M77 Questions ......

[hittman]

Strange as it sounds, a local pawn shop took on trade a new in box M77 LEFT hand in .338 RCM.

Seems there's a million variations of the M77. This one has front and rear sites, wood stock, is blued. I'm not seeing on Ruger's web site this model and I'm gonna have to get back there to check the s/n, etc.

Any of you M77 guys have a guess on what this is?
I'm not familiar with that caliber either ...... is it readily available in most places?

Any thoughts, comments, guesses? :lol:

On edit:

This gun "looks" like the African but there's no flash hider and Rugers web site doesn't show the African in .338 RCM.

 

[TBear77]

There was a change to the African earlier this year.

IIRC, the 338 RCM was offered in 3 different configurations:
20-inch barrel w/ iron sights = Ruger Compact Magnum
22-inch barrel w/o sights = Standard
23-inch barrel w/ sights = African
possibly a 4th configuration:
20-inch barrel w/o sights = Alaskan

Ted

 

[Ken S.]

The 338 RCM is a 338 caliber powerhouse. It was produced by ruger and hornady. It was produced to deliver 338 win mag performance in a short action rifle.
It was based on the 375 ruger.
Not sure when the caliber was introduced.
Its designation is 338 Ruger Compact Magnum.
Its capable of any large game on the continent as well as many African plains animals.
Not ideal for African dangerous game.
Loaded with the Berger 300gr VLD it is capable of taking 150lb +/- game well past 1000yds
its capable of 300lb +/- game out to about 900yds.
as well as 600lb +/- game at over 300 yds.

Hope I helped.
If you have any questions about any other caliber or projectile just ask.

 

[hittman]

Biggest game around here are the huge whitetails central IL is famous for. Even at 250+ pounds for a monster buck, that 338 Ruger would be giant overkill.

I appreciate all the input though ...... I may sneak back to the pawn shop just to see what price they stuck on it. Not sure how long they may have to sit on a LH bolt action gun in 338 unless they GunBroker it.

 

[Ken S.]

I agree the 338 RCM for whitetail is like groundhog hunting with a howitzer.
Biggest Ill go for whitetail is a 7mm Rem Mag.
Even that for a 250lb whitetail is overkill.
I'm a lefty and know all too well how hard it is to find a LH bolt.

 

[hittman]

Kind of a shame it isn't in a more "moderate" caliber!

 

[Ken S.]

I agree, but a caliber has to start somewhere and I would have to say for what Ruger and Hornady aimed to acomplish with the RCM series of cartridges is nothing short of perfection.
The 338 caliber is superior to its 8mm brethren in every category.
The only problem with the RCM family is supply and demand.
Without RCM rifle sales high, the ammo will be difficult to find.