Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 RCM ???

I can't help but think the sweet 'lil RCM package will do well. Lots of thick brushy country around the US. Guys back east should love it. Plenty big for deer but you know it's gonna thump something really hard!!!

I'm planning to use mine in Montana where there are almost no trees . I'm fairly sure that a 185 gr TSX starting at almost 2900 fps will be plenty good out to 400 yards or so...

It'll be fine in tight country with heavy vegetation too... .

Should be fun...

Dennis

K.Windage, Handloads or fackry stuffed?

My 2 cents is a bit off topic from the original posted questions, but it appears this thread has already run a bit off course.

I've owned three 350RMs, a custom, a Remington 673, and a stainless short action MkII in the factory all-weather stock. All three were good rifles, but hands down the Ruger was my favorite and in my opinion the best platform for the cartridge. The magazine was perfect size for handloads using heavy Nosler PTs, and the feeding and accuracy was superb. Even with the factory 200grain Core-Lockt fodder, the accuracy with the Ruger was outstanding. In addition, IIRC, one of the largest bears taken out of Shoemaker's camp was with the 350RM. I cannot say anything bad about that cartridge, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that vintage Ruger MkII.

With that said, as a longtime H&H fan owning many rifles chambered for 375H&H, I also own a 375Ruger "African" model that I've restocked. I find this rifle and cartridge to be the equal if not superior to any 375H&H I've ever handled. Again, I cannot say anything bad about the cartridge, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that vintage Ruger Hawkeye. Because I think the 375Ruger design and base cartridge is so outstanding, I became interested in the 338RCM. I know nothing about the 338FED, but I do like the 338-06. The 338RCM appears to fit into this short barrel group well and when combined with the Hawkeye rifle, the overall package seemed worthy of my purchase. As of yesterday, a brand new rifle cost me $604, a case of ammo cost me $29 per box, and a set of dies cost me $26. The rifle, ammo, and dies are readily available and delivery time is a matter of days. I think that is an outstanding value in todays market and I give a thumbs up to the boys at Ruger and Hornady. When it comes in, I'll give it an honest try and see how well it stands up to the 350RM. I suspect that it will be every bit the equal if not a bit better as there are so many great .33 bullets available today which should give the 338RCM an advantage in versatility. The beltless Ruger case certainly has advantages.

I do have one question though, I ordered straight from a warehouse that stocked the standard Hornady 225gr SST ammo, but they also stocked a Hornady 338RCM 225GR SP ammo, of which I ordered a case. Is this something new from Hornady compared to the SST??

Thanks

The Hornady website only shows 200 gr SST and 225 gr SST ammunition. I think they would be way ahead to start manufacturing Spire Point (SP) ammunition at a lower cost, but they have not put it on their website yet, if they are in fact doing that.

I have yet to see a box of factory ammunition, though I have been shooting my .338 RCM quite successfully since January, and have killed three pigs with it so far. The biggest, a boar, I killed with a 200 gr Hornady SP, and it penetrated through the shoulders quite nicely. The other two I shot with 185 and 210 gr TSX's.

Since I don't shoot factory loads for anything I own, the lack of it in this case wasn't all that significant . And I really really don't like plastic points on bullets, so that made a difference to me too.

I think you will enjoy your new rifle quite a lot, and you got it for a very good price. I hunted with a Leupold FX II 4X with a German #1 reticle, which now lives on my .375 Ruger African. My .338 RCM is currently living with an FX II 6x36 with a post and crosshair reticle, which I think I'm going to like a lot.

Good luck...

Dennis

Great price. Best I've found local is $689 but I know I can do better. Need to start lookin in oregon(no sales tax).

I knew I saw one somewhere. Price is way high but none the less says it's a standard Hawkeye with a 22" barrel in 338RCM.. Still like the compact version with the front and rear site's better!!

http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUHM77LR338RCM&type=Rifle

Bet you don't find one in right hand... .

Dennis

Saw another site somewhere showing a 6.5 Remington Mag in the Compact with the open sites?? I could be loseing my mind??

I ordered from Bonitz, and those were dealer prices. A stocking dealer buying in bulk would be a bit less. The Hornady ammo stocked as 338RCM 225GR SP is priced the same as the 225GR SST, they both run $29 a box for a full case. I thought it was maybe a misprint, but it does carry a different product number. The guns and ammo goes through these guys before you see it on the shelves at a dealer, so I had thought maybe this was a newer product than the SSTs. I hate plastic point bullets which is why I ordered the SPs. I'll find out what it is when it gets here.

I'm sure the rifle will do fine based on my past experience with the Ruger 350RM and the 375Ruger. I'll use a scope for load development, but I doubt the rifle will wear one while hunting as I've become spoiled hunting big game with a longbow. I'm sure the 338RCM will do fine on the biggest wild boars found anywhere on earth as I've cleanly killed two large boars that both had heavy shields and topped 300pounds using nothing but a straight limbed longbow shooting a heavy arrow with a two blade broadhead. I got complete penetration on both boar with my lowly longbow so I'm sure the 338RCM would do so easily:)

For me, I like compact rifles that are versitile and have broad brushed applications, be it antelope, bear, caribou, deer, elk, hogs, moose, etc., etc. I like a rough duty rifle that I don't mind sticking in the bottom of a canoe or boat. I like a strong claw extractor and a good safety. I think this 338RCM in a compact Hawkeye will fit this bill nicely. It may not have the advantage on the upper end with a 250GR bullet as does the Ruger in 350RM (though I'll see for myself), but I'm like you as I'd probably grab a bigger rifle if I needed serious top end stopping power on the biggest dangerous game.

