Well,
I don't need a big bang as my hearing is already weaker in some frequency range. Besides,the 7mm-08 Rem is a potent caliber that can put down a moose if shot accurately, and the rifles are lighter and easier to carry.
I won't call that a lowering of expectations but a realignment

If I was heading to elk camp and they told me they had a new 325WSM waiting for me, all scoped up,sighted in,ready to go, and with somequality ammo, I'd be rarin' to go and check itout (a little differentfrom a 338WinMag but I'm curious). If whenI got there they handed me a 7mm-08 instead, thenI'd be I'd be royally p!ss3d off (ALWAYS good to take a back up rifle to elk camp).

I was just pondering "how did the airplane ended up landing so far from the destination airport?" perhaps an error in the original flight plan.

BTW, Regardless of the cartridge chambering, I'd recommend hearing protection with all firearms except perhaps forhunting season and I try hard to limit that to a couple shots.

I am looking real hard at a pair of those Walker Game Ears.

Good luck with the new rifle.

I went though the same thing when I bought my .325 WSM look at ballistics and the 325 out preforms the 300 Win Mag and has almost the same energy as the 338 but no where near the recoil of the 338. I absolutely love my .325 and the 4 x 5 bull I shot at 365 yards absolutley hates it Seeing as he was missing 1/3 of his heart and didn't have a peice of lung larger than a grape after it hit him hopes this helps

Too late, he went for a 7mm-08.

Didn't go yet... and I may end up with both...

Why not go for the trifecta and get all three?

Ballistics for the .325WSM is/are nice...
Have shot one in T/C Encore configuration and love it. I am no shooting expert and couldn't tell a lot of difference between it and the 300WM or even my trusty .338RUM. Okay, maybe a little difference. But when you do most of your "load workup" shooting with homemade version of the "lead sled" with up to 75 lbs holding it down, you really don't notice the change from one caliber to the next as far as recoil goes. BTW...ifany of the thousands of you posting comments about the perils of recoil/sensitivity/flinch would like to discussthe virtues of using such a device, send me PM. Reduces the chance of thathappening significantly for all who have tried it.
Hunting partner reloads for it and it really is a nice shooter. Seen the results on a nice bull up close. If I was looking for backup elk gun, would have to consider it.

As for the Walker Game Ear comment by EKM....caught me ear, so to speak. As someone who is seeing his mortality start to wane and has noticed his hunting buddies always seem to reply to every comment I make with "huh" or "do what"....(I SAID EVERy COMMENT IS MET WITH....)(NOW YELLING SO AS TO BE CALLED SMART BASSTURD)....curious as to anyones' experience with said device?? Real world as opposed to the marketing slogans?