Ok,I know they are all similar,so which one is the best for 1000yd plus stuff and why? Also,what is the better of the Scopes for this Looong range stuff...I am looking at the 6-24x72mm Zeiss with 34mm tube,thinking it will also be a very bright for dusk scope..Thanks for the inputs!

All will work, although you might prefer the 338-300 RUM (the 338 'edge').

Brass is cheaper for the RUM, but most would say quality of brass is better with the Lapua.

If size is of no matter, the biggest, baddest wildcat out there is the 338 Allen Mag, based on the 408 chey tac case. Check out longrangehunting.com for more info.

I can't imagine using a 72mm scope... would be impossible for cheek weld. At ultralong ranges, you won't be shooting right at dawn/dusk anyway. (or at least you probably shouldn't be shooting right at dawn/dusk). What is most important is a scope with repeatable/reproducible clicks for your 'come up's'. Any of the top quality scopes will be adequate (leupold mark IV's, nightforce's, IOR, etc)

Kid,you're on the right track with the 338 caliber.yes the others will work, but a 338 is just "easier" to be more consistent with at long range, and consistency is the name of the game.all cartridges you mentioned are very similar in performance with the 378 having a little speed edge, the lapua having the edge in brass quality, and the RUM is just the easiest and cheapest way to go.my vote for you would be the 338RUM. get one with a sendero type contour barrel, have it pillar bedded, the trigger tuned and looked at by a good smith.find a good load with some 225 accubond's and you're good to past 1k. let's stay on this side of 1k for now, you're not ready for +1k.

as already mentioned a good repeatable scope is very important and "no" the spotting scope on the gun, is not necessary! a spotting scope for seeing your impacts as well as a good rangefinder is also very important.

i have a 338/300 ultra with a 6-20 lupy (1" tube) and it works just fine. mounting it with a little bit of tilt works very well.i haven't shot it much but 2" at 400 is the worst i've shot with it.

with all of this said, the most important thing you need for long range shooting is KNOWLEDGE. i agree, go hang out at LRH and you'll learn what you need from a bunch of very knowledgeable folks. good luck!

Thanks to both of you,good stuff!I will check out that site and get some more info before I "pull the trigger" on caliber and scope.Are the Nightforces scopes good,or I will just stay with the Leupolds,maybe 8-25..Thanks again!

Nightforce scopes are about as good as it gets.don't buy one until you know what you want. they offer several different reticles. surf around over on LRH and try to hook up with others who have done some long range shooting.check out the different scopes, stocks, and calibers. maybe do some shooting with different kinds of long range rigs before you put a bunch of money in a setup.

If I were doing the buying it would have to be the Lapua, simply because I already shoot one that will put 225 or 240 grain North Forks in one ragged hole when I do my part. Mine is an Elk hunting rig with a 4.5X14 Ziess, if I were going the 1000 yard route I would go the 6X24 that you mentioned. My grandson took his first Elk with it when he was 14 and he named it "SUPER RIFLE". Yes, the RUM is cheaper to buy and load for, if that is a concern, go that route. Good luck and good shooting.

One of the designers of the 338 Lapua, Jonathan Tomlinson is a member here. He is also one of the nicest members to talk to about projects, always willing to help with information and to share his knowledge.

You could send him a PM to ask about the Lapua.

Cheers!

another great site is precisionlongrangehunter.com. quite a wealth of information there also.

Go the 338-378Wby & never look back!

I own a custom 338/378 with a heavy contour select match barrel and if it were me, I'd probably go either with the 338 RUM or 338/300 (Edge). Yes, the 338/378 Wby is a better performer in speed, but I don't think it's any more accurate and the cost of the brass is downright stupid with really only one supplier . In addition, there's only a handful of guns that'll handle the large 378 sized Weatherby case whereas you can go with a less expensive Rem 700 with the RUM.

My $.02

I decided to go with tha 338 Laupa,because of the better quality and strenght of the Laupa brass.I will soon have one with a 30" ABS carbon wraped barrel.....As to scopes I use the Nightforce 5.5X22 with the NP-R2 reticle... Nightforce scopes are settingh more Long Range records than any other brand.They are about the only scope on the Market that has a TRUE MOA reticle and a true MOA adjusting turrets,as most are in IPHYs.....I have 5 NXS scope and they are excelent........

I am biased as I own a 338-378 Weatherby... They are simply AWSOME... Yes ammo and brass are expensive but one heck of alot cheaper then the brass for your 4 bore double ... If you are going to reload for it the brass is made by Norma (as is the factory ammo) which is some of the best on the planet so now worries there....

On to the scope, any of the major brands will work but I would certainly consider those that are more for "long range" shooting such as the Nightforce or the U.S. Optics... None of them will be inexpensive but will do the job you ask of them... You might want to check what some of the long range shooters prefer not only in optics but what options to consider... Options such as 1/2 or 1 MOA clicks compared to 1/4 seem to be popular with the long range crowd...

Just my $.02....

Ken....

338 LM.. you can get a few factory builds in this caliber. Wich are precision rifles!

Sako, Accuracy International..

I would say, 338 lapua all the way! Mine is a sako trgs rechambered to a krieger 338 lapua; accuracy much superior to my friends 338 Ultra in WBY (also with a krieger barrel)
With the lapua, you wil get quality lapua brass (I weighed 6 cases, 1/2 gr difference!) ballistics ae similar, but lapua is King!

contact barrelmaker Dan Lilja. Fifteen years ago he worked with Sierra developing the 300gr .338 Matchking bullets. His 338-416 Sniper, circa 1990, before all these johnny-come-latelys piggy-backed off of his original design, was the case used to develop the Sierra.

He had had several big game animals in Montana fall to this cartridge out past 1/2 mile...I believe one spring bear hunt was a one-shot-hit-and-kill at a Barr&Stroud measured 850yards. He's a long range shooter from waaaay back there twenty or more years ago. I went to one of his dynamite shoots back about 1989(?). Pint paint cans spray-painted orange and 1/2stick of 40% (nitro%-age dynamite) inside. Hung at unlisted yardages out from 400-1200 yards...quite a fun thing. There is no confusion of whether you hit it or not.

Check with Dan for a proven performer.

Rich
DRSS