Seems that with all of the lighter and heavier bullets available in .338, could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America? I wonder if it could be easily chambered in a Winchester short action meant for the WSM Calibers?

22wrf,

Why in the world would you only want one gun?


GWB

Becasue I am getting old and gray, and need to free up some of the money I have in all of the other guns I have around here so that I can do some hunting. I want one, lightweight, all purpose, gun that will easily handle anything in NOrth America (I don't think I will ever make it to Africa becasue I don't like to fly but I can take a ship to Alaska ).

You could take a Ship to Africa! I hope you like fishing though because that would take forever...

quote:

Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
You could take a Ship to Africa! I hope you like fishing though because that would take forever...

Nah, I crossed the Atlantic on a ship 4 times courtesy of the United States Navy and thats enough for me in a lifetime.

22WRF,

You need to consider driving to Alaska. In 2003, my 16 year old son and I made the trip. We went to northern Saskatchewan and did a week bear hunt, then drove west over to the Alaska Hwy and headed north. We did the typical tourist loop in Alaska - Tok, north and over to Fairbanks, tried to get to Prudhoe Bay but ran into a forest fire; back to Fairbanks where we did the Celebration of the Midnight Sun (summer solstice); then to Denali for a tour of Mt. McKinley (I lived in Colorado and saw lots of 14,000' mountains, and they are nothing compared to a 20,000' mountain), on to Anchorage, down to Homer; did a day halibut fishing charter on Turnagin Sound leaving out of Ninilchek; back to Anchorage for some short excursions into the bush, and then headed home. It was a couple of the best months in my whole life. We didn't do any hunting while in Alaska because my son had to get back to school. But that is on my agenda as soon as I get him out of college.

The point of my post is that everyone needs to make the drive to Alaska. The country is absolutely spectacular - and it goes on and on for 3,000 miles. You can't take enough pictures to capture the magnificence and splendor. Pictures can't do it justice.

We pulled a small 5th wheel that let us camp lots of places. We only spent 3 nights in RV parks - the rest of the time was in roadside parks, state parks, gravel pits (lots and lots of these along the Alaska Hwy). Fuel was our biggest cost, but I would do it again today and not give a thought to the cost of fuel. The experience is priceless.

Side note - taking our rifles through Canada was no big deal. You just need to read the regs. At that time it cost us $35.00 for 3 firearms and the Canadian permit was good for 90 days, and renewable at no charge for a second 90 days. No handguns, no semi-auto's, all barrels have to be 18 1/4". We were using Marlin 1895's in 45-70 (with hot ammo) - they really do a job on the black bears.

Regarding your question - I have been following the Ruger / Hornady development and I have now had a Husqvarna rebarrelled to 375 Ruger. I absolutely love it. I have done load development and it shoots very nice groups with bullets weighing from 200 gr up to 300 gr. My gut feeling is that the 30 caliber RCM and the 338 RCM will be terrific rounds. I believe that the 338 RCM will be suitable for any NA game. I must admit that I would use the 375 on the big bears. From personal experience I can tell you that bears are amazingly tough and it takes a lot of well placed energy to put one down quickly.

The only reservation about new or unusual calibers is finding ammo when you are in remote areas. The standards - 270, 30-30, 308, 30-06, 300 mag, etc. can be purchased in most hardward stores even in small towns. A new caliber would be a problem. There are several very good gun shops in Anchorage that carry everything, it's just the remote areas that are of concern. So take plenty of ammo for the caliber that you need.

Start planning NOW. You'll love it.

SD Shooter

I'd be content with the ballistics, I can only wonder though on how smooth it feeds and also do not know if the round capacity is as high as a 338/06.

In a 22-23" bbl gun, I could be content with either 338RCM or 338/06, short or long action would be no real issue in that gun.

Someone using factory loads would be less at risk of not finding factory loads in a 338 Win Mag, but I'd be very happy with a 338/06 if I had my load gear/components, if one bought a 338 RCM, they could easily plan for stocking up on a good load or two.

I'd guess a 225 premi bullet like partition would be a good one load does it all in a round like the RCM or the '06 version as well.

That comment above on the 375, well, might ease the pucker factor, but if you shoot like you should and need to regardless of what you carry, a 338 should do fine I would believe based on it's track record. A fast handling gun w/low powered scope or low range variable cranked down should serve well.

