338 Fed or 338 RCM?

[Scott Spencer]

I suppose I'm disappointing some but I've got the 338WM and 308 for sale. I'll do some soul searching and see what I want to do. I may go with a varmint caliber, I may just buy a regular Ruger 338WM, I might re-barrel my Ruger .280 with a 24" AI conversion, and rebarrel my Win Mod 70 featherweight 30-06 because the best it does is 1.5" at 100 yds.

So many options to choose from so I'll just not rush to a decision right now.

 

[SJB358]

Scott, how did you ever make out selling your 338? Another option some others threw out was a firebreathing 45-70 Guide Gun. I recently grabbed one and man, it is alot of fun and as accurate as my bolt guns. Very easy to load for and would be a nice additional big bore gun to have in your safe. Scotty

 

[Scott Spencer]

Scotty - I sold the .338 and the .308. Sitting on some money now and have no idea what I am going to do. My gunsmith said he would AI my 280 for me for $125. He just built himself one and he believes the .280AI will eventually become a factory cartridge. My factory .280 (Ruger M77) is shooting sub-moa right now.

He will build me a 338-06 AI with a stainless Douglas barrel (that is who he likes to use) for about $700. Pac-Nor will do the 338-06AI for $580 (fit to my action and square my action).

Doing both would give me nothing but wildcat guns (280AI and 338-06AI) leaving me with no factory gun, and no .30 cal, in my cabinet.

I've never done anything other than shoot a factory gun. I'm uncertain about my decisions and feel like every decision would/could be a mistake. I spoke to Jim (JD338) about all of this for 1/2 an hour and still can't pull the trigger.

 

[SJB358]

What about a regular 338-06. I like the AI part, cause you get a little extra speed, but really the regular version would be pretty awesome with 210's and 225's. Plus, you would have the ability to use 180gr Accubonds in the 338-06 and get darn near 300 Mag speeds out them. I know they wouldn't be long range missiles, but out to 400, they would be awesome. Seems like a tough choice. I would leave the Ruger 280 unmolested. It sounds like it shoots way to well. The 338-06 would fill your gap and still give you plenty of horsepower for bigger game, if you ever got to go again. Or maybe a 35 Whelen. Either one is a pleasure to load and shoot. With a custom job like that, I bet you would leave your others behind! Scotty

 

[6mm Remington]

Scott I'd make one of the rifles into a 338-06 for all of the larger stuff you might ever hunt on your list, and keep the .280 for most everything else, especially the way you say it shoots! Now for you smaller fun gun from varmints to deer how about a 6mm Remington. It's a great cartridge and it's easy to find brass for even if Remington has all but dropped it in rifles. It's a better round than the .243 Winchester!! Any takers on that one? :lol:

 

[SJB358]

6mm, you are right on with the 338-06! I believe you are right about the 6mm, even though I have a 243! If I didn't already have a Whelen and 338 Win Mag, the 338-06 would be tops for alot of hunting. The 06 based big bores are some great cartridges. Efficiency is through the roof and big bullets are just plain awesome. Scotty

 

[killdeernow]

Scott,

As a 338 WM owner, I’m teary eyed right now. Especially after looking at your beautiful deer you took last fall. IMHO, the 338 WM has enough bullet selection, that you won’t be over-gunned for a deer hunt. For example, the 180 Grain AccuBond would be perfect. But IT’S GONE!!!! NOOOOOOOO…

As many have said previous to my late post, the 338 Federal and Ruger don’t have the selection. They also might not make the cut in a few years. Trust me on this, I am a proud owner of a 300 SAUM (thank God for Nosler) and a 223 WSSM (Winchester still sells some of the ammo); both of which are DEAD (however, I still love them).

But my opinion is severely subjective! Heck, I’m so jealous of the Over-Gunned Club that my mission this autumn is to take a Coyote with a 210 Partition lobbed from my 338 WM (I don’t know if that would even make the cut)!

Every option you list are winners. As Dr. Mike and Jim said, the 06 and 280 are more than enough (even one of those are enough). As for the 338-06, sounds like a winner. I had to scramble to midwayusa and look it up. The numbers look like it’s a DRT cartridge.

