300 RCM for Mule Deer/ Elk rifle ?

[magnatecman]

So I am trying to justify in my mind, why I want a Ruger Compact Magnum to be my "go to" muley and elk rifle. If someone can shoot holes in my argument for this please do.

#1
I hunt in a variety of country here in Utah that ranges from thick timber to wide open desert. Sometimes the cedar's are extremely thick and sometimes the canyons are very wide. So shots can vary from 20 yards to as far as you can see.

I just handled the Ruger rifle and I really like the light weight, quick handling feel of the Compact Magnum rifle.

#2
I think of this round as a 308 win. on steroids, rather than equal to the 300 Win Mag. It best's the 308 Superformance 165 by quite a bit and even beats the 3006 by 100 fps when using the same bullet. That is done with a 20" barrel compared to the 24" barrel for the 300 WM and 308.

#3
With a light weight Leupold with CDS turret to match the "go to" load I could have a rifle perfectly suited to handle the very close brush country shots as well as those long shots across a canyon or out on the desert.

#4
I reload so ammo cost/availability is not so much of a factor other than Hornady brass is all that is available in 300 RCM. As for matching Hornady Superformance loaded ammo with reloads, I understand that Hogdon has made Superformance powder available to reloaders now.

This does not seem to be a very popular round or rifle and it goes against everything I thought I ever wanted in a rifle/cartridge, however the more I think about this combo and the way I hunt it just seems to make good sense.

So what do you all think ?

 

[morcey2]

There are no mule deer or elk in utah. (jedi hand wave)

If the bullet doesn't kill them at 20 yards, the muzzle blast from the 20" barrel will. Seriously though, that's the only issue I really see. It's not what I would pick, but it should work fine.

You always see the wide open spaces of utah mentioned, but there are some pretty thick areas where you can't see 40 yards and anything with a barrel longer than 18" is constantly in the way. But then you walk another hundred yards and you've got a 500 yard shot across a canyon.

Matt

 

[magnatecman]

I Never said I would actually be shooting any elk or mule deer, just hunting them. LOL

You always see the wide open spaces of utah mentioned, but there are some pretty thick areas where you can't see 40 yards and anything with a barrel longer than 18" is constantly in the way. But then you walk another hundred yards and you've got a 500 yard shot across a canyon.

Your just making my argument even more for me with this.

As for muzzle blast, ya I agree that might just knock them over by itself, although I hear that it isn't that bad for what it's worth. LOL

 

[jmr40]

I like the round, and the rifle. My only concern is that the round is soon to be extinct. Ruger is still showing them in the catalog and website, but I don't think they are making them anymore.

I'd look at the 300 WSM with a barrel shortened to 22", or start reloading a 30-06 hot. Hornady shows a 180 gr bullet from the 300 RCM getting 2950 fps with a 20" barrel. My Winchester Classic 30-06 is getting 2850 with a 22" barrel and 180's. My 300 WSM from a 24" barrel will do 3000 fps and about 2950 with a 22" barrel.

I think the 20" barrel would be a big help over 24 or longer, but you will find 22" is a good compromise between velocity and portability.

 

[dprice3844444]

think about where you would be at if somehow your ammo got lost on a hunt or enroute to a hunt if you used this oddball cartridge,where would you get replacements?stick to basic calibers

 

[sage5907]

If you've just got to have something different than a 30-06 why not take a look at the 338 Federal. I think Ruger makes it in their light rifles. The performance is slightly better than a 30-06 with a 180 grain bullet. Could be just the ticket for you. BW

 

[sage5907]

The Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 338 Federal has a 22 inch barrel and weighs 7 pounds. It has a stainless receiver and barrel and composite stock. I would take a 30-06 with a 165 grain bullet over any magnum on the market, but the 338 Federal may be a better choice if you were wanting to shoot 180 grain bullets. BW

 

[magnatecman]

think about where you would be at if somehow your ammo got lost on a hunt or enroute to a hunt if you used this oddball cartridge,where would you get replacements?stick to basic calibers

DPrice,

I have a .270 for that and besides I just want some thing different than what everyone else has.

stick to basics - Ha

shooter5907 - I might go for the 338 RCM but I don't really have a need for those heavy bullets, I think 165's are just about right.

 

[jmr40]

If you wanna be different, yet have something useful look at a 338-06, or 35 Whelen. I have a 338-06. Long range ballistics are better than many would think, yet when loaded with heavy bullets it is within 100-150 fps of the 338 Win mag, but without so much recoil.

No factroy loads at reasonable prices, but hand loads are easily made from 30-06 brass. Truthfully a hot loaded 30-06 with heavy bullets is probably a better choice, but everybody and their brother hunts with a 30-06. A good round for the guy who wants to be different, and still get performance.

