.325 WSM GA Precision LR rifle

[Ian M]

Have 500 rounds through the .325 WSM now, starting to get some good info. Shot it out at 700 last weekend and it was three minutes flatter than our .308 WIns. and required just about 1/2 the windage. 16 moa gets me on POA at 700 and the 200 Matchkings at or under .5moa if I can hold the rifle properly.

One bear down so far, 283 yard shot with a 200 Accubond on a nice British Columbia black bear. Rained-out last week in Manitoba, thought we might need life jackets in the treestands.

 

[Dave King]

Ian

Good to see a post from you. I'm back from Alberta and did fine once the weather warmed up a bit. I'll see about getting pictures of the rifles posted, to include the 325 WSM in the bunch somewhere.

Personally I was quite impressed with the 325 while shooting in Lloydminster and it wasn't just the free ammunition either /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

 

[Ian M]

I have exactly 500 rounds through my .325 WSM and thought you folks might be interested in some impressions. Winchester is loading three bullet weights, 180, 200 and 220's. The factory loaded ammo is amazingly accurate, my chrono strings have some of the lowest velocity spreads that I have shot. Very difficult to match the uniformity with handloads.
Here are some numbers:
Distance is YDS. Drop is in MOA. This is actual drop data, not computer generated. Accuracy is well under one minute out to 600 yards, about one minute at 700 and 800 yards. Helps to have a superb rifle and a 3.5-15x56mm Nightforce for this testing.

200 grain Accubond CT Win. Supreme
100/0 200/1.5 300/4.5 400/6.75 500/9.5 550/11.0 600/12.5 650/14.5 700/16.5 800/21.0

CHRONOGRAPH DATA FOR THE .325 WSM
Oehler 35P, 10', 44 degrees, wind 7mph NW
Handload Info - approach this load with caution.
200 Sierra Matchking Win. Brass/LR primer
72/4831 SC , 2.900" O.L. 2892fps/21-SD

180 Factory Ballistic Tips 3099fps/12-SD
200 Factory Accubond CT 2927fps/9-SD
220 Factory Power Points 2793fps/11-SD

As mentioned the rifle is shooting very well. One memorable three-shot group went inside 1.25" at 500 yards. Last weekend we shot several 3-shot groups under 6" at 700 in some nasty wind. The rifle is extremely pleasant to shoot, everyone who shoots it agrees but the rifle is not light, probably weighs about 12 pounds.

Shot a bear near Port Hardy on the north tip of Vancouver Island a while back, one shot at 283 yards, bullet exited with about a 3" exit hole. Lots of energy, this is an excellent cartridge for moose, elk, bear and it will no doubt put a deer on the deck with great authority.

Hope to do some more handloading to test a few more bullets and powder combinations. Not much data but it is being worked on right now - lots coming.

RIfle is impressing everyone who shoots it, lots of interest in buying this cartridge after the guys get to try it. Believe Dave King might even be getting the itch for something in .325!!!

Got rained out last week in Manitoba, Dave. Hope you had a good trip to Alberta. Really enjoyed shooting with you - we still got to shoot the white buffalo tho! I might even be out your way this summer.