Bob I bought the 300 RCM on impulse because it handled so well and had the factory irons sights on it. The cartridge was secondary. Unfortunately, at about $1000 into the endeavor, I came to the conclusion that the disadvantages of the 300 RCM cartridge outweighed the advantages of the sweet handling rifle in my value system. The disadvantages of the 300 RCM, in my opinion were the short magazine in relation to the throat, expensive/difficult to find brass and ammo. It's kind of boring, but I have decided that, not being a working gun writer, I'll let someone else experiment with all the new bullets, cartridges and other dodads that come along, and when it comes to taking advantage of the few shooting opportunities I get each hunting season, I'll go with the old tried and true- ie, Nosler Partitions, Hornady Interlocks, 30/06s and 270s and the ilk, Leupold and Nikon scopes. I'll also use the much maligned Nosler Ballistic Tip, because after seeing it kill around 100 deer and a few antelope, bears and elk, I have a good idea of what it's capabilities are. Now, varmit shooting and/or shooting does for meat is a different matter- There I'll experiment with new gadgets. I will not criticize the guy that does buy a 300 RCM, because he will have a light fast handling rifle capable of taking any North American game with aplomb, there is no doubt about that.
I am using a .300 RCM this year, and I am like Dober and find it a delightful package. I have a predisposition to short, light and handy rifles and the Ruger Hawkeye gets there for me. I think of mine as an '06 Improved in a small package.
I would also like to see Ruger and Hornady develop a 6.5 RCM for this rifle. I talked to them about it, and they are at least considering it. I don't need such a 6.5, but so what? If they don't do it, I will rebarrel a Hawkeye to a 6.5 Rem Mag with a 21.75" barrel (that is a magic length by the way).
jim
LCDR Jim Dodd, USN (Ret.) "If you're too busy to hunt, you're too busy."
I am using a .300 RCM this year, and I am like Dober and find it a delightful package. I have a predisposition to short, light and handy rifles and the Ruger Hawkeye gets there for me. I think of mine as an '06 Improved in a small package.
I would also like to see Ruger and Hornady develop a 6.5 RCM for this rifle. I talked to them about it, and they are at least considering it. I don't need such a 6.5, but so what? If they don't do it, I will rebarrel a Hawkeye to a 6.5 Rem Mag with a 21.75" barrel (that is a magic length by the way).
jim
..........HJ..........You and I are in the same camp when it comes to pre-dispositions. Do have the 300 RCM 16.5" barreled Ruger laminated Hawkeye compact, or the 20" woody version with the iron sites?
Yep! I love my `lil 300 WSM Ruger Frontier. 26" bbl 30-06 AI velocities coming from a shorty 16.5" barrel.
These types of rifles with their shorter tubes, which include their shorter actions as well, buck the conventional or the more traditional `ol school way of thinking when it comes to hunting rifles and performance.
Especially in closer cover and in the thicker terrains, the Ruger compacts cannot be beaten when it comes to carrying and handling. And if a 400-500 yard shot is needed for a big elk in the open plains or across the canyons?....NOT a problem in the long distance dept.
The compacts in either the 300 RCM or the WSM, offer the best all around compromises; they are very accurate, wonderful to carry, very handy and manuverable for stand hunting, are fast handling, fast to the shoulder, are great freehand shooters, ideal for speed in the thickets, great in the mountains, on the plains, make for excellent truck guns, and while on top of all that, they offer outstanding ballistics, capable of downing any N/A big game with the right bullet. A fantastic big hog (my specialty) rifle too!
Yeah! Additionally, I`d like to see a 6.5mm-RCM and/or a 7mm-RCM in for their compact line as well.
Beyond the 300 and 338, I tend to think that Ruger will expand their RCM offerings.
Fred: I think it's great there are so many options out there because everyone gets to pick their poison,so to speak. I am kinda like you, and there has to be a significant advantage before I'll make a switch......since I've killed game running in the timber,and sniped them at long range with what I've got,I'll sit with a pat hand,even if a 300 RCM makes me "better"...in theory.
But no doubt the 300 RCM gives the short action boys what they are looking for.
My 300wsm used to shoot groups just like that until we realized the bullet needed to be seated deeper. Now it shoot pert near every bullet/powder combo awesome!
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I would also like to see Ruger and Hornady develop a 6.5 RCM for this rifle. I talked to them about it, and they are at least considering it.
Won't sell well unless they put it at 25 caliber. Now that would sizzle and be easy to advertise as outrunning the 25-06 yet in a short action, without the fuss of a Roy. The 6.5 will be seen as a dud by the public.
