.338 Rcm

[dsdanger]

.300 RCM & .338 RCM

Does anyone have any info or perspectives on the new .300 and .338 Ruger Compact Magnums? I could only find one review (http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/RS_0108_01/index1.html) and it was minimally helpful. Any of you guys have first-hand (or even close proximity second-hand) experience?

 

[Kentucky Windage]

I'm just back from my Vancouver Island bear hunt and can report on the .338 RCM performance with Hornady 225 grain SST. Hunt was tougher than anticipated due to unusually severe winter that had bears emerging from dens late and not moving as much as I'd hoped. I passed a good 6-5 bear the first day and regretted it for the following 4 days -- at least until I found a monster bear on the last hour of the last day. Had to rush a shot at 180 yards. Solid wallop on impact. The bear whirled and leaped over an embankment, but was dead on his feet. He literally tumbled 30 yards downhill before coming to a terminal stop. There was certainly no issue with the SST's performance. It was a double-lung hit, through and through. Bear squared out at just a tad under 7 feet.

Would post a photo, but haven't figured out how to do that in this forum yet.

Rifle, by the way, initially grouped a little loose for my usual standards, but it seems to be "shooting in" nicely now.

 

[jester_s1]

The RCM's do everything that a regular Win mag does. The ballistics are basically the same, until you get into short barrels where the RCM keeps more of its speed. I think of them as very specialized cartridges for hunters that really need to pack light. I have my doubts that they will be around long.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

338 RCM Success

I have to disagree. The 338 RCM is a winner. Basically achieves 338 Win Mag performance OUT OF A 20 in. BARREL -- that's the whole design philosophy -- and I for one am sold on it. Here's the island bear I took 4/29 with the 225 grain SST round from Hornady. Clean, quick one-shot kill at 180 yards.



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