325 WSM in Africa

[Speckmisser]

Didn't want to hijack BigSwad's thread, so separated this out... but it comes out of JJ's great post about the need for something .308 or bigger diameter on African game.

The .325WSM is, according to the hype, comparable to the venerable .338. If one were considering a rifle smaller than the .375 for an African plains game hunt, how would this stack up?

I don't know, yet, that I'll ever get around to making that trip to Africa, but this new cartridge has my imagination. I'd use it for elk and hogs here in the U.S., and it would be fine... but should I cross "the pond", I wonder how it would do.

I suppose the seasons are winding down for 2006, but I'd love any feedback, especially first-hand on the round's performance there.

 

[bigtusker]

Speck, I wouldn't hesitate to use the .325WSM on plains game.

BUT........ you have to ask yourself this, "If my luggage that has my ammo in it gets lost or shows up a day late, can I find .325WSM ammo in Africa?"

 

[Speckmisser]

It's a good point, Chopper... no doubt.

But at the rate things are going, by the time I get there .325wsm will either be everywhere or obsolete.

By the way... weren't you going this year? Or is it next year?

 

[bigtusker]

44 days

 

[inchr48]

The 325 WSM has gotten some good press relating to Africa use.

Get one and go Speck, then give us pics!

http://www.shortmags.org/shortmags/snitzfo...p?TOPIC_ID=6135

 

[jjhack]

I have a hunter coming to hunt with us from May 23rd to June 3rd of 2007

It will only be one guy but he should shoot enough to have a reasonable opionion. If you read the post I put up about the performance my loader 30/06 shooting 51 animals for my hunters this season, you can imagine how much better a bigger bullet will work!

 

[Rick]

Will this guy be hunting with us, Jim?

 

[James Vee]

Everything I have heard about the 325WSM has been nothing less than great. I'll be going back in late 2007, and I'm looking at bringing either a .338 or .300WSM. My last trip I had a .338. Worked great on all of the game I shot, inluding dropping a zebra in it's tracks (this doesn't happen very often) and putting a stop on a blue wildebeest.

 

[Speckmisser]

Lots of food for thought, fellas.

Like I said, I've been taken by the idea of this round and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go for it after the new year. (It's a heck of a wait to get one right now...I'm looking at either the Browning A-Bolt or the Ruger MKII Frontier).

Jim, I look forward to hearing how your hunter does with his.

INCHR, if I get it and go, I'll be sure and post up some photos. But we may both be old and grey before that happens... I'd try to get JJ to sponsor me for a write-up, but I'm hard-pressed to write as well as he does.

 

[jjhack]

Rick, as a matter of fact it is the fella from New Jersey that has the 325!

Mr. Speck Please do yourself a huge favor and avoid the Browning A bolt as if it were the plague! That is the single greatest failure in a bolt action hunting rifle I have ever experienced in my 20 year career as a PH!

I would not own or use one if it wee given to me for free! They are certainly very accurate but when that fail to fire that accuracy is of no value, when the pot metal parts crack and the internal night mare of a trigger mechanism refuses to fire you will be heart broken more from the loss of the potential trophy then the "fluff" of the minimal accuracy gain over some the Ruger.

For the record I had a 30/06 Ruger for a short time, and it shot hole touching groups at 100 meters. Bone stock factory ruger. What more would you like? Ruger is also all stainless with "REAL" stainless rings, and no bases needed. With the best three position safety ever designed!

With the loss of Winchester Rugers products are looking better and better every day!

 

[SDHNTR]

Speck, Kimber Kimber Kimber. It's the new and improved Model 70.

 

[BigSwad]

Yeah cabelas has the all weather rugers on sale for $549 in 338 win mag. I wonder what the difference in recoil is, the 375H&H versus the 338 win mag. The Ruger would be about $210 cheaper than the remington XCR I looked at in 375H&H.

 

[Speckmisser]

SD, I just found a Kimber Montana on Gunauction.org for 1129. Had to slap my own hand to keep from making the move, since I really like those Kimber rifles.

JJ, I'm a little surprised to hear that about the A-Bolt. I've got an A-bolt (.270) and a BAR (.308) and have shot the heck out of both of them. Don't often hunt with the BAR as I don't care much for semi-autos, and I "gave" the A-bolt to my GF. Interesting and strong stance you've got there, though.

