Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 rcm or 35 whelen

Sounds to me like you should really keep both!

The Whelen

I'd definitely keep the Whelen. If I got rid of my Whelen my dog would bite me.

She's a very smart dog.

Keep the Whelen, only the Whelen, so help me God!
Anything else is at best a poor imposter!
Cheers

Both are probably carried for quick shots on one of your elk hunts where a shot could be offhand. Which one works better under those conditions?

I have a 375 Taylor and a 338 RCM. The RCM is the one I grab for the reasons stated above.

I'd sell all the "lesser included's" and keep this.... which is one of the nicest-designed 375 bore rifles to come out of a factory, is not a "heavy" rifle and if it worked in Africa, it'll work in Idaho or Montana. Would get a Brown Precision, McM or other good synthetic for it, shoot 250 gr TTSX and hunt it.

JMHO,and not suggesting that 338's and 35's are not good. But in the interests of thinning herds, and with todays bullets, discussions about medium bores begins and ends with 375's.

Bob you are just a heretic! <G>

I have a 35 Whelen in a 22" Rem 7600 Pump, A LH Ruger 35 Whelen Imp. and a 338 RCM in a LH 20" Ruger I like them all.

But hunt mostly with a 35 Whelen IMP with 250 gr bullets. Very seldom have I not had a exit wound on moose or bear with Speer, or NP 250 gr bullets. Most shots under 100 yards.

The 338 RCM at least mine seems at its best with 225 gr Bullets and may do better out there a ways. But its tough to want to get rid of light compact, 338 that is very accurate, 225 gr bullets around 2650 FPS.

The pump is probably best for quick close shots that may require a second shot. For a leftie seems natural from shooting pump shotguns.

I'd dump the rcm.

I too, would keep the 35 Whelen...especially since you have a 375 Ruger.

I have three rifles chambered to the Whelen and am considering build another. Never had any use for the 338 RCM, whatever the hell that is. When you have perfection, why settle for mediocrity.
Paul B.

Never, ever, sell a Whelen!

If you're liking the 375 Ruger and its base cartridge, then there is no reason to hang on to the Whelen. Keep the Ruger 338RCM. It is a heck of a handy rifle.

I've had Whelens on and off over the years. Liked them. Also had a .338 RCM and sold it. Mistake. I just bought another .338RCM and plan on keeping it. I'm a handgun hunter but want a good all round rifle for the places that don't allow handguns. This rifle has it all, lightweight, powerful, tuff(S/S) and open sights. I don't see why everyone whines about ammo and brass. There is plenty of ammo for sale in all the big outdoor shops and brass can be had every year on seasonal runs from Hornady or made from .375 Ruger brass. A couple hundred pieces of brass would be plenty for a life time of shooting/hunting for a .338 caliber.

IMO, with the calibers you already have, I would keep .338RCM. You already have the .375 Ruger for the really big stuff. Why not have the RCM for it's ease of carry and power?

Dude, find something else to sell and keep them both, 10 years from now you will be wishing you had one or the other. I find a way to only sell the soulless guns I have "had to have", you know Glocks and such. I regret each and every classic or uniquely different firearm I have had to sell.

I call Dibs on any 338 RCM brass you have if you choose to dump it. Seriously....I need some. Hornady's CS doesn't even have RCM brass on their foreseeable To Do list per their 1-800 techs