.325 WSM vs .35 Whelen

[ligonierbill]

Before I run off and buy a .338 Mag, I need to ask what kind of velocities are you real reloaders getting with real rifles from these rounds? I'm about to choose a >30 caliber to play with and probably will go with the big .33 bore, but the old classic and the new kid look good on paper. How are they really, in your own experience?

 

[GeauxTide]

I chose the 338-06 because of the superior 338 bullets available from Hornady and Nosler. A 210 Nosler at 2810 from a 22" barrel takes care of the "48". 200gr Hornadys shoot even better with an ES of 26fps. 35 Whelen only competes with 250s at the same 2500fps. Not a fan of the WinMarketingMagnums. 338WM in 24" chrony 200s at 2950, 210s at 2900, and 250s at 2650. I wouldn't trade 150fps for lots more powder, more 'spensive cases, and much, much more recoil velocity.

BTW - If you have an '06 based rifle, $300 will get you a 24" ER Shaw barrel installed and tested. Just have it throated for 250 Noslers and you'll be amazed at the velocities you get with 4320.

 

[ligonierbill]

A friend at work said the same. He rebarreled a Savage himself. Since I don't have the rifle yet, I guess I could get one of those (Inexpensive, and everyone speaks well of them.) in '06 and change to .33 bore. Or I could get the Whelen, which is available in several makes, and rebarrel that if it doesn't work out. This is starting to be fun. By the way, I don't see the WSMs as negatively, but I do tend to cartridges older than I am. That makes the .338 and 7 mm Mags young upstarts