338 Federal or 325WSM

[DrMike]

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.

And when you shoot in the field, you only have one bullet you are working with. A 200 grain or a 220 grain bullet, even a cup and core, at the velocities generated by the 325WSM is a fearsome pill for any game animal.

 

[SJB358]

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.

And when you shoot in the field, you only have one bullet you are working with. A 200 grain or a 220 grain bullet, even a cup and core, at the velocities generated by the 325WSM is a fearsome pill for any game animal.

I did a little snooping and Woodleigh makes a 220 PP bullet, along with the mighty Swift A-Frame, then the 200's with the AB and PT. Those 4 right there would do just about anything you would want done from a 325 I think.

I gotta be careful right now, as I am treading on thin ice. I happen to know where an Extreme Weather is sitting, brand new.. Wouldn't take too much to call up and secure it for future use!

It is bad enough when you all talk me into stuff. When I start doing it to myself, well, that is scary too..

 

[BK]

Yeah, I feel you. I was looking at a .325 WSM and a .308 EW, both for about $900 each. I was tempted... (If one would have been a 7 WSM (or 7-08, I suppose) I would have not been able to resist.)

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, I feel you. I was looking at a .325 WSM and a .308 EW, both for about $900 each. I was tempted... (If one would have been a 7 WSM (or 7-08, I suppose) I would have not been able to resist.)

Yeah, I know where there is a brand new one on sale for a 100 less than that. Plus, I get a 5% military discount. I have eyeballed it for 6 months or more. I just checked and they still have it as well. Not a big call of 325's for Va deer hunters I guess...

 

[DrMike]

I have 220 grain and 200 grain A-Frames for my 325WSM, and I have some 220 grain Woodleighs on order. I also have some 225 grain Speers, manufactured years ago, and some 227 grain Norma bullets. Truthfully, I don't believe they will kill any quicker or any deader than the 200 grain Partition. It is just fun to work with different bullets in a cartridge. Actually, my next focus is going to be the 180 grain E-Tip. I think that will make for a great hunting cartridge.

 

[Teknys]

It is just fun to work with different bullets in a cartridge.

I enjoy trying all different types of bullets, even though I usually end up back at the PT or AB for when I'm hunting.

But then again I also like the fact that there isn't a 325WSM behind every hill or in every truck too.

I'll get it figured out eventually - I'm just swaying back and forth this week end between the two (300 - 325 wsm). I'll be making the purchase next week I'm sure. I should note this is for a carry elk rifle. I have other rifles for deer.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Yeah, I know where there is a brand new one on sale for a 100 less than that. Plus, I get a 5% military discount. I have eyeballed it for 6 months or more. I just checked and they still have it as well. Not a big call of 325's for Va deer hunters I guess...

I'm not sure I could pass that deal up. The 325WSM and the 7WSM are the only WSMs I'm interested in.

The 325WSM has been challenging the 35Whelen at the top of my medium bore list. The one I shot, with 220gr SGKs, felt like a stout 30-06 with 200gr bullets and had less smack than a 300WM. I think this cartridge needs a 210 or 215gr bullet to make it shine.

Just my .02¢

 

[wildgene]

...honestly, the .325 was supposed to be the "designated timber rifle", just didn't work out that way...

...I ran the 220gr. Woodleighs & the A-Frames, compared to the Sierras & the .300 WSM, & they didn't get me where I wanted to go, Midway generally has them both out-of-stock a lot more frequently than in-stock, & prices are rather prohibitive when you start to consider averaging 40 rounds/ mo. killing 500M gongs. W/ a little foresight, I can generally keep a fair supply of the Sierras on hand...

...the .325 has become more of a "spot & stalk" rifle, the .300 is the "humping" rifle, & the poor, abused 7mm RM gets hauled around for nostalgia's sake. I would love a 220gr. AccuBond, GrandSlam, or Sierra HPBT GameKing, but for the moment the best choice for me has been the 220gr. Sierra GameKing...

 

[wildgene]

I have 220 grain and 200 grain A-Frames for my 325WSM, and I have some 220 grain Woodleighs on order. I also have some 225 grain Speers, manufactured years ago, and some 227 grain Norma bullets. Truthfully, I don't believe they will kill any quicker or any deader than the 200 grain Partition. It is just fun to work with different bullets in a cartridge. Actually, my next focus is going to be the 180 grain E-Tip. I think that will make for a great hunting cartridge.

...those 225gr. Speers probably have "Exposed Lead", if you shoot 'em a condor will fall outta the sky...

