.270 Win enough for a Mountain Goat?

[HornPorn]

Goats aren’t that tough, guys shoot them with the wrong bullets. Something like a 6 creed with a 108 eldm is going to be more effective then a 375 H&H with a mono. The wallop factor index is really lopsided on goats.

Agree with you 100%, but to be fair I do think many of those stories of guys using big guns and tough bullets are due to where they are hunting (brown bear (coastal AK and BC), and/or the goat was part of a combo hunt for moose or bear.

Guys down in the lower 48 and grizz free areas of Utah, CO aren't going to have that as part of the equation, and aren't going to be hunting multiple species at once either.

There is definitely a view that goats are tough and "soak up lead" that gets amplified.

 

[Steve O]

Goats aren’t that tough, guys shoot them with the wrong bullets. Something like a 6 creed with a 108 eldm is going to be more effective then a 375 H&H with a mono. The wallop factor index is really lopsided on goats.

Agree 100%

 

[ckleeves]

Agree with you 100%, but to be fair I do think many of those stories of guys using big guns and tough bullets are due to where they are hunting (brown bear (coastal AK and BC), and/or the goat was part of a combo hunt for moose or bear.

Guys down in the lower 48 and grizz free areas of Utah, CO aren't going to have that as part of the equation, and aren't going to be hunting multiple species at once either.

There is definitely a view that goats are tough and "soak up lead" that gets amplified.

Agreed. But it does seem that many outfitters hold the “bigger is better” view also, or encourage the use of monos on goats which I really can’t get behind. Even the biggest of Billies isn’t that thick thru the chest.

 

[bowhunter74]

I shot 2 caribou between 200 and 300 yards with 130 grain ballistic tips with no problem so I would say it should work on a goat

 

[6mm Remington]

Go forth with your 270 and shoot a nice billy! 130 or 140 gr. Nosler Partitions or Accubonds would be my pick for bullets.

 

[Wapiti66]

270 is definitely enough gun. I’d pick a lightweight gun that you shoot well. Goat country is no joke and you will be mentally counting every ounce you chose to pack up the mountain and into the cliffs

 

[SkunkCabbage]

With confidence. TMK/ELDM/X will be very sufficient. Don’t overthink it

 

[aussiehunter]

Mid asian ibex 270 win 130gr GMX at 300m one shot, so i believe it will be enough for you. Happy Hunting

 

[z987k]

I’ve been on around 20 goat hunts over the years. A 270 may work but there is a better chance a goat will take a death leap off a cliff and end up a bloody mess with rips in the face, broken horn, etc. if you want a better piece of mind that a goat will drop before heading off cliffs and taking a blood bath use a 30 caliber!

Mtn goats are one of the toughest critters in North America to put on the ground and they live in cliff country.

Bullet diameter has no bearing whatsoever on that happening.

 

[BRWNBR]

Out come the goat experts to do battle in the arena with the ballistics experts!!!!

I don’t know crap about numbers and whatever. But I do know my experiences as a mtn goat guide. A 25-‘06 works. But it’s embarrassing to watch. Second worse goat kill I ever saw was with a 270. Four shots. Never knew it was even hit till it picked a bed, laid down and died.
Goat death launch is a real thing. They don’t all do it, but when they do…lol oh man. You’re in for an adventure of salvage and recovery!
Big Billy’s can be much more impressive to try to kill over a big nanny. Not all goats are created equal.
Yes. The 270 will kill a goat. Is it enough? What on earth does enough mean? If it kills them then yes, it’s enough.
Will it drop them or stop them. Well that’s up to the guy pulling the trigger not the numbers stamped on the barrel. Placement. Has 150 percent more to do with dropping an animal that Rokslide opinions do.
(Shot my best goat with a bow. 3 times) it was enough bow.

 

[z987k]

Out come the goat experts to do battle in the arena with the ballistics experts!!!!

I don’t know crap about numbers and whatever. But I do know my experiences as a mtn goat guide. A 25-‘06 works. But it’s embarrassing to watch. Second worse goat kill I ever saw was with a 270. Four shots. Never knew it was even hit till it picked a bed, laid down and died.
Goat death launch is a real thing. They don’t all do it, but when they do…lol oh man. You’re in for an adventure of salvage and recovery!
Big Billy’s can be much more impressive to try to kill over a big nanny. Not all goats are created equal.
Yes. The 270 will kill a goat. Is it enough? What on earth does enough mean? If it kills them then yes, it’s enough.
Will it drop them or stop them. Well that’s up to the guy pulling the trigger not the numbers stamped on the barrel. Placement. Has 150 percent more to do with dropping an animal that Rokslide opinions do.
(Shot my best goat with a bow. 3 times) it was enough bow.

Placement is everything. Goats go down better with a 223 to the cns than a 338 through thr lungs. But everything does. Only thing unique to goats is the cliff launching.

