325wsm quick load request

[chet]

the 270wsm/rl17 thread got me thinkin bout 325/rl17.
I'm pretty much settled on 66gr imr4350 for my 325, but was wondering what rl17 looks like from the quick load point of view? 200 gr PT - cci250 to be specific.

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge : .325 WSM
Bullet : .323, 200, Nosler PART SP 35277
Useable Case Capaci: 72.066 grain H2O = 4.679 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 75 52.40 2401 2560 33656 8384 96.9 1.503
-18.0 77 53.71 2456 2679 35837 8593 97.6 1.466
-16.0 79 55.02 2511 2800 38152 8789 98.3 1.426
-14.0 81 56.33 2566 2923 40615 8970 98.9 1.386
-12.0 83 57.64 2620 3048 43231 9136 99.3 1.346
-10.0 85 58.95 2673 3174 46011 9286 99.6 1.308
-08.0 86 60.26 2727 3302 48978 9419 99.9 1.271
-06.0 88 61.57 2780 3431 52130 9535 100.0 1.236
-04.0 90 62.88 2832 3561 55491 9634 100.0 1.202 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 92 64.19 2883 3692 59073 9728 100.0 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 94 65.50 2935 3825 62895 9819 100.0 1.137 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 96 66.81 2985 3958 66975 9908 100.0 1.107 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 98 68.12 3036 4092 71338 9993 100.0 1.078 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 100 69.43 3086 4228 76006 10076 100.0 1.049 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 102 70.74 3135 4365 81005 10155 100.0 1.022 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 103 72.05 3185 4504 86354 10231 100.0 0.996 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 94 65.50 3027 4069 74931 9472 100.0 1.064 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 94 65.50 2794 3466 51897 10139 98.8 1.234


RL17 appears to work well with light for calibre in larger calibre cartridges. I would rather see the pressure curve extended over a larger area, but it isn't too bad. Here is the printout for IMR4350.

Cartridge : .325 WSM
Bullet : .323, 200, Nosler PART SP 35277
Useable Case Capaci: 72.066 grain H2O = 4.679 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : IMR 4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 80 52.80 2289 2327 31928 7729 90.6 1.565
-18.0 82 54.12 2343 2439 34002 7965 91.8 1.524
-16.0 84 55.44 2397 2552 36208 8193 92.8 1.484
-14.0 86 56.76 2451 2669 38548 8415 93.8 1.442
-12.0 88 58.08 2505 2787 41014 8628 94.7 1.401
-10.0 90 59.40 2559 2909 43618 8833 95.6 1.361
-08.0 92 60.72 2613 3032 46386 9027 96.3 1.322
-06.0 94 62.04 2667 3158 49328 9212 97.0 1.285
-04.0 96 63.36 2720 3286 52457 9385 97.7 1.250
-02.0 98 64.68 2773 3416 55787 9546 98.2 1.216 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 100 66.00 2826 3548 59332 9695 98.7 1.183 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 102 67.32 2879 3682 63110 9831 99.1 1.151 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 104 68.64 2932 3818 67138 9953 99.5 1.120 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 106 69.96 2984 3955 71438 10061 99.7 1.090 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 108 71.28 3036 4095 76032 10154 99.9 1.061 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 110 72.60 3088 4236 80946 10231 100.0 1.034 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 100 66.00 2941 3841 69747 9453 100.0 1.105 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 100 66.00 2670 3166 49102 9491 93.6 1.284

 

[chet]

so basically, in a 325wsm

150gr bullet = RL17 (much more velocity)
200gr bullet = either 17 or 4350 (individual results may vary)
220gr bullet = 4350 proves to be superior

 

[DrMike]

Generally, that is my observation. The data seems to bear this out, at least in part. For a Speer 150 grain SP, RL17 generates markedly more velocity, and may well be a better choice if it yields the accuracy you seek.

Cartridge : .325 WSM
Bullet : .323, 150, Speer SP 2277
Useable Case Capaci: 77.347 grain H2O = 5.022 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 78 58.40 2697 2422 32098 8680 92.1 1.355
-18.0 80 59.86 2762 2542 34243 8945 93.3 1.319
-16.0 82 61.32 2829 2665 36529 9200 94.5 1.284
-14.0 84 62.78 2895 2791 38968 9441 95.5 1.245
-12.0 86 64.24 2961 2919 41571 9668 96.5 1.208
-10.0 88 65.70 3026 3051 44351 9879 97.3 1.173
-08.0 90 67.16 3092 3184 47322 10074 98.0 1.138
-06.0 92 68.62 3157 3321 50498 10251 98.6 1.105
-04.0 94 70.08 3222 3459 53899 10409 99.1 1.073
-02.0 96 71.54 3287 3599 57541 10548 99.5 1.042 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 98 73.00 3351 3741 61447 10666 99.8 1.012 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 100 74.46 3415 3885 65638 10762 100.0 0.983 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 102 75.92 3478 4030 70145 10836 100.0 0.955 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 103 77.38 3541 4176 74992 10900 100.0 0.928 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 105 78.84 3603 4323 80215 10961 100.0 0.902 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 107 80.30 3664 4472 85854 11018 100.0 0.877 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 98 73.00 3485 4046 73289 10260 100.0 0.942 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 98 73.00 3157 3320 50722 10612 95.7 1.103

