Recommendations for antelope?

[fackelberry]

Like Timberstalker said, out of those 3 i would pick the .280. If you don't mind any other calibers there is a whole lot to pick from if you have to get a new one. I would definately get a double duty one just incase you want to do a deer/elk combo hunt sometime. That way you don't have to do this all over again for an elk rifle! You will have to decide if you want a short action or long action or any other type of action! But the .270,280, 30-06 family would work plenty good for double duty!

 

[mcseal2]

Not a darn thing wrong with the 280, darn good cartridge. That said if you don't handload you might consider the 270 as another option. It has a ton of factory loads available. The 280 lets you go to heavier 175gr bullets, but I don't know of anyone who uses them from a 280. It's at it's best with 140-160gr bullets in my opinion, the 270 with 130-150gr bullets. Not a whole lot of difference in performance. I personally like the 140gr Nosler Accubond really well from the 270, it has a high BC near .500 and I've had good performance on deer and elk with it.

If I was thinking of going 280 anyway, I'd step up to the 280AI since Nosler has ammo and brass out for it now. It runs darn close to the 7 mag in speed with less powder.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Not a darn thing wrong with the 280, darn good cartridge. That said if you don't handload you might consider the 270 as another option. It has a ton of factory loads available. The 280 lets you go to heavier 175gr bullets, but I don't know of anyone who uses them from a 280. It's at it's best with 140-160gr bullets in my opinion, the 270 with 130-150gr bullets. Not a whole lot of difference in performance. I personally like the 140gr Nosler Accubond really well from the 270, it has a high BC near .500 and I've had good performance on deer and elk with it.

If I was thinking of going 280 anyway, I'd step up to the 280AI since Nosler has ammo and brass out for it now. It runs darn close to the 7 mag in speed with less powder.

I have a 280 that loves 175 gr. partitions. Never knew till I tried to set it up for a Moose hunt as a back up rifle. 90's stock Rem 700 SS 24" tube. Well sort of stock, did put it in a HS Precision stock, which coincided with it becoming essentially a "hummer". Not sure what the twist is. But it worked very well on a cow elk last year.

That said, you're spot on with the 270 vs 280 recommendation IMO, unless you are willing to buy semi-custom or custom ammo, then it does get interesting. I always felt 150 gr. ish was a sweet spot for the 280, and a box of 150 gr. Hornady ammo with the ELD-X is next for my 280'sm to see if they digest it well. All this rifle/caliber/cartridge talk is making me want another rifle...

 

[JFox]

Go with the .280 then you have an all around western big game caliber.
I see zero reason to shoot .22 caliber bullets on big game other than that all you have. I personally would not go lower than .24 myself.
I don't do a lot of antelope killing but I used a 25-06 on the one I did, it did the job!

Right on! I'll look into 280 platforms, and you're absolutely right Mr. McCoy, it's a definite first world problem to ponder! Reckon a 280 would handle elk alright?

 

[Bonecollector]

.280 is an excellent all-around caliber- no question. Best of both world.

 

[mcseal2]

I have a 280 that loves 175 gr. partitions. Never knew till I tried to set it up for a Moose hunt as a back up rifle. 90's stock Rem 700 SS 24" tube. Well sort of stock, did put it in a HS Precision stock, which coincided with it becoming essentially a "hummer". Not sure what the twist is. But it worked very well on a cow elk last year.

That said, you're spot on with the 270 vs 280 recommendation IMO, unless you are willing to buy semi-custom or custom ammo, then it does get interesting. I always felt 150 gr. ish was a sweet spot for the 280, and a box of 150 gr. Hornady ammo with the ELD-X is next for my 280'sm to see if they digest it well. All this rifle/caliber/cartridge talk is making me want another rifle...

I figured as soon as I posted that I'd find someone who used the 175gr Partitions for big critters! All the 280 lovers I know with are shooting the 145gr Barnes, 150gr Sirocco II, or the 140 or 160gr Accubond. They are all handloading those bullets. One is an outfitter in WY and uses his 280 with the 140gr Accubond for everything up to elk. Another is an older fellow that spends a month or two with the outfitter each year and he got them all started loving the 280. It's darn sure a great round for a do everything cartridge, kinda has most of the best of the 30-06 and 270 with the handloads.

 

[lostriverproductions]

I like to use a 243 for lopes, but know people that do it with a 22-250, and guys that use 30-06 because thats what they have.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I figured as soon as I posted that I'd find someone who used the 175gr Partitions for big critters! All the 280 lovers I know with are shooting the 145gr Barnes, 150gr Sirocco II, or the 140 or 160gr Accubond. They are all handloading those bullets. One is an outfitter in WY and uses his 280 with the 140gr Accubond for everything up to elk. Another is an older fellow that spends a month or two with the outfitter each year and he got them all started loving the 280. It's darn sure a great round for a do everything cartridge, kinda has most of the best of the 30-06 and 270 with the handloads.

Funny how that works. Had we not been prepping for a Moose hunt, would never have tried them. But I generally shoot 140-154 grains. 145 LRX's are what my other 280 shoots. Was actually happily surprised with how the 175's shot and worked on game, so have been shooting them in that rifle.

 

[mtncowboy]

My vote goes to your 257 Roberts. I love mine so much, I don't know why I ever went away from it. Although, if I draw a tag this year, it will go down to my new 6.5 Creedmoor that I am enamored with. Good luck

 

[Fish]

Killed at least 8 antelope bucks and some does and killed all my biggest buck mule deer with it. Been using 100gr Barnes TS out of my Ruger #1. Love that rifle and the 257 Robert's cartridge.

 

[Bbis2]

I shoot a 22-250 in MO a lot on coyotes and I love it. I have never taken it deer hunting because I have a .308. I think of it this way coming from the Midwest to the west to hunt. From an economic stance I have a lot invested in time, money in lodging and gas, miles on my boots, etc. Do I really want to risk not having enough gun on all of that input that a marginal shot will have me losing sleep. From a hunters stance, I owe every animal respect and I'm not going to take my 22-250 out hunting anything larger than a coyote because I have better tools for the job. For lack of better terms, it would be better for all parties involved (including the game I'm chasing) to use the proper tool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tim McCoy]

Right on! I'll look into 280 platforms, and you're absolutely right Mr. McCoy, it's a definite first world problem to ponder! Reckon a 280 would handle elk alright?

Yes sir, the 280 Rem will handle an Elk just fine. All you need to do is drive an elk capable bullet thru the vitals with enough velocity for the bullet to perform as designed.