New developments in cartridges are a good thing. I don't think that Winchester hit the mark with the 325.

Short action legnths are very handy and Winchester was not the first with the so called short magnums. Remington beat them YEARS ago with the 6.5MM and the .358 in the short 600 carbines. Remingtons mistake IMO was the short legnth barrels and not making a .308 cal short mag plus I think that the 7MM would have been a better choice.

As far as I think, Winchester may have done better by going to a .338 and or a .358 WSM. These calibers are quite a bit more popular and would have been better sellers to the public IMO

My new barrel for my short action Savage will be the .338 Federal.

I want a rifle bigger than my Ruger #1 chambered in 7mm Rem Mag, When I saw the 325 WSM, claiming better performance that the 338 Win Mag with less recoil, and less weight, I got all hot to trot. Then I looked a little farther and found a lot of reasons why the 338 would fit me better. I can buy my dads Model 70 in 338 Win Mag with a wood stock for $300.

For that price I could buy another gun or two as well before reaching the cost of a new 325 WSM, a possibility that most could come across. 338 rifles are around there and it is tough to find a 325 WSM right now. As is the ammo, which as yet has only three factory offerings. The 325 WSM is actually .323 or 8mm, and Cabela’s Shooting Catalog only ranges from 180gr to 225gr area for 8mm. Then comes the 338 bullets, Barnes has some 160gr XFB and Swift has A-frame 275gr, and there is everything between. The 8mm just doesn’t have as many bullet weights and types commonly available.

The ballistics are better from the 325 WSM but here are some numbers from the Winchester site:

325 WSM 200gr Accubond
Velocity: Muzzle 2950 fps---500 yards 2044 fps
Energy: Muzzle 3866 ft lbs---500 yards 1856 ft lbs
Bullet drop: 500 yards -39.9”

338 Win Mag 200gr Ballistic Silvertip
Velocity: Muzzle 2950 fps---500 yards 1922 fps
Energy: Muzzle 3864 ft lbs---500 yards 1640 ft lbs
Bullet drop: 500 yards -42.3”

These aren’t big enough differences for me to want to buy a new uncertain rifle when I know that many Brown Bears, Moose, Caribou and Elk have been killed by a 338 Win Mag.

I can carry the extra couple of ounces that are on my Magnum action. And looking at the actual weight saved by going with the 325 WSM’s shorter action, I personally can’t justify it over the 338.

The recoil can be dealt with, I plan on putting a muzzle brake and a mercury tube onto my 338 Win Mag. I already bought the mercury tube at Sportsman’s Wearhouse for $34.99, and a good brake costs about $200-$300, and will make a big reduction in felt recoil.

These are enough reasons for me to buy the Model 70 in 338 Win Mag rather than the 325 WSM. I might be wrong and if I am please correct me.

There are no reasons for a hunter to sell a good rifle(assuming it can do the job at hand) he has confidence in just because a new cartridge comes out. On the other hand, if one is going to buy a new rifle anyway, avoiding a new cartridge just because it's new isn't the best course of action either.

I think the new 325 WSM would be a very effective cartridge in the Browning BLR. A perfect heavy game in the timber rifle/cartridge if there ever was one. I was planning on such a purchase myself......until I happened to read about the wildcat 375 WSM. Imagine, if you will, a Browning BLR in .375 caliber with ballistics to nearly match a .375 H&H. Now we're talking brush gun!!!

Well I have a 300, no taint quite true, I have two 300WSMs on Montana actions. I shoot with Roy Jones Jr.'s manager. Al has a 325 WSM and loves the chambering. He took the 325 to Canada about a month back, bear hunting. Did not get a bear but had a good time as I understand.

I might look at the 325, based on what Al has said about it, were it not for having a 300, 338, 350 RM, 45-70 and 458 Lott already.
Ed

If I needed more punch than my 30.06 with 180 Barnes XLC's has, I would skip the .300 and .325 and get a .338 of some sort. Most likelt the .338 Win. Proven tracj record and if the airline lost my ammo I canget shells almost anywhere.

I'm a little far out in what I think (emphasis on think) I need. Every wildcat I've ever had built has become a factory cartridge within a few years. Saying that, a buddy and I took two Rem 700 short actions we has sitting around (his right, mine a lefty) and built WSMs with two barrels each, one in .338WSM (way before the .325 was released) and the other in 6.5WSM. I doubt that either will ever become a factory round. That's OK with us. Would I have chambered for the .325WSM if I'd known it was coming out? No! Never had an interest in the 8mm's, even though I had a mentor and friend who was a gunwriter and loved the 8's.