I'm in the market for a gun that can do everything in North America and am really considering a Weatherby Mark V in either 338 Win Mag or 340 Weatherby Mag. What do you guys think? Also, I'm trying to decide between a Zeiss Conquest 3-9 (constant 4" eye relief) or a Leupold VXIII 3-9. I prefer the Zeiss' constant eye relief and i think it looks better, but is it up to handling the recoil of either of these rounds?

Thanks guys...

Hi Ryan both will get the job done quite well .the 340 will give you a bit more . you may want to take into consideration the price of ammo for both and the amount of kick from both . i have a 338wm and it works very well for me it also wears a weaver scope 3x9x50 i have shot over 2000 rounds through this gun and the scope has not let me down yet . so i belive either of the scopes you mentioned will work fine . hope this helps Bob

I would look at the 338ultramag as it offers slightly better performance and is also available in guns other than the overpriced weatherby's.

Personally I think you're looking at the wrong pair to make a choice between ... .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H mag are the two you should consider. The .375 H&H comes into its own on larger game, but with high BC projectiles it can be quite a long range proposition approaching .338 Win Mag ballistics and can be light enough to carry in all but very steep mountians. Either does a heck of a job on medium game through Elk.

As per the 3-9x40 MC Zeiss Conquest ... I have one on a pre64 M70 in .338 Win Mag (8+ pounds with scope and sling) and one on a Japanese .375 H&H Weatherby Weathermark V (9+ pounds with scope and sling). Both have never given a problem of any kind. Very good glass!

Hi Ryan:
Just my 2 cents.
I have a couple of Weatherby's and a pile of other's in many diff. cal.
My 340 did very well for the last 15 years very nice cal.

The Weatherby rifle's:
Only fac rifle in left hand in the bigger calibers.
The 340 had to be rebarreled to shoot 1"@ 200y
The 338/378 2 1/2"@200y so far.
Short bold lift (read harder)

If this rifle will be your main do it all in North Am. rifle than I would like it to be CRF.I like the 340 but a 340 without the belt would feed smoother so a 338 RUM would be just right.
If you are RH then I think there is no problem finding a CRF rifle like that.
If your LH than buy a LH Winch express in 375 H&H shoot it for a while if you like it leave it ,if not rebarrel to 338 RUM,or get a MCR action and build one meaning a rebarreled Weatherby cost more than a custum gun to your liking.

As far as the scope's Leupold has the best warranty and service bar none.

ps never liked the Rem. rifle's

Hope this helps
Martin

I bought my first of twelve .338 Win Mags 36 yrs. ago and started handloading for it then. I have shot quite a few animals withh this round and now own and use four Pre-64 Mod. 70s and one Dakota Mod. 76 in this caliber.

I have shot the Weatherby .340 from the bench side by side with my Dakota, much sharper recoil, but, only 94 fps. velocity increase with 250 Nosler Pts. I cannot see any real advantage and the brass is very pricey here in Canada.

If, I had to keep only one hunting rifle for the rest of my life, it would be my first mod. 70 Alaskan, a superb rifle in the finest cartridge for BIG game hunting in North America and my single, most valued possession, ever.

I am curious and I would like to know, if you don't mind, is your 70 a Pre-64 or a Classic? Mine weigh a bit more and so I am wondering about the scope and mounts, I have Leupie 1.75x6 Vari-XIIIs on mine and am changing them (4) to synthetic stocks to cut weight, this is important here in B.C. where the major direction in hunting areas is up and down.

I have a conquest mounted on a 7mmultramag and have used it on a 338x8mmremmag and it has held zero just fine.I had an older ziess diavari that was involved in a horsewreck and something came loose and settled on an inside lens.I sent it off and it was quickly repaired and returned at no charge.I also know of a guide friend that had a pair of very old ziess 10x40 classics that were loosening at the pivot.He sent it off for repairs and it too was repaired and returned free of charge.They even replaced the eyecups that were worn and damaged for no charge even though they weren't asked to do so.That to me indicates that the ziess warrantee and service is also very good.

Purely from a hunters viewpoint, the performance difference between the 2 means nothing. My conclusion after a season with each.

I AM prejudiced.
I had a .338 in a model 70 and got rid of it.

I have 2 .340s and WON'T get rid of them One is the Mark v AND
the other is the Sako 995(they made a limited number in .340)

Other then puting the Mark V in a glass stock and a muzzle brake it is stock and shoots 250gr Gamekings into 8-9" groups at 1000yds if I have kept the caffine down.
Yep, they kick, Yep the brass may be a little more then .338, BUT Weatherby has GREAT barrels and actions.

I went out and spent $400 for a heavy Hart bbl to replace the factory when I first got the rifle. I was going to use it as more of a target bench semi-heavy,.... until I got a real chance to wring it out. THe bbl is still in the wrap at my gunsmiths waiting until I shoot out the factory Wby bbl.

From sheer experience I love my 338 win mag model 70 claw extraction stainless synthetic with the BOSS. I bought this gun before Browning and Winchester split. 1/2 inch at 200 yds from bench with 215 gr. Sierra game kings and muzzle velocity if I remember correctly is about 2950fps. the 338 with the Boss has a felt recoil of that of a 30-06. At the time I was young and thought Leupold was the only scope to buy. If I had to do it again I would go for the Zeiss Conquest hands down. Go to your local gun shop and compare the two. Santa just brought me a 300 Weatherby mag for Christmas and it will wear the Zeiss Conquest. This is only my 2 cents. Good luck and Great Shooting!!!

I never liked the Weatherby Mark V action design. They are not CRF and the tiny locking lugs concern me. The action is heavy as well. It seems that the hunters who don't shoot much like them however. Riflemen that shoot a lot don't even mention Weatherby's. But there is a market for the product and they satisfy it.



I prefer the Win M70 design for any purpose over the Mark V. It is CRF, has a much better safety as the Weatherby does not even lock the firing pin and the Win has the best trigger. They even cost less.



As to the cartridge just get what you want. If someone trys to talk you out of it then you will always want one. The Weatherby cartridges do cost more however but if one reloads they could be made from other brass such as the 375 H&H. The handloader can load a 340 to kick less also.



Those are belted cartridges and the brass will not last as long however due to their inherent headspace problem. In extreme kickers like the .338's few shoot them much anyway and we should all hunt with like new brass. In general the .338's are not all that popular like the .35 bore due to the recoil. Since the 30-06 will take all game in NA and more most stop at the 300 Mags. There are other .338 cartridges such as the 338 Lapua, .338 RUM and .338 Dakota.

Riflemen that shoot a lot don't even mention Weatherby's.

My guess is that apart from some other Australians on the forum I have probably shot more animals than just about anyone else on this forum. I have owned about a dozen Wbys and have just ordered two upgraded Wbys.

and the Win has the best trigger.

Totally disagree. A Mark V fitted with a new trigger return spring will more often than not adjust to a pull down to 1 pound and not fire on slamming the bolt home. M70s to get their full potential invariably require work on the sear. Once fitted with a new trigger return spring the shooter with a Wby can adjust his pull up and down and also sear engagement without taking the rifle apart. I have frequently used a Wby with pull at 1 pound for day time shooting and then put it up to 3 pound and with extra sear engagement for a wild night of spotlight shooting.

Where the Model 70 is better is that a Jewell trigger can be fitted.

They even cost less.

You got that one correct.

In general the .338's are not all that popular like the .35 bore due to the recoil.

Obviously you are not referring to new bolt action sales or are you?

Mike