.325 or 30'06

[patrick.hover]

Ok I know this has been hased before but I have a dilemma...(life really sucks when you have a dilemma about which gun to buy) !

Kimber Montana in .325 or 30'06

.325 advantages--
1.might be more accurate, slightly bigger bullets in weight and frontal area.not enough to really make a big difference I thiink.
2. slightly smaller slightly lighter rifle
3. never shot or owned a WSM of any caliber.
4. with 220 loaded plenty for interior Grizzly hunt next year in Alaska.

.325 disadvantages--
1. is anyone besides Winchester ever going to make ammunition? 3 bullet selection Factory at the moment.
2. ammo is VERY expensive and hard to find...42 buck in Cabellas for the accubond 200 grainer
3. more recoil ( might be close to the Hornady Light mag in the 180 grain level.for the 30'06)
4. will it thrive or is it destined to die in the American market.??  Dont know.

Is it really more of a cartridge than the old '06?  if you load the 200-220 grain premium bullets in the '06..  Dont know never shot an animal with the .325  Shot lots of animals with the '06 to include Moose and Elk 

My big thing is that I have a Model 70 classic in 30'06 and I have tried everything short of restocking with a premium aluminum bedding block sythetic stock, I have Accraglass bedded  the black injection molded stock and the rifle still shoots at best 2.5 inches @ 100 with alll factory weights and bullets except 165 Nosler Ballistic tips...which I will not shoot at anything but Antelope.

Just not able to make it a real shooter... I hope the Kimber would prove better.

I might consider rebarreling the gun... but ...

What would you guys rather have in the Kimber Montana?  .325 or 30'06 for one rifle to do it all with including Alaska ... 

Sorry for the rambling on kind of had a conversation with myself there for a while!

Patrick.
Montana.

[RLB]

Personally if I ever step above a .30 cal it will be a .338win mag...

But If I was stuck like you I'd pick a .30-06...That .325 isn't doing so good around here..
have you considered a .350remmy???
as far as kimbers go I have shot many including the montana..they were nice rifles but recoil is fierce and the price is almost staggering....for that money I'd buy a sako.

RLB....

[nasem]

honestly, the king of kings of 30 caliber is the 30-06 (yeh yeh we know we know there is a 300 win mag)
Right now Im trying to get rid of all my 30 calibers (300 win mag , 300 RUM) becuase all i need is a 30-06 from the 30 family.

The next step up for me is the 338 win mag (my browning bar).

seriously man, there is a GOOD reason why only winchester makes factory ammo for the 325.

[jvs]

What's the difference between this .325 and the old 8 mm Mag?  If you want to go up in caliber from a 06, the 8mm or 8mm mag would give you enough to compare, and with a much smaller price tag on the ammo.

I think the Edsel, the Yugo and the .325 all have something in common.

[7x57]

No one questions the "need" for a new .308 cartridge witness the success of the 300WSMs, the 300RUMs, or the 270WSM, the 223WSSM.

These cartridges with the exception of the 300WSM may yet die but for now they are doing well, so I find it surprising that the cleverly disgused 8mm short mag .325
is just not selling. The caliber has a great deal of merit with range, bullet diameter, thumping power, etc; plus it has that magic Magnum designation and can be fired through those trendy short actions!!!

But, when the North American public reaches for something larger than a 30/06 it is usually a 300 win mag or a 338 mag of some description. I think the .325 splits the difference between the 30 cals and the 338's, offering the best features of both. However, even with the likes of Craig Boddington constantly promoting his favoured 8mm Rem Mag, North America isn't buying the 8mm...any 8mm!!!
I would like to see someone come out with the .325WSM in a "Man's weight rifle" 7 plus pounds with a real barrel length like 24". If that was available I would buy one tommorrow. Currently, that rifle is a custom only proposition.  A 338WSM would have lit the world on fire!!!!!!

[jvs]

If I were to look for something a little more harder hitting than a -06, I would be looking in the 8 mm catagory.  The availability of ammo and the price of ammo and components should be a bigger concern to most hunters/shooters when buying these new calibers that are being put out.  There are enough 8mm Mausers around and some domestic manufacturers have produced the 8mm and the 8mm mag some years back.  You can still find old, very affordable Military 8mm's around.  It might pay to pick up one of those and see if you really need a harder hitter than you already have.

Plus you have the .338, .35 Rem, the .350 mag and the .35 Whelen that have more punch at a somewhat less expensive ammo price.  The 8mm  and the 8mm mag fills the gap nicely.  While not every store might stock 8mm ammo, there would be a whole lot more stores stocking 8mm than the new-fangled .325.

 

[R.W.Dale]

 If you like being able to go BUY ammunition you need to stick with the 06. However If you want something that hits harder I'ed look at a 300 Win or Weatherby magnum.

[Zachary]

The ballistics of the .325 looks good on paper, but I have never shot one, much less used one on big game.  Still, I have some great concerns about the availability (or rather lack thereof) of .325 factory ammo.  As such, I would stick with the .30-06.  Remember, you can always get higher velocity factory ammo in the .30-06 (Hornady Light Magnum, Federal High Energy, etc.) which brings it close to .300 Win Mag velocities, which in turn brings it closer (albeit not necessarily close) to the published .325 numbers.)

Out of all of the WSM cartridges, I think that the .300 WSM is here to stay, and the .270 WSM is a close second.  I don't think that the 7mm WSM, or the .325 WSM, will be long lived.

Zachary

[Swampman]

Get a Remington Model 700 in .30-06.  You should be able to get sub-MOA groups with cheap Remington factory ammo.

The .30-06 and the .308 you can't hardly beat them with a stick.

