Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Tjkride on January 06, 2018, 11:21:20 AM

Title: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 06, 2018, 11:21:20 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Woodhunter on January 06, 2018, 11:49:37 AM: 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
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 06, 2018, 12:37:13 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Woodhunter on January 06, 2018, 02:42:03 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 06, 2018, 03:04:48 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Woodhunter on January 06, 2018, 03:52:23 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 06, 2018, 04:51:53 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Duckslayer89 on January 06, 2018, 05:31:38 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 06, 2018, 06:32:15 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Biggerhammer on January 06, 2018, 07:28:59 PM: Welcome to Washington. Gas it up with 225gr Accubond's and knock holes in anything this state has to offer.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 07, 2018, 07:12:01 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Duckslayer89 on January 07, 2018, 07:56:27 AM: Quote from: Tjkride on January 07, 2018, 07:12:01 AM
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
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 07, 2018, 09:22:44 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Duckslayer89 on January 07, 2018, 09:57:56 AM: Quote from: Tjkride on January 07, 2018, 09:22:44 AM
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
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: bobcat on January 07, 2018, 10:14:52 AM: 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
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: jackmaster on January 07, 2018, 10:48:12 AM: You guys use a lot of gun for deer!! Keep it simple !! Especially if most of your huntn will be on the wet side , especially ft Lewis simple 30-30 is great for Lewis , I spent a lot of time out there when I was stationed there, of course I am from here so that helped a lot !! Either way, it's easiest to keep it simple, I am sure you have heard that a time or two !! Welcome to Washington :tup: thank you for your service !! What MOS ?
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 07, 2018, 10:56:41 AM: I mostly hunt with pistol caliber lever guns. I got the rcm for a bolt gun to do whatever I need and only need one gun if stuff isnt going the best. There isnt much my 44 winchester 92 wont do but distance is not its friend. I have heard an awful lot of bad stuff about the sst's grenading in most calibers lately.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: jackmaster on January 08, 2018, 08:20:00 PM: Quote from: Tjkride on January 07, 2018, 10:56:41 AM
I mostly hunt with pistol caliber lever guns. I got the rcm for a bolt gun to do whatever I need and only need one gun if stuff isnt going the best. There isnt much my 44 winchester 92 wont do but distance is not its friend. I have heard an awful lot of bad stuff about the sst's grenading in most calibers lately.
i don't know what areas you are use to huntn but huntn the wetside is probably like nothing you have hunted before and a lever 44 isn't heavy enough for brush !!! But you will see for yourself soon enough!!! Idk if it's huntable anymore but on the south west slip of the old mout city holds some absolute stud blackies, I seen one of the biggest blacktail bucks my entire life up there!!
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Bofire on January 08, 2018, 09:01:47 PM: :) I think you need at least one or two more guns for Washington. Maybe 3. and number of handguns, perhaps a shotgun and a lot of ammo. :chuckle: do not forget the mandatory fishing gear and archery stuff. 8)
What is life with out new guns???
Carl
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: kselkhunter on January 08, 2018, 09:48:27 PM: I was eyeballing that 338 RCM caliber in their Guide Gun model last year, but didn't pull the trigger. It is no longer listed as one of the options this year for that model on their website. As mentioned above, the Nosler 210 grain bullets would be good. I'm also a fan of Woodleigh bullets, but lately I've been loading more Speer bullets....does the job for less money and I've been shooting more these days.

I didn't see anybody above answer your optics question. Between the Leupold and Swarovski that you listed, I'd go for the Swarovski. So much better glass. I have one of their Z5 models on one of my rifles, and love it.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 10, 2018, 09:30:49 AM: If I buy anymore more guns too soon my wife is likely bury me in these new woods. I have a good in with Swarovski and can get there optics at an 80% discount so I will probably go that route. The z6i 1.7-10 looms like a good option withput the illuminated reticle. Ive never been a fan of having to use batteries in anything my life may depend on.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 12, 2018, 09:27:35 AM: I ended up with the Leupold vx-3i 2.5-8x36. I found it locally for a deal I couldnt ignore. Now I will mount it and find a place to sight it in around here.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 12, 2018, 09:39:51 AM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Woodhunter on January 12, 2018, 11:25:24 AM: Quote from: Tjkride on January 12, 2018, 09:27:35 AM
I ended up with the Leupold vx-3i 2.5-8x36. I found it locally for a deal I couldnt ignore. Now I will mount it and find a place to sight it in around here.

Very good choice. I have the same scope on my lightweight 338 Win Mag. After you prowl the brush for a season after elk you will appreciate the light weight and small size of this scope. And, low power for those times in the river bottoms and dark timber yet enough power for a 400 yard clear cut shot.
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: Tjkride on January 12, 2018, 04:14:17 PM: It is a light scope, seems clear enough and fits the gun well. Atleast she is all american and looks like a traditional american woods bolt rifle
Title: Re: Finally getting to WA and got a new rifle for it.
Post by: NW SURVEYOR on January 13, 2018, 09:31:10 AM: My experience with the 225 Grain Speer Hotcore .338 has been great!
Good accuracy and performance on both deer and elk.
I have a .308 and a 7MM Mag, but prefer the .338.
The Hotcores are affordable and perform great.

For a scope I have a 2X7 VariX-2 with a 4 minute dot installed by Lee in Birmingham, Alabama.
This has been a flawless scope for decades and is still my first choice.
I rarely shoot over 300 yards and most of my shots are in timber at less than 100 yards, some 50 feet.
The Dot reticle is fast and works well in low light, which is common in the heavy timber.

The rifle of choice is an old Sako Finnbear, circa, 1970.
I've had this for years and have shot dozens of critters with it.
Still shoots 1 inch groups which is fine with me.

I can afford better, but don't see the need for it.

Good Luck.
Rob.