NEW WINCHESTER CARTRIDGE!! 8mm WSM!

CanadianLefty

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Copied from; www.theoutdoorwire.com
Winchester Expands The Winchester Short Magnum Line

Shooters and hunters who like bigger bore rifles for large game hunting are expecting Winchester and Browning and Winchester Firearms to finally make the move to bigger bullets in the WSM line for 2005. They are right, but they may be surprised.

Winchester recognized the need for a cartridge capable of launching 200 plus grain bullets with high inherent accuracy, energy capable of stopping the largest North American game, and lower perceived recoil. Winchester engineers considered several different calibers during development and determined that the 325 caliber was the best performer in the WSM platform. This new cartridge delivers similar energies as a 338 Win-Mag in a much smaller lightweight package.

The platform of the "Short-Fat" cartridge design has for years consistently produced very accurate cartridges. Since their introduction, the Winchester Short Magnum and the Winchester Super Short Magnum calibers have all produced exceptional accuracy. In addition to delivering excellent ballistics, the 325 WSM also exhibits exceptional accuracy, a real plus in this large caliber cartridge.

Initially, three loads will be available in the 325 WSM. Winchester Ammunition and Nosler, Inc. developed a 200 gr. Accubond® CT® in the Supreme® line and in the Super-X® line, Winchester Ammunition developed a 220 gr. Power-Point® bullet. Both of these loads utilize bullets specifically designed for use in the 325 WSM. Additionally, a 180 gr. Ballistic Silvertip® in the Supreme® line will be available. Additional loads are expected in the future.

The 325 WSM is the ideal package for the serious elk, bear, moose or other large and dangerous game hunter where a lightweight short magnum rifle is desired.


Please see the preliminary ballistics for the 325 WSM below.

325 WSM Preliminary Downrange Ballistics
(Note: These numbers are informational only and have not been finalized.)
Velocity (fps)
Muzzle 100 yards 200 yards 300 yards 400 yards 500 yards
180 BST 3060 2817 2586 2367 2158 1961
200 AB-CT 2950 2736 2532 2338 2151 1974
220 PP 2840 2657 2481 2313 2150 1994
Energy (lb-ft)
Muzzle 100 yards 200 yards 300 yards 400 yards 500 yards
180 BST 3742 3170 2673 2239 1862 1536
200 AB-CT 3864 3324 2848 2426 2055 1730
220 PP 3939 3448 3007 2612 2258 1943
Trajectory
Muzzle 100 yards 200 yards 300 yards 400 yards 500 yards
180 BST -0.9 1.7 0.0 -7.0 -20.1 -40.8
200 AB-CT -0.9 1.9 0.0 -7.3 -21.0 -42.2
220 PP -0.9 2.0 0.0 -7.7 -21.8 -43.6
 
There goes the big "secret" - they wrote this copy just before we took the new cartridge up to Alaska and plinked some caribou. I killed a bull at 330 yards with it.
Understand that they are not finished making WSM cartridges tho
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Ian, I'd love to see a 264 WSM!
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Not as overbore as a 25 WSM but with more punch, greater bullet selection and weight and instant killer of everything from Pronghorn to Moose.

How about it!?
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I am sure that your caribou would have died much deader with a fast .264 WSM!
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Not sure about a .264 WSM but they are surely going to bring out a 6.5
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I am quite content with my new .300 WSM, have to get a lot more miles on it before I am ready for anything new.
 
CanadianLefty,

I was able to build myself the XP-100 handgun I will be using this big game season in between customers rifles.

I chambered the 15" Lilja in the 6.5mm WSM.

I will be using this handgun for deer only out to 400 yards max so I decided to develope a load with the 120 gr Ballistic Tip.

I have shot a little over 30 three shot groups with this handgun and bullet developing the load and the largest group at 100 yards has been .881" ctc. IT has well over a dozen groups in the .3's.

I am very happy with the extreme consistancy of this round and its ease of shooting, course I did install a Holland QD brake on her.

Performance wise, this handgun was a bit of an experiment. Most will tell you this is far to much case for a 15" handgun barrel and I would not have argued a month ago but I had the reamer built to my neck/throat design and figured what the heck, I will try it.

The 120 gr Ballistic Tip topped out at 3200 fps even and I dropped it to 3100 fps for a very comfortable long case life load. Now when you figure this is out of a 15" handgun barrel, imagine what it would do in even a 24" rifle barrel.

In a 26" barrel I would be suprised if one could not drive the 120 gr bullets to very close to 3500 fps and the 140 gr pills to +3200 fps comfortably.

My handgun has a 1-8" twist which is wasted on the 120 gr bullets but after the big game season and the rifle building rush calms down a bit, I will be testing the handgun with some of the 142 gr ULD's from Wildcat bullets and see how they shoot out to 1000 yards.

I agree, I would like to see Win come out with the 264/6.5 WSM. Then I could just buy brass and go.

I also agree this is a much better round then the 257 WSM. faster with light bullets, better performance on larger game with the heavier bullets and far and away better for extreme range shooting!!!

Good Shooting!!!

Kirby Allen(50)
 
I HAVE REAMERS AND BUILT BOTH A 338 WSM SHOOTS A 200 GR BTIP @ 2880 FPS AND A 416 WSM ( MADE FORM 300 ULTRA BRASS BY CUTTING @ SHOULDER AND NECKING DOWN, A REAL PAIN ) 400 GR @ 2300 FPS. THE 338 WAS A GREAT ROUND AND I DID NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO PLAY WITH IT, TOO BAD. THE 416 I BUILT FOR MYSELF IT WAS A REAL PAIN TO BUILD BRASS FOR AND I PUT THE BARREL ON A LONG ACTION TO PUNCH IT OUT TO 416-338 ULTRA MAG, JUST BECAUSE IT WAS EASIER TO WORK WITH THE BRASS. THE ROUND PERFORMED VERY WELL, IT JUST TOOK MORE TIME THAN I HAVE TO MAKE BRASS FOR IT. I HAD THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT GUIDE RIFLE FOR ALASKAN BEARS, AFRICAN DANGEROUS GAME ETC. I BUILT IT WITH A SCOUT MOUNTED SCOPE, THE BASES FOR THE TALLEY QD RINGS MACHINED OUT OF THE BARREL BLANK. IN HIND SIGHT THE 416 MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT MUCH AND A 375 MAY HAVE BEEN A BETTER PICK. MY FIGURES SHOW THAT IT WOULD EQUIL THE PERFORMANCE OF A 375 H&H.
 
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