I really do like the Rugers, especially that new Frontier carbine with the scout scope configuration. Not sure that would make the best use of the caliber, but it would be a danged handy hog rifle.

I'm glad I'm not in any hurry to make this decision.

 

[jjhack]

You can probably guess at the amount of various brands of guns folks have had in my camps over the 20 years I've been doing this.

I've seen more A bolt failures then all other rifles combined. That means something to me when I'm thinking about what I would own or recommend.

Winshester SS synthetics are the best rifles I ever seen working in all kinds of bad conditions. Ruger CRF is not as well designed but the safety is a bit better with the locking tab on the bolt.

I much prefer CRF as they have a real safety that blocks the sear not just the trigger from being pulled. They also allow the gun to be unloaded with the safety on, a huge plus when around camp or the truck!

The Kimber, dakota, and Montana rifles are the cream of todays rifle crop. With Dakota in Chapter 11 or 13 or whatever that really leves Montana and Kimber. These two are "the" rifle to own right now unless you have a total custom job built from the action up. I might choose Montana rifles because they are the top barrel maker right now. Each barrel maker is at the top of the heap now and then. Montana rifles is that maker today, for now............we'll see how long they can hang on.

Regardless of that they make one hella awsome rifle action you should really look at for any gun you're considering having built or buying in the near future.

By the way, they just rebarreled my Ruger 30/06 to a 25/06 with a custom handlapped 25" bench rest quality barrel! So I am putting my money where my "fingers" are!

 

[Rick]

I'll second the comments on the Montana actions and barrel - the action, like a Model 70, is not the lightest one around. It does have controlled round feeding and the 3-position safety. Mine is in .358 Win and has a 21-inch handlapped barrel that shoots its favorite load into one, ragged hole of about 3/8 inch diameter.

I am seriously thinking about taking it to Africa with Jim next year. From what he tells me, the furthest shot would be about 250 yards and the .358 should reach that far.

 

[bigtusker]

Again Rick, all I can say is make sure you take something that is common enough to be able to get ammo over there.

 

[Rick]

If I lose my ammo, Chopper, I can just use Jim's 30-06. I seem to do well with borrowed .30-06s, if you recall that sow at your place a few years ago.......

 

[Duknutz]

Rick,
My buddy just got back a couple weeks ago from Africa.He hunted with my Outfitter buddy and took his brand spankin new H-S Precision 325WSM and one shot killed all of his animals.Including a 34 inch Eland bull and a 55+ inch Kudu bull.I was kind of skeptical of the 325WSM because of ammo and components.But I shot it the week before he left while hog hunting.I shot it at 100&300 yds at our range and holey !#%* that gun is a Definate shooter.He shot the tail out of all three at 100yds and about 11/2 inches at 300yds.Not bad for a guy 73 years old.I also saw him shoot a hog at 258 yds with the gun.
So I say buy the 325WSM,I'm cosidering it myself.It's between that and the 30-378 or 338-378 weatherby.Good solid 180-225GR extendted range shooter.It's a Ford,Chevy thing and everybody has there own opnion.Good Luck with the Safari and drop me a line if you need any info or Questions on paperwork.My outfitter will be staying with me for a week in January if you have any questions also......Ron...
PS. He also used his new 458 Lott on a Cape Buff and I wouldn't recommened that one unless you want your fillings to fall out on your tongue......

 

[Rick]

Duknutz - The 338-378 with 250 gr bullets will do a good job of loosening your fillings, too! I think there is a pretty big difference between the 325 WSM and the .338-378! (Not so much between the .325 WSM and the .338 Win, though.)

 

[Duknutz]

Rick,
Your right on there with the Weatherby's,anything with the 378 on the backend is going to be a bruiser.I shot the 325WSM in that H-S and it is really light.I thought the recoil was going to be bad,but it wasn't.Not for a light carrying(elk hunting)rifle.I just wasn't sure how the down range 300-400 yds was going to be with that 8mm bullet,But we grouped it at 300 and I was impressed.I just got off the phone with the owner and he just got back from CO monday and he didn't get to crack one off with it,he just got to take it for a weeks worth of walks......