[LEO]

I like the 325 WSM on paper but I have not bought one or even shot one yet.  If I were to buy any short magnum, I would buy a bucket of brass at the same time because some of them just aren't going to make it.  But if you reload and have a supply of brass, this is a non issue because the calibers the are chambered in will be with us as long as there are cartridge arms.  If I didn't reload, I would go with the 30-06 and really it will kill anything in North America.  It is shot placement and bullet construction that kills not flash and awe.  If I didn't reload and wanted to step up from an 06 I would look at the 338 Win mag or the 375 H&H.  If you do reload look at a 35 Whelen, it is a fine cartridge that is very manageable.  Good luck on your trip

[Cappy]

I have a 325WSM M70. Bought it as my Moose/Elk rifle and didn't want the recoil associated with a .338 Win Mag. It surprisingly doesn't kick all that hard, even in the lighter rifle I have. 220gr Sierra's plug along at 2750fps and group into an inch all day long.  I have no problem finding reloading componants for it and have bumped into a few more fellas at the ranges who have one. I think for a do it all cartridge that includes big bears its tough to beat. Loaded with 170-180gr bullets recoil is mild and it is good to go for deer, load up some 200 premiums or the 220gr bullets and you are set for elk/moose and bear if need be.

[stolivar]

the reason it is not selling well, is because you can't buy a rifle in it under $800 bucks.


Put it in a savage and it would sell like hotcakes.


steve

[Swampman]

If I owned a WSM rifle, I'd buy all the brass I could get my hands on.  I think most companies will drop these chamberings in the next couple of years.

[Cappy]

Savage is now selling 325WSM's. Mine is a M70 Super Shadow, can't get much cheaper than that.

[poncaguy]

One thing about my 270WSM and 300WSM M70 Super Shadows, they both shoot 1/2" groups. Recoils isn't bad, and for $400, I'm very happy. Been Thinking about a Super Shadow in 325 WSM now.

[kudzu]

Not to get off topic, but if I were a bettin man, I would say that the 270wsm & 300wsm will make it. All else are possiblly "on the bubble".

On the 325wsm, I looked at one but went 338wm so I could get it in the new Encore Pro Hunter.

Good Luck, DM

[DIVR6347]

hey

  i have a 300 wsm  if i had to choose a different 30 cal     it would be a 300 wsm 

    i really like it and factory ammo is easily had  mine is a shooter and the recoil isn t all that bad either 

divr6347

[Snyd]

I have a Kimber MT 325. I bought it to replace my old ruger m77 30-06. I live and hunt in interior Alaska. I wanted all weather, light, and more power. Like you I was looking for an all around rifle. The Kimber fit the bill. The winchester 200 grain accubonds shoot 1 inch groups at 100yds, 3 inches at 200. That's as good as I can hold anything, I'm not an expert marksman. Just rest it on some pillows and shoot. This year I killed a Dall Sheep at 350-400 yds. Uphill shot, hit him low. Upper part of lower front leg, up into brisket, the bullet then traveled up a ways and out the far shoulder. On the same hunt my buddies Rem 700 BDL 338 jambed on him while we were laying prone looking at legal ram. He shot it with the kimber. I watched the ram in my spotter while he shot. I didn't think he him. At 200 yds he double lunged him. Broke a rib going in and out. Happened so fast I didn't even see hair or blood fly and the ram didn't even flinch. That 200gr accubond just blew a nice little hole in and out. http://homepage.mac.com/perryschneider/PhotoAlbum8.html

One month later I shot an moose at 350 yds. Hit him in the hump on his back. Broke his spine and dropped him in his tracks. Recovered the bullet under the hide. Perfect mushroom. http://homepage.mac.com/perryschneider/PhotoAlbum9.html

The sheep hunt was a 12 day 50+ mile walk in hunt. The Kimber with the Leupold VX III 2.5-8x36 scope, sling weighs 7lbs 2oz. It's a perfect mountain rifle. Light weight but magnum power in case mr. brownie comes along. A much better rifle to have than the ol ruger 06 on that type of hunt. It has proven itself for moose. I didn't have any doubts anyway. Looks like the ol 06 will be collecting dust. The 325 shoots flatter and hits harder with a 200 grain bullet than the 06.

Buy the 325, I did. It will kill any north amercan big game animal. Including interior Alaska griz. If you are planning on going for the Kodiak brownies think 375 H&H and up.

As far as ammo goes they have tons of it at Sportsmans Warehouse here Fairbanks. Kind of spendy but not any more than a lot of the big magnum rounds. 43 bucks a box. I don't care what the ammo market does. I can always get into reloading if I have to 8mm bullets will always be around.

My .02

[oldelkhunter]

 If the best you can get that M70 to shoot is 2.5 inches then I would say to do the following . rebarrel  it in 30-06 and get a good lightweight laminated fiberglass stock for it. If you ever decide to handload rebarrel  it  in 338-06. Modifying your current rifle will be the same as buying a Kimber. FWIW

[Gregory]

the reason it is not selling well, is because you can't buy a rifle in it under $800 bucks.


Put it in a savage and it would sell like hotcakes.


steve

A bolt Hunter is under $800

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=001B&cat_id=035&type_id=013

[Syncerus]

I think the .325 will be come a successful niche cartridge. Here's why: it's a very powerful short-action cartridge without a belt. Besides, the .300 WSM will make it and you can always reform brass from that to .325. My guess is that it will become something like the .358 Winchester or the .284 Winchester: in 1980 everyone said they were done and gone.

It's now 2006 and they're still around. If you really want the .325 go ahead and buy it.

[jro45]

I don't have anything against the 325 or 8mm. I think they are a Great rifle caliber.
Myself I prefer the 30/06 I know what it can do and would highly recomend it.
It has a wide assortment of ammo it can shoot.