I had a chance to run out to the range this afternoon to shoot my little Ruger across the chronograph. Temperature up here was right about 50 degrees and all shots were measured 15 feet from the muzzle.

The first load that I tried was a 210 TSX with 61 grains of Ramshot Big Game. The Ramshot data shows 2729 fps out of a 24 inch barrel with that load. With my 20 inch barrel, it was running right at 2605 fps with and extreme spread of only five feet per second.

The next load that I tried was with a 225 grain Hornady Spire Point. The Hornady manual shows 2600 fps with 59.4 grains of Big Game out of a 20 inch barrel. Ramshot data suggests 2685 out of a 24 inch barrel with 60.5 grains of Big Game. With the 60.5 grain load, I got 2575 out of the 20 inch barrel on my gun with an extreme spread of nine feet per second. Again, a very consistent load.

None of these loads showed any signs of pressure. the primers were nice and rounded and not cratered in any way. The 210 grain TSX is really long, almost as long as a 250 grain .338 bullet. Sixty one grains of Big Game requires significant compression. However, there was little compression with the 225 grain Spire Point. It all fit together really well. I intend to go up half a grain with that load which should put me right at 2600 fps with a 225 grain bullet. Set 2.7 inches high at 100 yards, that load has a max point blank range of 252 yards. Not to shabby for a gun with the little 20 inch barrel, huh?

I think that you meant that the 210 grain TSX is really long.

Sounds good Dave. I reckon I am going to have to buy a chronograph to see how my 338/06 does..as well as my 280, 7mm RM, 300 Wthby, and 404J ...Dang, this reloading habit is getting expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I think that you meant that the 210 grain TSX is really long.

Thanks Frank. Got it corrected.

quote:

Originally posted by adamhunter:
Sounds good Dave. I reckon I am going to have to buy a chronograph to see how my 338/06 does..as well as my 280, 7mm RM, 300 Wthby, and 404J ...Dang, this reloading habit is getting expensive.

Adam, the Hornady manual says you would get 75 to 100 feet more velocity with a 24 inch barrel. I will be interested to hear your results. You can buy this gun in a regular Hawkeye with a 22 inch barrel but I wanted to try the handy little 20 inch barrel.

Dave, and the recoil was......? I had a Sako in 338 Magnum. The recoil was brutal!
Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Dave, and the recoil was......? I had a Sako in 338 Magnum. The recoil was brutal!
Peter

Put a recoil pad on it.
when my wife shoots our 338WMs she says 'it jumps a little'. Lightweight Tikkas.
A 338, properly stocked and handled is never brutal. (OK, I borrowed an 8x57 once that slapped my cheekbone on every shot. I didn't like shooting it.)

Guys, the recoil was really nothing to worry about. Jeffeosso and Michaet458 have been pioneers in this short handy rifle with a compact cartridge concept. When I first heard them talk about this, I was sure the recoil would be brutal and that a break would be required. However, they said that the recoil was actually less. They were right and I was wrong. The recoil of this little gun in nothing to concern you and way less than a .338 Win. Mag. Remember, you are shooting 15 grains or so less powder than a .338 Win. Mag. I had no trouble yesterday shooting 15 round from the bench.

I am excited!!!

I was back at the range this morning with the chronograph. In their manual, Hornday recommends VIHT N-550 with bullets over 200 grains in the .338 RCM. I didn't have any of that but did have a bunch or Ramshot Big Game. Hornady recommends a max load of 59.4 grains of Bg Game with their 225 grain bullet but the Ramshot data recommends 60.5 grains of Big Game with that same bullet. I tried the 60.5 grain load and it was giving me about 2575 fps out of my little 20 inch barrel with no pressure signs. I bumped it up to and even 61 grains and this morning that load gave me an average of 2619 fps with an extreme spread of only 10 fps. Again, no pressure signs. The primers were nice and rounded and on the way home from the range I stopped at Hornady and Todd miked my cases for me. Absolutely no evidence of excessive pressure. Guys, this is a hell of a rifle. Next, put it on paper.

Thanks for the updates. I just put in a good supply of Hornady 225's thinking it would be a good, reasonably priced bullet for moose out of the 338 RCM and you have given me a head start in the reloading arena.

Snowwolfe:

Remember this load is one half grain over Ramshot's max. Start low and work up.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Guys, the recoil was really nothing to worry about. Jeffeosso and Michaet458 have been pioneers in this short handy rifle with a compact cartridge concept..

Pioneers..?
SHR-CCC was around well before Jeff and Mic picked up on it,
...just like the scout Rifle concept was around before the late Jeff Cooper ran with it.


Full Custom Model 7 .338 Federal.




Rem 600 Mohawk carbine .350RemMag(circa. 1960s)



To more recent decades...

model 7 KS 350mag.

Dave,
you know my take.. anything slower than TAC/h335 is too slow!

I was at the range again today with my little .338 RCM. Put it on paper at 50 meters with both 210 TSXs and 225 Hornady Spire Points. I was going to shoot the one that shoots the best but they both shot into tiny little clusters The TSXs are expensive but the 225s kick a bit more. I will probably shoot the Spire Points. Great all around bullet for the .338.

quote:

SHR-CCC was around well before Jeff and Mic picked up on it,

That's funny, do they have big bores, from .416 to .500? SHR-CCC?? I am not so good with abbreviations?



Dave

That 225 Hornady is a very good, all around type bullet in 338 caliber. For expanding horizons I would match it with the 225 Barnes TSX for the heavier missions, POI would be very close I think and you could pick and choose, depending on species!

Michael

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:

Dave

That 225 Hornady is a very good, all around type bullet in 338 caliber. For expanding horizons I would match it with the 225 Barnes TSX for the heavier missions, POI would be very close I think and you could pick and choose, depending on species!

Michael

Actuially Michael, didnt you play around with a 338 WSM ?

I just recieved my 338 RCM Stainless today. I was thinking long term, if the RCM drops off the planet a simple rechamber in 338 WSM and some basic mag box mods would work wouldnt it ?

Do you have the reamer and Dies for such a beast ?

regards
S&F

S&F

Yes, I did play with a 338 WSM, still have two of them as well. Good little cartridge, very much best suited for 225s.

I would think the WSM would indeed work in the RCM, not for sure, but seems logical.

SSK has my reamers, I have dies of course, no extra dies, but dies to load. They are RCBS and I am sure the dies are available.

M

quote:

Originally posted by ShortandFat:

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:

Dave

That 225 Hornady is a very good, all around type bullet in 338 caliber. For expanding horizons I would match it with the 225 Barnes TSX for the heavier missions, POI would be very close I think and you could pick and choose, depending on species!

Michael

Actuially Michael, didnt you play around with a 338 WSM ?

I just recieved my 338 RCM Stainless today. I was thinking long term, if the RCM drops off the planet a simple rechamber in 338 WSM and some basic mag box mods would work wouldnt it ?

Do you have the reamer and Dies for such a beast ?

regards
S&F

I have a plan just in case the RCMs don't succeed. I have 50 rounds of brass. I am going to pick up about 150 more. That should last MY lifetime anyway.

S&F, keep in mind when reloading this cartridge, it is very, very efficient. I had been loading 60.5 grains of Ramshot Big Game with the 225 Hornady and getting 2575 fps. I incrased that load by only half a grain to and even 61 grains and increased velocity by 44 fps. Still no pressure signs. I am going to drop it back a bit, 2600 fps is plenty fast enough for my purposes.