Retested the W760 loads again but this time with Fed215 and everything else the same ie. seating depth & the 168gr T-TSX. the groups tightened up a bit but still predominantly horizontal stringing. Will try seating deeper as Shag suggested - well I can't go longer due to mag constraints anyway!
Interestingly, I'm getting slightly less velocity 2835 vs 2850 with the WLR - not that the difference is material.
Since there is a dearth of reloading data on the RCM I am posting my chrony results with H4350/AR2209:
Pretty small samples of only 2 shots each (av) but you get the drift (Barnes T-TSX bullets are expensive - A$82 for a box of 50!!! ). All loads Compressed. No pressure signs in my rifle but work up to max.
I use the Redding std screw type seater and because of the compression I get diff. COL with the same setting
Did you ever find out what was causing the horizontal stringing? I'm seeing that with my 7mm Rem Mag and my current handloads.
“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
My 30-06 Hawkeye had a small amount of horizontal spread like that. When you shook the rifle by the forend the barrel rattled against the stock. Floated the barrel and groups settled down under an inch.
Northen Dave provided excellent bedding instructions which are "stickied" on this forum - and they're for a Ruger too.
Ron B
Last edited by RonB; 08/24/09.
"All the complexities, confusion, and distress in America, arise, not from defects in the Constitution, nor from a want of honor or virtue, so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation." -John Adams
With 58.5~59.0 grains of H4350 and a 165 grain Hornady Spire Point Intelock or a 165 grain Swift A-Frame I can get 2900fps from the 23.6" barrel of my 30-06. I probably also have much less muzzle blast than a 20" barreled 300RCM. But I'm sure that it is not as compact or handy.
Just a couple of comments in passing� I had a Mark ll in a .350 Rem. mag. and I still have a .300 RSUM in a Mark ll. The configuration of the rails (width and cartridge release cut-out point) varied significantly between these two Mark lls. I fiddled around with a few dummy .300 RSUM rounds in the .350 just to see how the rail configuration influenced feeding. I learned in just a few slow short strokes that there must be a Ruger engineer that figured out early on that one size does not fit all fat shorties. So, I wonder if the Mark ll RCM rail configuration will accommodate WSM cartridges without modification. And you know that rail grinding can be dicey surgery for even the best gunsmiths.
Ruger must have their lawyers doing their throat reaming. I stretch my OALs waaaay out there on my .300 RSUM and still needed another .150� to reach the rifling. On a good day, it would shoot 1.5�, but averaged closer to 2� overall. I did not want anything to do with a 2� .300 RSUM, so it is in Brookings getting a real barrel attached.
Incidentally, I like the shoulder angle and cartridge length of the RSUMs and the RCMs in short actions and wonder if the WSMs aren�t stretching a good thing just a little too far. CP.
Recently tested Hornady's "Magic" loads for the 300RCM speed is pretty much as claimed on the box and as someone mentioned here I put a piece of cardboard under the lug to float the barrel & Voila! 165 SST. The 3 shot group is Shots 1, 2 & 4. Shot 3 was way above but we can safely say it was "operator error"!
The compacts in either the 300 RCM or the WSM, offer the best all around compromises; they are very accurate, wonderful to carry, very handy and manuverable for stand hunting, are fast handling, fast to the shoulder, are great freehand shooters, ideal for speed in the thickets, great in the mountains, on the plains, make for excellent truck guns, and while on top of all that, they offer outstanding ballistics, capable of downing any N/A big game with the right bullet. A fantastic big hog (my specialty) rifle too!
That is how it looks to me, too, and add the 338 Federal chambering to that list, too.
Squeeze (and anyone else with experience with these guns, of course) since you have friends with all of these cartridges in a Ruger Compact platform, can you tell me how much lighter the 300 RCM in the compact feels compared to your 300 WSM with the medium contour Frontier barrel?
Seems to me that this should be the ultimate horsepower-to-weight ratio of all of the Ruger Compact offerings...
The compacts in either the 300 RCM or the WSM, offer the best all around compromises; they are very accurate, wonderful to carry, very handy and manuverable for stand hunting, are fast handling, fast to the shoulder, are great freehand shooters, ideal for speed in the thickets, great in the mountains, on the plains, make for excellent truck guns, and while on top of all that, they offer outstanding ballistics, capable of downing any N/A big game with the right bullet. A fantastic big hog (my specialty) rifle too!
That is how it looks to me, too, and add the 338 Federal chambering to that list, too.
