338 Federal or 325WSM

[Teknys]

I already have a Sako 85 Grey Lam stainless in a 338 Federal, I would keep it for my wife for Elk. She shoots her 243 really well but I would feel better if she uses this for an Elk.

I'm looking at the 16 Bear Hunter Stainless Fluted Camo in a 325WSM. My son has the 16 Stainless in a 300 WSM and I have to admit it is a great shooting gun and so easy to load for. I've loaded 168, 180 and 200s for it and you can't miss with this gun.

I guess I'm looking for an excuse to buy the 16 Bear Hunter and pass the Sako 85 to my wife.

 

[DrMike]

The 325WSM really won't do anything that the 300WSM won't do; it is just that it is fun doing it with another rifle. I like my 325WSM a lot; it has taken both elk and moose, and done so quite handily. I honestly can't say that it killed any deader than the animals that have dropped to my 300WSM, but the slight additional frontal area was comforting when shooting this critters. It has good reach, but no better than the older brother. The bullet weights run a similar gamut. Velocities are similar per bullet weight. It just expands the stable. Go for it.

 

[wildgene]

...well, Hodgdon gives the .338Fed 2600fps w/ a 215gr & LVR, 2500fps w/a 225gr & LVR, I'm getting 2950 w/ 200/ RL-17, 2800 w/ 220gr Sierra GK/ RL-17 w/ the .325 WSM...

.338 Fed 200yd Zero/ 10mph full value wind
215gr@ 2600MV/ 200yd/2280fps/1847ft#/0/2.8"wd//400yd/1984/1399/25.4/11.8
225gr@ 2500MV/ 200yd/2244fps/2515ft#/0/2.3"wd//400yd/2004/2006/26.2/9.7

.325 WSM 200yd Zero/ 10mph full value wind
200gr.@ 2950MV/ 200yd/2615fps/3035ft#/0/2.2"wd//400yd/2306/2361/18.9/9.4
220gr.@ 2800MV/ 200yd/2543fps/3159ft#/0/1.9"wd//400yd/2303/2591/20.0/7.8

...the downside of the .325 is the limited bullet choices, most of the lighter bullets are designed for 8mm Mauser velocities & won't stand up to the velocities generated by the .325, the 195/200gr. bullets have relatively poor BC,s, the 220gr. Sierra GameKing is about the only bullet that allows the .325 WSM to live up to it's true potential...

...all this & what Dr. Mike wrote whilst I composed this epic...
.300 WSM 200yd Zero/ 10mph
180gr.@ 3050MV 200/2765/3056/0/1.7//400/2503/2503/16.7/7.3

...I've shot elk w/ a 7mm RM, the .300 WSM, & .325 WSM, & even a .30-06, the .325 does seem to have less felt recoil, & it delivers the goods...

 

[6mm Remington]

I load for my buddy who has a 325 WSM and he sure is happy with it! He uses it on everything he hunts from antelope on up.
David

 

[gerry]

The gun you like is a pretty cool gun, the only thing I would wonder about is how your wife would handle the extra recoil of the 338 Federal? Ofcourse you could choose a bullet at around 180 gr slightly reduced from maximum and still be quite a bit better than a 243.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My .338 Federal with 200 AccuBond or 210 Partitions with a Simms pad weighs about 6-3/4 pounds (Sako Model 85), plus scope, mounts etc. It is indistinquishable from my .30-06 which makes sense based on bullet wieght and muzzle velocity being the same.

I would not hesitate to let my wife use this rifle for a woods elk rifle if she is able to tolerate the recoil. I am not a big fan of the .243 for elk except as a last resort.

 

[6mm Remington]

If she tries your 338 Federal and it's just too much for her, you sure don't want to induce a flinch and make her afraid of the darn thing. Shoot something like the 90 gr. E-tip or 95 or 100 gr. Partition and with her .243 she would be fine. Shooting accurately and having a great bullet will do well to build her confidence in herself, and in you in her little .243. Maybe limit her distance a touch, but they work.

350 yards - 1 shot - 6mm Remington - 90 gr. E-tip - Right behind her right shoulder and exited out her left shoulder. Her lungs were toast and she went about 20-30 yards.

30 yards - 2 shots - 6mm Remington - 100 gr. Partition. First shot was on the point of his right shoulder because I "did not want him running down" the mountainside any further than we were already because I had to take him up to get him out. The Partition went through the shoulder, took out lungs, and exited just in front of the left shoulder. He staggered about 15 feet and I shot him once more at the base of the ear but he wasn't going anyplace and was done.

