As he looked through the rangefinder, my hunting partner said, “323 yards. The wind is left to right, almost at full value, less than five miles per hour.” He continued, “He doesn’t know we are here. You about ready?”
     We had spotted a mule deer buck feeding on the other side of a big coulee. A short hike and some belly crawling placed us slightly above and directly across from the small four point. By the time we got into position, the buck had bedded down. I snapped the legs of the bipod downward and settled the butt of my rifle on a Triad bead bag.
     Although it was in a shaded patch of buck brush, I quickly found the buck in the big 3.5-15X Nightforce scope.
I took my time getting into position. The crosshair sat perfectly on the buck’s upper chest as I fine-focused the side parallax knob. Then I reached for the tab on the Pathfinder ballistics chart attached to the forward portion of the scope tube. Like a miniature tape measure, a strip reeled out revealing bullet drop. At 300 yards it was 3.5 minutes of angle, so I cranked four minutes up to allow for the extra 23 yards. Then I moved the windage knob one minute to the left to compensate for the light wind.

The .325 WSM-chambered Model 70 was the second rifle the author used for testing the cartridge’s worthiness at extended ranges. Accuracy was quite good, but he cautioned that because of the gun’s light, 6 3⁄4-pound weight, recoil was more severe than with his heavier custom rifle.

Although most shooters wouldn’t conceive an 8-mm cartridge to be a long-range performer, the new .325 WSM is more than adequate, as evident by this three-shot, 500-yard group that measured less than 4 inches. With a correct range reading, scope manipulation and a steady hold, the .325 WSM is plenty capable of putting down most North American big game at impressive distances.

     The final loading for the .325 WSM is the 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip, again offered in the Supreme brand. These bullets leave the muzzle at 3,060 feet per second. Both AccuBonds and Ballistic Silvertips have the black Lubalox coating that Winchester developed to reduce fouling and improve accuracy.
     I was one of the few writers invited on the first hunt conducted with the new cartridge. We traveled 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in northwest Alaska to hunt caribou. Suffice to say, the cartridge kills caribou like Thor’s hammer, as I found on my first bull. I placed the crosshair just over its backline. The AccuBond went completely through its chest with enough energy to knock it to the ground. The bull dropped in its tracks at 330 yards.
     Shortly after the hunt I discussed the .325 WSM with my gunsmith and friend George Gardner, owner of GA Precision in Kansas City, MO. Gardner told me that he and Jeff Hoffman from Black Hills Ammo were interested in the long-range potential of the new cartridge for tactical applications. He was going to build some rifles to determine what the new cartridge would do at longer distances and asked if I was interested.
     I jumped at this opportunity since I would get access to a .325 WSM rifle months before the production models were released. I suggested the new rifles be built on Winchester Model 70 actions since they fed the short, fat cartridges so smoothly. “Find me some actions and we will do that,” said Gardner, who just happens to build some of the finest-shooting rifles on the planet. I quickly got on the phone and located three new Model 70 Coyotes in .300 WSM. Gardner tore the Coyotes down so their controlled-round-push-feed actions could be the basis for the new .325 rifles.
     Gardner contacted Mike Rock, co-owner of Rock Creek Barrels in Albany, WI. Rock manufactures incredible cut-rifled barrels—his 5R barrels are famed for their extreme accuracy, long life and ease of cleaning. Gardner ordered several M-24 contoured, deep-fluted, stainless-steel barrels, and Rock had them ready in a very short time.
     Gardner and Hoffman wanted heavy, tactical-style stocks, whereas I needed a stock more suitable for hunting. My favorite hunting stock is the McMillan HTG, so I asked Gardner to order one in desert camo. Kelly McMillan soon had the stock on the way. Gardner arranged the chambering reamers, squared and trued-up the actions and set the triggers to a crisp 3 pounds. Then he pillar-bedded the barreled actions into the stocks with Marine Tex bedding compound.
     Gardner also fitted Williams one-piece, steel bottom-metal assemblies that eliminated the center stock bolt. Very simply, no middle stock bolt means we only have to worry about maintaining correct tension on two rather than three. Simple is better, and accuracy is usually enhanced. After installing Badger Ordnance tactical mounts, Gardner gave the metal a coating of Cerakote. This ceramic-based covering is tough and corrosion resistant, plus the pale-yellow color perfectly complimented the beige and tan of the desert camo stock.
     After receiving my rifle I installed a 3.5-15X Nightforce scope and broke in the barrel with 220-grain Super-X Power-Point factory ammo to get the rifle ready for upcoming spring black bear hunts. I had a supply of 200-grain AccuBond CT and 220-grain Power-Point factory ammo. My GA rifle showed a preference for the AccuBond factory load. Some three-shot groups went under 1 inch at 100 yards.
     I began shooting at longer ranges to obtain data for drop charts so I could calibrate the Nightforce for longer shots. I shot out to 800 yards with excellent accuracy all the way. One 800-yard, three-shot group went exactly 4 inches! Past 400 yards I shot in 50-yard increments, so I did a lot of shooting and moving. The more I shot the GA rifle, the more accuracy improved with both factory and reloaded ammo. After about 350 rounds, accuracy settled down, and I noticed a distinct reduction in the effort required to clean the barrel. Copper fouling virtually quit in this super-smooth barrel.

