You mentioned the 338 Lapua - the 338RUM is basically the 'poor man's version,' and if you can tolerate the recoil, it's a good one.
What are you planning on shooting? If it's just paper, I'd suggest a smaller, lighter-recoiling caliber. Anything the 300 can do, the 7mm can also do with the VLD's available for it, just with less thump when it strikes - on both ends. Even the beefier 6.5's with a nice long VLD should be good at similar ranges, but, at 1500 yards it doesn't have much steam left - you could probably kill a coyote, but nothing much bigger IMHO