 

[Oldtrader3]

We have a lady on this board who shoots a .416 Rigby (I think ?). My ex shoots a .30-06, 180 Partition and a 7mm Rem Mag 160 Partition at full throttle. I don't know about Aleena but my ex can shoot rings around inside most people. She is about 5'-2" tall and 115 pounds while we weere married and could shoot a .44 Mag Ruger Super Blackhawk as well as I could.

The worst scenario that I could imagine for almost every woman whom I know, woud be to shoot a well placed shot into an elk and have the animal rasberry her as it trotted over into the next drainage, head held high. Just thinking out loud.

I know that you guys mean well and are being protective but most women do not break easily. They have children for heaven's sake! I have helped (5) children into this world and the wives were stronger than me everytime and I had been a Corpsman! :wink:

 

[DrMike]

The 338 Federal will be a fine cartridge for your lady, Teknys. This will be especially true if the stock fits her. Recoil can be a real problem for anyone if the stock doesn't fit. They sell recoil pads everywhere to help tame felt recoil, if after fitting the stock to her, there still is a problem. The 325WSM will serve you well. Go for it, and remember to post a picture for all of us rifle cranks.

 

[FOTIS]

My boy with his Texas hog and his 325 WSM! He is doing elk this year!

Last year's buck shot at 419 yards with his 325 wsm.

 

[BK]

I was pleasantly surprised at how little felt recoil my .325 Montana has. It seems to kick about the same as my '06 Featherweight does, by my standards, not much.

 

[Anonymous]

Both the .338Fed and the .325WSM are good cartridges.

With good technique and a stock that fits either should be fine.

 

[onesonek]

I guess I'm looking for an excuse to buy the 16 Bear Hunter and pass the Sako 85 to my wife.

Buy a set of dies,,,then you have to get a rifle to use with them :wink:

 

[SJB358]

I guess I'm looking for an excuse to buy the 16 Bear Hunter and pass the Sako 85 to my wife.

Buy a set of dies,,,then you have to get a rifle to use with them :wink:

I like the way you think buddy!

 

[Rem Jim]

The gun you like is a pretty cool gun, the only thing I would wonder about is how your wife would handle the extra recoil of the 338 Federal? Ofcourse you could choose a bullet at around 180 gr slightly reduced from maximum and still be quite a bit better than a 243.

Thats a BEAUTY ! i would like that one for myself ! Recoil would be mild with a lw bullet and it has a muzzle brake too ! 8)

Cheers RJ

 

[SJB358]

That does look pretty sweet. Here is the one I am eyeballing!

 

[DrMike]

The bill under the barrel is a rebate? Wow! They don't do that in Canada.

 

[Teknys]

Now I'm thinking I might trade/sell the Sako 85 and looking at the 300WSM version of the Sav 16 Bear Hunter. There is more bullet options with. 308 then there is with the .323 . That does carry some weight in the decision. I also already have dies, brass and almost 1000 bullets here since my son shoots a 300WSM.

 

[Anonymous]

looking at the 300WSM version of the Sav 16 Bear Hunter. There is more bullet options with. 308 then there is with the .323 .

I love my .300WSM and use exactly one bullet type/weight when hunting.

The lack of bullet choices is often discussed with the 8mm bore...but in reality you have ABs, PT, TSX, SGK and a whole bunch of plain old cup and cores. How many different bullet types do you really need for a hunting rifle? Most of the premium offerings in the 8mm will take the velocity and kill stones. The cup and cores make for cheaper practice.

These are the salad days when it comes to excellent hunting bullets.

 

[SJB358]

looking at the 300WSM version of the Sav 16 Bear Hunter. There is more bullet options with. 308 then there is with the .323 .

I love my .300WSM and use exactly one bullet type/weight when hunting.

The lack of bullet choices is often discussed with the 8mm bore...but in reality you have ABs, PT, TSX, SGK and a whole bunch of plain old cup and cores. How many different bullet types do you really need for a hunting rifle? Most of the premium offerings in the 8mm will take the velocity and kill stones. The cup and cores make for cheaper practice.

These are the salad days when it comes to excellent hunting bullets.

Well said buddy. The 358's don't have a ton of bullets, but what they do have are pretty good ones. Don't forget about the 220 Woodleigh either. I think that might be a good one in the 325 as well. A little tougher if you wanted...