I would never argue with a one gun hunter choosing a 338 bore or similar for NA.

I was just thinking this myself today.

My wife has a 300 wsm mod 70. The thing will only hold two down with one in the chamber. When I get my hands on some cases I plan on trying them in the magazine to see if they will feed. If so I may get a 338 ruger barrel and swap it out.

If so then screw you Jamison. I take that back screw you anyway Jamison.

RMiller,

According to the two articles that I read in the magazines, it will be close to a year before the new 338 hits the retail market. Hornady had not yet released the technical drawings on the two new RCM calibers, so the company that makes the chamber reamers can't do anything yet about a rechamber, even if you wanted to neck down the 375 brass.

Patience is a virtue, especially when dealing with new guns, ammo, etc.

Good Luck,

SD Shooter

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Seems that with all of the lighter and heavier bullets available in .338, could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America? I wonder if it could be easily chambered in a Winchester short action meant for the WSM Calibers?

There is already "ONE" that fits that description, the .338 Win. Mag !!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by bowhuntrrl:

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Seems that with all of the lighter and heavier bullets available in .338, could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America? I wonder if it could be easily chambered in a Winchester short action meant for the WSM Calibers?

There is already "ONE" that fits that description, the .338 Win. Mag !!!!!

I have two .338 Win mags and they are going out the door when I get this new .338 short mag. The win mags need a long action and they are heavy. I want a superlight gun that I can carry around easily. I am not afraid of recoil so I don't mind a light gun with heavy bullets.

ruger claims 4 rcm's down on their wsm guns designed for 3 down.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
ruger claims 4 rcm's down on their wsm guns designed for 3 down.

That's interesting, Boomy.......

I'm not quite sure the question makes much sense, really.

.358 Winnie is a great round, fully capable of anything in NA and it's a short action. .350RM falls into the short action too. But the .35's can run the gamut of 125gr pistol bullets all the way out to 250gr. bullets.

Does the .338 really offer anything more out to 300 yards that hasn't already been done?

How about the .325 WSM? 125gr. to 220's (even 250's with Woodleighs...) - 220gr. at 2800fps is near 4k fpe...

IMO, .338's are the "caliber du jour". Nothing wrong with them - they are great bullets and it's a great caliber. I simply question if they are anything truly "special".

the 2.17" version should be the same capacity as the 376 steyr but a true short action and no strange bolt face for those who care.

338 rcm 2.15" case 68 grains capacity
300 rcm 2.1" case 72 grains capacity
steyr 2.35" case 81 grains capacity

or just modify a 376 steyr with ruger brass for a 90+ grains 300 @ 2500 no problemo medium length action h+h equivalent

quote:

Seems that with all of the lighter and heavier bullets available in .338, could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America?

I thought it was called the .35 Whelen?

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
I thought it was called the .35 Whelen?

.350 Rem Mag -

he did say it was for a short action...but isn't that relative too?

I will have to agree on a custom 35 whelen not any factory rem with a 1 in 14 twist and short throat.

in a short action the 350 rem is cool.

35 whelen or a 45-70

Anyone shoot pronghorn or mountain goat with a 45-70???

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
I thought it was called the .35 Whelen?

.350 Rem Mag -

he did say it was for a short action...but isn't that relative too?

x2
Cheers...
Con

Because I reload, ammo quantity is no object. So my vote carries to the .340 weatherby.

quote:

I simply question if they are anything truly "special".

I didn't ask if it was special. I realize there are lots of alternatives already out there, but As I said, I have two .338 Win Mags that are heavy and I want to replace them with one gun. since I am familiar with .338 and have all kinds of bullets, I thought this new round would be the ticket in a nice short action Model 70 classic weighing about 7.5 pounds with a scope. One gun for everything!

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

Anyone shoot pronghorn or mountain goat with a 45-70???

Can you say, Kentucky Windage?

I one took a shot at a 'yote with my Smith 625 in .45acp at around 600 yards. Bullet landed about 5 feet away from the 'yote. I think I held about 20 feet OVER. LOL!

Back to the post:

How 'bout a 338-.350RM wildcat for something different?

I would just order or build a lightweight 338 win mag, it is an ideal 1 gun for all N.A. The problem with the new ruger rounds is you will never duplicate the factory balistics with handloads and factory rounds won't be easy to find in smaller locations.

