So who has played with this 338RCM Caliber and what can you tell me. It looks to be very similar to the 338WM with basic data provided but I have not been able to find a bunch of load data yet. Also how will it affect barrel life & what does it cost???? Thanks people!!!
338rcm ???????
- Thread starter retepnosflow
- Start date
I remember the advertising claiming that the 300 and 338 rcm cartridges would basically duplicate or slighlty outperform the 300 and 338 win mag out of shorter barrels (20-22" barrels) hence the name Ruger Compact Magnums and their compact rifle models.
Mine works well, factory loads tried were super-hot...far more than my reloads. As for whether it will match my 338 Win and/or exceed my 338-06 I really don't know because I've been too busy playing with other toys.
However since my LEH entries were a waste of time and money yet again, I'll have time to work with it.
However since my LEH entries were a waste of time and money yet again, I'll have time to work with it.
I do not have a 338 RCM. However that beltless 338 RCM case looks very good to me - as does its bigger brother the 375Ruger case.
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I might(?) cobble up a "350" RCM - just cause. Here's the plan - buy a factory chambered 358Win Hawkeye77, call Dave Kiff for a 350 RCM reamer, and have my smith open er up. That's essentially how I created my 350WSM from a 350Rem Mag Ruger77 which worked out well. By necking up that short and voluminous RCM case, one should end up with at least a short action 35 Whelen -ballistically - with potentally better feeding and bullet seating options than the 350RemMag offers because the RCM case is .155" shorter and has more case capacity as well I think.
That said, nothin wrong with the stock 338 RCM flavour I'm guessing.
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I might(?) cobble up a "350" RCM - just cause. Here's the plan - buy a factory chambered 358Win Hawkeye77, call Dave Kiff for a 350 RCM reamer, and have my smith open er up. That's essentially how I created my 350WSM from a 350Rem Mag Ruger77 which worked out well. By necking up that short and voluminous RCM case, one should end up with at least a short action 35 Whelen -ballistically - with potentally better feeding and bullet seating options than the 350RemMag offers because the RCM case is .155" shorter and has more case capacity as well I think.
That said, nothin wrong with the stock 338 RCM flavour I'm guessing.
Wild_Thing
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- In the thick of it!
I wonder if part of the reason for the Ruger's velocity numbers is due to Hornady's loadings. I know that their "light-mag" loads in my .30-06 surpass the performance that I can safely achieve in my reloading.
I do admit to being seriously concerned when the first factory rounds fired had severly swollen and deeply cratered primers and were nearly impossible to extract. Furthermore, accuracy was non-existent.
Handloads on the other hand are quite satisfactory with good accuracy and no issues.
The plain old 338 Win will do what you want.
It's still plenty fast in a short barrel. My buddy's wife used to run a 22" barreled 338Win. Using the same ammunition her barrel produced the same velocity my factory 24" did (there is more difference between chambers than barrel length).
A 20 inch 338 Win (or RCM) would be very loud (LOUD!) and barky. If you want a real shorty I would go with the 375RCM.
Ruger got it right the first time.
IMHO I would wait to see if the 338 RCM catches on before jumping aboard that ship.
It's still plenty fast in a short barrel. My buddy's wife used to run a 22" barreled 338Win. Using the same ammunition her barrel produced the same velocity my factory 24" did (there is more difference between chambers than barrel length).
A 20 inch 338 Win (or RCM) would be very loud (LOUD!) and barky. If you want a real shorty I would go with the 375RCM.
Ruger got it right the first time.
IMHO I would wait to see if the 338 RCM catches on before jumping aboard that ship.
meathunter62
Member
- Location
- Cranbrook/BC
re-.338 RCM
Looks to me that velocities are close to the .338 Federal, wich is a darn accurate round?
Jan
Looks to me that velocities are close to the .338 Federal, wich is a darn accurate round?
Jan
mike shickele
Regular
Seeing as it has very close to the sams capacity as the 338-06, I would suspect that velocity would be similar. If I read the litirature correctly, the increase in velocity that it shows over the 338-06 is only due to the powder blending, like what they do with the light mag stuff.
Mike
Mike
Interesting however that Ruger definitely claims "... the .300 and .338 Ruger Compact Magnums match the .300 and .338 Win. Mag. in performance in a well-balanced, quick-handling rifle."
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7193&return=Y
They say "performance" not velocity. That kind of "clouds the issue" I think - if equal velocities are not delivered safely with factory ammo.
W arent' going to see much difference in performance with a bullet going 100FPS faster or slower.
Wild_Thing
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- In the thick of it!
I'd be interested to hear from an existing owner. At the end of the day can one get Hornady's published velocities from the 20" barreled RCMs? If so then they are better than the WSMs and WinMags in the short barreled category.
