Best Caliber? Modest Recoil for Antelope at 300/400 yards

[lastofthebreed]

Well, I have never hunted pronghorns. But if I should get the chance to, I will probably carry my Weatherby Mark V ultralight. It is chambered for the wonderful 240 Weatherby Magnum cartridge and I suspect it will do the job. With 100 grain controlled expansion bullets, I have taken several whitetail bucks over 150 lb live weight and even managed to kill a few hogs up to 175 lbs.

Recoil is mild and it's just plain fun to shoot.

 

[CraigC]

Maybe you should go back and re-read my post. Nothing I said was directed towards you or singled you out, but the fact that you assumed so is telling.

Now I do have a HUGE issue with you making your last comment personal toward me. Frankly, I think it says a lot about your character and your need to get personal on a forum called "The High Road". Maybe you should Google that term. You want to get personal with me, do it by PM if you so feel the need. You're setting a poor example for other members here about how forum members interact with each other. Honestly, I'd prefer if you just forget all about me and ignore me. That's what I try to do with you.

What are you even talking about? You started us down this road when you stopped talking about the .243 and started denigrating the people who disagree with you, or more precisely, people whose experience differs from your own. Don't get all self-righteous and offended now.

They guys that nay-say the 243 are traditionally middle-age to older guys who tried the gun back in the 1980s or 90s when bullet technology was not nearly as advanced as today. Or you'll see the guy who tried the 243 with one type of bullet and had bad luck and now will completely trash the caliber. What you don't see and will never TRULY know is how much of that bad experience was based on a poorly placed shot. Oh sure, they will get on forums and tell you they made "good" shots, but if I can't verify, I don't buy that crap. And there's also people who completely give up on the caliber without trying another kind of bullet. They will just talk trash about the caliber and move up to a larger diameter because that's what they think will do a better job. 9 times out of 10, I don't pay any attention to the guys that talk down about the 243.

I don't do passive-aggressive and abhor it in others.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Stoky, The Flatlanders are famous for Texas Head shots on Antelope. We seemed to enjoy reading these threads on hunting Antelope by the Non-Rez hunters.

 

[salt&battery]

What are you even talking about? You started us down this road when you stopped talking about the .243 and started denigrating the people who disagree with you, or more precisely, people whose experience differs from your own. Don't get all self-righteous and offended now.

I don't do passive-aggressive and abhor it in others.

Craig ,Olympuss on other forum the firing line acts the same nasty know it all style. makes a lot of claims. so don't feel insulted just the way he is.

 

[Gordon]

.270 with 130 ammo, good but overkill. Likewise my long time go to the .264 Winchester with 120-140 grain bullets will give any .257 a run for it's money in flatness. A .243 with 100 grain bullets is good Pronghorn medicine to 350 yards in my experience. Availbility of inexpensive (relatively) factory ammo with good bullets is a very strong point of .270 and 25-06 and .243 .

 

[mshootnit]

Yeah, those WSSM never really caught on in any of the calibers. Interesting design though, that's for sure.

I was more intruiged by that little rifle because it felt so nice but I guess the little cartridge was necessary to have a little rifle.

 

[LoonWulf]

I was more intruiged by that little rifle because it felt so nice but I guess the little cartridge was necessary to have a little rifle.

Yeah, id hoped the wssms would do better just because they fit in such neat little rigs....damned ugly little rounds tho lol. With this AR performance craze still in full swing perhaps well see a new breed (or more runs) of shorty shorts become available again.

 

[Ks5shooter]

.270 if you have to ask why,then don't!

 

[JonB]

when I was in Montana and saw antelopes for the first time could not believe how small they were thought they were bigger. cant be much meat on them

I grew up in eastern MT hunting prairie goats and yeah, they aren't that big. I used. .243 as did my brother. No issues. One thing to note is they are jumpy critters and tend to spook and run easily. If they run a lot, the meat isn't great. We usually had it all processed as summer sausage.

 

[horsey300]

Yeah, id hoped the wssms would do better just because they fit in such neat little rigs....damned ugly little rounds tho lol. With this AR performance craze still in full swing perhaps well see a new breed (or more runs) of shorty shorts become available again.

Read an article about the short magnums just the other day, seems that there's actually a patent issue which has impeded production levels due to saving money from royalties, once the patent expires (predicted to be soon) they may become more populated.

