I'm throwing around the idea of building a .338 RCM on a long action. I plan to shoot the 225-250gr bullets. Im thinking of putting a 27" barrel on the gun. Just wondering what everyone thinks about this? just curious i guess.
I gave the .338 RCM and .325wsm both serious consideration for a long time.I'm throwing around the idea of building a .338 RCM on a long action. I plan to shoot the 225-250gr bullets. Im thinking of putting a 27" barrel on the gun. Just wondering what everyone thinks about this? just curious i guess.
I don't know if you are familiar with CDNN Sports in Abilene.I gave the .338 RCM and .325wsm both serious consideration for a long time.
At some point I'm going to either buy a factory Ruger with the 24" barrel to go along with my 20" or take one of my stainless Model 70 actions and build another .375R with a 26 or 28" tube.
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That's pretty cheap just for an action to build on.I don't know if you are familiar with CDNN Sports in Abilene.
They have 338 RCM Ruger 77 Hawkeye and M77 Compact both walnut on sale. $499.
I get emails for their sales.
I'm not too familiar with TX, just thought you could check it out.
Why the 338 RCM? Why not? It is always fun to play with new offerings from the manufacturers.
I find the performance of the aforementioned 22" sporter using 61 grs of powder moving a 225 gr accubond @ 2750 fps very appealing. The Rifle with a 4.5-14 Leupold weighing 7 1/2 lbs yields 31 ft/lb of recoil which is quite tolerable.
I see several on GB right now along with brass and ammo.Another classic ultimate rifle gone by the wayside by it's own manufacturer that would have fit your needs perfectly would have been the model 7 stainless synthetic in 300 SAUM.... I don't think a more exact rifle for your needs was ever produced by a factory. It's a shame they never let this rifle and cartridge exist. I bought one for my son for exactly the reasons you stated, it's a great shooter, super accurate and short, lightweight and powerful. The 300 SAUM with a good x-bullet/partition will handle and do anything the federal will do with ease....not sure if you could find one but it's worth looking for.
+1
The main reason I chose the 338 RCM was because it could be built on a Model 7 Remington action
(Even shorter than a short action Mod 700).
Its purpose was to have a very powerful cartridge in a very light weight and compact rifle for bear
protection. I personally don't like light weight rifles, But while camping in bear country It seems like the right choice for protection and something that a person would carry around with them rather than leave it in camp because it was/is to heavy just to take while taking a walk.
It is very close to the power of the 338 win mag and does not require a long action. Recoil can be brisk, But who cares when it saves you from being on a bears menu.
There are lots of powerful cartridges and this is just one of them. It just happens to work on a very small, Lightweight rifle that works well close end or up to great distances.
J E CUSTOM
Is the main reason you're going 338 RCM over 338 WSM to fit better into the slightly shorter remington short action?
I have a 338 WSM built on a model 70 short action, and it's just a fun little gun. It is my understanding, which could be wrong, that the WSM case has a bit more case capacity... but you guys are all stating performance levels beyond what I am able to get out of my 338wsm with a 24" barrel. Maybe it's just that I"m using H4350 and not RL17? Or I must be missing something about the capability of the RCM case...
Anyways, this is a cool thread. JE Custom, I would love to see your lightweight 338 RCM. My wsm weighs in a touch under 8 lbs fully outfitted, and it's a beast to shoot. I can't imagine what yours would be like at darn near 2 lbs lighter!