300 Win Mag or 325 WSM

[Forrest Halley]

Forrest Halley
You're a cheeky bugga, I'm trying to find what the Whelen is NOT useful for. So fare I used it on rabbits up to kudu and black wildebeest.
Think I might have to keep using it to find out what else I can use it on.
That little 243 loaded with a Barnes 80grain TTSX or 95 grain SST or a good 100grain round nose MIGHT make it JUST alright for SMALLER deer but it sure ain't adequate for a big red stag unless it's eating a slice of bread off the end of your barrel. Then it might do.
Mary Lou the 3rd cousin of my aunt's niece reckons the 243 is just dandy for coyote and stray cats but not much bigger. She uses he 35 Whelen on every thing else and reckons it just dandy on them moose.
Cheers Forrest
Bob

Well Bob,
I started off with .30-06's. The Sorta Bore(.243) came as an heirloom from an Uncle that mostly hunting varmints, but left the whitetail option open. I'll agree that it's a bit loud for what it is as is a .223/5.56. I am trying to figure out what I can't kill with the .30-06. I got bored with it, so I switched to a .300WM which was even more boring. I love my .375's. I wish I had found them first. The thunder of the shot is amazing.

I believe man could get by with a .22 Magnum and a .375 H&H. Of course a man would be even better suited with a .30-06 in the mix.

That .35 business is just an odd bullet diameter that doesn't have any particular ballistic grace, but I am sure glad you like it. It's a good idea to shoot a rifle you like. Even if it is a .35...
The best .35 I know of has a 7 after it for luck and uses about 22 grains of Win 296.

Cheers,
Forrest

 

[Viral_SIGness]

Bob, now using a Whelen is actually overkill on rabbits. Its just no necessary.

I agree! I only use a .264 Win Mag for Rabbits and Squirrels

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well Bob,
I started off with .30-06's. The Sorta Bore(.243) came as an heirloom from an Uncle that mostly hunting varmints, but left the whitetail option open. I'll agree that it's a bit loud for what it is as is a .223/5.56. I am trying to figure out what I can't kill with the .30-06. I got bored with it, so I switched to a .300WM which was even more boring. I love my .375's. I wish I had found them first. The thunder of the shot is amazing.

I believe man could get by with a .22 Magnum and a .375 H&H. Of course a man would be even better suited with a .30-06 in the mix.

That .35 business is just an odd bullet diameter that doesn't have any particular ballistic grace, but I am sure glad you like it. It's a good idea to shoot a rifle you like. Even if it is a .35...
The best .35 I know of has a 7 after it for luck and uses about 22 grains of Win 296.

Cheers,
Forrest

Forrest Halley
That's what I love about the Whelen, you can load it with pistol bullets at pistol velocity or stoke it up to thumper levels.
Oh sorry you can't do that in your 375 they don't make pistol bullets that size.
If 35 is an odd diameter why are there bullets from 158 to 310 grains for almost every situation.
I have to admit tho the 375 is a dam fine cartridge.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, now using a Whelen is actually overkill on rabbits. Its just no necessary.

Chris Not necessary but fun. Sure homes your shooting skills tho

 

[Forrest Halley]

Forrest Halley
That's what I love about the Whelen, you can load it with pistol bullets at pistol velocity or stoke it up to thumper levels.
Oh sorry you can't do that in your 375 they don't make pistol bullets that size.
If 35 is an odd diameter why are there bullets from 158 to 310 grains for almost every situation.
I have to admit tho the 375 is a dam fine cartridge.
Cheers mate Bob

Hello Bob,

Well in that case you can load a Hornady 125 XTP and actually get it to expand! So it really is just an overgrown .357? Bummer about the shoddy BCs...
Thumper...what does that actually mean? Is it code for a cartridge that sorta approaches real power but falls short and uses a cool term to compensate?
All kidding aside the subsonic possibilities are very cool. Have you shot Wadcutters in it?

Cheers,
Forrest, the Cheekiest of Buggas

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hello Bob,

Well in that case you can load a Hornady 125 XTP and actually get it to expand! So it really is just an overgrown .357? Bummer about the shoddy BCs...
Thumper...what does that actually mean? Is it code for a cartridge that sorta approaches real power but falls short and uses a cool term to compensate?
All kidding aside the subsonic possibilities are very cool. Have you shot Wadcutters in it?

Cheers,
Forrest, the Cheekiest of Buggas

Forrest
A thumper is a rifle of a heavier caliber than 33 that will put game down with authority.
I haven't used pistol bullets yet but as my cases get to old for full power loads I will try them. I think trailboss should work well.
As for shoddy B.Cs is that before Christ as the accubonds and woodleigh projectiles are all over .4 which is good enough for me.
Why hit game with a marble when you can use a bowling ball.
Cheers ya cheekiest of buggas
Always good to have a laugh.
By the way have you tried VEGEMITE.
BOB

 

[Viral_SIGness]

If 35 is an odd diameter why are there bullets from 158 to 310 grains for almost every situation.
Cheers mate Bob

.308"- 110 to 250 grains
.338" - 160 to 300
.375 - 200 to 350

 

[RayAtkinson]

I don't intend to get anyone excited but I see the 325 short mag as on its last legs, a failed attempt soon to be discontinued, therefore I suggest a 300 Win mag or if recoil isn't a probem the .338 win by all means inasmuch as Eland are on your menu..Just my two bits.

Push comes to shove then you won't have any problems with the 30-06 loaded with 180 or 200 gr. Nosler Accubonds or Partitions. Ive shot more than a few Zebra, Wildebest and Eland with the 30-06. I love those 200 gr. Accubonds at 2600 to 2700 fps.