I'll let you know what I think when the rifle comes in.

Best

I'm running 250-gr Hornady bullets at 2500 fps and haven't pressed the powder load yet. I'm fairly sure I can get 2600 fps, and I doubt the .350 Rem Magnum did any better than that, in the real world.

I'm fairly sure you're about to enjoy your choice... .

Dennis

Can I get you to post your current chosen loads on one post on this thread? You may have posted elsewhere, but I'd appreciate if you list your final loads used in the field with the various bullet combinations to include the 250grainer. I have a supply of Reloader 15, but if you've found a better powder, I'll give it a go:)

Thanks much!!

A couple of TSX/Re 15 loads are posted earlier in this discussion, written on the photos.

185 gr TSX/59 gr Reloder 15 -- 2850 fps
210 gr TSX/56 gr Reloder 15 -- 2650 fps
200 gr Hornady SP/58 gr Reloder 15 -- 2750 fps
250 gr Hornady SP/54 gr IMR 4895 -- 2500 fps

There are no "final" loads at this point, though there are some I used in the field to kill pigs. I have some 225 gr loads too, but nothing I'm all that happy with yet. I'll let you know if something comes together that I like.

Reloder 15 is the Ultimate Solution to nearly every reloading question I ask... .

Dennis

Thank You Much muledeer! I'm thinking I'll start with the 210gr TSX or a 210gr NP with Reloader-15 first. That should make for a good all around combination. I just went through my safe and dug out a LEU 2.5-8 w/ 3/4Mil-Dot and a LEU 1.5-5 w/ German#4, an extra set of Ruger Low Black Hawkeye ringmounts sent to me for my 375, a full set of NECG replacement front sight blades, and a couple of canisters of Rel-15. I'll have enough stuff to really shake out the 338RCM for what its worth:)

Later

I'm not aware of ANY other Hornady rounds being loaded for the 338 RCM other than the 200 and 225 grain SSTs.

338Federal - I shoot factory fodder because I frequently write about its performance -- and I don't have time to reload.

NOW... if I can remember how to insert a photo, here's a shot of nice meat hog I shot just yesterday afternoon with my 338 Fed., using Federal 185 TSX. I am NOT fond of copper, but it worked OK in this case as I had to work up a "California legal" package. Many hogs hit with copper are not well anchored, but this one was. Entry was just behind point of shoulder. Round smashed a couple of vertebrae and exited ribs on offside. Hog was DRT. Of course, not much of anything goes anywhere with a smashed upper spinal column.

I took the RCM out of the box yesterday and gave it a look over. First impressions are that the fit and finish is every bit the equal of my 375Ruger with the exception that the RCM wood stock does not have quite as much figure in the grain. But the stock is indeed straight grain and appears to be a good piece of wood. As is out of the box, the rifle weighed 6 lbs 14 oz, and the trigger was crisp pulling just under 5 pounds with no creep and a perfect amount of overtravel. Adding a LEU 1.5 - 5X scope with covers and the supplied medium rings brought the weight up exactly 1 pound to 7 lbs 14 oz. I tested the scope with both low ringmounts and the medium ringmounts and much prefer mediums (#4 and #5). The lows clear the scope, but lesson learned from hunting with my 375Ruger, the lows causes the scope to crowd the loading/ejection port and restricts the ability to use the scope as a handle. The mediums gives better clearance while allowing a perfect cheek weld when looking straight down the scope. Rifle balance is excellent with and without scope, it handles well, and points naturally.

The mag box holds 4 down, as is, and will feed with all 4 in the box, but there is not quite enough room to clear a 5th round in the tube. I suspect some modifications might add enough wiggle room in the box to allow 4 + 1 capacity. I didn't measure the box, but first glance gave me the impression there is enough room to use big bullets with the cartridge.

I'll probably epoxy a stock cross pin through the thin web area between the mag box and trigger inlets, and bed the stock. I may even pick up a factory all weather stock and play around with that as well.

The ammo I ordered ended up being the 200grain SSTs. The wholesaler had incorrectly listed these as 225gr SPs. Hope she turns out to be a shooter as the rifle and cartridge appears ideal for my needs. Thumbs up so far!

Best

GaryVA - Hope it's a shooter. Initial groups with my 338 RCM were a bit large, but the rifle has been "shooting in" nicely and I had no issues taking my big bear on Vancouver Island at 180 yards a couple of weeks ago. 225 grain SST performed great. I got the synthetic/stainless version.

Thanks Kentucky Windage. Though I've experimented with a number of handloads in 338 Fed, the only game I've taken with it has been with that factory 185TSX load. Works well enough, and I have several boxes, may be all I ever hunt with in that caliber. Boring huh?

It may be boring, but it's likely all I'll ever push through my 338 Fed in California given the lead ammo ban over most of the state and the fact that it's the first rifle in my collection I've tested, so far, that actually likes copper ammo. Four other excellent rifles (all sub-MOA shooters with preferred lead loads) did NOT shoot factory copper well. This 338 Fed will shoot .75 in. all day long. So, presto, instant California rifle. Happily, my other rifles find their action elsewhere.

I'm unsure about the synthetic stock RCM, but did anyone notice that the wood stock RCM is CNC inletted to free float the barrel? All of my previous Rugers had a forend pressure point, this one does not. I can slide a dollar bill the length of the barrel channel to the contact pad that extends 2 inches beyond the receiver. I checked the factory torque on my action screws and they were 70in-lbs front, 40in-lbs middle, and 30in-lbs rear. Odd combination which probably accounts for the binding mag box. I picked up some sleeve pillars to install and I'll bed the action along with adding a second cross pin. I think she's going to work out well!

Later