.325 WSM for elk?

Musket Man

Musket Man

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Jul 20, 2011
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colfax, wa
I wouldnt go on ammo availability in the last 2 years because alot of things arent available now. Midway has 11 ammo choices and Natchez has 6 and some are available from both of them. Midway also shows 34 bullet choices if you want to handload. Core-Lokt, A-Frame, GMX, InterLock, ect. 8mm's have never been real popular for hunting and while its not as popular as the 30 cals I think the 325WSM if here to stay and there is plenty available for it if its the cal you choose. I have thought about getting 1 since they came out!
 
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Fish

Active Member
Jul 8, 2011
319
3
WA State
I had a 338/06 built on an old Ruger tang safety action. I can get 2840 fps using the old Barnes 200gr X bullets, not too far off the velocity of the 325WSM. One pass on the 338/06 expander die and you have 338/06 cases. I have two life times worth of once fired 30/06 cases picked up from the range I shoot at. I'll never run out of FREE BRASS. Its a good 300yd elk gun. I've killed a moose, 4 elk, 6 reindeer, a few deer and 10 African antelope as big or bigger than most elk. It's easy on the shoulder, cheap to shoot and kills way better than its ballistics suggest. But then again I'm only 5'7'' and a recoil pussy for sure. A 338 mag scares me and a 340 WBY would terrify me. Maybe I should change my forum name to small gun Bob
 
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Knappy

New Member
Mar 14, 2014
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Dang!! So many good inputs and opinions. This is tougher than what I thought. I don't own the .325 WSM, I just have the option to buy it when I get back to the states. Or, like I said, and several of you have suggested, I could go with something else. Man oh man... What shall I do? Ammo availability will be pretty important to me... Maybe I'll keep looking around and see if I can find a Savage 110 in .300 WM or the Savage 10 in .300 WSM.... I don't know.... I'll keep you all posted with what I decide. LOL Right now, I'm over in Afghanistan and I have a little time to browse the classified sections. My problem is, I want a bunch of different guns! This is a real problem!!
 
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Elkhunter96

Active Member
Jan 8, 2013
221
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Bountiful, Utah
I switched years ago from a 270 to a 338 win mag and will never ever go back. I mainly bow hunt, but when I rifle hunt its with the 338. Its never taken more than one bullet to give a bull a dirt nap with the 338. Nothing wrong with the 270 or 06, but the bigger caliber just works for me.

I would take the 338 or the 300 win over the 325 simply for the ease of purchasing ammo. Especially in smaller stores or in emergency situations.
 
Cobbhunts

Cobbhunts

Veteran member
Jan 22, 2014
1,060
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Kentucky
Knappy said:
My problem is, I want a bunch of different guns! This is a real problem!!
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And it is a problem a lot of us have. I'm maybe the worst. Best of luck, keep your head down!!

You could always do what I did when I was deployed. Buy a rifle one piece at a time and have a gunsmith put it together for you when you get home. There's some logistics involved for sure, but if you have help stateside, you can make it happen. It all starts with the action!!

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mnhunter

mnhunter

Active Member
Aug 23, 2011
226
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Andover, Minnesota
Knappy said:
I don't own the .325 WSM, I just have the option to buy it when I get back to the states.
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When I read your post this is what I keyed in on. Don't buy the 325 because it is available, especially if you are looking for your all purpose rifle. I don't mean to offend, but it sounds a little like you are trying to rationalize buying it. Unless you are going to be shooting heavy for caliber bullets (220GRN+), you can load the 300 WSM to 200 grn without any trouble, so what are you gaining by going to the 325? IMO, this is why the 325 never picked up steam like the 300 WSM.

I have been in your shoes, literally. I wanted to buy a new rifle while I was in AFG back in 2004, and I had my dad and his buddies all contemplating what I needed, and I ended up buying one, sight unseen. I hated that rifle for the first few years I had it, I finally replaced the stock and optics and now I love it, but in hindsight it was a mistake.

Bottom line, if you are deciding on a rifle that is going to be your go to gun; pick the ideal caliber/action you want, and then go find the deal.
 
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Knappy

New Member
Mar 14, 2014
43
0
Musket Man said:
Best solution is to buy them all:) LOL. Are you looking for a used gun?
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MM, I have no problem buying a used gun. I really like the Savage rifles though. I have a .300 WM barrel sitting in my safe right now. I could just swap the barrel on my Savage, get a magnum face plate and turn my .25-06 into a .300 WM. The problem is, I don't want to give up the .25-06. My ideal set up is to have an identical set up like my .25-06, but chambered in the .300 WM so I have both. Maybe I should just do that. Oh hell.... I don't know. I just need to make more money! That would fix all of this!

Oh, and Musket Man, awesome picture!! Thank you for your service!
 
Cobbhunts

Cobbhunts

Veteran member
Jan 22, 2014
1,060
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Kentucky
That's a really good idea....I truly like Savage Rifles. They are pretty hard to beat in my opinion.

Money.....that's why I built my rifle 1 piece at a time. Like the Johnny Cash song.

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Musket Man

Musket Man

Veteran member
Jul 20, 2011
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colfax, wa
Definitely get another gun, you can never have to many guns:) I have 42 and Im just getting started lol. That pic makes me miss my SAW!
 
Cobbhunts

Cobbhunts

Veteran member
Jan 22, 2014
1,060
1
Kentucky
It would have been nice to have the 46s. Yes!! The 249 is a load for sure. I started with a M240 though lol!!! What is it, like 35 lbs or something ridiculous.

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Musket Man

Musket Man

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Jul 20, 2011
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colfax, wa
I forget the weights but the 240 is a heavy gun. The thing about the SAW was all the ammo I packed weighed almost as much as it did I think. lol
 
mnhunter

mnhunter

Active Member
Aug 23, 2011
226
0
Andover, Minnesota
Being a lightfighter, I know the weights of just about every system we have. The M240 weighs between 21-27 lbs depending on the variant, and the Mk48 (7.62) weighs about 18lbs. The problem with a 240 is you have another 25 lbs of kit (spare barrel, tripod, ammo) that goes with it. That is what an Assistant Gunner is for though.
 
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