300 WSM or 325 WSM

Supermag · #8 12-01-2006, 03:13 PM

Don't mean to hijack the thread but how does the 325 work on game and at distances?

Huntr3006 · #9 12-01-2006, 04:46 PM

I shot a New Mexico bull elk with my 300 WSM and 168gr. Barnes TSX's at 633 yards this year. After the first hit he stumbled on rubbery legs to 575 and one more shot took out his shoulder and that was it. Oh, both bullets exited by the way, with major damage.

lazylabs · #10 12-01-2006, 07:01 PM

I guess I should of checked on new bullets in the 325 range, my bad. Is there a good selection in the high BC range? I have been thinking about a 325 for a XP-100 pistol.

Ian M · #11 12-01-2006, 07:41 PM

The .325 pretty much does what the .300 WSM will do but with 20 more grains of bullet weight. I have hunted quite a lot with both of them, not a big difference in capability if you place the shot correctly.

Wild_Bill · #12 12-02-2006, 12:33 AM

Hi for target shooting the 300 is way in front of the 325 but for long range hunting the 325 has the extra energy. This is with comparable hunting bullets but run a 210gr Berger or a 220gr Sierra MatchKing in the 300 and their is no 8mm projectile that will stay with it at 1000 yards. If their were High BC projectiles in 8mm i would choose it but their are not.

Cheers Bill
Australia

Garrett H. · #13 12-02-2006, 11:32 PM

Ian,

What made you choose the .325 WSM over the .300 WSM.

Garrett

Ian M · #14 12-03-2006, 08:44 AM

I was invited on the first hunt Winchester did with the cartridge so had access to brass and ammo long before they introduced it. George Gardner was interested in the case so I found some M-70 actions and he built three rifles. This was in the spring after they had released the .325 at the SHOT show. Rifles and ammo did not appear till summer so I was shooting the custom rig long before most guys. My rifle has a Mike Rock barrel and McMillan HTG stock and it is a wonderful shooting rig. Have killed some black bears and several mulies with good success at fairly long range.

I did not select it over the .300WSM, just had a chance to work with it. Have a wonderful .300WSM that is also a hunting tool. I would never sell a good shooting .300WSM/Win. mag or a good .338 Win to switch to a .325WSM but if I was looking for an elk, moose, deer rifle I would consider one.

Although it would kill a brown bear I would prefer a much larger cartridge - with very little experience on the big bears my minimum cartridge is the .416.