The .325 WSM performed admirably and proved it could deliver ample energy over vast distances, making it a true long-range, big-game caliber. This buck, as well as eight other deer, two black bears and a bull caribou were taken by the author with the cartridge at ranges that pushed 300 yards.

     The GA rifle is a bit heavy so recoil is very manageable with all bullet weights. I can shoot several boxes of ammo in a test session without any problems or discomfort.
     Several months after obtaining the GA rifle I got a new Winchester Model 70 Ultimate Shadow. This rifle has a controlled-round-feed action, black-composite stock with rubbery inserts in the pistol grip and fore-end and a fairly light 24-inch barrel. Thankfully, it also has a Limbsaver recoil pad because at 6 3⁄4 pounds it is significantly lighter than the GA rifle—you definitely know when this rifle goes off!
     I installed a Near Manufacturing one-piece base on the Model 70.
     By coincidence I had just received a 3.8-22X U.S. Optics SN-3 sniper scope for testing. About the size of a baseball bat, the main tube of the SN-3 is a whopping 35 mm, while its overall length including the sunshade is 23.5 inches. This is a serious piece of glass. Resolution, brightness and quality of construction are superb. Marty Bordson from Badger Ordnance sent me a pair of 35-mm rings that fit perfectly on the Near base. Although the scope was significantly oversized for the sporter-weight Model 70, I wanted to exploit its incredible optics for my accuracy testing. I also intended to shoot the Model 70 extensively at long range, and the U.S. Optics scope would be ideal. I loaded up my pickup and headed to my 100-yard benchrest range.
     I shot the three factory bullet weights for accuracy and velocity in the new Model 70 and the GA Precision rifle. In the Model 70 factory rifle, the 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip averaged 3,044 feet per second. The average of five, three-shot groups was 2.22 inches. The 200-grain AccuBonds averaged 2,904 feet per second and 2.6 inches for accuracy. I was impressed with the 220-grain Power-Points in this rifle. Velocity averaged 2,788 feet per second, and accuracy averaged 1.65 inches for the three-shot groups. This particular Ultimate Shadow prefers the Power-Points, with one group going .49 inch. The GA Precision rifle also shot the Power-Points well with one exceptional group going .222 inch. I should mention that by this point the GA Precision rifle was thoroughly broken-in, whereas the factory rifle had less than 50 rounds down the barrel.
     The consistency of the factory ammo’s velocity was amazing. During the 100-yard accuracy testing I shot through my Oehler 35P chronograph to build up larger velocity data. For instance, I obtained three, 10-shot strings with the GA rifle and 200-grain AccuBonds. When I looked at the averages of these strings there was only 4-feet-per-second difference between them. The GA Precision rifle produces faster velocities than the factory rifle.
     Next came the fun times. I wanted to determine how accurate the two rifles shot from 100 yards out to 500 yards. I also wanted to compare bullet drops with published figures. So I called a couple of buddies and we headed to our long-range shooting area. These guys know how to read wind. They also know how to shoot small groups at long range. We took turns firing the different rifles and ammo combinations under ideal shooting conditions. All shooting was done from the prone position. We used the shooter-spotter setup with the spotter calling wind. This lets the shooter concentrate on his marksmanship which results in best accuracy. I ensured that the barrels did not overheat, and we thoroughly cleaned them every 25 shots.
     The results were impressive. Every shot fired would have fit into the chest of a deer, from 100 yards to 500 yards. This was with both rifles, three bullet weights and three shooters.
     I recently spent several enjoyable afternoons shooting both guns at 700 yards. I shot both reloaded and factory ammo at a variety of steel plates. Some of the plates are actually 2-foot-by-4-foot sheets of steel. This large size ensures that they catch hits for determining bullet drop and long-range zeroes. I also have a dozen or so smaller steel plates that fall over when hit. These tip-over plates vary from 9 inches high and 6 inches wide to 15 inches square. I had no problem tipping the small plates with consecutive shots with both rifles provided I shot ammo the guns liked.
