trouble.....

Quote-"...But .338-06 is the epitome of a great non-magnum rifle. .325 is a magnum. For better and worse. "
The problem with that statement is that "magnum" means absolutely nothing when used to describe a cartridge. There is no energy, velocity, bore size, bullet weight, case capacity or Taylor Knockdown number minimum that a cartridge has to exceed to be called a magnum, and there are both belted and non belted magnums. If I remeber correctly, "magnum" is Latin for "charge twice as much for brass and ammo".

Fred

That right there is FUNNY!

All three of them will quite effectively make critters dead.

Certainly not a LH, and doubtful it will be a Fwt, but I may put together a 338 RCM on a M70 WSM action later this year. The issue that concerns me with this configuration is feeding. Seems I recall reading that the RCM requires the feed rails be widened somewhat to ensure smooth and reliable feeding. I know Redneck had done at least one 375 on a M70 and worked out the feed issues it presented. It's likely he'll get the call for my 338RCM/M70 build.

The .338 RCM case is the same diameter as the belt on a belted magnum case, while the WSM is slightly larger, being derived from .404 Jeffery-designed cases.

So a WSM action should be functioning with cartridges larger than an RCM, not smaller. And in that event -- RCM cases should feed just fine without opening up.

Dennis

I guess I'm going to have to get some factory loads and chronograph them in comparison to my loads. I heard the same commentary over and over on the .338 Fed, but the simple fact is I can match factory loads rather easily with it. I'm within 100-150 fps with my RCM right now, without having gone to the limits yet. And truthfully, I could care less, for hunting purposes. If I shoot a 210 gr TSX at 2750 fps, I'm fairly sure it will safely kill whatever I'm shooting at and be fully equal to shooting a 210 TSX at 2850 fps. Or, horror of horrors, even one shooting 2900 fps... .

We shall see, but it's really irrelevant for hunting. After all, do you think 879 mps is deadlier than 833 mps, for shooting game? Maybe that's one reason Europeans aren't so driven by velocity... .

Dennis

Oh no, you're wrong. I'm sure the critter would be waaay more dead at 2850 or 2900 than the level of dead experienced at 2700!

What is so nice about the RCM is the package it comes in....... a nice handy little tough rifle that is around a metre long overall - complete with useable open sights!

If thats not important then the wsm is a good alternative option!

if you re not that happy you can rechamber a 300RCM into a 300WSM ... will certainly buy a 338 rcm to keep it and a 300rcm that will become a 300wsm ..!!!