The 300 WSM has been out since about 2000-2001, followed by the 270 WSM, 7 WSM and the 325 WSM and we still hear about them, with the 300 WSM perhaps the leader of the pack. Then Ruger followed in 2008 with their short cased magnum with a 30 degree shoulder as opposed to a 35 degree shoulder, but will the Ruger Compact Magnums survive?

.300 Ruger Compact Magnum
.338 Ruger Compact Magnum
.375 Ruger Compact Magnum
.416 Ruger Compact Magnum

At the time of launching the RCM’s it was said that because Hornady and Ruger are behind the RCM`s with their ammo and rifles, there should be no reason for their eventual failure in the marketplace. What is the position today 6 years later in 2014? Are Ruger still producing the whole line or just some of them? Most RCM's came out with 20-inch barrels - was that a mistake? Some say it is not the cartridge but the rifle that is at fault. For example, bring the .375 RCM out in the Hawkeye African model weighing only 7.75 lbs.

Any opinions?

Santa Claus

I believe the 375 and the 416 will be around for the long haul. On the other hand, the 300 and 338RCM are probably done for.

I really didn't see the purpose of the 300 RCM since we already had the WSM and the Remington Short magnum. It's like Ruger showed up 10 years too late to the party.

The 338 RCM is a nice little cartridge.

The 416 and 375 are not compact magnums that fit in short actions. They fit in standard actions. They aren't called RCMs either.

If Ruger had created the 300 or 338 with the same length case as the the 375R, they would have duplicated the 300 and 340 WBY but in a shorter case that would allow for bullets to be seated out.

From what I read the 300 RCM ammo has been discontinued by Hornady but they just produced a new batch of 338 RCM ammo so this is a good thing. I bought five boxes of 338 RCM ammo from Powder Valley just yesterday to lay in a supply of brass.
Never had the chance to kill anything with my Hawkeye 338 RCM yet but its an amazing rifle. Pretty much any load I tried will shot a 3 shot group at 100 yards at 1 inch or under with no fuss. 20 inch barrel and factory iron sights mine wears a 2x7 scope. It is one of the few bolt rifles I kept after buying my Blaser R8.
I am taking it to the range this week to make sure the sights are on then headed out whitetail hunting with it.

The 300 and 338 are Ruger Compact Magnums. The 375 and 416 are not.

The 338 RCM is basically the equal of the 338/06 in a shorter case.

Pretty much every "new" rifle cartridge invented in the last 25 years or so just duplicated ballistics of an existing wildcat round. There are advantages to having factory ammo and brass. I am glad companies reinvent the wheel on occasion as it gives me an excuse to try new things.

The history of these "boutique" cartridges, imho just to be able to go to SHOT or the various iterations of "_CI" and say "We are players, even have our own super-duper specials(with some perceived advantages over century old standards) is just short of abysmal. They are mostly different answers to a question nobody (outside of their own marketing department asked).

There's nothing really wrong with them, but most of the advantages do come from that company's marketing department talking heads. My suggestion to anyone seriously considering one is to order 300 cases at the same time and reloading dies/shellholder, along with five or six boxes of factory ammunition; so four or five years down the road you can still shoot them.

The industry focus is not about you buying a rifle and hunting with it twenty or thirty years. They're like cars, there's no real $$$ in it for the manufacturers.

The car guys got it figured out, make replacement parts, especially the electronics more expensive to replace down the road three years, than just buying a new car.

I remember when cars nearly all came with a 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty. Today's new cars/trucks are supposed to be so superior, that they come with half that or less. But you get free oil/filter changes...

That's one reason why my 1968 Road Runner coupe cost $2960 (new in fall of 1967), and if I had kept it in good running condition is worth about forty-grand today.

quote:

The 416 and 375 are not compact magnums that fit in shot actions. They fit in standard actions. They aren't called RCMs either.

Scott,

Thanks for this clarification.
Here in Africa components are scarce for the 375 Ruger and the 416 Ruger, and it may get worse over time. We will wait and see where we stand at the 10 year mark.

Santa Claus

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I really didn't see the purpose of the 300 RCM since we already had the WSM and the Remington Short magnum. It's like Ruger sowed up 10 years too late to the party.

The 338 RCM is a nice little cartridge.

The 416 and 375 are not compact magnums that fit in shot actions. They fit in standard actions. They aren't called RCMs either.

Scott knows his stuff

I love my 338 RCM. Fantastic little cartridge and perfect for the compact Hawkeye rifle.

As with any new cartridge I recommend one buy enough ammo or brass to last a long time. Just in case they stop making them.

As already noted the 375/416 Ruger’s are 2.58” case length vs 2.1” for the 300 RCM and 2.015” for the 338 RCM.