Squeeze (and anyone else with experience with these guns, of course) since you have friends with all of these cartridges in a Ruger Compact platform, can you tell me how much lighter the 300 RCM in the compact feels compared to your 300 WSM with the medium contour Frontier barrel?
Seems to me that this should be the ultimate horsepower-to-weight ratio of all of the Ruger Compact offerings...
..............No Ordinary Joe.........Quite an old thread going back over 2 1/2 years, but still a good question.
IIRC without scopes, the 300 RCM Ruger laminated compact that my friend currently has, weighs about 1/2 pound less than my 300 WSM Ruger Frontier. Originally, the Frontier`s listed weight for all its chamberings was 6 3/4 lbs. His 300 RCM does feel lighter, but in terms of overall handling there`s hardly a difference.
The scout scope mount on my Frontier`s barrel which is not on the newer 300 RCM compact, does add some weight and the barrel on the Frontier has a slightly heavier contour.
Of all Ruger compact chamberings, the 300 WSM and 325 WSM Frontiers were imo the most powerful. The 300 RCM doesn`t quite have the case capacity as the 300 WSM.
Of all the 16.5" barreled Ruger compacts including the Frontiers and later models, the "ultimate horsepower" to a l rifle "length" ratio of 35.5", the 300 and 325 WSMs will get that crown.
In terms of ultimate pony power to "weight" ratio, the 300 RCM Ruger compact might get that nod by having less rifle weight.
FYI and in case you have an interest, saw on Gunbroker about a week ago, a rare NIB 300 WSM Ruger Frontier. For its length, it is one DARN "powerful" rifle,,,"and" of course, is very loud! That is also pretty much true for the Ruger 300 RCM compact. Hearing protection a must; muffs at the range and my "Game Ears" on hunts. Some will not wish try shooting either. 16.5" barreled compact rifles with the power that these two have, aren`t for everyone.
Ruger compacts are very accurate, fast `n handy, great on hunts for all day carrying, great for brush and timber hunting, make for great truck guns and for stand hunting too.
And like my 300 WSM Frontier compact, a 300 RCM Ruger compact can also no doubt if needed, be a 400-500 yard elk buster too.
The compacts in either the 300 RCM or the WSM, offer the best all around compromises; they are very accurate, wonderful to carry, very handy and manuverable for stand hunting, are fast handling, fast to the shoulder, are great freehand shooters, ideal for speed in the thickets, great in the mountains, on the plains, make for excellent truck guns, and while on top of all that, they offer outstanding ballistics, capable of downing any N/A big game with the right bullet. A fantastic big hog (my specialty) rifle too!
That is how it looks to me, too, and add the 338 Federal chambering to that list, too.
Squeeze (and anyone else with experience with these guns, of course) since you have friends with all of these cartridges in a Ruger Compact platform, can you tell me how much lighter the 300 RCM in the compact feels compared to your 300 WSM with the medium contour Frontier barrel?
Seems to me that this should be the ultimate horsepower-to-weight ratio of all of the Ruger Compact offerings...
..............No Ordinary Joe.........Quite an old thread going back over 2 1/2 years, but still a good question.
IIRC without scopes, the 300 RCM Ruger laminated compact that my friend currently has, weighs about 1/2 pound less than my 300 WSM Ruger Frontier. Originally, the Frontier`s listed weight for all its chamberings was 6 3/4 lbs. His 300 RCM does feel lighter, but in terms of overall handling there`s hardly a difference.
The scout scope mount on my Frontier`s barrel which is not on the newer 300 RCM compact, does add some weight and the barrel on the Frontier has a slightly heavier contour.
Of all Ruger compact chamberings, the 300 WSM and 325 WSM Frontiers were imo the most powerful. The 300 RCM doesn`t quite have the case capacity as the 300 WSM.
Of all the 16.5" barreled Ruger compacts including the Frontiers and later models, the "ultimate horsepower" to a l rifle "length" ratio of 35.5", the 300 and 325 WSMs will get that crown.
In terms of ultimate pony power to "weight" ratio, the 300 RCM Ruger compact might get that nod by having less rifle weight.
FYI and in case you have an interest, saw on Gunbroker about a week ago, a rare NIB 300 WSM Ruger Frontier. For its length, it is one DARN "powerful" rifle,,,"and" of course, is very loud! That is also pretty much true for the Ruger 300 RCM compact. Hearing protection a must; muffs at the range and my "Game Ears" on hunts. Some will not wish try shooting either. 16.5" barreled compact rifles with the power that these two have, aren`t for everyone.
Ruger compacts are very accurate, fast `n handy, great on hunts for all day carrying, great for brush and timber hunting, make for great truck guns and for stand hunting too.