...you can send 'em to me for "Proper Disposal" iffn ya want... :mrgreen: :lol: :roll:

 

[DrMike]

Well, Gene, that explains the lack of buzzards around here. My goodness, I've been poisoning those poor critters. I might get in trouble with the EPA if I send such deadly components into the dear old US of A. I'll just use them up here.

 

[wildgene]

..jeez, Mike, I can hear the cryin' & whinin' in CA from here... :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

Copper is pretty deadly, too, if the response of elk and moose to the 130 grain E-Tip is any indication. :shock: I suppose it is only a matter of time until some bright soul decides it needs to be restricted. Then, we'll all be shooting icicles or returning to clubs and stones.

 

[SJB358]

Copper is pretty deadly, too, if the response of elk and moose to the 130 grain E-Tip is any indication. :shock: I suppose it is only a matter of time until some bright soul decides it needs to be restricted. Then, we'll all be shooting icicles or returning to clubs and stones.

Might as well be using a 30-06 at that point!

Your probably right Gene. I had a good bit of data just sent along and 2800 with a 220 seams pretty decent to me. With the BC of the Sierra, I can see why you like it. Your dead right though, if I knew there was a 220 AB coming, it would be a done deal.. It probably won't do any better than what I have now, but it will be different and the mags on the M70's will allow me to seat em out a little bit to utilize the full case.

 

[Guy Miner]

David posts some great info - backed by experience:

"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."

I like some of the big guns too - but really - do we need to use them? A light kicking, accurate smaller caliber rifle with good bullets obviously does the job just fine...

Food for thought. David, I appreciate your posts re the 6mm class cartridges working well on elk and deer.

Thanks, Guy

 

[SJB358]

David posts some great info - backed by experience:

There goes the neighborhood! :lol:

The can of worms has just been opened!

 

[Teknys]

David posts some great info - backed by experience:

There goes the neighborhood! :lol:

The can of worms has just been opened!

I talked to my wife again and she is stuck on her Rem Mod 7 SS with a camo stock-243, she shoots the 100gn PT and 5 shots 5 deer. So it looks like the Sako 85 338 Federal is out the door.

 

[efw]

Problem w/ 325 Wizzum, already mentioned:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread ... est_part_1

338s rule, IMHO... I have a great deal of affection for the 338-06 myself!

 

[6mm Remington]

David posts some great info - backed by experience:

There goes the neighborhood! :lol:

The can of worms has just been opened!

I talked to my wife again and she is stuck on her Rem Mod 7 SS with a camo stock-243, she shoots the 100gn PT and 5 shots 5 deer. So it looks like the Sako 85 338 Federal is out the door.

Thanks Guy, and Scotty! Not much more I can say to this is . I wish her luck and much shooting until season comes. Five shots and five deer sounds pretty darn good to me! I have no idea what type of terrain, elevations, or any of that where you are hunting, but if she doesn't mind a few more ounces on her rifle, I sure like to pack a rifle with a Harris bi-pod to shoot with if it's at all possible. It isn't often times, but if you can I sure like to use them. Practice over a hunting type pack she might carry would sure help also. I know I'm not saying anything that you have not already thought of so I'll be quiet. :shock: Maybe it's time boys & girls we get the One Shot & Done thing going again so we can have some practical practice mixed in with our group shooting??

 

[6mm Remington]

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:

Just so you know Old Trader, I don't think any of us, and certainly not me, have taken anything said in the wrong light. Each of us is just doing the best that we can giving the best advise that we can so that Teknys wife is successful and makes a good clean kill on her elk. That's all any of us can hope for. No matter what we shoot those darn elk with, they can cover some ground, even with a good shot placement and a larger caliber. They are one extremely tough animal.
David

 

[Oldtrader3]

David, Killing elk quickly and cleanly have been a mixed bag of success for me and for several of my friends. I am not sure what I say that makes you feel that what I have said about said subject and "wrong light" should be in the same sentence regarding my remarks and responses and I have no idea where I offended you. Maybe I should just not say anything? Would that help?

I realise that nearly all of the people who post here are serious hunters and try to do their best to get results that meet their needs. I promise that since I seldom hunt elk anymore anyhow that I will never mention killing elk shooting with any caliber ever again. Does that make me less offensive? Can we move on now?

These forums are an outlet for me because I am disabled. I really do not come here to alienate people in any substantive or any other way for that matter. Sorry for having an opinion. I guess that I can still talk about loading, bullets, the weather or whatever?

Maybe you can provide me with some insight as to why it is always me that seems to elicit these responses from you? I really do not know what I have even done let alone how to be sorry for doing it? You have never even laid eyes on me or do not know me.