I ordered my Remington 700 XCR, .338 RUM back in June. After a few months of harassing Cabela's it finally showed up at the beginning of November.
I mounted my Burris Fullfield II 3-9x scope use Burris Double Dove Tail rings and corresponding base mounts. I actually went as far as to email Burris, mentioned to them what I was mounted this scope to and they responding with their recommendations.
Over Thanksgiving we were at my grandparents farm in DE. I was impatient to shoot it and get it sighted in so I used what I could find for a makeshift bench. Three bales of straw and a piece of plywood. I boresighted the gun first. Then I set the target out at 50 yards. I was consistantly hitting the top of the paper (about 5 inches high) and about 3 inches to the left. I did my best to make the adjustments. Shot another one and was pretty darn close, 2 inches high and right on target as far as left-right goes. So I moved it out 100 yards and then that is where things got screwey. I would say most of it was from no experience sighting in rifles and another good portion was the wobbling rest I was using. I did have a gun vise to help keep it still but I couldn't get the bales to sit still in the wind.
I shot a whole box of Federal Vital Shok 180gr bullets that day. $40. LOL! I was out of bullets already. =D
I that following Saturday I went to Cabela's and bought another box and I also ordered a box from MidwayUSA.com. I went up to the camp on Thursday evening, hunted with my 30.06 in the morning and then finished sighting in my .338RUM at lunch time. Our range at the camp is about 75yards. We have a table that is firm and solid so there was no wobbling. So I dialed it in, hit the outer ring of the bullseye then had my dad shoot one and he put it dead center.
After shooting 23 rounds I have to say that it kicks slightly more than my 7600, 30.06 does without a recoil pad. By the way, the XCR stock comes with a LimbSaver Recoil Pad, I'm sure it has to help keep it near comparable to the 30.06.
Also, the 700 XCR may have a barrel that is 3-4" longer than my 7600 but it's noticably lighter.
At this point, I really like this rifle. It shoots smooth but you can still get a sense of it's awesome power. I can't wait to do some more shooting this summer with it. I want to sight it in for 200 yards (assuming I can find a range with that distance available. If not, 100yards and I'll compensate.
Right now, I don't have the time or the money to do handloads. However, I plan on eventually setting something up at my parents house where my dad has space and some equipment already (not sure what he has but he said he has some stuff). So I will be buying a box or two of Federal Vital Shok whenever I get the chance just to keep a good stock of ammo.
P.S. Some people (my dad, my uncle and I read some stuff here) recommended and almost insisted on a muzzle break. I find that the kick is nothing to worry about. I will be looking into having the trigger poundage reduced though, that is definite.
Also, I got a doe on Friday morning with my 30.06 and then when I carried my .338RUM I didn't see another deer the rest of the trip.
