JohnnyFlake
Member
Which caliber would you recommend, for taking Antelope, at a max range of 400 yards, with modest recoil in a bolt gun? Why?
.260 Remington.
Same bullet at the 6.5 stuff and brass can be made from .243 or .308 brass.
Is the .270 or 6mm to much, for what I am looking for?
For me hands down it would be 257 Weatherby with 117 gr. bullet.
High velocity for flat shooting, fast to target means less time for wind drift. 117 has good sectional density in .25 bore and plenty of knock down when it gets there. Very moderate recoil. This is a very proven combination.
110 Accubond, I should mention would be a very good choice too.
The .270 and 6mm would work but if you're buying a new rifle, .243 would be great! If you really want something with more killing oomph without recoil the .308 spawn already mentioned will work too but you won't need em. With a 90-100 gr ballistic tip or Interlock or Sierra, you'll thump anything you can cleanly hit out to 400 yds for pronghorn size. 250sav 257rob and 25-06 could do the job but not any better than a 6mm 100 gr pill moving out at 2900+ mv on a 20" bbl. Follow up shots are quick with a .243 too. And then you can go to lighter loads for targets and varmints.....but then you'll have a problem of a different sort, you'll find yourself making more excuses to go shooting. If you already have the 6 rem with a fast enough twist (I think that one came 1:9) then you're already set to do everything that .243 does. That 6rem isn't the most common or most thought of, but it'll work just fine.The .243 seems to be liked a lot.
I have run the gamut of small to medium bores the last 50 years. Shot a 270 for 20 years. Tried a 260 and right now I am in the Creedmoor phase. I have taken over a dozen animals with the Creedmoor with several in the 250- 300yard range. Works swell with a range finder and a Vortex Dead Hold Reticle. Probably took 14 or 15 head with a 243. All were one shot kills but shot nothing over 150 yards. If I had to pick one caliber for long range Pronghorn or deer, especially if I don't have my rangefinder along, it would be the 257 Weatherby. It is about as flat shooting as anything short of an STW, is mild on the shoulder and the Accubond does work very well.For me hands down it would be 257 Weatherby with 117 gr. bullet.
High velocity for flat shooting, fast to target means less time for wind drift. 117 has good sectional density in .25 bore and plenty of knock down when it gets there. Very moderate recoil. This is a very proven combination.
110 Accubond, I should mention would be a very good choice too.
After some bullet failures, no fan of the .243. For big game, I want more mass. There's no "practical" reason not to.243. Sure, you can use some other larger rifle caliber, what's the practical point of it?
After some bullet failures, no fan of the .243. For big game, I want more mass. There's no "practical" reason not to.
As a .243 hunter, are you always waiting for that perfect broadside shot? Do you completely avoid quartering shots? Do you avoid hitting shoulders?