Scope for 338-378 for longrange fun?

[usmc1371]

My little bro has been shooting a Weatherby accumark 338-378 for the last 6 or 7 years as his primary hunting rifle and now he wants to "play" with it. IE hit steel at 1000+ yards. The rifle currently wears a swarvorski (sp?) 3x12 with their tds redicle. He can make hits out to 700 but he wants to stretch it farther.

First will the factory barrel stablize the 300g smk? He plans on loading some of them up for playing at long range.

Second what scope? I suggested he go with a top end power of atleast 20x and something with good turret stile adjustments. Maybe Leupold MK4 or Night force? Any suggestions would be great I am trying to get a good list together for him to research. He lives in BFE with no net so I am trying to help him out.

[orkan]

I'm not sure how well that accumark will hold together for long strings of fire as often happens when shooting steel. #3 contour at 28" is pretty whippy. The twist is right, but that long skinny barrel doesn't lend itself well to banging steel at long range.

Anyway, to play around at distance, a 25x scope is a must. In no particular order:

USO
Premier
Vortex
S&B
Steiner
Kahles

Those companies all make solid products that will let you see what's going on past 1000yds.

If he's a handloader, have him drop a stout load of retumbo behind a hornady 285 and give that a try. I have no experience with the 338-375, but in the world of 338 bullets, those 285's rock steady.

[Suwannee Tim]

What kind of scope does he have on it now? I think I would try what I had if it has enough elevation adjustment. You have to be careful about eye relief with a rifle like this. It's not a 15 pound tactical gun, probably weighs nine of ten pounds and I reckon recoil is pretty stout especially if shot prone. Inadequate eye relief is going to get someone cut. Typically the higher magnification the less the eye relief.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Night force NXS 5.5x22 has the most internal elevation that I know of with out killing the bank at 100 moa or around 27 mils. The Bushnell HDMR with the hours grid also has 27 mills built in.

We need the twist rate on the barrel. I would also suggest the 300g OTM from Berger better for hunting but with that much mass you really only benefiting from the added BC.

Look for something in the power range of 18x plus for 1k and beyond. You could easily get to 1800+meters with that round its the biggest factory produced 338 out there.

Have him give R33 a try

[orkan]

Come on man... a 60 second google search revealed the answer to those questions icanhithimman.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Come on man... a 60 second google search revealed the answer to those questions icanhithimman.

my bad

[usmc1371]

Rifle weighs nine pounds w/o scope and has a factory installed brake that is Very effective. I have shot it w/o the brake.. Once. Current scope is a sworvski 3x12. Not enough magnifaction for 1 k shooting. Twist rate is 1/10 and I will suggest the Berger bullets to him.

[Suwannee Tim]

12X is plenty. It may not be optimum but you could danged sure use it. I've never shot a 338-378. The recoil from a 378 is hideous, I imagine the 338-378 is not far behind. Removable muzzle brake is good. Many of the Weatherbys have the muzzle brake built in. They will damn near deafen you without ears. I would take it off for hunting.

[Pappabear]

That gun, even with a brake , i would expect bumps pretty good. I like the NF Scopes. For tuff ness and simplicity. I own several.
Good luck

[usmc1371]

If it was my rifle I would be leaning toward the Nightforce 5.5x22 but I am trying to get a few options together for him to kick around.

Its really a nice shooting rifle with the brake, like a 270 or maybe less. With out the brake.. well thats a whole new ball game. I have shot it twice with out the brake and IMHO it is un-shootable. I love my 300 wm but that big case weatherby is twice the recoil maybe more.