As long as Hornady offers 375/416 Ruger brass, or the 375 Ruger Basic (straight 2.6” cylinder brass) you’ll be able to form any of the four cartridges though you may need to neck turn the RCMs…

Alternatively, folks that I know formed brass for their 30/35 Newton cartridges from belted magnum brass once all sources for 30/35 Newton brass dried up – this was using original Newton mfg/chambered rifles. Just trim the brass to length if using 375 H&H length brass and run into a properly sized Newton reloading die set – or just neck resize if using 308/358 Norma brass. Two to three 3 full pressure loadings would blow the body fully out leaving only a very thin line visually showing where the belt/body junction original was. Once the body walls were fully straightened – the brass, depending upon manufacturer, was good for another 8-15 full pressure reloadings.

So as noted in the preceding paragraph – you won’t run out of brass for either the standard length 375/416 Ruger or the 300/338 RCM cartridges by using belted brass and blowing out the bodies. The same cannot be easily said for either SAUM or WSM cartridges…

Also as noted - it's always a good idea to stash away a good supply of any small run brass if a proper headstamp or odd case size (SAUM/WSM) raises it ugly head...

Yes, the RCM's will be reproducible. A reassuring point.

More importantly, I see the "standard length (less-than-300WinMag)" Ruger Magnum as enduring if not growing. The 375Ruger is here to stay, and that means that the 416Ruger will survive in its shadow. It would be hard to design something better as an entry level dangerous game cartridges for Africa or Alaska.

I might have to get me a 416Ruger someday. But it would be awfully tempting just to use a 375Ruger and have a 'his and hers' with hot and mild loads (4600-5200ftlb for hot, and 3400-4000for mild).

I started shooting Hunter Class Benchrest a little over 20 years ago. I had all these ideas about a "Magic" cartridge. A BR gunsmith told me then, "build what the guys who are winning National Championships are using. When you start beating them, then built your own special..."

That was good advice then, as it is today.

The "Magic Pixie Dust" Hornady loads the 375/416 with is not available, so much like the Wbys reloaders seem not to match the advertised velocity. The 3/8ths inch shorter cases show no advantages in the real world over the H&H or Rigby versions of a hundred years or so earlier.

I could understand the logic of new case design if it filled a need. None of them do, and none safely reach the speed of the RUM cartridges. If you can cycle a bolt on a timed/accurate fire course, and tell the difference between the new shorties over the old standards you are an exceptional person.

If you want one, buy one. Please, cut the rest of of us some slack and don't try and tell us it is any better hunting big game. I killed my first Elk with an eleven pound Hawken percussion rifle with a 35" barrel. The next one with a Super 14 in 35 Remington. No rifle I have hear of, let alone owned since then has done a better job.

I don't recall seeing the 375 and 416 Ruger referred to formally as Compact Magnums. I have owned a 300 and it is too close to the 300 WSM. The 416 is too much of a niche market. I doubt that anything but the .375 will survive. I believe that the 375 will eventually eclipse the H&H in new production guns, but only because it fits a standard action. It also is a versatile cartridge. I could get by easily with it and a 22-250.

The 375 and 416 are Ruger Magnums but not "Compact Magnums". Only the 300 RCM and 338 RCM are Compacts. The 338 RCM is equivalent in capacity to the 338-06 while the 375 Ruger has five grains more capacity than the venerable 375H&H.

Finally had the opportunity to take a deer with my 338 RCM. About a 50 yard shot with the deer facing me so I put one in his chest.
Boom, dead deer, he never moved an inch. Same could be said for a lot of calibers but this is a left hand rifle with CRF and a walnut stock with factory iron sights, 20 inch barrel and scope rings that I bought new for $500.
Whats not to like

There are specialty cartridges and common need cartridges. The specialty cartridges' market is a little crowded but the common need cartridge market is totally saturated.Any newcomer in the later market could expect a short modest existence at best. roger
.

Rainy day so thought I'd throw a few more comments into the mix.

The WSMs -
Typically delivered with 24" barrel because the case capacity and performance is very close to that delivered by the typical 2.5" belted magnum cartridges.

The SAUMS -
Typically delivered with 22" barrels and performance is very close to that delivered by Ackley Improved 03/06 based cartridges.

The RCMs -
Typically delivered with 20" barrels and performance is very close to that delivered by standard high performance 03/06 based cartridges.

The Rugers (.375/.416 2.58" cases) -
Typically delivered with both 20" and 23" barrels and performance matches or exceeds typical factory 2.5"/2.85" belted magnum cartridges; performance is slightly less than the full-length Weatherby cartridges.

Overall benefits of the WSM, SAUM, RCM cartridges -
Delivery of 3.4" magazine length action cartridge performance in a 2.9"-3.10" magazine length action which many deem to be stiffer and therefore more inheritly accurate.

Benefits of the 20" barrel -
Delivery of "traditional length rifle" performance from a "carbine length rifle".

Are carbine length rifles chambered for cartridges delivering the performance of traditional 3.4"-3.6" magazine length 03/06 to 2.85" belted magnum cartridge performance for everyone? No. But those individuals who have tried/used them, very often their "handiness" without loss of performance to result in them receiving more field time while their less-handy traditional length rifles collect more safe time.