Last week, mostly out of boredom, I traded off one of my 9.3X62 rifles on a .338 Ruger Compact Magnum. I got dies, brass, and 210 grain Barnes TSX bullets from Midway. Today, I loaded up ten rounds. When I get the rifle I will put it on paper and then give it a good workout and let you know how it works.

Interested to hear what you think. the 9.3x62 is so popular it seems amongst those that have one. I really like the idea of the 210 TSx in the 338 caliber though. I will be curious to see what kind of velocities you get with that cartridge in handloaded varieties, if you have a chrono.

Good luck!

Fish, I would never be without a 9.3X62. I still have a Blaser in that caliber. I just needed a new project.

I do have a chrony and when I can, I will post the results. I am shooting RamShot Big Game. I will try that first and then maybe RL 15. Accurate also had data for the .338 RCU. I am really interested to see what this little gun will do from a 20 inch barrel.

Dave, wasn't there a book...the Agony and the Odyssey? I hope you don't wind up re-writing it!!!!

Biebs:

I may be the only guy on AR with a .338 RCM. With the exception of the .300 WSM, I don't think any of the short magnums have done very well. I know a bunch of people at Hornady and I though that the RCM was a very well thought out cartridge so I though I would give it a try. It doesn't have a rebated rim like the WSMs. The rim is .532 and the shoulder is .517, maybe just enough taper to make it feed smothly. Case capacity is 72 grains of water so it holds less than the .325 WSM. Ruger and Hornady liken it to the .338 Win Mag but in truth, I think it falls somewhere between the .338-06 and the .338 Win Mag. Another reason I picked it was because Ruger makes a purpose built 6.75 pound rifle with a 20 inch barrel just for the .300 and .338 RCMs.... light and handy. I will let you know how the recoil is.

I have read that Winchester gave up on the idea of a .338 WSM and went with the 8mm because they couldn't get the 250 grain .338 bullets to work. Who cares. I plan to shoot 210 TSX bullets and will also try the 225 grain MRX bullets. That should work and provide less recoil as well.

What the hell, it will probably be dead in seveal years. Who cares if you have brass right.

I have been shooting a 338-06 for years but have been damn tempted to buy the gun you have. As you say, purpose built. I have seen them for sale pretty darn cheap too. Throw the NECG peep on it and have one of the handiest woods rifle around. I may have to pull the trigger...

PS: The 210 gr Partition is a killer bullet IME.

I built a 338/06 years ago... my 338 Mags have just collected dust in the gunsafe ( but it is against my religion to get rid of accurate rifles)...

I've never gotten bored with mine.

my time for experimenting has been with varmint calibers and working on learning the world of switch barrels on Ruger and Model 70 actions.