BearStopper
Blackhawk
Just got around to shooting my 338 RCM that I bought used quite awhile ago. Didn't have any brass and my lgs said he could get two boxes of ammo for $70. Well that never happened so I recently lost patience with him and got my money back since I had been waiting since last November. Found two boxes left in stock on an obscure website and bought them for $90 since I needed brass and wanted to compare factory 200 gr SST with future handloads.
After shooting it I gotta say that Ruger put one heck of a sweet recoil pad on this thing as I have shot a .308 that left bruises and I didn't feel anything on the shoulder with this. Can't say the same for the bridge of my nose from the scope though. If I relax completely like I am accustomed to doing it punches me hard in the beak. If I get a good forend grip I can still aim it decent and it still gives me a good rap on the nose but not painful. The only other magnum rifle I have shot before this was a .300 Win and it was not much more than heavy bullet 30-06 loads.
The bottom line is this rifle is a sweet shooter. Like others have said, the recoil is quite manageable with just a little thought on proper hold. I can shoot it without flinching even though the scope hits me everytime. It is accurate at 100 yards and sighted in in one adjustment to 1 1/2" high. With handloads I will come up with a light deer load and save the top end loads for elk.
If you handload and want a sweet carbine in +30 caliber then I highly recommend getting one of the leftover discontinued models or the new guide gun in this caliber. Tons of performance out of a very handy 20" barrel, and that is hard to beat!
After shooting it I gotta say that Ruger put one heck of a sweet recoil pad on this thing as I have shot a .308 that left bruises and I didn't feel anything on the shoulder with this. Can't say the same for the bridge of my nose from the scope though. If I relax completely like I am accustomed to doing it punches me hard in the beak. If I get a good forend grip I can still aim it decent and it still gives me a good rap on the nose but not painful. The only other magnum rifle I have shot before this was a .300 Win and it was not much more than heavy bullet 30-06 loads.
The bottom line is this rifle is a sweet shooter. Like others have said, the recoil is quite manageable with just a little thought on proper hold. I can shoot it without flinching even though the scope hits me everytime. It is accurate at 100 yards and sighted in in one adjustment to 1 1/2" high. With handloads I will come up with a light deer load and save the top end loads for elk.
If you handload and want a sweet carbine in +30 caliber then I highly recommend getting one of the leftover discontinued models or the new guide gun in this caliber. Tons of performance out of a very handy 20" barrel, and that is hard to beat!
I suggest a leather slip on pad over the factory pad. That will give you the extra length that you need.
