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All Product Painting
BigBore Custom, Phoenix, AZ
Falcon Gun Finishing
HD Rifles Inc.
J & M Powder Coating
J.A.C. Jordan - Jordanian Airforce
JoeWorx Inc.
John Sapp Trucking
L.T.M Refinishing L.L.C
LuminOre, Inc.
M1 TACTICAL
Moore Performance
National Tactical Officers Association
Outrageous
Powder Coating Solutions
Pristine Powder Coating
Prodigy Performance Coatings
Redwood Property Investments, L.L.C.
Tom Flyntz
Washington State Department of Transportation

	Cerakote is holding up very well and I am very satisfied with it.The same areas that had wear after the first 50 rounds have the same amount of wear after 600 rounds! The inside of the magwell is showing some dings but the Cerakote is staying on. I also used Cerakote in the lined Safariland holster so it does not have to rub against plastic. Thanks again!
	- Tom Flyntz

Prodigy Performance Coatings are the proud applicators of ceramic coatings for Orange County Choppers. The guy's at OCC are much happier with the Cerakote Product vs the competitors.

Thanks Brandon Grady and all the men and women at NIC Industies.

Joe - Prodigy Performance Coatings

	I would have no reservations of recommending NIC courses to any company. I look forward to any future courses we need assistance with.
	Victor Howarth - J.A.C. Jordan - Jordanian Airforce

	Here's a pic of a S&W Model 19 Revolver we refinished in Satin Aluminum Oven Cure Cerakote. It came out really nice. Thanks Tim McGann M1 TACTICAL Austin, Texas
	Tim McGann - M1 TACTICAL

JoeWorx Inc. was started as a side business because I have always had a love for vintage firearms and enjoyed working on them. I searched extensively for a product that would set my company apart from the rest of the herd and found it in CerakoteTM. The problem I have now is for every firearm I have refinished I have gained what seems like two more customers. People notice the custom finishes of the firearms I coated and my customers are more than happy to refer them to me. I no this sounds crazy but This was supposed to be a "side" business and the NIC products have turned it into a very lucrative "small" business. Honestly I am not the best in the business but I have two things that put me above my competition. 1) JoeWorx Inc. is a "side business" created solely to do what I love to do in my spare time. What this means is I don't have to rush through a stack of guns to pay my power Bill, mortgage or clothe my kids, I can treat every firearm that comes across my bench as if it where my own and if it takes 8 hours to do 1 hour worth of work the right way I can and will do it. 2) CerakoteTM, This product sells it self! I have never had a customer that was not more than happy with the finish or that has not refereed me to at least one other person and more times than not multiple customer come from one CerakoteTM Application. I have used the other coatings and worked with one of the worlds best platers who by the way offers CerakoteTM there is no substitute for this product. A normal side effect of a freshly coated/plated firearm is a failure to feed some were in the first 50-100 rounds, I have never had a report of this "break-in" period causing a failure to feed or eject. I no longer explain to customers that this may happen until they "break-in" the finish. So if you don't want to be bothered by those irritating customers that ask a thousand and one questions use another coating solution! The NIC folks are great to deal with and have gone above and beyond for me without hesitation.

To everyone at NIC Industries Thank you for everything

Joe Ouellette

Joe Ouellette - JoeWorx Inc.

