good antelope round

[Derek0525]

What is a good Antelope round that is flat shooting and not to big. I have a .243 now but long shots aren't that great with it I was thinking either a .257 weather by or 6.5 creedmore.

 

[topher89]

I have been thinking about buying a new rifle to be my antelope/deer rifle. A 257 Weatherby definitely fits the flat shooting criteria. A 25-06 would be easier on the shoulder. The other cartridge I was thinking about would be a 264 Win Mag.

Choices, choices....

 

[handwerk]

2 of my favs for such things are .270 win and .280 AI

 

[wapitibob]

180 Berger from a 7STW. Big enough they don't blink when hit and the bullet doesn't explode so you still get about 50% meat recovery.

 

[Derek0525]

Ended up ordering a .257 Weatherby.

 

[Trr15]

I've been eyeing a .257 weatherby for about 6 months. Will probably pick it up after the season as my new antelope rifle.

 

[Derek0525]

The price wasn't to bad price Cabelas wanted $550 Dicks wanted $600 and Bi Mart wanted $475 So I would shop around before you get one.
It's just the s2 Vanguard. After looking at price for ammo I think I will buy some dies.

 

[topher89]

The price wasn't to bad price Cabelas wanted $550 Dicks wanted $600 and Bi Mart wanted $475 So I would shop around before you get one.
It's just the s2 Vanguard. After looking at price for ammo I think I will buy some dies.

I love my 30-06 S2 Vanguard. Not the lightest out there but mine has shot sub-moa groups with everything I have put through it. I was able to take a buck antelope at 300 yds this weekend. And if I can ever get the pic loaded I will post it

 

[carlc]

I just bought a lh mark v ultralight with a zeiss 4.5-14 at auction last weekend in 257. I shot it a few times the next day, just off the hood of the pickup all three shots were touching at 100. It was nearly moa at 400, but I could not hold steady enough. All in all, I think the 257 will be my go to antelope and deer gun

 

[aclawrence]

I just bought a lh mark v ultralight with a zeiss 4.5-14 at auction last weekend in 257. I shot it a few times the next day, just off the hood of the pickup all three shots were touching at 100. It was nearly moa at 400, but I could not hold steady enough. All in all, I think the 257 will be my go to antelope and deer gun

Sounds like you scored a nice shooter.

 

[roknHS]

Been a lot of antelope and deer killed with a .243.................just sayin.

 

[bobhunts]

I will follow with what was just posted. The ,243 is a great round for Pronghorn that does not kick hard, Having said that.. the round in my opinion is limited to about 450 yards at best. If shooting further than that there are some good choices from the post's above. Bob.

 

[Broomd]

2 of my favs for such things are .270 win and .280 AI

Yep..and the .280 rem is no slouch as is....

Why reinvent the wheel I say.

 

[IChaseCoues]

I agre with bobhunts. A 243 is a great pronghorn round out to 500 yds. If shooting farther than that then pick a good long range round and I bet it will get the job done as far as you can accurately shoot. There's no such thing as too dead!

 

[Coveyleader]

My daughter has killed them with a 243 and a 270. I liked the 243 for several reasons over the 270, most of it related to damage to meat. But, in saying that, anything through the shoulders on antelope is going to be ugly.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Last year I used my 22-250 on my two goats. My dad used the same gun for his two. My doe was killed at 250+, buck killed 200+. I like the 243 as well. I have been known to use my 300 but if you hit a little too far forward there isn't much left, otherwise usually it passes clean through with a little entrance/exit wound.

 

[MarlinMark]

7mm-08. Love it for antelope and deer. 120gr Barnes TTSX.

 

[6mm Remington]

I've used the 6mm Remington for years on antelope and feel it and the 243 are both great cartridges for that particular use. The 25-06, 280 Remington, and 280 AI are all fantastic also, but I see you fell under the .257 Weatherby spell. That should be a good one!! A 110 gr. Accubond at something like 3400 fps plus would be prettyspectacular!

 

[roknHS]

I'm cheap I guess......It costs too much to feed the Weatherbys for the small increase in performance. If I was going to step up from my .243, I'd rummage around in the safe and pull out the 25-06. I can afford to feed it, doesn't beat me up with recoil, reaches out a good distance with a 100gr bullet and shoots about as flat/fast as you can ask. However, when I compared my Browning BLR 243 and my Ruger 77 25-06 for an upcoming antelope hunt, I put the 25-06 back in the safe. The .243 is so much lighter and handier..........and if I see an antelope I want that is past the 400yd mark, I'll throw rocks at it.............

 

[Derek0525]

I'm reloading for the Weatherby so the ammo cost won't be to bad. Only downside is it is about impossible to find .25 cal accubonds around here I got one box now and working up the loads this weekend. Shot some cheap factory loads to get it sighted in. I found the recoil to not be much more than my .243. So far I'm happy with it