And like my 300 WSM Frontier compact, a 300 RCM Ruger compact can also no doubt if needed, be a 400-500 yard elk buster too.
Thanks Squeeze - Exactly the info I was looking for.
Thanks
My other go-to rifle is this laminate-stocked Ruger Alaskan in 375 Ruger, which I love,and could probably use anywhere that I am thinking about a Frontier for, but I'm looking for the ultimate short/light/powerful rifle for extended carrying afield.
Thanks for coming back to this old thread, it popped up as I started to do my research on the Ruger Frontier.
There is likely to be a Frontier in .300 WSM or .325 WSM (if I'm lucky enough to find one) in my VERY near future.
Noordjoe.............As stated before, I saw a NIB 300 WSM Ruger Frontier on Gunbroker. As of yesterday, it was still there. A Frontier in a 325 WSM imo, is far more rare. Better act quick.
Love my 375 Ruger Alaskan too.
The Ruger Alaskan is 41.75" long and my 300 WSM Frontier is only 35.5" long. These two rifles deliver serious power for their shorter and handier size.
Imo, two great shorter barreled high performing rounds. You`d be hard pressed to find such power coming out of any other 16.5" and 20" barreled rifle.
If you`re looking for as you say, "the ultimate short/light/powerful rifle for extended carrying afield" no other rifle for its 35.5" size that I`m aware of, will give you the ballistic longer ranged performance like a 300 WSM chambered in the Frontier.
With some help from RL17, that little Frontier ships a 155 VLD at 3234 fps, a 168 VLD @ 3042, a 175 VLD @ 2973, and a 190 VLD @ 2860 fps.
If your research can find any other factory 30 cal compact rifle of equal barrel length and of equal OAL, which can surpass those #s,,,,,,,,,,then buy it.
That`s one reason why I have one. I like carrying around the ballistics of a 30-06 AI, but in a rifle which is 10-11" shorter.
30R Blaser. Same length, full length barrel. Instant second shot, sub MOA rifle. Somewhat different price bracket though...
More seriously looking back at this thread, it reflects an unexpected advantage i have observed with the new wave of proprietary cartridges. I had been very cynical about such cartridges, but i am begining to see another reason why the manufacturers are pushing them (it isn't entirely just to try to sell everybody another rifle that does just the same job as your old rifle). It gives both the rifle and ammunition manufacturer a much greater degree of control of their product. You buy the factory rifle, drop in your factory ammunition and proceed to shoot a sub MOA group at a velocity you cannot match with your best handload. I have recently had this experience. The cartridges are effectively already optimised for your rifle. You can't do that with a better established round, as the ammunition and rifle manufacturers have to allow for variations in magazines, chambering and ammunition. If you don't want the bother of handloading and don't shoot a lot of rounds, i'd argue you probably are actually going to get better performance out of a new proprietary cartridge that is actually optimised to your rifle (though i appreciate most guys here i 'spose do shoot a lot of rounds and like to handload).
If your dad doesn't have a beard, you've got two mums
30R Blaser. Same length, full length barrel. Instant second shot, sub MOA rifle. Somewhat different price bracket though...
More seriously looking back at this thread, it reflects an unexpected advantage i have observed with the new wave of proprietary cartridges. I had been very cynical about such cartridges, but i am begining to see another reason why the manufacturers are pushing them (it isn't entirely just to try to sell everybody another rifle that does just the same job as your old rifle). It gives both the rifle and ammunition manufacturer a much greater degree of control of their product. You buy the factory rifle, drop in your factory ammunition and proceed to shoot a sub MOA group at a velocity you cannot match with your best handload. I have recently had this experience. The cartridges are effectively already optimised for your rifle. You can't do that with a better established round, as the ammunition and rifle manufacturers have to allow for variations in magazines, chambering and ammunition. If you don't want the bother of handloading and don't shoot a lot of rounds, i'd argue you probably are actually going to get better performance out of a new proprietary cartridge that is actually optimised to your rifle (though i appreciate most guys here i 'spose do shoot a lot of rounds and like to handload).
.................A Blaser certainly didn`t come to my mind. That is more to the European liking.
Shoulda stated compacts with a single barrels and bolt actions.
. Yes 21 & 3/4 inch is the magic length.![[Linked Image]](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y137/johnt34/300RCM/300RCM_20090501_02_onT.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y137/johnt34/300RCM/300RCM_20090529_01_onT.jpg)
). All loads Compressed. No pressure signs in my rifle but work up to max.
![[Linked Image]](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y137/johnt34/300RCM/300RCM_20090804_onT.jpg)
