300win mag vs 325wsm help me decide

[chet]

ok boys..... my buddy is selling his Kimber 8400 classic in 325wsm... 24" tube

The gun is gorgeous!!! and I'm trying to justify buying it!!! It's a fair deal. I already own a gorgeous kimber 84m in 308, and I own a M70 300 winny that I have been in love with for the last 15 years!!!!!

I guess what I'm asking is: is the 325 ballistically advantageous over the 300???????

i realize that a 180 grain 308 AccuBond will have a better BC than a 180 gr 325 AccuBond, will the 325 spit it out fast enough to over-come the BC difference? or is a 200 grain projectile a better comparison?

My initial thought is that the 325 won't do anything that my 300 cant do. Is this a safe assumption?

How would the recoil be on a 7 lb rifle?

please edumacate me :lol:

 

[DrMike]

I love my 325; and I love my 300. The larger frontal area of the 325 may justify owning it for some people, and there is a difference. A 200 grain 8mm bullet and a 200 grain 200 grain .308 bullet have almost identical velocities, and thus very similar ballistics at ranges under 400 yards. I do believe the larger frontal area may ensure a larger wound channel. To be certain, a 200 grain PT from my 325 WSM drops moose and elk with authority. On the other hand, I haven't noticed any moose or elk walking away from a 180 grain Fail Safe or Hornady InterLock launched from my 300 WSM. If you already own a 300 WM, there is no advantage of purchasing a 300 WSM, other than gaining a new cartridge to load. The 325 is well-behaved. I do not find the recoil objectionable in my Winchester Featherweight.

 

[chet]

well, the only AccuBond nosler makes for the .323 is the 200

.323 200gr AB BC = .450
.308 200gr AB BC = .588

pretty big difference

muzzle velocity out of the 325 would be around 2900
muzzle velocity out of the 300 would be around 2800

zeroed at 200yds the 325 would be about 42.4" low @ 500yds
zeroed at 200yds the 300 would be about 41.6" low @ 500yds

energy at 200 yards is near identical. the 300 hitting harder past 200yds and the 325 hitting harder up to 200yds.

It's really too close to call, ballistcally i wouldn't gain anything. But the interior of my safe would look much better :lol:

 

[Alaska]

Thats easy......suggest the 300 Win Mag or 300 WSM

With the .308 cal bullet choices that is my pick!

 

[JD338]

chet,

Remember, there is no replacement for displacement! The larger frontal area of the larger calibers hit harder and leave bigger holes going in and coming out.
A pair of Kimber 8400's would be nice!

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

You can run the #'s till you're blue in the face. They are so close I would hate to have to live on the difference!

Bottom line, you like it? Is it accurate? If you answered yes to both BUY IT!!

Life is too darn short! :mrgreen:

 

[JD338]

You can run the #'s till you're blue in the face. They are so close I would hate to have to live on the difference!

Bottom line, you like it? Is it accurate? If you answered yes to both BUY IT!!

Life is too darn short! :mrgreen:

Well said Pop! +1

JD338

 

[Guest]

Once again, POP nails it.

The big advantage, in my opinion, of the 325 over the 300 is the ability to run 220gr pills at a pretty decent clip - and carry enough wallop to feel a little safer hunting elk in bear country. Other than that, your choice is steak or lobster. Really, if you buy the 325, then your having surf and turf any time you like!

 

[R Flowers]

This is a totally illogical response! If you like it, if you can afford it, BUY IT.

I see little need for a 325 WSM if you own a 300 Win Mag. HOWEVER, if you want it, get it. I would much rather have a .338 Win Mag or .340 Weatherby Mag, but the 325 WSM is a logical step up.

If it will not make your kids go without dinner, get it. I am just as bad. I recently bought a second Remington 700 chambered in 300 WSM. Makes lots of sense, right? I just wanted the darned thing. I like Remington limited edition rifles. I own several Remington 700 Classics. Both of my 300 WSM rifles are limited edition Remingtons. The first one I bought was a Remington 700 XCR Rocky Mountain Limited Edition rifle. The second one is a Remington 700 CDL Boone and Crockett Limited Edition rifle. I did not need either one, one of my Classics is a 300 WBY Mag. I just wanted the darned things. If you want (need) another Kimber, go for it.

 

[jmad_81]

Well I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said. If it shoots good, buy it. Everybody needs a few big guns that shoot great. I tend to like the bigger bullets as well, but the 300 WM is really tough to beat.

 

[FOTIS]

This is a totally illogical response! If you like it, if you can afford it, BUY IT.

I see little need for a 325 WSM if you own a 300 Win Mag. HOWEVER, if you want it, get it. I would much rather have a .338 Win Mag or .340 Weatherby Mag, but the 325 WSM is a logical step up.

