The "Little 8"...

[Snyd]

Better known as the 325wsm. The Big 8 as we know being the 8mm Rem Mag.

I bought this Kimber MT in 325wsm back in 05. One of the first ones here in Fairbanks. I wanted a stainless synthetic with a little more snort than my ol wood/blu Ruger 06. I didn't want a 26" barreled, 9-10lb 338 or other magnum. I had read about the Kimbers and then came across one here in town and it just seemed to fit the bill.

I like that Kimber makes the entire gun including the kevlar composite stock. Only thing they don't make is the recoil pad. It's a pachmeyer deaccelerator. Match grade chamber and barrel, floated, kevlar composite stock. With Leopold 2.5-8x36, Talley LW rings and a plain nylon sling it weighs 7lbs all up. I sheep hunt so weight is important. But, the light barrel made for quite a bit if muzzle flip and torque. I had it mag-na-ported and wow, what a difference.

Out of the box it shot factory 200gr Accubonds at the advertised 2950fps into sub moa groups consistently. I have been able to duplicate that load reloading and worked up a 220gr GameKing load shooting as good at 2800fps.

It's my go to rifle (actually the only high powered rifle I own) and I've killed sheep, moose and griz with it. Hoping to get another ram in a couple weeks on Sheep Hunt 2012.

I love this Little 8...

[Lee Martin]

Great looking rig and some fine shooting. I too am a big fan of 8mm. In fact my favorite rifle is an 8mm Mag we did on a stainless Model 70. Looks just like your Kimber except it wears a 26" tube.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[paul105]

Nosler's Pro Shop has the 200gr Accubond .323 blems on sale for $17.95/50 -- I just ordered and received 250 for under $101.75 delivered. They still have 26 units (50 ea) shootersproshop.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=71_101_103&product_id=752

Last year, I stumbled across a new Browning Titanium Mountain Rifle in .325 WSM for $850. I now wears a Leupold 3x - 9x compact with the range finder dots. This is a real light weight, handy rifle -- if I get a chance (if archery season doesn't pan out and get I get discouraged with the handgun) I'll take it elk hunting this fall.

Paul

[Snyd]

There's a guy over at the Alaska Outdoor Forums who's been working up some impressive loads with his Big 8 he just aquired. Beautiful old Rem BDL. He's getting over 3000fps with 220's and sub moa groups. What a whopper. Modern powders in that big ol case really make the Big 8 shine.

forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/116912-8mm-Rem-Mag-Range-Report

[Lee Martin]

Modern powders have helped the old 8mm Mag. I'm using a full case of Retumbo in a 26" tube and can easily get 3,000 fps with a 220 gr Sierra Game King.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[toroflow]

Jul 24, 2012 7:37:54 GMT -5 Lee Martin said:

Modern powders have helped the old 8mm Mag. I'm using a full case of Retumbo in a 26" tube and can easily get 3,000 fps with a 220 gr Sierra Game King.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

Ditto that Lee, except I'm using WC867 or WC872...$49 for 8 lbs from Wideners! Almost identical burn rate to Retumbo. I bought that powder for my 50BMG, but it works just as well for the large mag cases.

[steveb]

A friend shot a VERY large female Brown on Kodiak last yr with a WSM325. Helped to sight it in. A very effiecent package, a good choice. steve b

[Snyd]

steveb. I read that somewhere, about a guy killing a Brownie with a 325. Did you post about that hunt here? Alaska Outdoor Forums?

I"m not sure I'd hunt for Kodiak Brownies with mine. Maybe with a 220gr Swift A-Frame. But, I'd probably use that hunt as an excuse to buy a 375 H&H Or maybe a 50 Alaskan levergun!

[joemack41]

I've got a Browning A-bolt Stainless Stalker I picked up for a good price. Shoots the 220gr. Winchester Super-X PP into 1 MOA with no problem. Should improve with a good handload. Scope is a Leupold 3.5 to 10x V-3. This is the elk, moose, and caribou gun when I have to use one of these long thingys. I've got a nice little Steyr Pro hunter in .376Steyr for the nasty critters. If more than that is needed I reach for a .411/.416Remington Magnum built on a SS/synthetic Winchester Model 70.

[Snyd]

.416 Rem... there you go!

[boxhead]

I own a few 8's, all in the original 8x57, perhaps the littlest 8? Oldest son used one built on an old Erfurt when we were in Africa in June. The 180 gr Ballistic Tip at a puny 2650 fps.

[steveb]

I have no Brown Bear experience, not likely to get any. I will say the .325WSM makes a LOT of sense for elk. Just sayin'. steve b

[Snyd]

Aug 1, 2012 10:40:52 GMT -5 steveb said:

I have no Brown Bear experience, not likely to get any. I will say the .325WSM makes a LOT of sense for elk. Just sayin'. steve b

Works on these critters too...

315yds, 200gr Accubond, broke spine, recovered bullet. Weighs 140gr, retained 70 percent of weight like Nosler claims they will. I've shot a few other smaller "meat bulls" as well. Well, 800-1000lbs on the hoof.




Small Interior Alaska Griz. 220gr Gameking at 2800fps. 165 yds.



A few sheep. All 200gr Accubonds

400+ yds



My buddy used it to take this guy at 250 yds. His rifle would't chamber a round when it was time to shoot so I handed him the Kimber.



My other buddys ram that was running away after he wounded it and ran out of bullets! Broke his neck at 300ish yds



And hopefully one more after the 10th! Headed up to the Brooks Range on the 9th for a 10 day sheep hunt.

[kaytod]

In my opinion the 325 is the best of the WSM series being what I consider a balanced cartridge. Bore/Case capacity, bullet weight/diameter. Ballistic discussion aside, we have a 325 in the family, a Savage, and is suprisingly accurate "out-of-the-box".

The cartrige has crept into my thinking on several fronts. Most notibly the need for one in an XP-100 to satisfy my need for a "tec-pistol". If I'm only going to build one, it may as well have some horsepower.