 

[grappling_hook]

Out come the goat experts to do battle in the arena with the ballistics experts!!!!

I don’t know crap about numbers and whatever. But I do know my experiences as a mtn goat guide. A 25-‘06 works. But it’s embarrassing to watch. Second worse goat kill I ever saw was with a 270. Four shots. Never knew it was even hit till it picked a bed, laid down and died.
Goat death launch is a real thing. They don’t all do it, but when they do…lol oh man. You’re in for an adventure of salvage and recovery!
Big Billy’s can be much more impressive to try to kill over a big nanny. Not all goats are created equal.
Yes. The 270 will kill a goat. Is it enough? What on earth does enough mean? If it kills them then yes, it’s enough.
Will it drop them or stop them. Well that’s up to the guy pulling the trigger not the numbers stamped on the barrel. Placement. Has 150 percent more to do with dropping an animal that Rokslide opinions do.
(Shot my best goat with a bow. 3 times) it was enough bow.

Learning the anatomy and focusing on shot placement is so important. And having many, many rounds under your belt, and lots of practice shooting at different angles and from uneven ground, and practice getting into shooting positions with the same setup you'll be hunting with. And within all that, not pushing the limits on range, and being patient and getting as close as you need.

 

[Jimss]

Here is a photo of a mature billy my son ended up harvesting when the season started. I happen to disagree 100% that mature billies have a narrow body. In fact, they are built a lot like a miniature bison. They also have one of the thickest hides available on a North American animal. If you intend on doing a life-sized cape I would highly recommend at least a couple knives.

 

[NoDakfarmin]

Please tell me he didn’t shoot it when it had lesbo hair?

 

[Bigred323]

I have zero experience killing a mountain goat but will hopefully have some this coming year.

I’ll be using 7 mag eldx 162 grain so hopefully that’ll do the trick.

 

[grappling_hook]

???

Not sure what's funny. Nothing beats lots of practice and familiarity with your equipment.

 

[grappling_hook]

You’re telling that to a very experienced guide and the fact that 99% of people don’t do that. And all that practice goes out the window for so many people because well 1) they’re human 2) they get excited.

So yeah it’s hilarious. Still chuckling about it

I was agreeing with him…

 

[DaveBarrows]

killed a few, they are tough!

Use a well constructed bullet. I only shoot barnes tsx anymore. Try to get a front should/lung shot. They will go a ways for sure. The big billy I killed years ago, jumped off a cliff, about a 150' fall, got up and skirted the mountain in a creek bed. We got to where he hit the ground and all there was was white fur and blood. Tracked him around the mountain and finished him off. An incredibly tough animal! They are big too! Way bigger than a sheep, so trying to get one boned out with cape and horns will be one hell of a pack out! I was shocked at the body size when I walked up to it.

 

[buffybr]

I shot my goat with my .30 Gibbs and a 180 gr Nosler Partition bullet. Less than a 100 yd bang flop shot. In the next few years 3 of my friends drew goat tags (one drew 2) in that same unit and they all got their goats with one shot kills. One with his .270, and the other 3 with their .22-250.

I shot my billy in knee to crotch deep snow near the top of the mountain. My friends shot their goats in the same drainage, but much lower down the mountain, with one being at the bottom of the valley.

I completely skinned our my goat and put his hide and head in my pack. I then pulled his body a few feet to the edge of a cliff and pushed him off, worked my way around the cliff, then repeated that to the bottom of the valley. Too bad I didn't lose it on one of those cliffs. Worst meat that I ever smelled.

My taxidermist said mine was one of the largest body goats that he ever mounted and wanted to do a full mount of him. He even reduced the price of a full mount in half, but back then I didn't have room and only had a half mount made. I've regretted that decision ever since, and have applied and not drawn another goat tag in over 45 years.

 

[grappling_hook]

I shot my goat with my .30 Gibbs and a 180 gr Nosler Partition bullet. Less than a 100 yd bang flop shot. In the next few years 3 of my friends drew goat tags (one drew 2) in that same unit and they all got their goats with one shot kills. One with his .270, and the other 3 with their .22-250.

I shot my billy in knee to crotch deep snow near the top of the mountain. My friends shot their goats in the same drainage, but much lower down the mountain, with one being at the bottom of the valley.

I completely skinned our my goat and put his hide and head in my pack. I then pulled his body a few feet to the edge of a cliff and pushed him off, worked my way around the cliff, then repeated that to the bottom of the valley. Too bad I didn't lose it on one of those cliffs. Worst meat that I ever smelled.

My taxidermist said mine was one of the largest body goats that he ever mounted and wanted to do a full mount of him. He even reduced the price of a full mount in half, but back then I didn't have room and only had a half mount made. I've regretted that decision ever since, and have applied and not drawn another goat tag in over 45 years.

Very nice. And great old pics!

Can you share more about the kills from the .22 cal bullets if you have those details?