Wyoming Antelope caliber
- Thread starter bigshot
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Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I have killed antelope with a variety of calibers from .243 to 300 RUM, and had satisfactory performance out of all of them. The RUM with Berger 185 VLD-H was actually a great caliber for antelope due to its resistance to wind drift. Where I hunt antelope, wind is a common companion. It may be surprising, but meat loss with the RUM wasn't bad.
Last year I used a 7-08 with Barnes TTSX, and had a nice clean one shot kill at 340 yards. I really like that cartridge and bullet for antelope. Meat loss was almost non-existant.
I also think 6.5's with their high BCs would be great in the wind.
Last year I used a 7-08 with Barnes TTSX, and had a nice clean one shot kill at 340 yards. I really like that cartridge and bullet for antelope. Meat loss was almost non-existant.
I also think 6.5's with their high BCs would be great in the wind.
Texans42
New Member
Killed lots using any thing from 22-250 to 300mag
My wife shot her's using vortex ammo in 80gr ttsx. 340yards
My favorite is my encore 25-06 with nolser custom ammo in 100grain partition. if I drawn another land owner tag down here probably use 257wby with 80ttsx... Been amazing performance so far.
My wife shot her's using vortex ammo in 80gr ttsx. 340yards
My favorite is my encore 25-06 with nolser custom ammo in 100grain partition. if I drawn another land owner tag down here probably use 257wby with 80ttsx... Been amazing performance so far.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Interesting to read what everyones favorite is. But the thing that is even more important than the caliber, is that you are confident in what your capable of, what your rifle in capable of and that you practice enough that you know exactly what your favorite combination (including you) can do under all the conditions you might encounter.
Thats one of my problems with my new .257 Wby. My old favorite M77 Ruger in 25-06 and I have been partners for 35 years and have killed a lot of animals together. When I need it to perform, I know it will be there for me.
Thats one of my problems with my new .257 Wby. My old favorite M77 Ruger in 25-06 and I have been partners for 35 years and have killed a lot of animals together. When I need it to perform, I know it will be there for me.
brooks
Member
I bought a Winchester model 70 in .25 wssm when they first came out and that thing has been the best deer and antelope rifle I have ever owned ! 110 gn Nosler Acubond, 4x12x40 leupold, heavy stainless steel bull barrel....just point that thing at a deer or goat and it's going down. One shot one kill on everthing from 40 to 400 yards with little damage.
I'll likely be packing my M70 in 264 win mag. The 140gr accubond load I've been using will work fine unless I find a load for the 140gr Berger VLD it likes between now and then. The accubond has performed flawlessly on everything I've shot with it, I just wouldn't mind using the Berger from this rifle due to the higher BC. It's kinda becoming my specialized long range/high wind rifle since I bought a lighter weight 270 win.
BobT
Active Member
Nope! Just wanted a new gun specifically for antelope, I don't think there is any such thing as overkill. Another one I considered was the .300 WSM and my son in law is taking a .300 WM and the other fellow going with me will be shooting a 6.5X.284. I simply picked the .25/06 because it was enough and the most accurate of the 3 rifles I was testing as possible candidates. I am also working on a 7MM Mashburn Super and have a .264 WM in the serious planning stage, either one of these 2 could get the nod next year. Year before last I hunted with a Striker pistol in .243. I was happy with it too. I really don't care much about the caliber as long as it's accurate. I can avoid excessive meat loss with good bullet selection and careful shot placement.
I just love chasing pronghorns, as long as it is accurate and legal I'll use it.
Bob
I'll take the same two guns as I did last season, A 257 Robert's and a 6.5x55.
I shoot a 100gr barnes X @ 3,200fps out of the Roberts, a Ruger #1 with a 26in barrel. I will use 129gr Hornadys in the 6.5 @2850. Both worked real well last year on antelope. I like small cal rifles that don't kick the hell out of me but get the job done. That said, I could be tempted to take my Ruger 375 H&H just for those big doe lopes.
I shoot a 100gr barnes X @ 3,200fps out of the Roberts, a Ruger #1 with a 26in barrel. I will use 129gr Hornadys in the 6.5 @2850. Both worked real well last year on antelope. I like small cal rifles that don't kick the hell out of me but get the job done. That said, I could be tempted to take my Ruger 375 H&H just for those big doe lopes.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
As long as it is .23 cal or larger it's legal. Don't think you will find any .23 cal. rifles though.
