338 RCM Hawkeye SS

[BearStopper]

One of my dealers put out a used one recently and I have had a mild interest in one every since I first heard about them a few years ago. I had never even seen one in person till now but the high price on it deterred me briefly. That is until he voluntarily offered it to me for 200.00 less than the price tag at $500.00. For the marked price I could have probably bought new but for 5 bills I figured couldnt do a whole lot better on short notice. It has a few minor scratches typical of the not so lovely ss finish of the Hawkeye but nothing to worry about as I plan for it to be pure utility! Something about the handy size with some pretty decent sights and medium bore is appealing to me even though I do most of my big game hunting with a bow and have for 30 years. A little online research reveals it will be pretty versatile to handload as well as a couple of factory options that perform well also. This rifle scratches an itch I have had for a mid bore short light rifle. Been wanting something along the lines of a .358 Win or. 35 Whelen in a bolt carbine config but I think this will be even better and more versatile. I noticed alot of existing 338 bore owners downplaying its usefullness, but that is coming from a perspective of comparison to the Win Mag chambering, and that is simply not why I was drawn to this platform in the first place. It simply fits my purpose perfectly which is a do all handy gun and nice to know I can get pretty darn good top end performance if necessary should I decide to hunt Africa or Alaska with something other than my bow.

 

[mike-c]

Greetings,

I do not have the 338 RCM, but I do have the 375 RCM. I think you will be well pleased with the 338, and you can't beat the price. Better get it while you can.

Mike 8)

 

[black029]

It is not a .338 Win Mag, never will be, but isn't so far off with factory loads and in a much handier package. As Jack O'Connor was fond of saying while discussing the minor differences between certain cartridges (like .270 and .280, or .30-06 and .308, or .243 and .257) "the deer shot with a .270 will go down swearing it was a .280 that got him". So it is, here, too.
And being at 5'7" the 13" pull is most welcome, also.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

I absolutely loved mine. Short, light - packed a whallop (to the shoulder too ).

I really, really wish I had never gotten rid of it, but it had to go. If you're set up to reload, it's very nice to reload for. Good luck finding factory ammo.

They say ballistically it's closer to a 338-06. I say that I don't give two hoots. I just really liked the caliber and felt completely comfortable in it doing whatever needed to be done.