Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 338 RCM

Hello:

OK, new guy here.

Over a decade of hankering for a 338-06 to compliment my 270 M70 Featherweight and months of winter time study and pondering lead me to a 20" SS/SYN Hawkeye in 338RCM. The package just made darn good sense.

I called Hornady and asked specifically if they will continue to support this round before buying the rifle. The response was "you bet, it's a popular round for us".

Of course as we all know the shelves are bare at the LGS! So I have a pile of standard LR primers and IMR4350. Hogdon has H414 a favorite for this cartridge which is No. 92 in Lymans 49th and IMR4350 is No. 93 for burn rate.

So my query: anyone used IMR4350 in the 338RCM? Any ideas, advice and suggestions on where to start. Any theoretical reason why IMR4350 can't be used in this round?

Been a while since any posting on 338RCM, does anyone care to post their latest and greatest loads, hunts, pics?

I like to search and read before I join up a forum and post. Unfortunately that usually results in specific and esoteric questions that receive little if any response. Kind of like this one.

I hope that doesn't put anyone off since I'm new here. I'm really a nice fellow, a little redneck but a nice guy anyway.

Steve
Oregon

I have been using the 338-06 since the early '90's and really see no practical benefit to the Ruger version so I cannot help your specific question. Cheap brass, easy to build a light, easy to pack rifle and not limited to the short action bullet lengths particularly when bullets seem to be getting longer. My Rem 700 based rebore has taken a fair amount of game and is easy to carry too.

I have one of the Ruger compact magnum rifles, now in a McMillan stock.

I have not done a full load work up as the rifle showed up right at hunting season last year. I found good velocity and reasonable accuracy (5 shots ~1.25) with BLC(2) and 200 hornady and 210 NP. When I get back to it again I will pick up with the BLC(2)

Haven't tried 4350. I would see what loads are out there for 338-06 and 338-06 and use them as a guide as your work up.

All depends what bullet you are using. I think there is data on reloadersnest and also an article on realguns with data. I used Varget with 185 grain bullets. Ruger has phased out quite a few guns in the rcm calibers and I dont know of any other makers using them. I had one, but only had the choice of one gun in lefty. It worked well, but wanted to go a different route and stainless so I sold it and moved on from that caliber.

EdM: If I had a 338-06 I wouldn't get a 338RCM either, why bother, right? But...I didn't so I did!

KenMi, noKnees: Thanks, I'll try something here soon, see what happens.

Steve
Oregon

I'd be interested in powders and charge weights if its not too much of a hijack. I really like my rifle. Wish it was a touch faster though

Jesse Jaymes:

Do you have any data you care to suggest?

Steve
Oregon

I jusr went back through my resources and remembered I got my data from the Hodgdon website. They have quite comprehensive data for this round, in all bullet weights from 160 up.

My chrono numbers are not close. They tested 24" tube. Quite a difference to the 20" Compact barrel.

I'd be interested in loads and velocities if you don't mind letting on...

Unfortunately I don't have anything to offer you, I don't even have dies yet.

Steve
Oregon

185 TSX w 56.0 Varget = 2704 av ES 22
185 TSX w 57.0 RL15 = 2692 av ES 88
200 Hornady Spire w 56.0 Varget = 2691 av ES 22

Notes say ejector marks on 185/56 Varget combo

Here's what I have bookmarked if you want to take a look.

Net article:
http://www.realguns.com/archives/170.htm

Another:
http://alcan7.quazen.com/shopping/ruger-338-rcm/

Forum, fellow with custom built 18" barrel:
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/34756-338-rcm-reloading.html

Steve
Oregon

I intend to work on 200gr AB and 210gr PT's. Nosler has that fps for the 338-06 in a 24" barrel with these pills. This is what I'm after right there for the little Ruger.

Steve
Oregon

I forgot they made 200 Accubonds. I had a screamer group last fall on a random shooting session down a power line. Used 3 older 200 grn Ballistic Tips at 253 yards. Was 1.75". I had found the bullets in an old Sample Pack. I'll have to revisit those in an Accubond.

ol_skool,

I put together a 22" #2 Lilja on a M77 tang safety with McMillan ultralight stock. Tried a few light bullets but settled on the 225 accubond. RL-17 worked the best for me.
Lengthened the mag box to 3.1" with loaded ammo approx. 3.050". This rifle handles 61 gr of RL-17 for vel of 2750 fps. Your results may vary.

For what it is worth. I also made a long throated 338 RCM to shoot the 300 gr berger hybrids. Using a LA. 56.5 gr of RL-17 with a 30" barrel vel 2550 fps. It is a lot of fun to shoot and has some serious downrange energy with minimal wind drift. Can shoot quite a few rounds before the heavy barrel gets warm.

I think RL-17 is the perfect powder for this size case. Might be worth a try.

Something not right there, that's slower than a 338 Fed with the 185s. What barrel length? I know they added some longer barrels to the RCM lineup.

Sounds good. I'll give it a try when the shelves aren't so bare.

Steve
Oregon

Not being a smart azz but I think what's not right is the majority of shooters don't chrono and believe book specs.

Rifle is a factory Ruger .338 RCM Compact with 20" tube. I think I chrono'd factory 200 SST Superformance and it cracked 2700 but didn't average it.

Shooting at 1659ft elevation. All sessions above 32 deg F

I chrono every load. Multiple times. When I said not right, I was implying that maybe the powder is not a good fit, that's all. I have a 338-06 that will not meet book numbers so I realize rifles vary. Regardless, a 200gn .338 bullet at 2700ish is going to kill what it hits.