I think whatever rifle you shoot well is the one to use. I've killed loper bucks ,1 with a .243 , 10 with a 7mm Rem mag and last 3 with Rem 300 Utra Mag. last ones with it in 2010 at 444 yds.and a doe loper at 310 yds last year. All died the same. I like using the same rifle I hunt elk and deer with. I use have used my 300 RUM and nothing but Barnes 180 TSX and TTSX on everything for last 6 yrs. My son used my 7 mag with 140 gr. Barnes TTSX on his deer and antelope and they dropped like rocks too. He wanted to use his .243 but I convinced him he may get a long shot. Both were around a hundred yards... Bigshot, use what you like best and drop em in the dirt.
I think whatever rifle you shoot well is the one to use. I've killed loper bucks ,1 with a .243 , 10 with a 7mm Rem mag and last 3 with Rem 300 Utra Mag. last ones with it in 2010 at 444 yds.and a doe loper at 310 yds last year. All died the same. I like using the same rifle I hunt elk and deer with. I use have used my 300 RUM and nothing but Barnes 180 TSX and TTSX on everything for last 6 yrs. My son used my 7 mag with 140 gr. Barnes TTSX on his deer and antelope and they dropped like rocks too. He wanted to use his .243 but I convinced him he may get a long shot. Both were around a hundred yards... Bigshot, use what you like best and drop em in the dirt.
xtreme
Very Active Member
I have never fired a shot at a loper, but if I ever get a tag I will use the 168 Berger in 7mm. This combo helps increase the odds.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
I agree . I like having a flat shooting hard hitting caliber/bullet incase of a long shot. Yours would certainly do it !
MWScott72
Active Member
I have a Sako (Tikka) .25-06 that I absolutely love for deer. I haven't tried it on antelope yet, but will do so this fall. It's a great rifle with almost no kick. I killed a whitetail last year at 315 yds using 120-grain custom loads moving at 3,000+ fps, and while it didn't pancake him, he only stayed on his feet for about 5-6 seconds before tipping over.
My dad had some serious health issues derail his hunting activities a couple years back, and he has been discharging his hunting rifles to those of us that hunt in the family. He gave me the same Tikka model in .300 WM and that will become my elk rifle. I have a feeling that the three of us will become good friends over the next few years!
I'd trade all of this to have my dad's health back though. I was looking forward to hunting with him more when he retired, but I'm happy that he's still with us and can still go out from time to time in a more limited capacity.
My dad had some serious health issues derail his hunting activities a couple years back, and he has been discharging his hunting rifles to those of us that hunt in the family. He gave me the same Tikka model in .300 WM and that will become my elk rifle. I have a feeling that the three of us will become good friends over the next few years!
I'd trade all of this to have my dad's health back though. I was looking forward to hunting with him more when he retired, but I'm happy that he's still with us and can still go out from time to time in a more limited capacity.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
MW,
Sorry to hear about your Dad's health.
I never got to hunt any big game with my dad. He would only hunt birds,rabbits and squirrels.
I kinda got interested in it with my best friend and got hooked in a bad way ! My friend hardly ever hunts anymore.
I think the 25.06 has to be one of the perfect loper guns ever. I watched my friend drop a loper over 600 yds with a lucky shot once.
Was shooting as flat as my 7 mm Rem mag. . That was in 1992. He has never been back to Wy. since. I tried to get him to go on a 20 yr. reunion hunt. He liked the idea but has since backed out.
Anyway, hope you get to hunt antelope with yout 25.06 and you dad does better.
Sorry to hear about your Dad's health.
I never got to hunt any big game with my dad. He would only hunt birds,rabbits and squirrels.
I kinda got interested in it with my best friend and got hooked in a bad way ! My friend hardly ever hunts anymore.
I think the 25.06 has to be one of the perfect loper guns ever. I watched my friend drop a loper over 600 yds with a lucky shot once.
Was shooting as flat as my 7 mm Rem mag. . That was in 1992. He has never been back to Wy. since. I tried to get him to go on a 20 yr. reunion hunt. He liked the idea but has since backed out.
