325 WSM vs 300 WSM

[Sniper338]

Just a general discussion.

You never hear anything about the 325 WSM. It seems with a slightly large bore itd yeild better barrel life over a 300. Lack of good 8mm bullets is a downer for it... but if berger made a 8mm 230 VLD it seems like itd be a wicked combo that would have an edge over a 300 wsm?

Just thinking/typing out loud

 

[dkhunt14]

The barrel life on a 300 WSM is good. My throat only moves a few thousanths in 1000 rounds. When I shot the 308 Baer, it moved around .035 in 300 rounds. Matt

 

[Lee in Texas]

Cutting Edge makes 225gr and 256gr solids.

 

[wvlongshot]

I load for a buddy's 325 wsm. Shoots extremely well, but if I was building something on those lines would do a 338 wsm off the 300 case for use of the better brass on the market. And the wide array of bullets.

 

[JBT47]

I would definitely go .300 WSM. Inherently very accurate. Good barrel life. Good strong brass.

 

[msinc]

They are both definitely great calibers for certain. I have a 325WSM and I really like it. It shoots excellent and I have to say the thing about it that surprised me the most was the fact that it doesn't kick anywhere near the way I figured it would. I got mine on a trade with an ass load of factory ammo, so I have not reloaded for it. I have chrono'ed it and it does what they say. Very powerful round for the recoil and it feels like about a heavy bullet in a 30-06 to me. I don't know that I would build one over the other...it's a hunting rifle for bigger animals and I find the bullets available good enough for any big animal and plenty accurate.
But then, I tend to look at the whole bullet thing a little different than the rest of the world...if I have to worry about only using a certain special purpose designed bullet then I don't have enough gun to start with, but that's just me. You can hunt/kill a black bear with a 223 and you can drive your truck with your feet, if you want to....but that don't make either one a good idea.

 

[WV Hitman]

I have a .325 WSM XP-100 handgun made by SSK. Totally awesome gun. Killed deer out to 400 yds., a 12' croc in Africa, a 350# WV bear at 48 yds. with a 180 gr. X, and a 175 # WV bear at 279 yds. with a 200 gr. AB. Recoil is very reasonable with a SSK brake. Extremely accurate. Think a match bullet is good for deer? I've taken 20+ with a 200 gr. Sierra HPBT. Good damage, total penetration, but they do ricochet on hard ground.

 

[Shawnba67]

There are plenty of great hunting bullets in 8mm. Just mot much in the match section.
The 8mm will have a bigger hole and throw same wieghts slightly faster than the 30.
If its a game rig the 325 may well trump the 300. Target only forget it exists.

 

[ryanjay11]

they do ricochet on hard ground.

Any bullet recommendations that don't ricochet on hard ground?

 

[WV Hitman]

ranjay, almost any bullet will ricochet on hard ground, but I had the least problem with 200 gr. Speer SPs and 180 gr. Nos. Ballistic SilverTips.
Hard ground is not friendly to Xs, Nos. ABs, Horn. GMXs- in other words, bullets that too hard with little expansion.

 

[moondog]

I loved mine when I use to hunt. Easy to get to shoot well. Hits like the hammer of Thor!
I still have the Dies and bullets.

 

[284winner]

The 325 WSM I compare to the 270WSM in popularity. There are a few good bullets for them but all in all they just haven't took hold in the LR community. I see many out there in the deer woods but in general, nothing compared to the 6.5, 7 or 30s. Berger even developed VLDs for the .277s and they are a good LR bullet. Still not alot of attention paid to the .277. Seems like the .325 would be a better fit between the 30s and 338s.

 

[Vinootz]

Just a general discussion.

You never hear anything about the 325 WSM. It seems with a slightly large bore itd yeild better barrel life over a 300. Lack of good 8mm bullets is a downer for it... but if berger made a 8mm 230 VLD it seems like itd be a wicked combo that would have an edge over a 300 wsm?

Just thinking/typing out loud

Recently : “An ode to 325wsm” , The High Road forum also has a recent thread , also there is a WSM comparison of the three surviving short mags at “thebiggamehuntingblog”. As for performance I see much hair splitting. But that’s what riflemen do. All I can say is that a 220 grain 8mm bullet,going 2800 FPS,in a light rifle, and 22 inch barrel, is a great piece of hunting equipment. Being capable of handily taking a moose at 600 yards with a relatively flat shooting accurate cartridge indicates such. 35 ft. Lbs of recoil energy- although stout- will not likely be felt taking a shot at quarry. What’s not like? I own two 325wsm rifles.