I have considered this same question at length, as I am looking for a light weight mountain rifle for game up to elk, that will stop them fast before they run over the cliff. I have decided to go with the .325 WSM, which is proving to be reasonably popular and living up to its hype.

If Winchester builds a light weight stainless synthetic Model 70 in .325 WSM when they go back into production this coming year, that is what I will buy. Otherwise, I'll buy the Kimber Montana, hope that I get one of the good ones, and try replacing the plastic follower with one out of a Remington or Winchester short magnum action.

Dave

Just buy or build a 9,3x62 and be happy! If those fine folks in Africa thought it suitable for Cape Buffalo, Rhino, and Elephant what would you shoot that it wouldn't handle with one clean shot out to three hundred yards? There are a lot more three hundred yard rifles than three hundred yard shooters.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

quote:

I thought it was called the .35 Whelen?

.350 Rem Mag -

he did say it was for a short action...but isn't that relative too? [/QUOTE]

x2
Cheers...
Con[/QUOTE]

Otherwise known as the Pigmy Whelen Express.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
Otherwise known as the Pigmy Whelen Express.

LMAO! Nice!

Don't forget that the velocities that the .338 RCM achieve are with proprietary powder and loading techniques and will not be able to be duplicated by handloaders. If you want to settle for factory loads, then go for it !!!

Even if the the 338 RCM can't duplicate factory velocities, the handloader should be able to get performance somewhere in between the 338-06 and the 338 Win Mag. IMO, that is alot of performance from a short action, lightweight rifle. The 338 RCM should be able to outperform the 350 RemMag by a slight margin in the velocity department, but it does give up some frontal area to do it. On the other hand, the bullet selection for the 338 caliber is vast. 160-250 grain bullets does indeed make this a very versatile caliber. I think of it as an improved 350 RemMag. I really don't see a down side to this caliber. It isn't a supermagnum or a supermidget... it seems to me to be a sensible reasonably powerful cartridge that is well designed to fit in existing short acion rifles.

Hondo

I couldn't have said it better myself. Now all I have to do is figure out what action to build it on. Winchester or Kimber, and wait for reamers and dies to be produced.

Its seems Hornady only offer SST pills in factory fodder .300&.338RCM....
a 180@3000mv and 225@2800mv sensibly deserves at least an InterBond(or better)option....especially since you have no choice but to rely on their factory rounds to get the hyper velocities.
that dont mean i dont like RCM, just need some smarter loadings.

.300 and .338 Ruger Short Magnums! Two more answers to questions that nobody asked.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
.338, could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America?

Sure! When donkeys fly and we forget that there ever was an 8mm X 57 roger

I have a nice light FN actioned .338-06 that will fill this spot nicely. It can't weigh much over 8-8.25 pounds with a Nikon 2-7x.

quote:

could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America?

Chasing the holy graile? The round you're looking for was designed in 1906.....

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
I will have to agree on a custom 35 whelen not any factory rem with a 1 in 14 twist and short throat.

in a short action the 350 rem is cool.

35 whelen or a 45-70

Anyone shoot pronghorn or mountain goat with a 45-70???

Hey Boomie...I have a friend that shot a Mt. Goat with a "45-70 Short Mag." (.45 Colt) out of a 94 Win....

quote:

Originally posted by Low Wall:

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
I will have to agree on a custom 35 whelen not any factory rem with a 1 in 14 twist and short throat.

in a short action the 350 rem is cool.

35 whelen or a 45-70

Anyone shoot pronghorn or mountain goat with a 45-70???

Hey Boomie...I have a friend that shot a Mt. Goat with a "45-70 Short Mag." (.45 Colt) out of a 94 Win....

ok...

the 300 rcm has the same capacity as the 9,3x62 so if you want a compact all American medium bore a wildcat maybe neck it up to 35, 9,3 or 375...jmho

the 375-300 RCM should max out at classic 375 h+h velocities with less powder and recoil.

a for real 375 h+h power in a short action...now that is sumtn'

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:

quote:

Seems that with all of the lighter and heavier bullets available in .338, could this new Hornady offering be the proverbial one gun for North America?

I thought it was called the .35 Whelen?

The one perfact rifle is the 375 Ruger .,.,It would be the 358 Norma but it never caught on ...