Cartridge : .325 WSM
Bullet : .323, 150, Speer SP 2277
Useable Case Capaci: 77.347 grain H2O = 5.022 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : IMR 4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 85 60.00 2618 2283 31946 8058 86.0 1.375
-18.0 87 61.50 2683 2398 34128 8327 87.4 1.338
-16.0 89 63.00 2748 2516 36458 8589 88.7 1.302
-14.0 91 64.50 2814 2637 38951 8845 90.0 1.263
-12.0 93 66.00 2880 2762 41618 9093 91.2 1.225
-10.0 95 67.50 2945 2889 44474 9332 92.3 1.189
-08.0 97 69.00 3011 3020 47530 9562 93.3 1.153
-06.0 99 70.50 3077 3154 50815 9780 94.3 1.119
-04.0 102 72.00 3143 3290 54308 9987 95.3 1.086
-02.0 104 73.50 3209 3430 58040 10181 96.1 1.054 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 106 75.00 3275 3573 62047 10361 96.9 1.023 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 108 76.50 3341 3718 66352 10527 97.6 0.993 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 110 78.00 3407 3866 70983 10677 98.2 0.965 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 112 79.50 3473 4017 75971 10810 98.7 0.937 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 114 81.00 3538 4170 81353 10926 99.1 0.910 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 116 82.50 3604 4326 87168 11023 99.5 0.884 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 106 75.00 3428 3914 73398 10322 99.8 0.952 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 106 75.00 3076 3151 51021 9930 90.3 1.115

With a heavier bullet, such as a 220 grain Swift A-Frame, the differential is not so great. While RL17 may still be the choice, you really can't make that decision on velocity alone with such a small differential.

Cartridge : .325 WSM
Bullet : .323, 220, Swift A-Frame SS
Useable Case Capaci: 70.306 grain H2O = 4.565 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : IMR 4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 79 51.20 2230 2428 34858 7700 93.3 1.551
-18.0 81 52.48 2280 2540 37000 7916 94.2 1.515
-16.0 83 53.76 2331 2653 39252 8125 95.1 1.479
-14.0 85 55.04 2381 2769 41625 8326 95.9 1.445
-12.0 87 56.32 2431 2887 44143 8518 96.6 1.412
-10.0 89 57.60 2481 3007 46815 8701 97.3 1.379
-08.0 91 58.88 2531 3130 49652 8874 97.9 1.347
-06.0 93 60.16 2581 3254 52665 9037 98.4 1.313
-04.0 95 61.44 2630 3380 55865 9188 98.9 1.278 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 97 62.72 2680 3508 59266 9327 99.2 1.244 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 99 64.00 2729 3637 62884 9454 99.5 1.211 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 101 65.28 2778 3769 66734 9567 99.8 1.180 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 103 66.56 2826 3902 70834 9667 99.9 1.149 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 105 67.84 2874 4036 75205 9753 100.0 1.119 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 107 69.12 2922 4172 79870 9825 100.0 1.091 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 109 70.40 2970 4309 84853 9893 100.0 1.063 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 99 64.00 2826 3902 73352 9130 100.0 1.136 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 99 64.00 2591 3279 52607 9400 95.6 1.310

Cartridge : .325 WSM
Bullet : .323, 220, Swift A-Frame SS
Useable Case Capaci: 70.306 grain H2O = 4.565 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 73 49.60 2289 2561 34526 8043 98.0 1.530
-18.0 75 50.84 2339 2673 36620 8229 98.6 1.495
-16.0 77 52.08 2389 2787 38838 8402 99.1 1.461
-14.0 78 53.32 2438 2903 41189 8562 99.5 1.428
-12.0 80 54.56 2487 3021 43679 8709 99.7 1.395
-10.0 82 55.80 2535 3139 46321 8840 99.9 1.364
-08.0 84 57.04 2583 3259 49122 8957 100.0 1.333
-06.0 86 58.28 2631 3380 52096 9062 100.0 1.301
-04.0 88 59.52 2678 3502 55256 9163 100.0 1.266 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 89 60.76 2724 3625 58611 9263 100.0 1.234 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 91 62.00 2770 3749 62180 9360 100.0 1.202 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 93 63.24 2816 3874 65976 9454 100.0 1.171 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 95 64.48 2861 4000 70011 9546 100.0 1.142 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 97 65.72 2907 4127 74327 9636 100.0 1.113 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 98 66.96 2951 4256 78921 9722 100.0 1.086 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 100 68.20 2996 4385 83828 9805 100.0 1.059 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 91 62.00 2851 3969 73593 9048 100.0 1.128 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 91 62.00 2647 3424 51608 9715 99.3 1.300

 

[DrMike]

I just did a recalculation, and based on the 220 grain Swift, I'd likely look at RL19 over RL17 based on minor velocity increase but significantly improved case fill. I like Ramshot Hunter, MagPro and N550 even better with these heavier bullets. Reviewing my own loads, I see that I lean more heavily to RL19 than any other powder. H100V, IMR 4007 SSC and H4350 are used somewhat less, but still much more than other powders.

 

[SJB358]

Man, that 220gr Swift has to be a hammer in the 8mm! Excellent SD and pretty good speeds too. That 325 is very interesting. Kind of the quiet WSM! Scotty

 

[DrMike]

I do love my 325 WSM. Loaded with 200 grain PTs at 2800 fps, it is a hammer on moose and elk. With the 220 grain A-Frames at 2700 fps +, it hits hard and drops game with authority.

 

[SJB358]

I can only imagine. Seems like a very powerful round. Kinda wished I had a slight need for one, but I think my 338 would be a little jealous! Scotty

 

[chet]

I think if a guy wanted to push 225-250gr pills, he'd be best equiped with a 338wm.
And I also believe a 300wm will push the 160-180 class the best.

But the 325 will push a 200gr AB/PT better than either 300 or 338 and it'll do it with less recoil.

I own all three, and my 325 is the lightest of them all, and it hurts my shoulder the least.

My 338 will be sold when I find a replacement in the 375 class.

The ole 300 is basically retired now, to many memories to part with that one!

 

[SJB358]

That is a good set up you have Chet. Hard to beat the medium .323-.358 rifles. The extra splat factor is pretty nice! Scotty