Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.

[Tjkride]

Well Im finally getting to WA and found a M77 Hawkeye Compact Mag left handed bolt gun in .338rcm. I was hoping to see if anyone had any opinions on the cartridge and if anyobe has any pet loads for it? Im also looking to put either a Leupold V3i 2-8 or a Swarovski Z6 1.7-10 on it. Opinions on optics and loads will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance everyone.

[Woodhunter]

More info please.

Where will you be hunting.

What will you be hunting.

What other cartridges have you reloaded?

I like the 338's and have two 338 Win Mags and I am building a 338 Win Mag for the son in law.   

Good bullets:    210 and 225 Nosler Partitions.

225 Nosler Accubond

225 Hornady Interbond.

I do not like the solid copper bullets, as they are too long and must have the base seated down into the powder capacity of the case.    Good performance though.     

Your RCM is similar in performance to the 338 Win Mag.   

The 338's have been a very popular elk cartridge out where I live and hunt. 

Look at this thread over on Accurate Reloading:  I am Woodhunter over on the AR site and started the thread.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3221043/m/8501038732

[Tjkride]

I'll be hunting in and around JBLM. Various deer and black bear, as well as elk and a few trips Alaska for moose and browns. I am no fan of solid copper or gilding metal projectiles myself. I have reloaded 308 to 300 win mag. I had a serious love for .30 caliber cartridges. However now the rcm is my only bolt gun. The rest nowadays are all lever guns and a few semi autos hunting wise. I do like the 338 win mag however I never cared for the rifles ive shot it in. The rcm is more of the rifle type I prefer, stubby barrel, iron sights for back up, and plenty of bullet choices from 180 to 225. I dont care for anything heavier than 225 in a short action and 300 yards is the farthest I will put a shot on game.

[Woodhunter]

Tons of good reloading info over on Accurate Reloading, from experienced users.     Do a little searching.   Sign up on Accurate Reloading, ask for help on the Medium Bores Forum, and you will receive help.

The 210 partition is the all time best bullet in my opinion for Elk at your ranges.  Piece of cake up to your 300 yard range.   My 338 is sighted dead on at 225 yards.   Just put the crosshairs in the center of the shoulder and pull the trigger.    Works fine from hand shaking distance all the way out to 400 yards.  Nosler Accubond and Hornady Interbond a close second.    Swift Sirocco is good also.

You will be hunting similar territory to my areas on the Olympic Peninsula.     

[Tjkride]

Ive never been to WA or hunted it. So I figured I'd get an interesting cartridge thats good for alot but great for nothing in particular. Im fond of the accubond and the woodleigh pp weldcore.

[Woodhunter]

338  180 grain bullets excellent for deer and black bear,

Blacktails everywhere in W. Washington.   Do your home work, obtain the hunting regs and study the units.  Lots of black bear also.   

Rocky Mountain Elk in the eastern Cascades.    Roosevelt Elk on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula:   Sol Duc units, Clearwater, Dickey, etc.

Pay close attention to the hunting units and the boundaries.  Out where I hunt, along the National Park Boundary,  it is real easy to be in the park and not know it.   Hunting is illegal in the National Park.  A few guys have been caught on the wrong side of the boundary with an elk down!

Roosevelts also in SW Washington.

As anywhere in the U.S., pre season scouting a must.    The more remote the area the better the hunting.  Lots of hunters in WA!!!  I do not hunt much anymore, as I am 70 years old and the hills are just too steep!  But back when I hunted Elk I spent all summer and early fall in the units scouting and learning the area.

Invest in a good pair of binoculars and a good spotting scope.    The last bull elk I got I located the herd right at sundown, while glassing down a remote canyon with gated roads.   The herd was about 10 miles away.   I was at the gate at 3 AM the next morning and hiked in.  Most of the time you will be glassing clear cuts and you may spot game anywhere from a hundred yards or so away up to miles.   

[Tjkride]

I really appreciate the info, coming from RI I can definitely understand alot of hunters in a small area. I love back country hunts and love spending my time in the back woods scouting, its a good excuse to stick my 4 year old son out in the wild with me and away from the technology.

[Duckslayer89]

TJ I have the same gun in 338 Rcm. I love it but factory ammo is tough to come buy. Try gunbroker. Another thing I did was put a Timney 2.5 pound trigger in it. Makes it even better! Nice handling guns but they kick HARD with a 20 inch barrel. My shoulder muscles twitch after 6-7 shots.

[Tjkride]

Midway and buds have a decent stock of 338 rcm available. Ofcourse only 200 and 225 grain sst's. Im planning on sending it out to Hill Country Rifles for accurizing service and a cerakote job. Also will have them shorten the stock and add a good thick recoil pad.

[Biggerhammer]

Welcome to Washington. Gas it up with 225gr Accubond's and knock holes in anything this state has to offer.

[Tjkride]

I think I will buy 10 boxes of the 200 grain sst ammo and 10 boxes of the 225 grain sst ammo and see which it prefers. Then I will have plenty of brass to work some handloads.

[Duckslayer89]

I think I will buy 10 boxes of the 200 grain sst ammo and 10 boxes of the 225 grain sst ammo and see which it prefers. Then I will have plenty of brass to work some handloads.

My gun liked the 225 better. I have a lot of brass for my gun I need to figure out some kind of load for it too down to the last few boxes. Was thinking about the 225 accubonds actually

[Tjkride]

From most of my research, alot of folks like the accubonds. The Hornady Interlocks got alot of love for a cheap 338 projectile with good performance.

[Duckslayer89]

From most of my research, alot of folks like the accubonds. The Hornady Interlocks got alot of love for a cheap 338 projectile with good performance.

We’ve killed 3 deer with the 225 SST bullets out of the 338 rcm. All the bullets grenaded but never lost a deer. One shot took 2 whole ribs out somehow and everything inside was just hammered, broadside lung hit.. One shot spined the deer and the bullet didn’t exit which was concerning. Glad it wasn’t an elk shoulder or something. Now I’m shooting factory interbonds out of it

[bobcat]

I've been shooting 210 grain Nosler Partitions from Shooters Pro Shop in my 338 Win. Mag. I've only had the rifle for a year and unfortunately didn't get the chance to shoot any animals with it yet. Can't beat the price at Shooters Pro Shop. I've also got a box of Barnes 185 grain to try as soon as I find the time to load some up.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/loading-reloading-bullets/nosler-338-210gr-partition-spitzer-blem-50ct.html