Home › Browse Calibers › .325 WSM
Common uses: Hunting, Big Game
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 220gr Winchester Super-X Power-Point |
| Muzzle velocity | 2840 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 3941 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.388 |
| Case length | 53.34 mm |
| Overall length | 72.64 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 65000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:10" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2840 | 3939 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2601 | 3305 | 0 |
| 200 | 2375 | 2754 | -3.7 |
| 300 | 2160 | 2279 | -13.5 |
| 400 | 1957 | 1871 | -30.8 |
| 500 | 1766 | 1523 | -57.2 |
At 1,000 yards, .325 WSM (220gr at 2840 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 40.0 MOA / 11.6 MIL, retaining 1084 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2160 | Supersonic | -13.5 | 4.3 | 1.25 |
| 400 | 1957 | Supersonic | -30.8 | 7.4 | 2.14 |
| 500 | 1766 | Supersonic | -57.2 | 10.9 | 3.18 |
| 600 | 1589 | Supersonic | -94.9 | 15.1 | 4.40 |
| 700 | 1429 | Supersonic | -146.3 | 20.0 | 5.81 |
| 800 | 1289 | Transonic | -214.9 | 25.7 | 7.46 |
| 900 | 1173 | Transonic | -304.3 | 32.3 | 9.39 |
| 1000 | 1084 | Subsonic | -419.2 | 40.0 | 11.65 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .325 WSM is a hard-hitting medium bore built for larger North American and plains game, delivering trajectory in the class of the .300 WSM but with energy approaching a .338 Winchester Magnum from a short-action rifle. Its heavy 8mm bullets make it well suited to elk, moose, and bear, while lighter loadings work for deer at more moderate range. In practice, owners report it as accurate and decisively effective on game, but the cartridge never gained a following: American shooters have long shunned the 8mm bore, so rifles and factory ammunition are scarce and expensive today. It remains a capable but commercially neglected option, kept alive mainly by handloaders and hunters who already own one. Bullet selection is more limited than for common .30-caliber magnums, which is its chief practical drawback.
Winchester introduced the .325 WSM in 2005 as the fourth and final member of its Winchester Short Magnum family, formed by necking up the .300 WSM case to accept 8mm (.323-inch) bullets. It was conceived as a short-action medium bore, giving hunters magnum-class power in a compact, standard-length rifle. Winchester chambered it in Model 70 rifles and offered factory loads spanning roughly 180 to 220 grains, positioning it as a heavier-hitting stablemate to the popular .300 WSM.
Run this cartridge in the ballistic calculator · Compare it against another cartridge · How this data is produced