Good luck w/your decision. I know it can be complex, tough and utterly confusing. Please let us know what you end up purchasing.

 

[Scott Spencer]

Hey Rob -

Part of me wishes I hadn't sold the .338 now. I didn't like the 26" barrel and not even thinking about it, I could have easily had it cut and re-crowned at 22 or 23".

I bought a new Ruger M77 Hawkeye .270 that is now with Pac-Nor (they should get it next week if they haven't already got it) that is being converted into a .338-06 A-Square. I think it will meet my needs for a larger caliber gun with some serious thump with a 200 AB or 210 NP at a distance I am comfortable shooting at.

My battery will consist of my .280, my .30-06, and this 338-06. For a pure fun gun I may look into the .257 Roberts next year. :grin:

 

[DrMike]

For a pure fun gun I may look into the .257 Roberts next year.

Another great cartridge.

 

[killdeernow]

Scott,

Good call on keeping the 06 and converting the 270. That is an impressive battery indeed. What specifics did you give to Pac-Nor (length, contour, fluted, type, etc)? You'll have to keep us posted on the results when it returns.

Also, can't argue with the 257 Roberts.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have usually had a .338 in some form or another in the safe for the past 45 years. Most of that time it was one of (3) .338 Win Mag's that I owned at various times. All were for elk hunting either Rocky Mountain or Roosevelt elk.

Presently, I own a .338 Federal and a .340 Weatherby Mag. The reason for this choice is simple. I am physically disabled and can not hunt above 4000 feet elevation. I can, however, in the state of Washington shoot an elk from my automobile while parked on a jeep trail or dirt road. This is where the .340 Weatherby comes into the picture for cross canyon shots at elk. I can launch a 250 AB grain bullet at 2900 fps with a BC of .575 for cross canyon shooting.

I can also hunt slowly and carefully at lower elevations in Western Washington for Roosevelt elk in the Olympic mountains. Most of this hunting is heavily vegitated and shots of more than 100 yards are rare. This is where my short Sako rifle chambered for .338 Federal enters the picture for this type of heavy brush hunting. I can hunt with the .338 Federal and 210 NP handloads at 2600 fps make a great brush buster load for elk.

 

[SJB358]

OT3, you have both situations well covered down on! Can't wait to hear if you can put that 340 on an elk. Should be pretty dramatic! Scotty

 

[Guy Miner]

"I can launch a 250 AB grain bullet at 2900 fps with a BC of .575 for cross canyon shooting. "

You know - that's a pretty tough combo to beat... Those Accubonds really are impressive. Terminal results similar to the Partition, and terrific longish range accuracy... Heck of a bullet. That's why I'm running the 260 AccuBond from my .375 H&H... It doesn't have as high a BC as the .338 bullet - but it's pretty doggone good for such a cartridge. Makes longish range shots much easier...

Best of luck to you this season OT3!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Guy, the 250 AB seems to be building a follpowing with many .375 whatever owners. It is neat to have an accurate mid weight bullet that will fly well for long range. You guys need to get in on the ride!

 

[Alaska]

Why go backwards the Win 70 in 338 Win is one of the best rifles made.........and the 338 Win ......a great round!

YOU CAN GET 2950 FPS WITH 225GR BULLETS AND RELOADER 19 .........GREAT SHOOTER!

YOU CAN SHOOT 1 YARD TO 500 YARDS + ON ELK..............I WILL NEVER TRADE OR SELL MY WIN 70 IN 338 WIN MAG!

 

[Scott Spencer]

Hey Rob,

Good timing....My rifle is about ready. I talked with Amy at Pac-Nor a little over a week ago and she said my threads were not only being cut but my rifle should be ready before the end of the month!!

Since I liked my wooden factory stock so much, and didn't want to do any finish work on it myself, I just told them to match the Ruger factory contour. It is actually just under a sporter weight contour so I was a little worried about that. They told me I would be fine unless I was looking to rapid fire or planning to shoot 5-6 shots back to back (which I won't be doing). :grin: I went with a 5 groove 23" barrel with a recessed crown.

