I have recently bought both of these guns and after a day at the range using my own loads it is time to ask for help. :grin: I am hoping to work up a load for the .270 that can handle and elk and a load for the .325 that would be good for a bear or moose.
I havent loaded much for the 325 to make a decision on a "good" load yet i have exstensively for the 270. I consider the 140grain AccuBond or Partition to be marginal for elk yet should kill them dead with well placed shots as is always the key. I prefer the max load of h4831 (62.5grs) for a listed 3108fps i got a .790" 3-shot group at 100 with the AccuBond. 60.0 grs of h4831 under the 150 Partition gave 2966fps and a .880" at 100 yards for 3-shot groups. I love the Accubonds accuracy but have yet to kill an elk with one, until then i shall tout the Partition as my first choice for elk in any caliber. Especially in a 270 which is often considered borderline-using premium bullets turns its killing power into much more than it is given credit for. Another avenue to consider is the 160 grainer Semi spitzer Partition. Never loaded it in a WSM but in my 270 Winchester it shoots pretty well and at 2770 fps is not a bad elk load. There is better around for sure and a 150 grainer works just fine for elk but it is just an idea. The Nosler Manual #5 says that 60.5 grs (max) gives 2975fps with this 160 grain slug. Give em a try.
Well, I have not fired a rifle chambered in 325 WSM as of yet, but have been tinkering with the 270 WSM some.
I won a WInchester Model 70 Stainless Steel Camo rifle in 270 WSM and am pretty impressed. The rifle feels good, handles great, feeds properly, and shoots good groups.
I have settled on a load of 65 grains of RL 22 behind either the 140 AccuBond or the 140 Partition. Both bullets shoot groups of 3/4 of an inch to an even inch depending on my shooting that day. The velocity is about 3100 fps. Actually I have gone to 66 grains with both bullets, but the 65 grain load shoots a little better groups.
The only one I have shot any game with is the 140 AccuBond. On a good meat hog of about 125 pounds it dropped him like a bolt of lightning.
If you take a notion to shoot varmints with the 270 WSM we have found a load that has shot half inch groups in three different model 70 Winchesters now. Try a 90 grain Sierra HP over 73 grains of H 4831. It gives close to 3700 fps and should be a bomb on a coyote. Just have not had a chance to try it yet, personally. A buddy has, and it dropped them on the spot.
My 270 WSM likes 130 SSTs at .003" off the lands. My 300 likes Barnes 165s at .060" and Nosler 165 ABs at .008" off the lands. I'm using RL-19 in the 270 WSM and Win 760 in the 300 WSM. If you want more info, just ask.
The results are in. First let me thank everyone for all of the help. I was able to get some very good groups this weekend. I have settled on 65 ½ g of IMR4831 and the 140 g Nosler Ballistics tip with a CCI 250 primers. I shoot quite a few groups which averaged ½ inch group at an average 3200 fps at 100 yards. My concern came in using the Ballistics tip over the Accubonds but the groups were just so much better over and over again with the ballistic tips. So I decided to put the bullet to the test. I made up some ballistics gel and to me surprise the Ballistics tip did not blow up as I have heard but kept an acceptable amount of mass I believe. The reason I can not be sure is because the bullet traveled threw a 20 inch chunk of gel and blew a hole in the ½ partial board on the back side. Also H4831 72 g with a 90 grain Sierra HP did as well as advertised. Two great loads for one awesome gun. Now if I could only get the AccuBond to do as well. :grin:
I have 2 Tikka T3 LS 270WSM. The wife took over the first one , so I got another for me :grin: . Her rifle shoots factory Winchester Supreme AccuBond CT's in 140gr. incredibly. Close to 1/2" groups. This rifle has a silver Leupold VX3 3.5x10x40 scope with the BC reticle. This reticle works just like it says it will. She took her first mulie buck (just under 160BC) @ 440yrds, then her cow elk a week later @ just under 200yrds in 2004. Both 1 shot kills. I used her rifle in 2205 to take my cow elk at 200yrds-1 shot kill.
So with my rifle I reload for it, using a few loads using Retumbo and RL22 shooting both 140gr. Accubonds and 140gr.TSX. I have only range tested the Retumbo loads with the Accubonds-IMPRESSIVE I also use a matte black Leupold VX3 4.5x14x40 scope with BC reticle.
The load I use is 71.0gr Retumbo (Compressed Load), Winchester Supreme Nickel Brass, Federal Gold Match 215 Mag Primers. AVG. Velocity about 3200ft/s, GROUPS under 1/2"
Sure wish that CT would allow the new XP3 bullet out for reloaders, same with the AccuBond CT's. I prefer the coated bullets.
For predators, I'm reloading some Hornady Vmax 110gr. to try.
As to the 325WSM....I don't have one....YET! Just waiting to see if its worth it. Almost bought a 338WM for this season, but I love my Sako m75 SS 300WM with 180gr. Accubonds.