Bullet for antelope

[iowashedhunter]

I just got back from a wyoming antelope hunt and did well but the 110gr accubonds I used in my 25.06 tore them up pretty good. Do you guys know a bullet that might work as well without the damage. I am not sure but I think my buddy was using sierra's in the 110gr and they seemed to be less damaging but Im looking for ideas.

 

[Booner]

I'm surprised that the accubonds tore them up. How was your shot placements? Sierra doesn't make a 110 for .257 but they make 100, 117, and 120 gr. plus some smaller ones. I have used quite a few different loads for antelope and none didn't really seem to do a lot of damage. It seems I usually ruin one front shoulder, but my favorite meat is the back straps and hind quarters anyways. My favorite is 100 gr. nosler ballistic tips in the 25-06. Maybe the sierra bullet he was shooting held together better, and maybe they were flying a little slower? I would think a slower bullet wouldn't do as much damage? I wonder if a solid copper bullet would work well where it might just poke a hole through the animal.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I've settled on on load and one bullet for antelope and deer for my 25-05. I use a 117 gr Sierra GameKing Boat tail.Shoots well and makes it really simple for me. One bullet, one load for both. Normally one shot kills and not much damage to the meat, of course it all depends on bullet placement.

 

[Booner]

Those sierra's are good bullets and that is a good load, I've used them a few times. I've settled in on the 100 gr. noslers cause they shot the best out of my rifle and they are fast and flat. Some people think they might be a little light for deer, but I popped a muley right at 400 yds. last year with it and he went nowhere.

 

[Elkoholic307]

If you're looking for less hide damage, look at the Barnes' line of bullets. The tsx and ttsx might be what you are looking for.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Elkoholic is correct....try the Barnes TTSX for your 25.06, they work great. And retain almost 100% of their
weight..when recovered. They most certainly don't blow-up like Noslers BT's sometimes do when close to
mid range shots are taken. I use Barnes X's in my .06 and my .375 and have for years...no complaints.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I agree with the Barnes TTSX recommendations. Excellent bullets. I killed my speed goat this year with a 140 TTSX out of a 7-08. DRT with virtually no meat loss.

 

[6mm Remington]

You should not have had major issues with the 110 gr. Accubond, but any shoulder or bone hit on an antelope can result in a lot of meat damage. I really like to place my bullet just behind the shoulder in the heart lung area. If that did not seem to work, try the 115 or 120 gr. Partitions, whichever your rifle likes best. I shoot the 120 Partition in my wife's 25-06. It works great.

 

[Fink]

We killed 2 goats this fall with 130 grain TTSX chambered in .270. The bullets did excellent, causing no meat damage. We shot them in the ribs though, just about any bullet out of a rifle is going to destroy a quarter if you hit them in the shoulders.

I'm pretty stoked to try the TTSX on deer, as they dropped our antelope in their tracks.

 

[sjsmallfield]

I shoot 115 grain Barnes' X out of my .257 wby. Shot a goat in 2009 with it. Great round. Very little dammage. But for the record if you shoot an animal in the shoulder with one you will most likely loose at leat one quarter if not both.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Great advice on the bullet selection. Shoot your antelope behind the shoulder, in front of the gut, right through the ribs to minimize meat loss with whatever bullet you choose to shoot. Antelope are not very tough critters.

 

[Drhorsepower]

My old man shoots a partition out of his 25.06. He swears by them. It didn't do much damage on the two he killed last year.

 

[floorya]

i'm a "1 rifle for everything" guy.its an older 30/06 custom built on a interarms mauser action. its not fancy but mounts and shoots like an extention of my body.i have tried a bunch of different loads and bullets over the years and have found the accubond bullets, in 165and 180gn. to be the best for me and the rifle.i have used this rifle on animals rangeing from 15lb. steenbuck in so. africa to bull elk in nevada.on antelope and deer sized game i love this bullet for a rib shot.little hole in,big hole out and no wasted meat.and on the bigger stuff i will take a high shoulder shot if i can, and i am always pleased with the outcome.
sorry for the long post. mike.

 

[ljmelea]

Shot placement will determine the majority of meat loss.The 110 accubond in my .257 imp has left very little meat loss with proper placement.Blow a shot in the wyoming wind and you can loose meat.I can vouch for that. Larry