     Three-shot groups on the large plate at 700 yards ranged from just under 4 inches to 17 inches. My handloads shot considerably better than the factory ammo at this longer distance. I shot three consecutive three-shot groups that went 5.2 inches, 7.2 inches and 4 inches with Sierra MatchKings in a 5-mph wind with the GA Precision rifle. I also managed to hit a spray-paint can with a 200-grain Sierra MatchKing at the 700-yard mark. The factory Model 70 did not shoot quite as well, averaging 10 1⁄2-inch groups in the same conditions.
     Wind is my primary challenge at longer ranges. The .325 WSM bullets handle wind very well compared to the .308 Winchester loads that I practice with most often. When I shoot the .325 WSM I put on about 20-percent to 25-percent less windage than my partner who shoots a .308 Winchester. I suspect this is attributed to less flight time because of higher velocities.
     The .325 WSM hits steel plates with more force than the .308 Winchester. As a matter of fact, some of my big 3⁄8-inch steel targets were completely penetrated at 500 and 600 yards by the AccuBonds and the Ballistic Silvertips. The Power-Point bullets made significant dents but failed to penetrate like the lighter, faster bullets. The .325 WSM delivers enough energy to flatten big game past 700 yards.
     I am confident that if conditions are appropriate my GA rifle will deliver first-shot hits into the lethal zone out past 700 yards consistently. If the wind is too strong I will pass on the shot. I have learned to shoot in fairly significant wind, but there are limits. When friends and I are setting up for a long shot we always use two shooters and a spotter. This ensures a fast, accurate second shot if required. The system works.
     I have not spent much time reloading the .325 WSM since Gardner provided a superbly accurate load with the rifle. A healthy charge of H4831 pushes 200-grain Sierra MatchKings into one-hole groups if I do my part. The same charge does virtually the same with Nosler AccuBonds. I have killed several deer with the AccuBonds, all with one shot. The longest shot—540 yards—was made using a Long Star Shooting Products Spec Rest. The deer leaped upward and over at the impact, a classic reaction to a heart shot.
     The .325 WSM proved itself on bears as well. I killed a large black bear in northern Saskatchewan, taking it at 305 yards with one shot into the shoulders. The bear was dead before it hit the ground. I also killed a nice black bear on Vancouver Island. My Pacific Rim Outfitters guide found three bears feeding on clover on the far side of a steep valley. Although the bears looked very far off the lasers read only 283 yards. I over-compensated for the fairly strong wind and hit it a bit back of lungs, but in only a few seconds we heard the death moan. “That is my favorite sound!” said the guide as we started hiking to the bear.
     How does the .325 WSM perform at long ranges? If a “long shot” on big game starts at 300 yards, my experience with the cartridge has been excellent. I have taken one caribou, two black bears and nine deer so far. Most of the shots were around the 300-yard mark, although a couple of deer were shot at significantly longer ranges. I believe that the .325 WSM fits in between the .300 Winchester Magnum/.300 WSM and the .338 Winchester Magnum. I would not sell a good .300 or .338 to switch to a .325 WSM, but I would consider the .325 WSM if I was in the market for an accurate, high-performance cartridge that was capable of killing any North American big-game animal, from antelope to moose.

Applied Technology

Long-range shooting is often thought and practiced as a guessing game. Familiarity with your rifle and utilization of technology such as the Nightforce Ballistics Program take away much of the guesswork. Having instantaneous access to accurate trajectory charts can mean the difference between a successful hunt or going home empty handed. How do you know where to set the turrets for long shots? Experience and diligent data collection are the secrets, and I work hard at maintaining my skills and knowledge. A few days ago I found an assistant that is doing much of the math and recollection for me—a Dell PDA loaded with the Nightforce Ballistics Program. I am virtually computer illiterate—I do not even know what PDA stands for—but I managed to make practical field use of this little handheld computer the first time I took it out. The program prompts me along so that I understand what I am doing. Bottom line, the Nightforce Ballistics Program gives accurate elevation and windage settings for your ammo, regardless if it is handloaded or factory. The program does a lot more, but you will have to visit www.nightforceoptics.com to check it out. –IM

 

 

 

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