	CeraKote is our top of the line coating. If you want the very best coating available look no further. CeraKote was developed by NIC Industries, Inc. CeraKote was designed to provide a high quality, long lasting finish, with high corrosion protection and durability. CeraKote is available in two compounds "C" series which is an ambient cure coating & "H" series which is a thermal cure coating. Unlike Teflon based gun coatings the "C" & "H" series of CeraKote offer unparalled levels of hardness and abrasion resistance because of their unique ceramic backbone. CeraKote is available in 31 standard colors. It provides excellent corrosion protection, outstanding abrasion resistance, extreme hardness, & unmatched durability. CeraKote surpasses Teflon based coatings for wear resistance by well over 60%. CeraKote has self lubricating elements incorporated through out the coatings matrix, this allow firearms to function with little or no fluid lubricants that typically attract abrasive dust particles. CeraKote performs extremely well in automatics with high cyclic rates. The "C" series ceramic gun coatings were designed as a single component ambient cure system. As higher tempatures are reached the "C" series will flux, becoming harder and more abrasion resistant. After a full cure this coating provides excellent resistance to most cleaning solivents and chemicals. It has a pencil scratch hardness (ASTM D3363) of 7h, exceeded the 5% salt spray test (ASTM B117) with well over 550 hrs, an adheasion cross cut tape (ASTM D3359) of 5B, & has an optimal film thickness of 0.5 to 1.0 mils. It has a heat stability rating in excess of 1200 degrees f for extended periods without failing. The "H" series was designed as a two part thermal cure system. It provides a very high quality, long lasting finish with high corrosion resistance. It offers unparalled levels of abrasion resistance and hardness because of the two part component system. The "H" series has a viscosity #2 Zahn cup of 13.0 sec, an optimal film thickness of 0.5 to 1.0 mils, passes the 5% salt spray test (ASTM B117) in excess of 2,500 hrs, has a pencil scratch hardness (ASTM D3363) of 7h, the adheasion cross cut tape (ASTM D3359 of 5B, and heat stability of 525 degrees f for extended periods without failing L.T.M Refinishing L.L.C., 1300 South Butler, Harrisonville, MO 64701 Hours of Operation: By appointment only. Phone: (913) 238-3429 Email: info@larsontactical.com
	L.T.M Refinishing L.L.C - L.T.M Refinishing L.L.C

	We have found NIC Industries clear coats to be an easy-to-use clear coat over the LuminOre product line. One of its best features is the ability to seal in the LuminOre without the detection of a clear coat being present on the surface of LuminOre. Many clear coats that we have tried, have a very thick film, which gives the appearance of a plastic look over the metal. NIC clear coats have the ability to eliminate this.
	Thomas J Valente, President - LuminOre, Inc.

	I wanted to take the time to let you know how satisfied I am with the Micro-Clear that I have used on customer parts, as well as my own. I used it on my aluminum wheels for my own personal vehicle. They went through one of our harsh Michigan winters, and still came out looking like brand new. Thank you for the quality product your company has provided me with.
	Mike Wilson, Owner - J & M Powder Coating

	I wanted to let you know how satisfied our customer is with the coating that we applied to his 60-foot sport fishing boat. The engines are two Detroit 16 V 92, we coated the valves, pistons, combustion area and the exhaust ports with the V 136 piston coat. The captain has reported that the engines are running stronger with lower fuel burn. After a trip to South America the captain was very pleased with the lack of soot on the transom. In addition he noticed a 7-knot increase at full throttle. The mechanic also believes that the coatings have improved the reliability as well as the efficiency and performance of the engines. We are now coating another set of heads for the mechanic. Thanks again for the quality products and support you and NIC has provided us.
	Keith O. Moore - Moore Performance

	I would like to take the time to tell you how impressed I am with the Micro-Clear that I have on my aluminum wheels, gas tank and toolbox that I have on my log truck. The product has been on my log truck for several weeks and has been abused to the fullest, and my truck looks great. I wash my truck every other day with two-stage soap that has acid in it. My aluminum on my truck has not oxidized, peeled, chipped, or scratched. I would like to mention that the area that I am hauling is being sprayed with Chloric Acid and has eaten everything on my truck except what was sprayed with Micro-Clear.
	John Sapp - John Sapp Trucking

	Thank you for your interest in the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) New Product Evaluation Program. The committee has completed the review of the application and associated literature for Micro-Clear. The committee’s recommendation is as follows: This product has been “Approved with Limitations”. This product may only be used for silk-screened traffic control signs.
	State Materials Engineer - Washington State Department of Transportation

	HD Rifles has used many coatings on the market, and out of all of those tried we have found that the ceramic coatings from NIC “Cerakote” and others to have proven by far the most superior on the market. WE in our shop have the ability to scrutinize every product tested in our shop with over 490 years of Special Operations Law Enforcement and Military experience. In short we are not easily impressed. However, NIC’s coatings and commitment to putting out a superior product have led us to the conclusion that in a world with environments so hostile that you only get on e shot. We as a whole feel that to offer anything less than the NIC coatings on all of our metal surfaces would be doing all of our customers who place their lives on the line everyday a great injustice.
	Audie Murphy Hill, General Manager - HD Rifles Inc.

	I am really impressed with the ceramic header coatings. I use the V-Series with the Insulkote as a base coat. The material has great hiding power, is easy to spray, looks and performs great. We coated a set of headers in satin silver for a motor builder’s dyo a few months ago. He builds race engines for WASOTA class cares. He doesn’t use it every day but does several times a week. When he fires up the engines (600-800 HP turning 7000-8000+ RPM) the headers turn cherry red, after they cool the sliver color is as good as new. I was impressed but you should see the advertising we are getting from him. We coated a set of snowmobiles headers for a modified grass drag sled. After the season they came in to let us know how they did. At the nationals the class champion asked my customer to hand him a rope and tow him to the finish line. They dyno’d the motor before and after coating the headers and gained 10% more HP on an already built to the max motor. CHEAP HORSE POWER. Thanks for the great products.
	Ray Bahmer, President - Powder Coating Solutions

	At Falcon Gun Finishing refinishing firearms is solely what we do, therefore we use and have tried many different coatings. We have found the NIC Industries Cerakote to be most durable and abrasive resistant and highly recommend it to our customers that require or want utmost in protection and durability
	Jeff Sternad - Falcon Gun Finishing

	I want to thank you for providing me with the opportunity to use NIC Industries products. The Chromex ceramic coating worked excellent for us. As soon as we started to apply it, I could immediately tell it was a superior product to what we were using. Even without a vibratory polisher, it was extremely easy to polish and the final finish looked great. We are a small company, we are growing by the day, and I look forward to offering our customer's your wide range of products. I greatly appreciate you sending me the samples, it will help with our decision on expanding our services. NIC is a top notch operation, and your professionalism is of great value to us. Once again, thank you, and I look forward to working with you in the near future.
	Lee Goldenstein, President - Pristine Powder Coating

	It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the 'Outrageous Air Racing Team' along with the 'Butch Milani Skunk Werks' and engine components coated by your awesome company allowed me to qualify at 250+mph (2nd fastest qualifier Reno 2004) and finish in 2nd place of the "Gold' category of Formula One Air racing, September 2004... The world's fastest four cylinder motor sport! Thank you so very much for your belief in me and sponsorship in our engine coatings. Without question, your #1 quality high performance engine coatings were a major factor in my engine performance and overall placing. Thermo Dyne Rocks!
	Scotty Crandlemire - Pilot/Owner - Outrageous

	I want to thank Brandon Grady for introducing me to your Ceramic coatings of all kinds. With his help I have learned a great deal not only about your product but also how to apply it. This last Custom Commander I did for The Cheytac Company came out beautiful using NIC Cerakote Titanium finish on the frame. The pistol was displayed at the last Shot Show for many people to admire and all inquiries were handled by Anthony Taylor, who is the Vice President of Operations for Cheytac. I have been air brushing all types of finishes on frames and barrels for many years and even though I am now semi retired I am still the most experienced trigger man in North America, as that is all I do. These products made by NIC Industries are truly second to none and with people like Brandon Grady always there to help you there is no reason to use any other product. I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with Brandon and NIC Industries. Should any of you ever want to contact me, please feel free to do so most any day. I have only used quality products through out my life, cost was never a deciding factor in the fact I always wanted the best product money can buy.
	Teddy Jacobson - Actions By "T"

	M16 Clinic is now using your Cerakote products with terrific results. Offering this additional product should increase M16 Clinic’s revenues significantly. Thank you for a great product. I also wish to compliment you on your staff. Brandon Grady, Account & Training Manager; and Mark Brouillard, Lab Manager has been invaluable to me. Brandon is one of the best sales reps with whom I work. His follow through on calls and orders placed is meticulous and much welcomed. His knowledge of your products is impressive. Mark Brouillard helped me along my product learning curve. Mark distilled into succinct terms, everything I needed to know about applications and results using Cerakote. Most importantly, each gentleman exhibited the utmost in professional carriage and customer communications. Polished and patient. Great service from both of them.
	Greg Leaf - National Tactical Officers Association

	Just a note to say WOOOW!!! When my engine builder, Bush Machine & Marine, suggested we have our pistons Ceramic coated and the skirts treated, I thought it was a lot of money for something you couldn’t see. But I’ll never build another motor without doing the coating. I believe that the coating allowed us to run more timing and higher boost, making more horsepower and making it possible for us to set a speed record of 141.9 mph for an Eliminator Daytona 26’ Cat @ Parker Arizona on the 24th of April 2004. We are currently building a new motor with more boost “20 to 30 lbs” and will be making an attempt at 150 mph in April 2005. Thanks NIC for all the work and fantastic product.
	Curtis W. Kruse, AKA: Rockit Man Eliminator Daytona 26' - Redwood Property Investments, L.L.C.

	We have found NIC’s Micro Dyne product to provide excellent protection as well as the aesthetic qualities our customers demand. We also find the Micro Dyne coatings very easy to use. Our work can be found from the desserts of the Middle East to the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Where applicable I would not hesitate to use the NIC products. NIC Industries has been a pleasure to work with and we look forward to many projects to come. Since establishing a relationship with NIC Industries we have always found them to be excellent in customer service and support. We appreciate their dedication to constant research and development, which in turn makes our job easier as well as many happy customers. The staff and the products that NIC Industries has to offer are a winning combination.
	Paul Packham, Owner - All Product Painting

	I have been using Molyresin on my pistols for a long time with good results. After having applied your Cerakote to about a dozen pistols now I find it to be a much more durable finish. From now on it is going to be the standard finish for my pistols. I am also going to add a link to my website to a page that will offer refinishing with Cerakote on customers pistols. Thanks for the great product.
	Gordon Fallick - BigBore Custom, Phoenix, AZ

	I want to thank Brandon Grady for introducing me to your Ceramic coatings of all kinds. With his help I have learned a great deal not only about your product but also how to apply it. This last Custom Commander I did for The Cheytac Company came out beautiful using NIC Cerakote Titanium finish on the frame. The pistol was displayed at the last Shot Show for many people to admire and all inquiries were handled by Anthony Taylor, who is the Vice President of Operations for Cheytac. I have been air brushing all types of finishes on frames and barrels for many years and even though I am now semi retired I am still the most experienced trigger man in North America, as that is all I do. These products made by NIC Industries are truly second to none and with people like Brandon Grady always there to help you there is no reason to use any other product. I can not speak higly enough about my experience with Brandon and NIC Industries.
	Teddy Jacobson - Actions by "T"

As he looked through the rangefinder, my hunting partner said, “323 yards. The wind is left to right, almost at full value, less than five miles per hour.” He continued, “He doesn’t know we are here. You about ready?”

We had spotted a mule deer buck feeding on the other side of a big coulee. A short hike and some belly crawling placed us slightly above and directly across from the small four point. By the time we got into position, the buck had bedded down. I snapped the legs of the bipod downward and settled the butt of my rifle on a Triad bead bag.

Although it was in a shaded patch of buck brush, I quickly found the buck in the big 3.5-15X Nightforce scope.

I took my time getting into position. The crosshair sat perfectly on the buck’s upper chest as I fine-focused the side parallax knob. Then I reached for the tab on the Pathfinder ballistics chart attached to the forward portion of the scope tube. Like a miniature tape measure, a strip reeled out revealing bullet drop. At 300 yards it was 3.5 minutes of angle, so I cranked four minutes up to allow for the extra 23 yards. Then I moved the windage knob one minute to the left to compensate for the light wind.

The .325 WSM-chambered Model 70 was the second rifle the author used for testing the cartridge’s worthiness at extended ranges. Accuracy was quite good, but he cautioned that because of the gun’s light, 6 3⁄4-pound weight, recoil was more severe than with his heavier custom rifle.

“Shooter ready,” I said quietly. By now my partner had switched to his 8x42-mm binocular and replied, “Send it.” The custom-built GA Precision rifle was steady as a rock as I checked crosshair position and stability. My finger slowly applied pressure. The sight picture disappeared as the 200-grain Nosler AccuBond arced across the coulee and destroyed the buck’s shoulder, spine and upper lungs.

After shooting more than 1,000 rounds—1,047 the day I finished this article—I have learned much about the

.325 WSM cartridge. This shooting has been at steel targets at long distances, at a 100-yard range and on hunting trips. That buck was one of many deer my friends and I shot while participating in a Chronic Wasting Disease cull in the western part of Saskatchewan where we live. I have also used the .325 WSM in Alaska on a caribou bull and on successful black bear hunts in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

By now most readers will have some familiarity with the .325 WSM. Introduced at the 2005 SHOT Show, Winchester surprised many people by necking its popular .300 WSM up to 8 mm, or .323 caliber. Most WSM fans expected a .338 WSM as the next cartridge in the family, but this was not to be. Apparently, Winchester was not happy with the velocities achieved when it loaded the big .338 bullets into a WSM case.

“Three twenty-five” sounds and looks better than .323 or 8 mm from a marketing standpoint. So, welcome the .325 WSM. Bullet weights of 180, 200 and 220 grains were announced. The 200-grain AccuBond CT was the first bullet available. With a muzzle velocity of 2,950 feet per second, this is a high-performance hunting load. Winchester loads this bullet into a nickled case in its Supreme line.

The second load marketed was the 220-grain Power-Point bullet in the Super-X brand. These round-nose bullets are the workhorse of the Winchester hunting bullet line-up. The Power-Points have a muzzle velocity of 2,840 feet per second.

Although most shooters wouldn’t conceive an 8-mm cartridge to be a long-range performer, the new .325 WSM is more than adequate, as evident by this three-shot, 500-yard group that measured less than 4 inches. With a correct range reading, scope manipulation and a steady hold, the .325 WSM is plenty capable of putting down most North American big game at impressive distances.

The final loading for the .325 WSM is the 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip, again offered in the Supreme brand. These bullets leave the muzzle at 3,060 feet per second. Both AccuBonds and Ballistic Silvertips have the black Lubalox coating that Winchester developed to reduce fouling and improve accuracy.

I was one of the few writers invited on the first hunt conducted with the new cartridge. We traveled 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in northwest Alaska to hunt caribou. Suffice to say, the cartridge kills caribou like Thor’s hammer, as I found on my first bull. I placed the crosshair just over its backline. The AccuBond went completely through its chest with enough energy to knock it to the ground. The bull dropped in its tracks at 330 yards.

Shortly after the hunt I discussed the .325 WSM with my gunsmith and friend George Gardner, owner of GA Precision in Kansas City, MO. Gardner told me that he and Jeff Hoffman from Black Hills Ammo were interested in the long-range potential of the new cartridge for tactical applications. He was going to build some rifles to determine what the new cartridge would do at longer distances and asked if I was interested.

I jumped at this opportunity since I would get access to a .325 WSM rifle months before the production models were released. I suggested the new rifles be built on Winchester Model 70 actions since they fed the short, fat cartridges so smoothly. “Find me some actions and we will do that,” said Gardner, who just happens to build some of the finest-shooting rifles on the planet. I quickly got on the phone and located three new Model 70 Coyotes in .300 WSM. Gardner tore the Coyotes down so their controlled-round-push-feed actions could be the basis for the new .325 rifles.

Gardner contacted Mike Rock, co-owner of Rock Creek Barrels in Albany, WI. Rock manufactures incredible cut-rifled barrels—his 5R barrels are famed for their extreme accuracy, long life and ease of cleaning. Gardner ordered several M-24 contoured, deep-fluted, stainless-steel barrels, and Rock had them ready in a very short time.

Gardner and Hoffman wanted heavy, tactical-style stocks, whereas I needed a stock more suitable for hunting. My favorite hunting stock is the McMillan HTG, so I asked Gardner to order one in desert camo. Kelly McMillan soon had the stock on the way. Gardner arranged the chambering reamers, squared and trued-up the actions and set the triggers to a crisp 3 pounds. Then he pillar-bedded the barreled actions into the stocks with Marine Tex bedding compound.

Gardner also fitted Williams one-piece, steel bottom-metal assemblies that eliminated the center stock bolt. Very simply, no middle stock bolt means we only have to worry about maintaining correct tension on two rather than three. Simple is better, and accuracy is usually enhanced. After installing Badger Ordnance tactical mounts, Gardner gave the metal a coating of Cerakote. This ceramic-based covering is tough and corrosion resistant, plus the pale-yellow color perfectly complimented the beige and tan of the desert camo stock.
After receiving my rifle I installed a 3.5-15X Nightforce scope and broke in the barrel with 220-grain Super-X Power-Point factory ammo to get the rifle ready for upcoming spring black bear hunts. I had a supply of 200-grain AccuBond CT and 220-grain Power-Point factory ammo. My GA rifle showed a preference for the AccuBond factory load. Some three-shot groups went under 1 inch at 100 yards.

I began shooting at longer ranges to obtain data for drop charts so I could calibrate the Nightforce for longer shots. I shot out to 800 yards with excellent accuracy all the way. One 800-yard, three-shot group went exactly 4 inches! Past 400 yards I shot in 50-yard increments, so I did a lot of shooting and moving. The more I shot the GA rifle, the more accuracy improved with both factory and reloaded ammo. After about 350 rounds, accuracy settled down, and I noticed a distinct reduction in the effort required to clean the barrel. Copper fouling virtually quit in this super-smooth barrel.

The .325 WSM performed admirably and proved it could deliver ample energy over vast distances, making it a true long-range, big-game caliber. This buck, as well as eight other deer, two black bears and a bull caribou were taken by the author with the cartridge at ranges that pushed 300 yards.

The GA rifle is a bit heavy so recoil is very manageable with all bullet weights. I can shoot several boxes of ammo in a test session without any problems or discomfort.

Several months after obtaining the GA rifle I got a new Winchester Model 70 Ultimate Shadow. This rifle has a controlled-round-feed action, black-composite stock with rubbery inserts in the pistol grip and fore-end and a fairly light 24-inch barrel. Thankfully, it also has a Limbsaver recoil pad because at 6 3⁄4 pounds it is significantly lighter than the GA rifle—you definitely know when this rifle goes off!

I installed a Near Manufacturing one-piece base on the Model 70.
By coincidence I had just received a 3.8-22X U.S. Optics SN-3 sniper scope for testing. About the size of a baseball bat, the main tube of the SN-3 is a whopping 35 mm, while its overall length including the sunshade is 23.5 inches. This is a serious piece of glass. Resolution, brightness and quality of construction are superb. Marty Bordson from Badger Ordnance sent me a pair of 35-mm rings that fit perfectly on the Near base. Although the scope was significantly oversized for the sporter-weight Model 70, I wanted to exploit its incredible optics for my accuracy testing. I also intended to shoot the Model 70 extensively at long range, and the U.S. Optics scope would be ideal. I loaded up my pickup and headed to my 100-yard benchrest range.

I shot the three factory bullet weights for accuracy and velocity in the new Model 70 and the GA Precision rifle. In the Model 70 factory rifle, the 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip averaged 3,044 feet per second. The average of five, three-shot groups was 2.22 inches. The 200-grain AccuBonds averaged 2,904 feet per second and 2.6 inches for accuracy. I was impressed with the 220-grain Power-Points in this rifle. Velocity averaged 2,788 feet per second, and accuracy averaged 1.65 inches for the three-shot groups. This particular Ultimate Shadow prefers the Power-Points, with one group going .49 inch. The GA Precision rifle also shot the Power-Points well with one exceptional group going .222 inch. I should mention that by this point the GA Precision rifle was thoroughly broken-in, whereas the factory rifle had less than 50 rounds down the barrel.

The consistency of the factory ammo’s velocity was amazing. During the 100-yard accuracy testing I shot through my Oehler 35P chronograph to build up larger velocity data. For instance, I obtained three, 10-shot strings with the GA rifle and 200-grain AccuBonds. When I looked at the averages of these strings there was only 4-feet-per-second difference between them. The GA Precision rifle produces faster velocities than the factory rifle.

Next came the fun times. I wanted to determine how accurate the two rifles shot from 100 yards out to 500 yards. I also wanted to compare bullet drops with published figures. So I called a couple of buddies and we headed to our long-range shooting area. These guys know how to read wind. They also know how to shoot small groups at long range. We took turns firing the different rifles and ammo combinations under ideal shooting conditions. All shooting was done from the prone position. We used the shooter-spotter setup with the spotter calling wind. This lets the shooter concentrate on his marksmanship which results in best accuracy. I ensured that the barrels did not overheat, and we thoroughly cleaned them every 25 shots.

The results were impressive. Every shot fired would have fit into the chest of a deer, from 100 yards to 500 yards. This was with both rifles, three bullet weights and three shooters.

I recently spent several enjoyable afternoons shooting both guns at 700 yards. I shot both reloaded and factory ammo at a variety of steel plates. Some of the plates are actually 2-foot-by-4-foot sheets of steel. This large size ensures that they catch hits for determining bullet drop and long-range zeroes. I also have a dozen or so smaller steel plates that fall over when hit. These tip-over plates vary from 9 inches high and 6 inches wide to 15 inches square. I had no problem tipping the small plates with consecutive shots with both rifles provided I shot ammo the guns liked.

Three-shot groups on the large plate at 700 yards ranged from just under 4 inches to 17 inches. My handloads shot considerably better than the factory ammo at this longer distance. I shot three consecutive three-shot groups that went 5.2 inches, 7.2 inches and 4 inches with Sierra MatchKings in a 5-mph wind with the GA Precision rifle. I also managed to hit a spray-paint can with a 200-grain Sierra MatchKing at the 700-yard mark. The factory Model 70 did not shoot quite as well, averaging 10 1⁄2-inch groups in the same conditions.
Wind is my primary challenge at longer ranges. The .325 WSM bullets handle wind very well compared to the .308 Winchester loads that I practice with most often. When I shoot the .325 WSM I put on about 20-percent to 25-percent less windage than my partner who shoots a .308 Winchester. I suspect this is attributed to less flight time because of higher velocities.

The .325 WSM hits steel plates with more force than the .308 Winchester. As a matter of fact, some of my big 3⁄8-inch steel targets were completely penetrated at 500 and 600 yards by the AccuBonds and the Ballistic Silvertips. The Power-Point bullets made significant dents but failed to penetrate like the lighter, faster bullets. The .325 WSM delivers enough energy to flatten big game past 700 yards.

I am confident that if conditions are appropriate my GA rifle will deliver first-shot hits into the lethal zone out past 700 yards consistently. If the wind is too strong I will pass on the shot. I have learned to shoot in fairly significant wind, but there are limits. When friends and I are setting up for a long shot we always use two shooters and a spotter. This ensures a fast, accurate second shot if required. The system works.

I have not spent much time reloading the .325 WSM since Gardner provided a superbly accurate load with the rifle. A healthy charge of H4831 pushes 200-grain Sierra MatchKings into one-hole groups if I do my part. The same charge does virtually the same with Nosler AccuBonds. I have killed several deer with the AccuBonds, all with one shot. The longest shot—540 yards—was made using a Long Star Shooting Products Spec Rest. The deer leaped upward and over at the impact, a classic reaction to a heart shot.

The .325 WSM proved itself on bears as well. I killed a large black bear in northern Saskatchewan, taking it at 305 yards with one shot into the shoulders. The bear was dead before it hit the ground. I also killed a nice black bear on Vancouver Island. My Pacific Rim Outfitters guide found three bears feeding on clover on the far side of a steep valley. Although the bears looked very far off the lasers read only 283 yards. I over-compensated for the fairly strong wind and hit it a bit back of lungs, but in only a few seconds we heard the death moan. “That is my favorite sound!” said the guide as we started hiking to the bear.

How does the .325 WSM perform at long ranges? If a “long shot” on big game starts at 300 yards, my experience with the cartridge has been excellent. I have taken one caribou, two black bears and nine deer so far. Most of the shots were around the 300-yard mark, although a couple of deer were shot at significantly longer ranges. I believe that the .325 WSM fits in between the .300 Winchester Magnum/.300 WSM and the .338 Winchester Magnum. I would not sell a good .300 or .338 to switch to a .325 WSM, but I would consider the .325 WSM if I was in the market for an accurate, high-performance cartridge that was capable of killing any North American big-game animal, from antelope to moose.

www.gunsandhunting.com

Long Story Short - by Ian McMurchy