270 Win ammo for antelope?
- Thread starter mshootnit
- Start date
150 gr bullets in a 270 are considered heavy for caliber. That would be a good elk bullet if you were hunting with a 270. They will certainly kill a pronghorn but I'd start with one of the 130 gr bullets. Pronghorn are often shot at longer than normal ranges and they are a small animal. The lighter bullets will have a flatter trajectory and probably perform better at distance.
Of course if his rifle shoots the 150's better use them.
Of course if his rifle shoots the 150's better use them.
In .270, you're probably having a harder time finding something that doesn't work! I've used 130s and 150s in my .270wsm out to 350 yds and am looking HARD at the 145 elds. Whatever bucks wind decent and can hold a group should work just fine, think of an antelope in a similar class as Georgia whitetail.
2ndtimer
Member
I took my only antelope with a .243 Win using a 90 gr Speer Deep Curl handload at a little over 300 yards. If I were to use a .270 Win., I would use the most accurate 130 gr load I could come up with. (Factory or handload)
.45Coltguy
Member
A 150 will work perfect in a .270 Win for pronghorn. My buddy Dave tagged one at about 250 yards in N/E Ca with one. It worked to perfection.
I shot mine two days earlier with my 25-06. I'll rumage around for some pics. Here's mine. And, here's Dave's.
I shot mine two days earlier with my 25-06. I'll rumage around for some pics. Here's mine. And, here's Dave's.
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lightman
Member
I killed the only Antelope that I have ever killed with the same load that I deer hunt with. Thats with a 308 using 150 grain bullets. They are not hard to kill but the shots may be long. I would suggest using whichever bullet that shoots the best.
.45Coltguy
Member
Same bullet my buddy used.^^^
Rubone
Member
My .270 WSM is my go to Antelope gun. I generally am using 130s. Eastern New Mexico.
Lennyjoe
Member
If his 150’s are shooting good use them. Just make sure he knows what his bullet drop is out to longer distances than what he’s probably used to for deer. Practice is the key.
Dr T
Member
I would look at Hornady Superformance with 130 gr SSTs. Another to look at would be the Hornady American Whitetail with 130 or 140 gr Interlocks. The gun will tell you which one it likes better. I have found the American Whitetail acccuracy to be slightly better, but your gun may be different.
I've hunted antelope with only 30-06 using Remington core-lokt 165 grainers. I use the 165 grainers as that is the most accurate round at 600 yards for my 30-06. So my point is have your friends shoot the round that proves accurately at the longer distances. Let the rifle decide and don't try to match bullets for the game you hunt especially on animals that are not carnivorous.
WestKentucky
Member
The 115 and 120gr bullets built for the 6.8 should be appropriate for the speed goat. The bullets aren’t bad at distance and speed goats are good at putting distance between them and you. It’s light and fast but not too light. It shouldn’t be overly vulnerable to wind and would easily retain energy at range. (And we all know energy is what kills! 
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Bwana John
Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2004
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- 3,113
120’s, 130’s, 140’s, or 150’s, whatever shoots the best in your rifle… I’d start with 130’s.
.455_Hunter
Member
The .270 is an outstanding REALISTIC and RESPONSIBLE long-range hunting cartridge. It has gotten bad press recently for not using a trendy "modern" short-action case and not being intended to shoot heavy over-length target bullets at 1000 yards. Find whatever your rifle likes the best in the 130 to 150 gr range and enjoy hunting.
Wildfan99
Contributing Member
Great round!
Use what the gun likes, nobody can tell you what kind or what grain except the person behind the trigger.
Use what the gun likes, nobody can tell you what kind or what grain except the person behind the trigger.
Chuck R.
Member
WY, 130 NBT MV of 3170 at a little over 325yds:
When I ran the numbers between the 130 at 3170 and the ABLR 150 grn at 3030FPS the 130 was still ahead in drop and wind to a little over 500yds. So I stuck with the 130 grn.
When I ran the numbers between the 130 at 3170 and the ABLR 150 grn at 3030FPS the 130 was still ahead in drop and wind to a little over 500yds. So I stuck with the 130 grn.
The .270 was designed with a barrel twist rate optimized for 130 grain bullets. I would recommend starting there first. You may end up stopping there when you get good groups.
My fairly new Ruger American ( Gen 1 ) has thrived on 130 gr. Bullets from the first time I shot her. Even cheap Federal 130 gr power shocks obtained at Wal Mart group under 1" at 100 yds.
I would even use 130 gr. Bullet's on an elk hunt. Probably Nosler Partitions or Barnes TTSX.
I have “taken possession” of two antelope in my lifetime - both with a 90 grain .243. As we all know, antelope are a very fast animal in the (about) 90 pound range with a lighter (less dense) build for their legendary speed.
Any accurate round in a .270 is going to dispatch an antelope with good marksmanship - the key being the skill of the shooter. As with all hunting, there is no magic taking an antelope - projectile through the boiler room and it will die. Good luck on your hunt.
Any accurate round in a .270 is going to dispatch an antelope with good marksmanship - the key being the skill of the shooter. As with all hunting, there is no magic taking an antelope - projectile through the boiler room and it will die. Good luck on your hunt.
doubleh
Member
Antelope are very curious animals. When I first moved to NM they were everywhere and when you set up to work you would soon find many within 30-40 feet of you standing and watching. Those days are long gone with hunting seasons making them much more shy and long term drouth having seriously reduced their numbers. During my working days I had to keep close watch to keep from running over one. THey had a tendency to appear from nowhere and race you to cross the the road in front of you which got one ran over frequently. Now I hardly ever see one when out prowling around on that road.
They are lightly built creatures and if using a 270 I would pick the most accurate load for my rifle as shots are now going to be at some distance and any weight bullet will get the job done as long as it is put in the right place. Personally I consider 270, 308, and 30-06 overkill for these animals. I never had desire to shoot one back when I hunted. It would have been too much like driving out and shooting a cow because of their lack of fear of man at that time. I once pulled off the highway to watch two of them chase a grey fox ragged round and round in a circle and I wasn't 30 yards from then and they paid no attention at all to me. It was in the spring and I figured the fox had made a try for a baby that was hidden in the grass.
Back when they were plentiful I would see them in hot summertime standing one to a high line pole, nose to the pole, and their body in what little shade it provided.
They are lightly built creatures and if using a 270 I would pick the most accurate load for my rifle as shots are now going to be at some distance and any weight bullet will get the job done as long as it is put in the right place. Personally I consider 270, 308, and 30-06 overkill for these animals. I never had desire to shoot one back when I hunted. It would have been too much like driving out and shooting a cow because of their lack of fear of man at that time. I once pulled off the highway to watch two of them chase a grey fox ragged round and round in a circle and I wasn't 30 yards from then and they paid no attention at all to me. It was in the spring and I figured the fox had made a try for a baby that was hidden in the grass.
Back when they were plentiful I would see them in hot summertime standing one to a high line pole, nose to the pole, and their body in what little shade it provided.
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Gordon
Member
I always used 130 grain loads for antelope in my 1953 Win model 70 I got as an 18 th birthday present . Went I switched in the new millennium to a .270 WSM by Safari in South Africa I used 130 grain on the lighter antelope and 150 grain on the bigger species. I use A .25-06 lately with 115 grain.
When I lived out West, they were easily "called in" using a white rag while hiding behind some sage brush - as you mentioned, they will calmly come in into close range to look at that white flag
I would use the 130 grain load that your rifle shoots the best.
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