325 WSM vs 358

[Dixie Dude]

I would like a hard hitting lightweight do-all rifle, bolt or lever, deer to bear, maybe moose.  What are the merits of each?  250+/- range.  I reload, but what about ammo availability? 

[taylorce1]

I would like a hard hitting lightweight do-all rifle, bolt or lever, deer to bear, maybe moose.  What are the merits of each?  250+/- range.  I reload, but what about ammo availability? 

I'd go with the .358 Win in this case.  Since you are only looking for a rifle cartridge for hunting around 250 yards.  The .358 will save you in powder being burnt when you reload.  It will provide for less recoil, and you will be able to have more rounds in the magazine.  Plenty of bullets available but I'd look at the 200 and 225 grain bullets for this caliber.  It makes a bigger hole in what ever you use it on as well over the .325 WSM.

Down side it hits with less athourity over the .325 WSM and right now I'd have to guess ammo availability is less as well.  Your pretty much limited to Ruger or Browning BLR rifles if you want the .358 as well unless you happen to find a used rifle chambered in this round.  Or you need to build a custom rifle

I was looking for a .338 Federal and got lucky and found a Savage 99 brush gun in .358 Win, didn't look for the .338 Fed after that.

[charles p]

I don't think the number of rounds in the magazine is something of consideration.  I hope you don't need six shots instead of five.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  The .325 didn't do much for me. I wonder if it will be around in the future. As for the .358, it is a very handy rifle. I have one in a 99, while I don't use it much here in Wy. it is a real killer when used with in its range. Of the 2 there is no doubt for me I would go with the .358. It would be a simple matter to screw a 358 barrel on a 700 action and have a dandy woods rifle. I have thought of this for a additon to my lever, but the additions I have are sitting in the corners, because the safe is full.

[taylorce1]

I don't think the number of rounds in the magazine is something of consideration.  I hope you don't need six shots instead of five.

Not a consideration to some but sometimes chit happens, I've seen several people who have needed more rounds than their magazines hold.  I once watched a guy with a 7mm Mag reload his magazine twice to kill one elk.  I try to make the first shot count but like I said stuff happens, and I'd rather carry the extra rounds in the magazine vs my pocket. 

[BBF]

I'd go with the 358 as well mainly because you will always get brass for it even if you have to use 308 Win to start. With a Savage Action you can get a barrel for this and install yourself with little trouble.

With a 250 gr bullet you still have over 2000 ftlb of energy at 300 yards. Plenty for elk or moose.

[Dixie Dude]

taylorce1, do you know what the meat looked like after being shot so much with a 7mag?  Did he want it down and not run off, or could he have followed a blood trail?  Interesting.  I also think my next rifle will be a .358 since I can make brass from .308 if need be and I already reload for a .35 Whelen.  If I were still hunting for bear, moose, or elk, I would probably use the .35 Whelen.  If stalk hunting, I would probably use a .358 in either a BLR or a lightweight Ruger 77. 

[taylorce1]

taylorce1, do you know what the meat looked like after being shot so much with a 7mag?  Did he want it down and not run off, or could he have followed a blood trail?   

I was hunting Wolf Springs Ranch on a cow hunt with a Ranching for Wildlife tag.  I watched it from across a hay meadow, when a guy in a pickup pulled up on the trail got out and started shooting into a group of elk.  I never saw how many were hit,  he just kept shooting until one cow went down.  When he left to go get his cow, I went to where he was shooting from on the trail and counted 7 spent cartridges on the ground that is how I knew what he was shooting. 

I informed the ranch what had happened and what I saw, and where the guy shot his elk at on a map that night when I signed out from the ranch.  I don't know if they did anything about it, or what they could do?  I didn't go look for any blood trails as I didn't want to stay in the same area as that guy. 

[Dixie Dude]

Sounds like what we call down here a "slob" hunter. 

[owenv]

I would like a hard hitting lightweight do-all rifle, bolt or lever, deer to bear, maybe moose.  What are the merits of each?  250+/- range.  I reload, but what about ammo availability? 

I have both. A browning ss a-bolt .325 and a winchester m88 .358.

A few years ago I got caught up in all the powerfull mag long range hard hitting stuff.  I was sure that I needed a mag rifle for 300+ yard shots.  The first shot out of that 325 really got my attention in a big way. After the next 8 shots that was enough for the day.  Next step was intalling a limbsaver recoil pad and it did make a big differance in felt recoil.

Now that I think of it, I have never shot anything over about a 100 yards. Deer or elk. So the first big game animal taken with the 325 was last fall, a cow elk standing broad side at about 30 yards.  She made it about ten steps then fell over dead.

I felt guilty leaving my 358 back at camp.  She never let me down for over 30 years. Most game dropped right in thier tracks with some not going more than a few yards.

I would go with the light weight blr in 358.  This round packs a punch and as for finding ammo, just google 358 ammunition and it will take you to several sites that sell custom ammo. 

[mauser98us]

I like the 325. I think the 8 millimeter in any configuration is a wonderful round. As to cartridge life, surprisingly befoore Winchester went belly up. according to them the 325sm was second best seller on the heels of the 300 WSM. I think the prospects are good of longe life. The 358 was a failure when it was intoduced.

[GradyL41]

the .325 always interested me -- but I have a factory 18.5 358 Ruger ( Gunshop said so) and a 22" weatherbye in .358 like them both tend to use 200 remington CL or 225 Sierra - the most but have used 220 Speer and 250 HRN -- I like the .358 and with in its range it works well - hitting a deer to 250 or more is very easy-- still the .325 interests me -- doe sit recoil that much? my little ruger will get your attention

[superdown]

I hunt with an Abolt-II hunter in 325wsm and my dad has hunted with a mdl.81 blr in 358 for the last 22 years and i don't think any animal could tell the difference between the two they both put down animals with authority . I shoot the 220grn winchester power points and my dad just uses the factory 200grn silver tips. the blr has worse perceived recoil then the A-bolt i also had a 300win blr lightning that was worse recoiling rifle i have ever shot . I don't think you could go wrong either way . It's sort of funny at all the stores i have been to theres allway's plenty of those "new fangled rounds " cause everyone bought the 06 and 308.