New WSM
 

I was flipping through Guns and Ammo and say that Winchester will have a new WSM cartridge for 2005.

I have been really wanting and waiting for a .338 WSM. What does Winchester come out with??????? A .325 WSM.[:'(] What the heck is that?? I am assuming maybe a 33 caliber (.333) instead of 8mm (.323) or .338.

Who was the marketing genus behind this one?

Forget about reloading for this one. It is hard enough to find 8mm bullets much less .333 bullets.

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RE: New WSM
 

Like greg said, the problem with the .338WSM is that they were falling way short of the .338WM's performance. Slightly smaller bore improved the performance (raised velocities and pressures from what I understand, without sacrificing much bullet weight). It was speculated at the time that between these two is the borderline for performance from the WSM case...to keep up the performance, they've got to change the case, either make it fatter or make it longer, but then it wouldn't be a WSM...I guess the 8mm bore did quite well with this case design, I've heard rumors that the case design was actually best off with a .319" or .320" bullet for optimizing case performance, but that's just what I've heard, no one's seen that in signed print yet.

Personally, I don't think any moose or elk are going to notice whether it's a 8mm round or a .338 round thumping into their side and ripping their heart in half.

I'd be interested to see how this thing does. Might make for interesting bear and bighorn fodder.

RE: New WSM
 

Just read a aritical in the American Rifleman about it . It is 8mm . They could not match the 338 Win mag so they used a 8mm bullet and are able to push a equil weight bullet just a little faster ,for a little more energy at all distances. With factory 200 gr ammo it's flater than a 270 with a 140gr.

RE: New WSM
 

You are certainly right about that.

Since it seems it's an 8mm bore I guess they are going to be getting Nosler to tool up to make a larger variety of 8mm bullets for this round. Cause there sure is a shortage of them right now.

It seems to me, however, that if you can get over 2600 fps with a 225 grain bullet out of a 338-06 one should be able to get 2800 fps at a minimum out of the WSM case. Am I missing something here?

I read around a little and most of the guys that have built a 338 Wsm are getting pretty close to the bigger brother with their velocites.

RE: New WSM
 

I got another question.

This is obviously an 8mm bore which the groove diameter is .323 and the bore diameter is .315 where in the world did they get 325 from. Did they just pull that number out of their butts? Why not call it a 323 WSM or a 315 WSM?

Sometimes I think ammunition designers have their heads up their butts half the time.

Yes I am just venting a little.;)

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RE: New WSM
 

If a person had yet to purchase a caliber larger than .30 it would seem rather appealing. The number don't look too shabby. I guess it's all about the dollar. If you really thought about all the new calibers, especially the WSM and RSAUM, what's the point? They all just duplicate rounds we've had for years. Convince the world that an action 1/2 inch shorter will align the planets and you make a fortune. All that said....I really want a 270 WSM.:D

RE: New WSM
 

Well a 300 is a 300 because of the bore diameter of .300 inches. But yes the number they give a cartridge sometimes means absolutely nothing. The ammo designers are off in another world I think. 325 just don't sound right to me. I think they just put numbers in a hat and pick one blind folded.[8D][8D][8D] Who knows??????

I made me a 300WSM last year. I chose it not because of the "revolutionary" new design but because it provided good ballistics without the belt. It's just me but I hate belted cartridges except for the ones that actually need them to headspace like the H&H cartridges and Lotts, etc... Had they made it in a standard length action with out the belt and the same case diameter as a WSM I would have went that way also.

Now that I have thought about it a little bit the 8mm does sound like it would be a very nice cartridge. I just had me heart set on a 338 WSM. Close enough I guess.;)

RE: New WSM
 

Well the one thing in its favor is the introduction of a new accubond bullet for that caliber. It will probably go over big but I am not interested.

RE: New WSM
 

Powder chamber on the WSM is insufficient to drive a .338 bullet to the same speeds as the old venerable 338WinMag so we'll just go to a smaller bullet/caliber so we can get THAT up to the old venerable 338WinMag velocities, sounds like trying to stretch a concept beyond where it was meant to go....