Anyway, hope you get to hunt antelope with yout 25.06 and you dad does better.
justinthedoc
Member
- Jul 15, 2011
- 75
- 0
agreed love the 25's, kill anything you want, hard to find ammo though unless your in a bigger city with a good sporting goods, or reload yourself. Have been playing with the 300wsm with that superformance powder, holy smokes 165 gr at 3612FPS think im gonna back her off abit though, hate to blow the barrel out.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
That's wicked fast ! I can only get 3630 fps. with a 150 gr, and 103.0 grs. Retumbo out of my 300 RUM ! Bad thing is that if you aren't shooting a Barnes or a bonded bullet they blow up like grenades when they meet the meat. I've stuck with 180 gr. Barnes TSX for 6 yrs. and last couple yrs. TTSX. They're moving at 3360 fps. W/100 gr. Retumbo. Wonder what superperformance would do out of my 300 RUM...???
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Damn....you guys and your 30 cal mags flying out at 3300 to 3600 fps. Antelope guns....come on guys give me a break! Might as well use a .50 Barrett sniper gun!. Give them por little 100# critters a sporting chance. My .25 kill them just as dead....with a lot less powder.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
It's a pain to take a couple different rifles with you when you hunt out of state though. A couple years ago I took my son to Wy.. He wanted to use his TC Hunter with 28 in barrel in .243 for deer and antelope. I had a great load for it built up with an 85 gr. Barnes TXS at 3400+ fps. Figured it be fine for antelope. I took my 7mm Rem mag for him just in case. He shot both his deer and loper with the 7 mag . didn't have time to dig out the .243 both times. I agree it's over kill but I like carrying/hunting with one rifle most of the time (for big game). I shot one loper with a .243. all others w/7 mag or 300 RUM. 2010 at 444 yds. and last yr. at 336 yds.. I also like being able to hold dead on with my 300 RUM
PLP
New Member
- Jun 10, 2012
- 27
- 0
overkill!..lol..nah..I could shoot turkeys with 2 3/4" #6's,but Id rather use 3.5" num 4s...I got my 300 win mag just for the west..it was more than enough gun back home on deer,and perfect for hogs.
I used the 130gr barnes TTSX in my 300 and shot some hogs and deer..didnt mess up the meat too bad at all..but I went back to ga arms 165 nosler ballistic tip,just because it pops harder,and makes bigger holes..the ttsx never failed tho,and nothing ever stopped the bullet..shot a deer in the chest and it blew all the way out the ham..and shot 2 hogs both thru the head with one shot,and the bullet kept going..It just seemed that if it didnt hit bone it would blow thru so freakin fast it didnt make a big hole...and it was kinda odd the way it would blow insides out the entrance hole!yeah entrance hole..it went thru them so fast thats exactly what would happen..sometimes that would plug up the hole and make bloodtrailing more difficult.
I was told that it goes thru so fast that it creates a shockwave inside which bounces off the opposite side(inside)and then it ripples back toward the entrance..and thats why that would happen..
I used the 130gr barnes TTSX in my 300 and shot some hogs and deer..didnt mess up the meat too bad at all..but I went back to ga arms 165 nosler ballistic tip,just because it pops harder,and makes bigger holes..the ttsx never failed tho,and nothing ever stopped the bullet..shot a deer in the chest and it blew all the way out the ham..and shot 2 hogs both thru the head with one shot,and the bullet kept going..It just seemed that if it didnt hit bone it would blow thru so freakin fast it didnt make a big hole...and it was kinda odd the way it would blow insides out the entrance hole!yeah entrance hole..it went thru them so fast thats exactly what would happen..sometimes that would plug up the hole and make bloodtrailing more difficult.
I was told that it goes thru so fast that it creates a shockwave inside which bounces off the opposite side(inside)and then it ripples back toward the entrance..and thats why that would happen..
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Hey guys, just wanted to jab at you a little. Seriously, I really don't care what caliber someone shoots at big game, it's their choice. Just so they know their gun and can shoot it well is what really counts. Shot placement is more important that how big (or small for that matter) the bullet is. Shoot well guys............