In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

thoughts on a 325wsm

toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
edited July 2014 in Ask the Experts
Listed this awhile back for a friend and it has been getting about as much attention as a dog turd in the middle of August. However I've recently been thinking about buying it myself, anyone have a 325, or experience with them, and if so what do you think about them?

http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=427390074
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by toad67
    Listed this awhile back for a friend and it has been getting about as much attention as a dog turd in the middle of August. However I've recently been thinking about buying it myself, anyone have a 325, or experience with them, and if so what do you think about them?

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=427390074


    Buy yourself a sporterized 8mm Mauser. There are still quite a number to be had. You will be ahead of the game.

    I've seen Both Remington & Winchester, bring out a bunch of cartridges in the last 45 years. When they don't sell, they drop them like a hot potato. You have a hard time even finding, loaded ammo and brass to buy.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by toad67
    Listed this awhile back for a friend and it has been getting about as much attention as a dog turd in the middle of August. However I've recently been thinking about buying it myself, anyone have a 325, or experience with them, and if so what do you think about them?

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=427390074


    Buy yourself a sporterized 8mm Mauser. There are still quite a number to be had. You will be ahead of the game.

    I've seen Both Remington & Winchester, bring out a bunch of cartridges in the last 45 years. When they don't sell, they drop them like a hot potato. You have a hard time even finding, loaded ammo and brass to buy.


    I forgot to mention that it has 5 boxes of factory ammo and 100 pcs of new brass that I could also purchase...However, I do appreciate your input.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    I think quite highly of the 325 WSM in specific terms. The problem is that it is something of an "in-between" cartridge so it's sales are affected by other more specific cartridges, the 300 on the smaller side, the 338 on the larger side. But it is very functional round and provided that you reload, is a VERY useful North American game cartridge. The case is the "new improved" beltless magnum, which means that it has a case head similar to the other Short Magnums and Ultra rounds, so cases could be formed fairly easily from any of the cases that are the 325 or longer lengths. As for bullets, since it is a .323 diameter, there several very good game bullets- Noslers in particular.

    I'd consider it a little heavy for deer, but entirely adequate and even very suited to elk and if you were to get drawn for Mountain Sheep. the only reason I can see that it doesn't get more interest is, as I've said, competition from similar niche more established cartridges.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My .325 is an A-bolt. I bought it (on the GB auction side!) because I'm a sucker for A-bolt Medallions. It shoots quite well. The 195 gr. Hornady is an accurate bullet in this rifle. With 70 gr. of IMR4831, I fired a 5-shot group that measured .35 C/C. Of course, that was a fluke; average group for that load is a little over an inch. Velocity for that load; 2961 fps.

    As far as a deer rifle: I experimented with the 150 gr. Sierra spt and 50 gr. of H4895. Accuracy was good and velocity was 2571 fps. If I were to hunt deer with this rifle I'd probably up that velocity to 2700+/- fps.

    With the ammo and brass you have available, you've got a pretty much life time supply. I'd say buy it, you can always sell it later if you're unhappy with it but I don't think you will be unhappy.

    EDIT: According to my notes, it's been 5 years since I've fired that rifle. Now that you've brought it up, I guess I'll get it out to the range. Thanks!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by toad67
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by toad67
    Listed this awhile back for a friend and it has been getting about as much attention as a dog turd in the middle of August. However I've recently been thinking about buying it myself, anyone have a 325, or experience with them, and if so what do you think about them?

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=427390074


    Buy yourself a sporterized 8mm Mauser. There are still quite a number to be had. You will be ahead of the game.

    I've seen Both Remington & Winchester, bring out a bunch of cartridges in the last 45 years. When they don't sell, they drop them like a hot potato. You have a hard time even finding, loaded ammo and brass to buy.


    I forgot to mention that it has 5 boxes of factory ammo and 100 pcs of new brass that I could also purchase...However, I do appreciate your input.


    ^^^^this right here is reason enough to get it.

    My only issue with it is, Winchester put it out with a 1-10" twist. Which is fine for any hunting bullet you would use. There are target/long range bullets that do better with the original 8mm Mauser twist of 1-9.44"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TANK78ZTANK78Z Member Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A nice rifle in an "unpopular" caliber, not for the general hunter, even though good chambering.
    It would probably sell easier if it were a penny auction, or had a lower starting and buy it now.
    I like that rifle but wouldn't spend more then $500. on it.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jptatumjptatum Member Posts: 1,911 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It seems to me that all 8mm guns are underappreciated. I'm sure one reason is that the ammunition made by Remington and Winchester is awful. You need to use Hornady, RWS, Sellier & Beloit, etc.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    toad67,

    There are occasions when we get 'play' a little with cartridges and loads when we need a change of pace from producing for clients. I've mentioned a few before and the .325 WSM was one which came to our attention when Hornady announced the development of some new 8mm bullets for hunting and Match use. They sent us a few of the 160 gr. GMX and the 196 gr. Match bullets to try. The reloading vault yielded several other maker's bullets in a variety of designs. We had barrels on the shelf but I had to spec and order a reamer for the 325 WSM.

    I think we chambered 6 barrels originally for field testing and hunting because we had a few with lighter contours. The 160 GMX was the hands down favorite for deer hunting with 11 one-shot kills ranging from about 70 yards to just over 500 yards. Excellent bullet performance in every case.

    The Match bullets performed well at 1,000 yards for testing and I shot one F-class match with it also. Our bullets were all fired in 1:10" twist rate barrels. No problems whatsoever even with those long (1.5"+) match bullets. We don't spare the horsepower when loading since we shoot DBM length (2.950") for hunting and we see no reason to match the Mauser's velocity with a modern high power cartridge.

    I would suggest discussing the purchase with the seller because I think that the price is high. The selling price should be between 650-750 for this rifle no matter how limited the production run was. It doesn't make a difference in this case. There will be plenty of brass available, lay in a supply then go shoot!

    Best.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Fairlane66Fairlane66 Member Posts: 336 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have 2 rifles identical to the one you're selling, one in 7MM WSM and the other in 270 WSM. I bought both on GB about two years ago, new in the box, for less than $550 each. I was also lucky to get two cases of Winchester Fail Safe ammo for each caliber at $200/case. At the time, there was a dealer who was dumping the Fail Safe stuff due to the ammo's bad press. It might have gotten bad press, but I've harvested two elk, an impala, a zebra, a gemsbok, a warthog, and several deer with the 7MM WSM--all one shot kills, the longest at 300 yards. I like the performance of each cartridge but, contrary to what the gun writers were saying about the recoil, i.e. it was a push more than a kick, my rifles wallop me when I squeeze the trigger.

    Personally, I think the Classic Stainless Model 70 is hard to beat for an accurate, all-weather rifle. My experience with the WSM cartridges has been positive. The only down side that I see is the cost of factory ammunition and the relative scarcity of brass for reloading.

    IMHO, I think your price is a little high, but it's not outrageous.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 325 WSM is a great cartridge, and I have often thought about adding one or two to my collection. The 8mm(0.320") diameter bullets, even there is a limited selection, the better ones have high sectional density, and good ballistic coefficients. A good recipe for any hunting bullet, combined with controlled expansion.

    According to some gun scribes, it actually is on par with the 338 Winchester Magnum, out to about 300 yards or so, then excels past it, as far as trajectory, and energy levels are concerned.

    As far as the rifle in that auction, it is my opinion the stock has been changed out. The Ultimate Shadow's that I have seen, and own, have overmolded grip panels. I know the box says Ultimate Shadow, but the stock says Shadow.

    Best
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.