Wanting to spend some money?
Wanting something "new/newer"?
Like cartridges without belts?
Like "fat" cartridges?
Like to match ;) the speed of the venerable old 338WinMag?

Get a 338 RUM and kick arse and take names!
Huge, huge, huge selection of 338 bullets out there ready to go today.... no waiting for promises to be filled.

IMHO, the greatest thing about the 325WSM succeeding would be the rebirth of the 8mmRemMag which will turnaround and give the 325WSM a serious spanking. However, it is heart warming to see folks who have been devout standard cartridge fans interested in magnum topics and issues.

RE: New WSM
 

And a grand total of 1 manufacturer that barely chambers it anymore . EKM I think Remington ought to revive their 8mm and yes it would spank the 325WSM.

RE: New WSM
 

Nevermind that, get a .338-378 Weatherby! Who needs a short action when your collarbone is broken by the first shot? ;)
Maybe its just me, but I think that only a few of these WSM and WSSM calibers (270 and 300 for sure) will still be around in say 2010. And Winchester is just going to pump out as many calibers as they can and see which make the cut.
On a side note, the 223 and 243 WSSMs are a pair of crazy looking cartridges. anyone have any experience with 'em? I suppose thats a topic for another thread, and I suppose Im rambling.

PABigBore

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RE: New WSM
 

Actually if I could afford to shoot it I would bypass all of them and just get a .338 Lapua mag.:D Now EKM, you know I am certainly not against any magnums I just feel that the old "stand by" cartridges like the 30-06 are still every bit as capeable today as they have ever been and actually more so with todays powders and bullets available.

A 30 caliber rifle has a bore (land to land) diameter of .300 inches and a groove diameter of .308 inches. The lands in a 30 caliber barrel measure .004" each for a total of .008". This is why they can call it a 300 or a 308 and it is still the same bullet diameter.

RE: New WSM
 

Sweet cartridge, 416 Rigby reshouldered and necked down to .338 developed by the Finns as a 1,000 yard sniper rifle. I like it a lot but I'm betting the cost of rifle acquisition will make reloading for it look cheap. Honestly though after feeding "Uncle Rigby" I think it would be pretty similar for me.

Since I now have a 458 project on my slate for the winter, the "Maximus Magnumus 338 Horribulous" will have to wait a little bit --- not forgotten though.

RE: New WSM
 

Yeah, Maybe one day.

Budgets really suck. I really need to be a millionaire. Too dang many guns and stuff I want, uhm...... I mean...... need.;)

RE: New WSM
 

PABigBore I got the chance to run 40 rnds thrue 223 WSSM a new rifle last sat. (I got paid to play with it ,no I sighted it in for him). It was a Winchester varmit rifle with a Leupold 6- 24X scope
After the first 20 of clean & shoot ,repeat it shot 3/4 -1" groups at 100
It made short work of the round end of a pop cans to 300 yds

RE: New WSM
 

I just read an article on this in Am. Rifleman. Apparently they couldn't get the ballistics they wanted with the 338 bullet so they tried the .323.
The result is a cartridge that equals the 338 win mag in performance and even begins to surpass it out around 400 yards.
This really has my attention. The only drawback is the limited number of bullet selections you have even as a handloader. I am very seriously considering getting this caliber in either a Browning micro hunter or hunter.

RE: New WSM
 

Bigbulls,

If you really want a .338WSM, then make one. Not sure how it'd perform, but it'd be an interesting wildcat to try.

On a side note, did you get my email about the CST? You never responded, so I wasn't sure.

Mike

RE: New WSM
 

No I did not. When did you send it?


Send me another one and I'll respond or easier to send me a PM here.

RE: New WSM
 

one big upshot to this cartridge i would think there wouldn't be the feed problems that have been experience with the smaller bullets.