Exactly! I had a 25-06 so the last thing I needed was a 6mm rem. Talk about overlap! But I had to get that Kool Blue! :twisted:

 

[6 K]

Well you might not want to hear this but it is the total truth.
Sell the 300, forget that other stupid cal. and buy a 338 win mag.
It kicks the snot out of both of the others with simular recoil.
Live happly ever after.
Amen

 

[FOTIS]

......forget that other stupid cal.........
Amen

Sorry but I disagree. It may not be a 30-06 but nevertheless a useful chambering.

 

[SJB358]

I kinda think the difference in the 325WSM vs 300 Win Mag is pretty close. I push 200's into 2900+ pretty easily. They are mid .500 BC's and they hit hard and penetrate deep. The 325 would be an awesome cartridge, if a feller didn't already have a 300WM. This is the time to step into the 338's/.358's. Those offer bigger bullets and a big step up in power. But heck, if the rifle is something you want, you better get it. I can't fend off your rifle demons from my place! Scotty

 

[Greg Nolan]

It's one of those paper statistics vs. experience decisions. The .325 has a larger frontal area and potential for greater expansion. It's been noted by some writers that it seems to hit harder and give a better wound channel. It's closer to a 338 than a 300 in energy and knock down. The 325 is limited in case volume and won't reach claimed velocities with heavy bullets but I loaded the 200 gr A/B to 2887 fps. My favorite was the 180 gr Barns TSX at 3090 fps. It worked so well on pigs that the guide asked me what in the world I had shot it with. That was pretty good expansion for a Barnes bullet but then it was already 10% larger to start with. I liked the shorter lighter actioned rifle. The 23 " barrel seems optimum for hunting.
Ballistics: A 300 Win loaded with a 180 gr. at 3150 fps is about 3850 fpe. A 338 with a 225 gr. at 2800 fps is about 3900 fpe. Sounds about the same but there isn't much question which caliber a person would choose on a Alaskan coastal grizzly hunt. Diameter does make a difference and in a lighter, shorter rifle. I have muzzle brakes on all my big magnums but I never felt a need for one on the 325 even though it was lighter. It must be that "short magnum thing" I keep reading about. Good luck in your decision.
Greg

 

[SJB358]

You are right about that Greg! I agree, frontal area does have alot of advantages. Heck, who am I trying to kid, I would take a 325WSM and put it in between my 300 Win Mag, 300 Wby and my 338 Win Mag and still make excuses for how much of a better gun it is that the others, if I wanted to carry it. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Makes little difference whether it is a 300 WM, a 300 Wby, a 300 WSM, a 325 WSM or a 338 WM, all will work very well indeed on elk. It really comes down to a question of what you want and your preference in rifles. You can make a thousand excuses for what one is better than another, but in the end, all can be very efficient and effective in the hands of an experienced hunter.

 

[Greg Nolan]

DrMike
You're absolutely right about that but the fun is in making the choice. It can be scientific or just as subjective as how we choose our spouse. I love the waking up at 2 AM with a new thought on which rifle or caliber would be a better choice, or better yet, why I need another gun. I am a certified gunaholic and I have everyone on the Nosler Forum as enablers. :mrgreen:
Thank You All
Greg

 

[Idriflenut]

I agree with Greg. The research and the debate over what gun to get is almost as fun as the actual purchase itself. I recently made the decision and came down on the side of the 325 wsm. Both the 300 wm and the 325 wsm are balistically just what I was looking for. What made the decision was the rifle itself. I loved the short action and the handling of the Browning X-bolt in 325wsm. Now if I had a chance at a Kimber for a decent price! I would go for that one too.

I haven't shot my new X-Bolt 325 wsm much. Just getting the scope zeroed with Win FL 220 gr PP, but that gun is going to be fun. It only weighs 7.25 lbs and it does recoil a bit but not outrageously so. Accuracy with the Winchester 220 gr FL was suprisingly good at about 1.25 to 1.50 in 3 shot groups at 100 yards. I can't wait for the weather to clear up around here so I can get some good reloads worked up.

This gun will be great Elk, Moose and even big Muley medicine.

 

[Elkman]

chet
My initial thought is that the 325 won't do anything that my 300 cant do. Is this a safe assumption?

From what I read from the other posters whom all had excellent comments your initial assessment was correct. I have been the proud owner of a .300 win mag for 40 years and have found it to be what I think is one of the most ideal calibers for both deer and elk, although I am careful when I shoot a deer with it. I do own several other rifles but the win mag is my go to rifle. My theroy about rifles is that if its a deal and you can afford it, and will possibly use it then buy it. My safe has several of those, however if you think big bears may be in your future, or some other animal that could eat you I would suggest your next purchase would be a .338. 340 or 375, that way for a little more money you get a lot more energy and flexability for bigger dangerous game. If I was going to chase bears I would get something larger. I almost have more than I can use, but a good deal is a good deal. Just my thoughts!!! :grin: :grin: