LETTER OF THE MONTH

Letters containing questions for answering by Nick Harvey must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Mail your letters to: The Technical Editor, 3 Reef Street, Hill End, NSW 2850.

.325 WSM A Powerful Choice

I am looking to add to my collection of firearms. I have a .222 Remington, 6.5x55mm Swede and .270 Winchester, but I want to get a larger calibre to round out my rack. I am going camel shooting later in the year and am planning a sambar hunt in the future. Give me your opinion on a calibre suitable for game this size that can push a good 180-200gn bullet fairly fast, starting with the .30-06 and up to the .338s. The need to place the shot in a vital area for an instant kill is important to me, so I am not wanting a heavy recoiling calibre. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. A good handload for your chosen cartridge would be great. One of my sons wants to get a medium cartridge for use on ferals - goats, foxes and pigs - and possibly fallow deer. We will reload for this rifle. He comfortably shoots my .270. Can you suggest a good calibre and give us two handloads for it - one for varmints and one for ferals. I must say I’m disappointed in the number of letters you get from guys who want to shoot game at ridiculous distances. To me, this is not ethical hunting as the chance of wounding and losing an animal is very likely. I prefer to pit myself against the game and stalk to a distance where I can be