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Winchester WSM .325

Alan Rushing
For folks that are familiar with this cartridge / chambering . . .

What are your experiences, knowledge, notions as to accuracy, efficiency and usefullness of this 8mm cartridge?

How does it compare to other 8mm and near 8mm, maybe even the .338 magnums?
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    Hi Alan,

    The 325 WSM is one of the later developments that came from the New Haven facility. Is a very efficient cartridge, and delivers the goods, way over proportion. Due to the fact that the bullets are 0.323", and not 0.338", they have a slightly higer ballistic coefficient, per equal weight. That said, the 338's will always be able to fly a larger payload. However, given equal bullet weight, the 325 WSM, is on par with the 338 Winchester. Everyone was anticipating that Winchester would be releasing a 338 WSM, and was very surprised when it was an 8mm. Winchester, unlike Remington, had done most of their homework, and was leaning toward efficiency. The homework they did not do, was looking into the success of the 8mm cartridges here in the USA. There is a lack of variety of bullet weights for this bullet diameter, but what is available performs really well.

    Best
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  • Ambrose
    I'm kind of queer for Browning A-bolt Medallions and one showed up NIB in .325 WSM on the auction side. Nobody but me seemed to want it much so I got it. I put a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8X on it. It compares very favorably with the 8 Rem. Mag. velocity-wise. I was firing them both at my range on the same day over the Oehler 35P screens. The down-side that day was that I quit early because I got tired of getting kicked! One of the groups from the .325 with 195 gr. Hornady spire was a 5-shot one-holer measuring .67" outside to outside so I guess it's pretty accurate. I would think it would make a pretty good outfit for the bigger stuff like elk, etc.
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  • Alan Rushing
    quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    Hi Alan,

    The 325 WSM is one of the later developments that came from the New Haven facility. Is a very efficient cartridge, and delivers the goods, way over proportion. Due to the fact that the bullets are 0.323", and not 0.338", they have a slightly higer ballistic coefficient, per equal weight. That said, the 338's will always be able to fly a larger payload. However, given equal bullet weight, the 325 WSM, is on par with the 338 Winchester. Everyone was anticipating that Winchester would be releasing a 338 WSM, and was very surprised when it was an 8mm. Winchester, unlike Remington, had done most of their homework, and was leaning toward efficiency. The homework they did not do, was looking into the success of the 8mm cartridges here in the USA. There is a lack of variety of bullet weights for this bullet diameter, but what is available performs really well.

    Best
    Hello Tim and Warren, I appreciate your input.

    I'd heard somewhere, that Winchester had learned thru R&D that the .338 was not the way to go with the WSM and dropped back to the 8mm.

    Know of the sorry history of mm here in the States. ( I'd not doubt that it may have had something to do with the fact that those that we fought against WW I and WW II, threw a lot of MMs at us! )

    Know Remington didn't do well with the 6mm for two or three reasons. They apparently did no better with the 8mm mag. We know that they are not bad cartridges .... but do wish that there were a better selection of bullets for them.

    I've been intrigued by the short mags and have also had my interest piqued several times, to include here on GB. Had studied the posted ballistics and did the best that I could to compare and contrast with more or less, comparable cartridges ... as well as to the other rounds of the RSAUM and the WSM families.

    Know that most folks seem to have little or no interst in anything more'n a .30 or .300 at max. Me, myself and I though, have had cause to appreciate the option of throwing some additional weight around on occassion ... making bigger holes was a bit comforting too.

    Have seen a number of the .325WSM available so have been looking and learning. I figured that about the best place for me to learn of any additional info. regarding the .325WSM would be right here, with folks that ought know.

    Had of course interest in finding other folks experiences with them and not of minor interest is what sort of accuracy others have had. It's good to know that a cartridge and the rig are more capable of accuracy than I am.

    I've puchased one of the short mags and expect to be getting another soon. One big pain for me has been the fact that I'm a lefty .... so I've had several ideas on the back burner.

    I appreciate the help with this, thanks. [:)] [^] [:D]
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  • nononsense
    Alan Rushing,

    I think we only fired about 2 boxes of ammo through a factory rifle chambered for the .325 WSM. I think it was a Browning. Apparently it didn't make a huge impression on me at least and I happen to like the 8mm cartridges.

    Barnes released the TTSX-BT bullet design in 8mm so we got a hold of a couple of sporter weight barrels and chambered them for the .325 WSM. Now I have nothing but good things to say about this cartridge! It is an excellent performer in the field, we shot several deer and at least 2 elk with this cartridge over the hunting season last year. By the way, the bullets only weigh in at 160 grains...

    I chambered a heavier barrel for the .325 but used the Sierra Match Kings instead and it turned in a fine performance at a regional F-Class match. Not bad for a cartridge based on a metric diameter. At least Sierra has maintained their production of the MK bullets so we have something to use on the occasion when it's called for. I'd like to see Hornady make a heavier GMX bullet for the 8mm, that would be terrific!

    Treat it as its own, it compares favorably with the .338 version of the WSM or the .338 Win. Mag. If you like the 8mm, shoot it, you won't be disappointed.

    By the way, Winchester chose the 8mm because they didn't want to detract from their highly prized .338 Win. Mag. Simple as that.

    Best.
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  • Alan Rushing
    Gentlemen, thanks for all of the information. I did glean from what answers you had written to my posting question. I've then gone back thru to mull it all some more and of course got additional info this last time through it all.

    Mr. Nononsense, thanks for telling me about Winchesters not coming out with the .338 in the shorter, fatter non-belted magnums. Whether they are right or wrong with that notion ... time may tell. Surfing the auctions I'm just short of amazed that I have seen some very reasonably priced .338 Win. Mags (on decent rigs too).

    I'm getting the impression that many people that got and used them, kept them and continue to be happy with what they got and for the purposes they're using them. Probably people not so familiar are put off by anything with a number that is greater than .30(-06) or at most .300 ... with the notion that .300 doesn't seem too much "bigger" than .30, just seems that way.

    I had met a fair number of guys that used them in WY, CO, MT and AK. Don't doubt other people use them, I was just unaware of them using them maybe.

    Seems that the .358 Norma are going or gone more so that the .338 Win. that I have cut across, ( and not getting into choicer rigs that of course draw more interest ).

    Seems reasonable that some guys that are or might be looking for something "bigger and badder" than what they have been using, that the .338 RUM might catch their eye over the .338 Win. Mag.

    I'd imagine that things may change and adjust yet some in the next year or two with some of the short mags.

    Thanks again folks.
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