Guys, I've got a short action and I've been thinking about lots of stuff to build on it. I've thought about the 22-250, 338 Saum, 338WSM and a 338RCM. Any of you guys that own one could you please comment on your experiences...good and bad. Thanks, powdr

Yep, i got a 338 RCM with a 20 inch barrel. Pretty good shooter so far 1 to 1.5 inch. I like the compactness of the rifle, however i find it impossible to match factory specs with handloads. As far as handloads I feel that it hangs in the 338-06 area of performance.

CT

I have a Ruger Hawkeye LH Wood Blue 338 RCM, and Bought a RH SS Synthetic Ruger Hawkeye for my wife.

Both are extremely accurate. And easy shooting rifles 20" barrel on them both.

2600 FPS with 225 Gr Nosler under 1" with minimal load work up. Load is the same for both rifles.

Bought lots of brass and I like the idea of a 6.5 # rifle with sights.

I have been working with cfe223 and 185 barnes ttsx bullets averaging 2750 fps. Anybody try and reloader 17 yet?

CT

I have two, the first is the 20" compact rifle dropped in a McMillan and the second is a Hawkeye I put together, #3 rock at 22", McMillan stock, timney trigger.

I have messed around with a couple of bullets 225 NPT, 200 and 225 Hor SP, 185 TTSX and the 200 NAB. All were more than satisfactory accuracy wise. I have only shot one deer, one bear and a moose with the 338RCM all with the 185 TTSX and its worked well enough. I am running it at just under 3000fps (like 2997) using BLC(2) in the 22" barrel. I see some good loads with AA 2520, but it wasn't available when I did my last set of load work ups.

I know a lot of guys don't see the logic in the 338RCM, but for me I find the short mags like the 338RCM and 300WSM are right around the recoil level I can shoot without much effect or preparation in a 7lb rifle. Much more cartridge I need either more rifle to handle it or I have to be more careful of how and how much I shoot them.

The one disadvantage is that the brass is sole source, so when I started down the the 338RCM road I put away a half dozen boxes.

The factory loads I checked ran; 200gr=2800fps, 225gr=2600fps.
20" barrel.

I matched those handloading.
I use 200AB with BLC2..... for 2800fps...
one of my most accurate rifles @ 100yds.....

Floated the barrel, bedded the action, 3# trigger pull.
I shortened the stock a bit and added a Limbsaver pad.

ctpa61, I tried RL17, didn't work well for me with 200gr...
It did better with 225gr..

Also tried WW760, VV N-550

I also bought 400pcs. of brass, in case they stop making it.

Hey Powdr this will sound like I am taking the p!ss out of you but its meant to be constructive...

But if you're thinking of chamberings as diverse as 22-250 to 338... don't you think you'd be better offloading the action and putting the money into something else?

You mean like paying for his hunting access instead of begging for a handout?

David

I have two 338 RCMs.

First one I built using a PT&G reamer. It is a 7 lb sporter built on a SA Ruger M77 tang safety. Barrel is 22". It is in a McMillan Ultralight stock with ASAT camo (permission granted by ASAT) painted by Campfire's Rick Bin.(Rick:the paint is holding up well) I settled on the 225 Accubond with 61 gr of RL-17 for velocity of 2775. Very accurate and lethal. Killed four cow elk with it to date. (should you decide to try this load please work up carefully)

The other is a Interarms Mark X action (LA) with a 30" #7 profile barrel in a Joel Russo laminate stock. It weighs just shy of 14 lbs and is lots of fun to shoot. The throat was lengthened so 300 gr Bergers would seat at shoulder/neck junction. Using 56.5 gr of RL-17 the 300 gr bullet velocity is 2525 fps. It is an extremely accurate load with SDs always in single digits. It has taken one coues wt at 400 yds with little meat damage. This combination may sound strange but it performs. At 4000 ft elevation, where I do my deer hunting, the wind drift at 500 yds in a 10 mph crosswind is 8.8 inches and it has 3072 ft/lb of energy!


