What type of powder you using? I've owned 3 325's and never could get one to shoot very well. Tried multiple loads and at best i'd get was 1.5-2" groups.
Here's a picture of an upset bear i took a few years back. I was packing a Ruger Hawkeye African in 338 win mag, shooting 250gr Nosler Partitions that day. Never felt under gunned :)
I finally had the time to look for a bear. I was out over the weekend and saw two bears. One stood out but i had no shot opportunity, went back yesterday for an evening stroll hoping to see if I could find that bear and low and behold it was in the same spot I saw it on Saturday feeding on...
I'm a firm believer in using what you shoot best for bear as-well. I personally use standard cartridges with heavy for caliber bullets. My guiding gun is chambered in 8x57 180gr TSX at 2780 fps and don't feel handicapped or under gunned even in remote British Columbia.
I've thought about the 338-06 and will probably end up with one in the future but at the time I went 8mm-06. Had one of my current 8x57's reamed out in 2021. Restocked, barrel band, banded front sight, and rear irons made up for it. Also re-blued. 23.6" barrel.
Shoots 200gr Accubonds at approx...
6.5x55 or 7x57 that's a toss up for my first option- flat shooting/low recoiling -with 140gr bullets with 3-9x40
8x57 JS- all rounder with 160-200gr bullets- straight 6x
9.3x62- For big game 250-286gr bullets- 1-4x20
Would prefer all of them to have control round feed, barrel bands, and iron...
Yes this is what i noticed as well. This summer i was working up a few loads for my brother in-law and niece who had bought a tikka T3x SS/laminate in 8x57 and i surprisingly had trouble getting this tikka to shoot. I was looking at getting them setup with a specific bullet and certain velocity...
A mild load. 170 gr Speer hot cor at 2500 fps. This load was supposed to be my practice load but it shot so well in several 8mm's, loaded up a couple hundred, and decided to use them up for hunting aswell.
Here's how this ammo shot at 100 yards out of a scoped rifle. 5 shot group.
My camping/hiking rifle for the off season is a old Husqvarna M98 in 8mm with 195gr Interlocks at 2500 fps. Shoots great and shoulders and comes up as if its an extension of my arm.
Here's another decent black bear I shot over the weekend. Tagged out faster than i expected. Two bears within two weeks (weekend hunts). 180 yard shot with the 8x57 180gr Barnes TSX loaded to 2780 fps. Double shoulder/lung shot. Dropped at the shot. Clean pass through with good entry and exit...
The 243 isn't my first choice but she being recoil sensitive and being able to shoot it accurately had my confidence up. I also had my 8mm running with 180gr TSX in case of needing a follow up.
This weekend I had the time to take out my 13 year old niece bear hunting. Ended up with a beautiful chocolate black bear. Squaring 7 foot. She shot it with a 243 win, 100 grain corelokt. 150 yards. Hit the rear lungs, clean pass through. Dropped on the spot. She and I couldn't be happier for...
Nice rifle you got there, the 7x57 is such a classic.
Since were talking about the 7x57, last evening I had the opportunity to tag out on a nice color phase black bear with my 1912 Mauser!
Here's some action from my spring bear hunt here in Canada. One shot with the old 7x57 with 173gr S&B ammo. At 2370 fps. 100 yards, bear dropped at the shot but got back up and made it 20 yards, letting out a death moan. Bear squared 5'9", not my biggest but a good example of color phased black...
This is why i said " out of that list". My Mauser' are top choices but they're not on that multiple choice list.
Original Intermediate length action 1912 Mauser. 7x57
Original Modern Production M98 7x57