 

[PedalBiker]

I like the geometry of the 300 RCM better than the WSM. If I thought it had any staying power I'd get one, but they're the third short mag on the market and I think it won't last.


How about a 30/284? Put that in a 22" short action rifle and it would be close to the RCM and the 6.5x284 seems to be pretty popular so you'd have brass.

 

[magnatecman]

jmr40, Your forgetting the platform is part of this equation and what your talking about is likely a much longer and heavier rifle than what the RCM is.

PedalBiker, you may have something here, actually I wish Winchester still made the 284 in their rifles. I actually began looking at the 7mm RSAUM but could not find anything chambered in it.

I too like the geo on the RCM better than the WSM and I actually like that it has less powder capacity too, as I don't really want a full blown MAGNUM !!!

The thing is I really was drawn to the Ruger rifle for some reason and so far no one has been able to make a good argument against this idea.

 

[jmr40]

jmr40, Your forgetting the platform is part of this equation and what your talking about is likely a much longer and heavier rifle than what the RCM is.

No, I didn't forget. Ruger lists the 338 RCM at 6.75 lbs with 20" barrel. My 338-06 weighs 7 lbs even with a 24" barrel. I could have the barrel cut to 20" and equal the Ruger's weight. Both rounds will shoot equal bullet weights to the same speed. The RCM and 338-06 rounds are both pretty much reloaders rounds only. They certainly will be in a couple of years when the RCM rounds and brass are no longer available. You can always make 338-06 brass by resizing readily available 30-06 brass.

The RCM rounds were a good idea, that were simply not a commercial success. If someone is looking at either the 300RCM. or 338 RCM the 300WSM or 338-06 are equal in performance, and available in rifles and loadings that are here to stay.

 

[Gtscotty]

I don't think I would go with anything chambered in 300 RCM. The round itself looks like it should deliver excellent performance in a short action package, but I really believe its on its death bed and Hornady probably won't keep up the CPR forever. While being a reloader will help you prolong your enjoyment of this round after it kicks the bucket, you still need brass, and I don't know if there are any, more popular rounds that can be formed into 300 RCM. Keep in mind this is coming from a guy that likes 9.3x62 and 270 WSM and 10mm..... I'm not afraid of owning rounds that arent available at you're local Walmart, but I really believe that in 10 years, when the WSMs, RUMs, creedmoors, STWs etc. are still chugging along, the RCMs will be long gone....

If you'd like to try something different and in a short action, I agree with the posters above who suggested the 338 federal... 180gr - 210gr bullets booking along at respectable velocities are nothing to sneeze at. Also CDNN just happens to be offloading Stainless 22" Hawkeyes for $399...... thats a hell of a deal on a stainless "everything in NA" type rifle. In fact, I might have to break my self imposed gun buying break to snap one up.....willpower...failing...

 

[MachIVshooter]

think about where you would be at if somehow your ammo got lost on a hunt or enroute to a hunt if you used this oddball cartridge,where would you get replacements?stick to basic calibers

I have always found this to be a rather silly argument. If we go on that one, you might as well nix anything other than .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag and .270 Win.

The most popular chambering I hunt with is .25-06 (which is actually pretty available), but also a 6mm Rem, 8mm Rem Mag, .350 Rem Mag and .375 RUM. The 8 mag and .350 mag are seldom avaiable on the shelf anywhere, yet I've never found myself in the woods without ammo.

 

[Andre123]

I think ruger shot themselves in the foot with the 20" barrel. They should have made one with a 22" Barrel. Well They are now. But they should have lead with that.

Of the Short Action Mags the RCM is the one that makes the most sense. No it wont do what a Win mag will do. In my mind its not supposed to. Its supposed to be a beefed up 30-06 from a short action. Which is exactly what it is.

As far as survival... Steyr-Mannlicher is making a 338 RCM. So there is still hope of survival for the rcm... They make it in a 23.6" barrel.

 

[jmr40]

I think ruger shot themselves in the foot with the 20" barrel. They should have made one with a 22" Barrel.

The 20" barrel is what separates the RCM from all the rest. With a longer barrel you have just reinvinted the WSM. The 300 Win mag, 300 WSM and 300 RCM all 3 shoot 150 gr bullets 300-400 fps faster than a 30-06. The difference is that a Win mag needs 26", the WSM will do it with 24" and the RCM will do it with 20"

While I do think the RCM is technically the best of the 3, and it could have benefited slightly from a 22" barrel, it's only chance of commercial success was to offer something the WSM did not.

 

[Haxby]

So I am trying to justify in my mind, why I want a Ruger Compact Magnum to be my "go to" muley and elk rifle.

Go for it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you like the rifle and cartridge, by all means go for it -- but lay in a stock of brass so you don't run out before you wear the rifle out.

 

[Abel]

300 RCM? I wouldn't. But if you want to stock 5,000 brass at your place, go for it. Its only money.