Rifle · SAAMI
.325 WSM
Winchester's 8mm entry in the Short Magnum family — a powerful, compact round delivering near-.338 Win Mag performance in a short-action cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.323″ · 8.204 mm
- Introduced
- 2005
- Case
- Rebated
- Parent
- .300 WSM
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2005
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Winchester
- Manufacturer
- Winchester Ammunition
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 81.8 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:10
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rebated
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi, SAAMI transducer
- Eff. range
- 400 yd
- Max range
- 5100 yd
- Recoil
- 20–30 ft·lb
Introduced by Winchester Ammunition
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .325 WSM. Parent case: .300 WSM.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 8.20 | 0.323 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.89 | 0.350 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 13.66 | 0.538 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 35° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.10 | 0.555 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.59 | 0.535 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.37 | 0.054 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 7.82 | 0.308 | ≈ |
| Case length | 53.34 | 2.100 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 72.64 | 2.860 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .325 WSM is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .325 WSM, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .325 WSM
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Introduced in 2005 as the last addition to Winchester's WSM family. The .325 WSM was designed to give hunters .338-class performance in a short-action rifle. Factory ammunition from Winchester and Nosler remains available, though selection is limited compared to more popular WSM cartridges. The Winchester Model 70 is the primary platform.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .325 WSM use?
- .325 WSM typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .325 WSM?
- .325 WSM uses a 0.323″ (8.204 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .325 WSM still in production?
- .325 WSM is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .325 WSM used for?
- .325 WSM is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .325 WSM based on?
- .325 WSM is derived from the .300 WSM case.
- What are the best powders for .325 WSM?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .325 WSM include Reloader 19.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .325 WSM
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 12 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