I did try shooting 300 gr bergers in the sporter as a single shot. Velocity dropped to just over 2400 fps. Quite a thumper.

Like the others I have been accumulating brass. I currently have 500 pcs of brass.

I had Whidden make me a bushing/FL die and I prefer it to Hornady or Redding dies.

Why is it that most of us posting own two of them???

I have the 20 inch compact with the Ruger sights, an e-a-s-y carry rifle and quick pointing with enough punch to reach anything at a distance that I should be realistically shooting at game. I've put 130-150 rounds through it, and been happy with the accuracy, around an inch without trying too hard.

I bought a Hawkeye 22 inch for the reloading package with it, and have not shot it. But it's a project for next month.

I have a 338-06 as well, and the difference between the two calibers is moot on paper, the 338-06 is a long action, so there is a bit more to carry in the woods. Recoil is the near the same as far as my calibrated shoulder can tell.

I'd agree on the recoil being about right, in that I can put in the range time prepping without a week of recovery afterwards.

I don't expect to find either caliber on the shelf, so ammo travels with me if I'm hunting out of the local area.

I would echo the comment on the brass, and to a degree-factory ammo, is the limiting factor. If you jump in, get a stash that will last you for a year or so. From what I can tell, the brass is only produced in one run once a year, and it is still sole source.

CDNN was discounting the RCM in 300 and the 338 for a while, which I think helped the demand signal for ammo production.

Funny, I have two also! Bought two of the Ruger stainless synthetic 20" barreled guns for a bear hunt I took my sons on last June. Loaded the TTSX 185 to 2850 and called it good. Both rifles shoot about 1-1.25" 3 shot groups and I was surprised that the triggers are actually not too bad.

My oldest shot a 7' boar on the 4th day of a 7 day hunt, my youngest and I did not score. Saw lots of bears, but most were rubbed. The boar that was taken was shot at about 40 yards, ran about 25 yards and tumbled. Bullet exited and may still be going!!

I'm a fan of the cartridge and the little Ruger carbine.

I'd like the 20" with the fixed sights. That has always been an appealing package to me.

Funny thing about owning two rifles in this chambering. I know of a LGS here that has a 22 inch stainless Hawkeye (new) on the rack for at least 3 years. I have been tempted to see if they will deal on the rifle, especially since they don't carry ammo or brass for it.

Thanks guys for the input. Bob, thanks for your concern but my family and the last year of my son's Master's degree are taken care of. I also have the .24 to .284 covered. [bleep], I see your still trying to undermine my business but really I'm fortunate that people like you don't like me. powdr

What business is that powdr?

The business of scamming forum members?

As I understand your posts you can't figure out what to chamber your next custom rifle in because you've got so many customs it's all covered. Just last month you were begging for hunting access because you "couldn't afford to hunt anymore". Wouldn't consider earning the meager amount required to cover your hunting access - you're retired. Wouldn't consider selling anything.

Safaripowdrman

Disgusting.

David

I never could figure out how a guy would sell his well earned rifles to go off and hunt somewhere for 3 days and think whatever memories he made was worth a couple of his rifles. powdr

I never could figure out how a grown man can go around begging other people for luxury items that he could easily afford if he worked a little bit or controlled his spending a little bit.

And then work up some righteous indignation when it's pointed out. You are a poster child for what is wrong with this country.

David

Yeah, I only worked from age 12-65 never being on welfare or collecting unemployment benefits. While I was working those jobs I earned 3 college degrees. Boy, wouldn't it be great if that was really what was wrong with America.


To all the guys who commented on the topic about the 338RCM, I appreciate it. Seems like a good medium bore. I'm sorry for the side tracking but just can't ever tell when you're on the "Fire." powdr

61 Gr of RL 17 with Nosler 225 Gr Partition is my load for both of my 20" Rugers in 338 RCM about 2620 FPS. RS BG,WW 760 & RL 15 also worked well, great very easy cartridge to load.

