Just curious if anyone knows how well the new Ruger Compact Magnum rifles (chambered only for a 300 RCM or 338RCM) are selling along with the Ruger African & Alaskan (chambered only for 375 Ruger).

It would be great if these Ruger rifles were offered in other chamberings.

Except for a few here on the AR forums with .375 Ruger rifles I don't personally know anyone with any of the mentioned chamberings.

My impression is that the .375 Ruger is doing well and that the RCM's are basically dead on arrival.

The RCM's are possibly the most ill conceived pointless cartridges ever to be invented by man IMHO.

Of the more than 1,500 shooters in our local Gun club, not one that I have met at the range owns any of them, including the .375 Ruger.

There may be some I am not aware of, but they must be very few as I have been active in range management there for 17 years and I have never seen one or had anyone ask about them. I know the cartridges are not nearly that old, but mention that background as an example of why I would be relatively wired into whatever is popular there. So far they are a no-show on local popularity charts.

I have a .375 Ruger on a Win M70 push feed action that Toomany Tools put together for me. Other than the one I own I'm kind of like vapodog, I don't know anyone else with one. I'm very happy with my .375 though. While it isn't an H&H which I want as well it is close enough to keep me satisfied for now. I don't know anyone with an actual Ruger African or Alaskan.

I have a good friend who has the "African" version of the .375 Ruger. He has been very happy with it, having taken it on safari to Namibia last summer. I have been tempted buy one myself, but just can't justify it as I already own a .375 H&H that I'm quite fond of.

As far as the Compact Magnums go, I have seen one on a dealers shelf, but that's about it.

just for giggles go to the Remington website and look at the M-700 and M-7 rifles....look at all the calibers available and then count the number over .30 caliber.....I counted a .35 Whelen in one of the M-700 offerings and one over .30 cal in the M-7 (was it a .350 Mag or a .325 WSM?....)

This might suggest that very few folks are buying the larger calibers.....or Remington would be offering them...

Also the only offering over .30 cal from the M-70 line at the Winchester website is one gun in .325 WSM.....go figure

If you want a .338 Win Mag you should go the Howaby!

the 1 over 30 in the R7 would be the 350 Rem Mag. Ruger is also currently chambering both the 350 and 35 Whelen.

i actually have not even seen a RCM, and magnums of all flavors are popular of shelves around here. I think it was not that bright of a move on rugers part, should have learned from Rems mistake....Winchester has the 2.8" mags locked down. and i have only seen 1 375 at bass pro. what ruger should have done, was just necked down the 375 at the same length. that at least set them apart from a crowded market

There are people with 300RCM and 338RCM rifles in Australia still unable to get a consistent supply of ammunition.

Some mates and I are awaiting the arrival of a 35/300RCM reamer ... we'll be stocking up on brass big time!
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by DGR Shooter:
I have a good friend who has the "African" version of the .375 Ruger. He has been very happy with it, having taken it on safari to Namibia last summer. I have been tempted buy one myself, but just can't justify it as I already own a .375 H&H that I'm quite fond of.

I would be happy with one, too. I think it is a very excellent cartridge and a good rifle. But, I am like you, I already have a .375 H&H, a .376 Steyr, a .375 NE rimless, and a .375 Winchester (lever). I just don't need any more .375s.

I bought an Hawkeye African this summer, but have not came around doing any reloading so far, nor hunting with it.

But it has been on the range with factory ammo, and it is a real shooter.
The recoil is on par or actally lesser then in my late M70 Safari in 375 H&H.

Duplicating the "queen" in all aspects in a lighter and handier package, the 375 Ruger Hawkey African will be with me for a loooooong time

No problem getting brass localy or from the USA, so I´m stocked up for years to come.

Well be used on moose and perhaps bear the next fall, and also most likely Namibia in a couple of years.
Really looking forward to start reloading for this one

At the gunshop

Just wondering why this question was asked in mediums? Comparing what one sees at the range is probably not a very valid sampling. You see, of all the big bores I have seen at the range (not including US blackpowder rounds (45/70, etc) i have either brought or invited the owner at 99.5% of the time.

For instance, i have never, not once, seen ANYTHING larger than .458 at the range that wasn't a friend of mine ...

If "what you see at the range" meant anything, then there are 6 double rifles in the whole of houston.

The 375 ruger is selling very well, and performs to expecations, and can be reloaded to the same level. Works as designed in a somewhat cool, and CHEAP rifle

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Just wondering why this question was asked in mediums? Comparing what one sees at the range is probably not a very valid sampling. You see, of all the big bores I have seen at the range (not including US blackpowder rounds (45/70, etc) i have either brought or invited the owner at 99.5% of the time.

For instance, i have never, not once, seen ANYTHING larger than .458 at the range that wasn't a friend of mine ...