 

[Vinootz]

So I see 4 pages of posts about the 325wsm and I doubt most of the people posting about it own one. Nothing wrong with that but I will say this.
There are plenty of 325wsm owners that love this fantastic cartridge and will go on loving it.
I bought two 325wsm rifles just for fun. I wanted to add a couple of more rifles to my collection in the renowned 8mm. I figured why not try the short mag. I have enough brass for three lifetimes. I have easily found ammo on the internet and my Kimber and A Bolt both kick ass. This cartridge will thump a full grown moose at 600 yards quite handily. It will drop a coastal bear or bison with ease at closer range. If allowed it would drop Cape buffalo with ease. Hunters take elk at 1000(although not recommended). Lightweight rifles that are flat shooting thumpers with manageable recoil make for a nifty rig. And let’s face it, although there are laws for minimum calibers, this cartridge can take any animal on the planet; and not knock the snot out of you. I can even load 250 grain Woodleigh projectiles. And the best bullet makers all offer 8mm. So the weight range of 8mm bullets is as big as the venerable 30-06. And we all know that is why the 30-06 is considered the most versatile because of it’s range of bullet weights .Don’t all you naysayers wish you could add two such rifles to your collection just for fun? LMAO

 

[gatekeeper]

I personally would question the future of the 325WSM. It's not a terribly popular round, and when something doesn't sell, business dictates that product gets dropped. Beyond that, I don't see where an 325WSM shooting a 220gr bullet has any advantage over a 300 Win Mag shooting a 200gr. bullet, all else being equal. They both will be somewhere around 2850fps, and they both have an identical .301 sectional density. Not every bullet manufacturer even makes a 220gr 8mm. Nosler only offers 200gr in their Accubond or Partition, which would then be at a disadvantage to a 300 Win Mag and a premium 200gr. bullet. My vote goes to the 300 Win Mag.

 

[WAB]

I was pretty skeptical about my .325 WSM, however the more I shoot it the more I like it. Low recoil, very accurate and plenty of punch. Magazine capacity (3) still bothers me.

 

[Pheroze]

I think the 325 wsm kinda cool. Is that enough reason to by one, dies, and bullets?

 

[dchamp]

I was pretty skeptical about my .325 WSM, however the more I shoot it the more I like it. Low recoil, very accurate and plenty of punch. Magazine capacity (3) still bothers me.

Having the 8x57, 8x68s & 8mm Rem Mag I have often thought about getting a 325wsm. But since it is pretty much similar in performance to the 8x68s I haven't, yet. I am curious though, have you had any feeding or cycling issues with the wsm. I have heard in the past that was an issue.

 

[Dr Ray]

I don't intend to get anyone excited but I see the 325 short mag as on its last legs, a failed attempt soon to be discontinued, therefore I suggest a 300 Win mag or if recoil isn't a probem the .338 win by all means inasmuch as Eland are on your menu..Just my two bits.

Push comes to shove then you won't have any problems with the 30-06 loaded with 180 or 200 gr. Nosler Accubonds or Partitions. Ive shot more than a few Zebra, Wildebest and Eland with the 30-06. I love those 200 gr. Accubonds at 2600 to 2700 fps.

Agreed

 

[WAB]

Having the 8x57, 8x68s & 8mm Rem Mag I have often thought about getting a 325wsm. But since it is pretty much similar in performance to the 8x68s I haven't, yet. I am curious though, have you had any feeding or cycling issues with the wsm. I have heard in the past that was an issue.

None at all, and it will put one bullet on top of another, cutting one ragged hole at 100, as long as you care to keep shooting. It’s really quite a rifle that doesn’t get used as much as it should.

 

[Rule 303]

The best thing about the 325WSM is the brass, very easy to neck straight up to 358 and make the 35Sambar. Aside from that a 8mm bullet is better for hunting than a 30cal bullet. Puts a bigger hole in lets more blood out quicker, can also get them in a heavier weight.

 

[Rule 303]

How does the Rum do on a chronograph?

Well my wildcat 338/358RUM shows 3000fps with a 250 grain pill, 3200fps with a 225grain pill, 2800fps with a 275 grain pill have not tried 200 or 185 grain pills and still working u loads for the 310grain pill. Why would you want a 300RUM??? Couldn't find the Stiring emoticon

Agree with Bob Nelson about the 243, neck up to 6.5 and you get a useful calibre.

 

[RayAtkinson]

I have a 8x57 and a 8mm/06 Ackley and I like them both...but I have no desire for the short magnums of today..Don't believe they will be around in the long run, sales are slow, and don't hear much about them...

 

[450 Dakota]

Bruno Shooters Supply has 325 WSM brass in stock for anyone looking.

 

[Vinootz]

The 300WSM was an answer to a question no one asked.
If you try to load it up to 300WM speeds with 220 grain pills, you run into OAL issues.
Not to mention compression of the powder.
Add to that the price of boxed ammo compared to the 300WM.
The gap just gets bigger.

I kinda feel the same for the 325WSM.
There was a short mag explosion in the early 2000's with these.
270WSM, 7mmWSM, 300WSM, 325WSM and don't forget all the WSSM's.
It was kinda ridiculous how fast they pumped these out.

I know there are fans of these calibers and they ARE good at what they do.
And I'm not looking to start a cartridge war over which is better.
If they had caught on with more popularity, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

That’s funny because I load 220s in both my 325wsm rifles. No problems whatsoever. Do you own one? lol