 

[Dog Soldier]

JonB, Yes so true. NonRez Hunters can be seen chasing "Goats" across the High Plains. The value of the meat drops dramatically after being run.
The "Goats" should be scouted and stalked. The older Bucks will be found high on a Butte alone in the Grease wood breaks. Being there before sun up and stalking is the key. Shooting the super long range sniper approved rifle will seldom put a trophy Antelope on your wall.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Holmes 375 howdy Pard. Another member from our Wonderful Cowboy State. There seems to be several of us on here.

 

[Holmes375]

Holmes 375 howdy Pard. Another member from our Wonderful Cowboy State. There seems to be several of us on here.

And a tip o' the hat to you, too. Its been interesting reading this thread about hunting one of my favorite critters.

Pronghorns are one of the attractions that initially brought me to Wyoming. Planned on staying no more than a couple years.

That was 37 years ago....

 

[redneck2]

I used to think deer and particularly turkeys had good eyesight, until I hunted antelope.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Yes the "Prairie Goat" has an eye sight comparable to a 10X rifle scope. The good news is they don't have cross hairs.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

There has been a lot of good info shared on this thread and a lot of interesting comments as well. It's very much appreciated!

 

[stoky]

I grew up in eastern MT hunting prairie goats and yeah, they aren't that big. I used. .243 as did my brother. No issues. One thing to note is they are jumpy critters and tend to spook and run easily. If they run a lot, the meat isn't great. We usually had it all processed as summer sausage.

The meat is exquisite, if you have the patience to stalk and make a good shot. Most of the time if you don't chase them and just hunker down, they'll come back around, especially if they're being pushed by nimrods.
If you want to come to Wyo and snipe or shoot them on the run, that's okay too, just bring lots of money to spend.

 

[Legionnaire]

Haven't hunted pronghorn yet. When I do, I'll have to decide between the .243 and the .260. Why? Both have excellent ballistics and modest recoil. I like all the cartridges sired by the .308 case.

 

[redneck2]

FWIW.....if you already have a suitable rifle I'd use whatever I have already. Our guys used .243, .308, and 30-06. If you don't have really good binos (not little mini ones, real field glasses) that's where the money should go IMO.

I've got Leupolds best 10x50's. Every guy on the trip ended up using them

 

[SwampWolf]

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.

 

[SwampWolf]

Hard to beat the .257 Weatherby for a cartridge offering a very flat trajectory with modest recoil. Obvious drawbacks are that Weatherby ammunition can be hard to find and expensive when you do. Too, barrel life is not going to be as long-lived as some "lesser" cartridges but that's just the price of admission. The 25-06 or .257 Roberts are also good candidates, especially if only factory loads are contemplated.

 

[Dog Soldier]

My advise to a Nonrez "Goat" hunter. Most any rifle will work. As Stoky said, the meat is great. Carry plenty of water. Make sure you have a large cooler and a pound of salt. Wear rubber gloves win skinning. Wash the gloves in soap and water after pulling the hide.
Wash the carcass well inside and out with soapy water.
Shake a warm can of 7-up crack the container open. Spray the inside and out side with the 7-Up. The carbonation and citric acid will remove the oil scent expelled by the animal.
Bone the animal on the spot keeping proof of sex. Place in cooler with ice and salt water. This will remove the blood from the meat. Follow these rules and you will have the best game meat ever.

 

[LoonWulf]

Trick one of the old Filipino guys i used to hunt with used on our feral goats is to roll the skin back on itself and never touch the meat with the hand that touched the skin. Worked well even tho it took longer.

 

[EchoM70]

Which caliber would you recommend, for taking Antelope, at a max range of 400 yards, with modest recoil in a bolt gun? Why?

I like the 25/06 or a 257 WBY. Got a Mark V in 257 WBY that I purchased just for speed goats when I had to make the same decision myself.

If you do go with either of the two I mentioned make sure you get atleast a 24in barrel for the 25/06 and a 26in for the 257 WBY. They need the longer barrel length to reach their potential.

 

[Art Eatman]

Remember that the OP spoke of "modest" recoil. Granted that modest is in the eye (or shoulder) of the shooter. You get on up above 100-grain bullets and above 3,000 ft/sec, you're starting to go a bit above modest.

My one and only antelope was a frontal quartering shot with my pet '06. I used it mostly because I was all "married up" with it, and I didn't want to chance embarrassing myself in front of strangers. He was a very patient 15" guy. Saw him, initially passed on him; came back an hour later and he was still standing around looking stupid. "Is he one of your pets?" "No." Bang/whop/plop. Tasty, very tasty. (This was north of Marfa, Texas.)