Factory 225 gr Hornady SST are right under 2700 FPS but dont care for the SST.

Could not get the 200 gr loads to shoot in either rifle.

Thanks KK, I'll probably use the 180's and 200's here in Texas but if I lived where you live, I'd definitely shoot the 225's or 250's. powdr

So what? Why do you think that entitles you to luxury items you can't (or don't want to) afford?

David

I'm at a point where I'll take the 3 day hunt with a Ruger and the fond memories over a custom rifle.

In regards to the 338 RCM, I think it's a really cool round. I've just grown leery of all short mag brass availability with WSM and RSAUM.

FWIW I just chrono'd one for a friend. It was a Ruger " 1 with a 24" barrel. 225 Gr. hornady"s averaged 2810 for 5 shots. Very low es. Shot into 1 1/2" and the shooter was not very experienced. Recoil to me seemed about like a stiff 06 load.
Chrono was a Magneto speed.

Lefty C

I'm the complete opposite. I'd gladly sell rifles to make memories. Last few conversations I had with my dad were about memories we made together, not about stuff.

In fact I have done just that. I sold a Kimber rifle to help defray the costs of making 2 trips to ID in one year when I drew limited entry tags for deer and elk. Got my first bull that year. I don't miss the rifle, at all...

I just divested 6 rifles and a shotgun to buy more components to shoot more, and hunt more with the guns I have.

My comment was not designed to injure.

Guys, to me it boils down to how many are you willing to sacrifice. In my situation I only have 5 rifles that I have a vested interest in. You sell two this year and two next year and then what? Drawing a tag of a lifetime...now that's different. Selling two guns a year to lease in Texas would put me out of business in two seasons.

Anybody load the 250gr bullets? powdr

What it boils down to is you want a life luxury that you don't want to pay for. You feel entitled and as such you are comfortable publicly mooching off of others.

David

I shot 250g Interlocks in my 338 WM, loaded down a little.

They kicked like buggery and also didn't do anything my 30-06 does with 200g bullets so I sold the 338.

Still have the 30-06; that one will not be divested. Apart from my GBL 45-70, the 30-06 is my big gun now.

Bob, what do most use on the large water buffalo yall have in Australia? powdr

I don't live that far north, but most people you know that shoot a lot of them (farmers, rangers, jackeroos etc) use 308 Winchesters and factory 180g ammo.

Personally I'd want at least a 30-06 and a premium 200g bullet. If I was doing a lot of it on foot ( ie up close and personal ) a 375 would be better.

When I sold my 338 Win (a Vanguard) a fellow from the Northern Territory bought it by the way.

I bought a Hawkeye from the 24HCF classifieds. I am using factory Hornady 225g loads. It is yet to be bloodied, but to the Oregon bear opened the 1st, and I carried it last Sunday.

I am confident it is up to the task of elk hunting this fall. It is lighter than my 300 Weatherby, and I am getting older.

You can get a new Ruger .338 RCM with 22" barrel for around $400:
https://www.cdnnsports.com/338rcm-hkm77rfp-22-m-sts-syn.html

Then look around and get enough brass that future availability won't matter. If you don't like the plastic stock, get an aftermarket stock to complement the matte stainless Ruger.

It has been my go to gun for the last 4 years. I have a 20 inch compact, It has two Elk to it. One was with the 200g SST factory load at 400 yards dead elk but the bullet was fragmented. Second was with handloads 200g acubond BCL-2.

I just picked up the stainless one with the 22 inch barrel, It has a very thin profile barrel. Thinner than a .338 Fed that I have.

Both of my RCM's are in Mcmillan stocks and shoot very well.

I had one. Loved the rifle and cartridge but mine went through brass on the 3rd firing and not being able to reliably get brass I sold it a couple years ago. I was getting just under 2600 with Nosler 225 AB's with RL17 and A2520. Accuracy for me was only so-so. I was very sad that it didn't work out for me.