If "what you see at the range" meant anything, then there are 6 double rifles in the whole of houston.

The 375 ruger is selling very well, and performs to expecations, and can be reloaded to the same level. Works as designed in a somewhat cool, and CHEAP rifle

The original question included the Ruger Compact Magnums 300 & 338.

Well, Jeffe, that may tell you something about Houstonites, but it doesn't tell you anything about the rest of the country, particularly not about shooters in this part of Oregon.

For all I know .375 Rugers may be selling like hot dogs everywhere else, but they are not doing so here, unless they are being bought on the black market. Three of the four gun store owners in this area belong to our range, and the fourth is a member of the same lodge as I. None have ordered in or sold any .375 Rugers yet.

That, I agree, doesn't mean there are NONE here, but it does mean they are not a big seller here. Ditto "not a big seller here" for the Ruger Short Mags.

Some .375 Ruger brass is selling here, mainly to folks like me. I use it as "basic brass" for my Newtons and several other chamberings, and am glad to get it. So do several of my acquaintances.

AC

quote:

Originally posted by mmaggi:
Just curious if anyone knows how well the new Ruger Compact Magnum rifles (chambered only for a 300 RCM or 338RCM) are selling along with the Ruger African & Alaskan (chambered only for 375 Ruger).

It would be great if these Ruger rifles were offered in other chamberings.

The two rifles chambered for .375 Ruger have been languishing in local rack for months. Three or four .375H&H guns are long gone. I was not even aware there were RCMs out there.

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
My impression is that the .375 Ruger is doing well and that the RCM's are basically dead on arrival.

The RCM's are possibly the most ill conceived pointless cartridges ever to be invented by man IMHO.

+1

Dirk

I have seen a few of each on the new ruger magnums. The .375 makes some sence to me,
But what ticks me off about the hole family, is that I like the rifles.
The hawkeyes with the banded front sight and the flip down reat apre a nice looking usfull set up.
Now make one like that in 35 whelen and or 308.00 winand I will come looking.
...tj3006

I visit my local range at least twice a week and have never seen one outside the gun store yet.
Although if I did not already own a 375 I would probably buy one.

We must be more progressive at our range in the sticks here in Georgia. I've seen 4 or 5 300 RCM's and 1 in 338.

I received one as a gift in 300 RCM a few weeks ago, posted a quick review on this forum. Damn thing shoots!

Got reloading data from Hornady. Keeps you about 100-150 fps below factory. The case is actually slightly SHORTER than a 308. If I end up not liking the cartridge I will rechamber to a 308--early results on my first handloads are that it is faster than a similarly loaded 308 with same weight bullet--I don't know enough to understand why, but the loading specs are for powders I don't use in the 308 typically.

The rifle has only a 20" barrel. I wonder if they are pushing pressure envelopes to get the enhanced performance, but so far the cartridge performs well, but it may be one that a lot of other cartridges are really close to at the end of the day--right now I'm getting 200 fps more than my 308's with the same weight bullet.....

The 375 ruger seems to be selling well up north.I have 2 of them and I know a few guys with them as well.Can't wait to get my hands on the new 416ruger

Hey All,

I have a 375 Ruger which I like very much. It is the African version with a 23" barrel. I have been reloading with H4350 and have been very satisfied. I can put 260 grain Accubonds, 270 Hornady Spitzers and 300 grain Hornady RN into an 1" group. The Accubonds will shoot into 1/2" three shot groups. Haven't tried and solids yet but they are next.

Improvements in this rifle, trigger is actually adjustable and breaks very cleanly (big improvement), the open sights are very functional, and the rifle weighs about 2 pounds less then my CZ 375 H&H.

Wish they would have put on a better recoil pad, and put the front sling swivel on the barrel.

I recommend this rifle to those who are looking for a handier, lighter medium bore then the standard weight 375 H&H.

Just my $0.02.

Have not any knowledge of the RCM's. I do not think that I have ran across one in person. It seems as though the 375 Ruger sells fairly well up here. I have an African and and I am having two Alaskan's customized. One is for my son - McMillan classic, 22" Lilja barrel, NECG barrel band fiber optic front sight, barrel band for front swivel, trigger job. Mine = is the same with the exceptions of Bansner stock (was going with Rimrock, but no longer to be had) and a 23" barrel. Hopeful, within a couple of more months I will have these in hand.

I have both the African and Alaskan versions. As someone else noted, even the African is lighter than my old .375 Model 70 and quite accurate to boot.

There are a bunch of 375 Rugers in Alaska.I see them at about every gun store i go in.I know a bunck of people who own them.

quote:

Originally posted by dgr416:
There are a bunch of 375 Rugers in Alaska.I see them at about every gun store i go in.I know a bunck of people who own them.

My observation also. I wouldn't mind having the African myself.