I've been looking for a Zeiss 2.5-8x32 to put on top of it but can't find one anywhere. Zeiss discontinued it last year so I've pretty much reconciled myself to buying and putting on a Leupold 2.5-8x36. Of course that thrills Scotty and Jim (JD338) to death as they have both been yapping at me to get one. :mrgreen:

 

[6mm Remington]

Nice job on the predator, Jim!

Is the .257 Roberts getting into too "similar" territory with my .280? Here is my current battery of rifles - .280, 7x57, 308, 30-06, 338WM. I am looking to sell the 338WM and possibly the .308 as well. What caliber would be a good one to go with these, presuming I wind with just a .280, 7x57, and 30-06? The .257 Roberts? A .243? Perhaps a 25-06?

Scott you need a 6mm Remington! You do need that new Ruger though as well in the .338 RCM. Just say no to the 338 Federal! Some said that the Ruger's are not "target" rifles and indicated that they had acceptable hunting accuracy. That may have been true previously when Ruger outsourced their barrels to a couple of different barrel makers, but I believe they either make them themselves or they have just one good maker that they get them from. As all of the rifle makers are doing, they always look for ways to make them better. I believe you WILL BE VERY HAPPY with the accuracy you will get out of the new Ruger. I have two Ruger #1B's and they both shoot great, and my son's Ruger Model 77 MKII also is very accurate. Of by the way Scott, two of those Rugers are in 6mm Remington!

I don't know Scott if you saw the report on the disease that most of us have, and it is quite apparent to me as I"m sure it is to the others reading your post, and that is my friend that you have it,and you have it bad! It is called RADD which is short for Rifle Addiction Defictit Disorder. It is a lifelong ailment and the only temporary relief can come from buying another rifle. Oh while I'm spouting off here, I personally would get the laminate stocked 338 RCM. I like the looks, the added strength, and the resistance to warping and moisture changes. If I bought either the walnut stocked Hawkeye or the laminate either one, the first thing I would do would be to have my gunsmith glass bed the rifle. Maybe not necessary,but I also would have it pillar bedded. One gentleman spoke about not having to worry about the recoil of the 338 Federal cracking the stock in the grip area behind the tang, but I believe even with that fairly light recoiling round, that it would certainly be possible. My REMINGTON Model 700 Mountain Rifle with the wood stock split behind the rear stock screw in the grip area before I had a chance to get it to the gunsmith for glass bedding. I had not even shot it much yet as it was new and I just wanted to shoot it even though the extra stuff had not been done to it yet. Glass bedding will keep those stocks from cracking and will also help keep the POI of the rifle from shifting on you. Good luck deciding Scott and take your medicine and buy that new Ruger!! :lol:

 

[6mm Remington]

I forgot toadd Scott that the caliber that split that Remington stock was only a .280 Remington shooting 140 gr. Nosler Partitions! And we all know the .280 does not kick much!

 

[Scott Spencer]

I'll be buying a new Ruger but not sure what it will be. I'm now thinking BIG! :grin: I'm thinking long and hard at buying the Boddington "Lion" which is the Ruger No1 ltd edition in .375 Ruger. It has the circassian walnut and only 250 were made. If I can't get that then I still may stay with No 1 but go .375 H&H. I have no idea why I would buy one because I might get a chance at one grizzly or one dangerous game the rest of my life. In short, I might hunt with the .375 ONCE in my remaining lifetime. :grin:

Perhaps a 6mm is the way to go instead? :wink:

 

[Alaska]

Scott

The ruger single shots here in AK are not very popular for dangerous game.......a good bolt gun with a mauser/FN action is very popular like the Ruger and Win 70.

I have a Ruger No 1 in 45-70 but mainly just use it on the Black Bear bait stand.......with handloads. For everything else the 338 win mag or 300 Win mag is what I use.

The 375 Ruger Alaskan Stainless would make a dandy rifle for Alaska