338 Ruger Compact Magnum

[Gen273]

Anyone here have any experience with the 338 Ruger Compact Magnum?

 

[LightFoot]

Following.

>>>----JAKE----->

 

[Gen273]

Does no one have any experience with the 338 RCM?

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I have one. Called in a black bear used it. What are you wanting to know?

 

[Gen273]

I have one. Called in a black bear used it. What are you wanting to know?

What are your general thoughts on the caliber, how it compares to any similar caliber you have used. Do you shoot factory loads or reloads? What do you think about the caliber in The Hawkeye 77 platform? Also, is yours in the 20 or 22-inch barrel? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Recoil pad on the Compact sux. Hits hard when loaded to full throttle. Will ever compare to a full sized 338 Win Mag but it's still very cool. I have the 20" and have reloaded for it extensively. I stick with 185-210 grains

 

[Gen273]

Thanks for the info, how did it perform on the bear?

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

One shot, but could have done same with 243

 

[Gen273]

One shot, but could have done same with 243

Thanks again for the info!

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I went the absurd route of building a Ti action carbon barrel custom 338 RCM. With a 20” barrel I’m getting ~2730fps with the 230gr ELD-X (61.5gr of RL-17.) I built it fkr mountain hunting in AK. I’ve only shot a black beer in the face with it so far. I used it on an unsuccessful sheep hunt and will be taking it on a sheep and goat hunt this year. The rifle is really accurate. I plan on cutting the barrel down even more and trying the 185gr cutting edge raptors with it.

 

[Gen273]

That's a great looking rifle! Are you reloading for it? Do you have any regrets as far as caliber choice?

 

[carter33]

I went the absurd route of building a Ti action carbon barrel custom 338 RCM. With a 20” barrel I’m getting ~2730fps with the 230gr ELD-X (61.5gr of RL-17.) I built it fkr mountain hunting in AK. I’ve only shot a black beer in the face with it so far. I used it on an unsuccessful sheep hunt and will be taking it on a sheep and goat hunt this year. The rifle is really accurate. I plan on cutting the barrel down even more and trying the 185gr cutting edge raptors with it.

Can you cut down a carbon barrel? Or will you just have to throw on a new shorter barrel?

Really nice rifle though, like the idea of it as a mountain rifle where bears may also be an opportunity.

 

[tdot]

Can you cut down a carbon barrel? Or will you just have to throw on a new shorter barrel?

Really nice rifle though, like the idea of it as a mountain rifle where bears may also be an opportunity.

You can cut down the Hells Canyon Carbon barrel, most of the others you can't.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

That's a great looking rifle! Are you reloading for it? Do you have any regrets as far as caliber choice?

I don’t have any regrets and I load for it. The velocities I stated above are my loads.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

Can you cut down a carbon barrel? Or will you just have to throw on a new shorter barrel?

Really nice rifle though, like the idea of it as a mountain rifle where bears may also be an opportunity.

According to my gunsmith he can cut it down.

 

[Gen273]

Does anyone else have real-world experience with the 338 RCM?

I have read in other places of many who do not like the 338 RCM. However, I have also discovered that many who express their opinions have actually never owned, shot, or hunted with one.

I am not trying to start a this caliber is better than that kind of thread. I just want to hear from people who have hunted and taken game with this round, or at least be on the range with it. Also ammunition availability is not a issue for me as I am a handloader anyway.

 

[Bugshooter]

Gen273, just joined the Ruger 338 rcm club. I knew it was a dwindling franchise, but liked the idea behind it...close to 338WM, but not quite. Now I am wishing I had gotten the bug sooner as the brass supply is dwindling. I have 150 pieces and wish I had more (just in case, bad pun). Haven't begun to load any, but hope to see how much recoil it has (I don't shoot my light-wt H&R 12 slug gun much at the range -- fun diminishes considerably by the 10th shot). If the recoil is punishing, I'll have plenty of ammo for the 'one shot' hunt in my future.

 

[Gen273]

I ended up with a 338 RCM as well, and I love it! It is a very under-appreciated round.

 

[Thisisdenny]

I shot a mature cow elk with a 160gr Barnes TTSX a few weeks ago. The rifle is a Ruger m77 compact magnum 338 RCM.

She was broadside at 150yards, the bullet went in and straight back out right behind her shoulders and just slightly above midline top to bottom. Zero blood trail, but she only made it about 50 yards after the shot.

I was loading 160gr Barnes TTSX with IMR 8208 XBR but I’m starting to get low on that powder.

Anybody using CFE223 in 338 RCM?

Also just purchased some 185gr bonded bullets… they were $0.29ea instead of $1.00ea for the Barnes.

Kind of funny, but I see 300RCM ammo on the shelves fairly regularly and almost never see any 338RCM.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I've been shooting 225gr CE raptors out of my suppressed 16" barrel at 2630fps. Shot a sheep and a moose with that setup and it performed great. 61.5gr of RL-17.