Mule Deer/Antelope only

[BigDawgWill44]

Will be buying a new rifle soon. It will be used for Mule Deer and Antelope only (never for Elk). For Elk I have a 300 Win Mag and 338 Win Mag. Western open range hunting where 300-600 yard shots are typical.
These are the calibers I am looking at. This will be on a Winchester Model 70 rifle, if I go 280 AI I will have one re-barreled. Curious what your thoughts are. Also, I do hand load and prefer a mono bullet like Barnes LRX or the Federal Terminal Ascent.


6.5 PRC
.270
6.8 Western
280 AI


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[roadrunner]

6.5 PRC

 

[kcm2]

6.5 PRC or 270. The advantage of the 270 is that every Walmart in Wyoming would have ammo for it. Not so much for the other 3 calibers. And, yes, it'll do fine out to 500 yards. Plus, you could get a light rifle, mine is 7 lbs scoped and loaded......you carry a rifle more than you shoot it.

 

[jimh406]

If it's going to be a Model 70, I'd go 270. There are a lot of different round types and because the diameter of the case is smaller, you can usually hold more than two rounds.

 

[jeffpg]

6.5 PRC
280 AI is a close 2nd

 

[BigDawgWill44]

Will the magazine box from the Model 70 cause any issues with the 6.5 PRC or the 270 loading the newer high BC bullets close to the lands?


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[Maxhunter]

6.5 PRC

 

[eaglemountainman]

280 AI out of the choices you mention.

My own choice would be a Montana in 7-08 or a .260 Rem 8 twist.

 

[glock233]

6.5 PRC. Extremely shootable with tons of support. Easy 1000 yard gun for everything in North America including elk, which you excluded but don’t need to.


But barf on the mono bullet choice. Terminal ascent isn’t a mono. 143 ELDX is the easy button for 6.5 PRC.

If you are shooting the listed animals under 700 yards, you can go quite a bit smaller than 6.5 PRC.

 

[glock233]

Will the magazine box from the Model 70 cause any issues with the 6.5 PRC or the 270 loading the newer high BC bullets close to the lands?


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They make a model 70 in 6.5 PRC, so I doubt it.

 

[TaperPin]

160 gr 7mm bullet is what I think of as ideal for deer/antelope. When the biggest buck you’ve seen in 6 years is going over the ridge away from you, I’d much prefer that to the PRS/faux 270. The 7 mag paired with a 338 has been ideal for me. When seasons overlap if primarily and elk trip the 338 can be pressed into service deer hunting if need be and the 7 mag kills elk respectfully if deer is primarily on the menu. The AI is a good cartridge, but 7 rem mag does all the same stuff a little faster.

Even for antelope there is a noticeable difference - they will pack a 270 to the gut up to 1/2 mile, but I’ve never seen one feel like moving much with the 7 mag south of the diaphragm fired from any weird angle. Not a big deal unless your buck of a lifetime runs over the ridge in what could be described as combat hunting conditions and someone else puts their tag on it. If he’s big, others are trying to kill it as much as you are.

 

[boom0906]

6.5 prc

 

[Kimber7man]

Model 70 short mag has a 3.1” mag box correct? Or is it 3.0”?

Either way, buying new I’d go with 6.5 PRC.

 

[cwitt]

After some kills I saw this year, I’d say the 6.8. Especially given that you are hand loading and prefer monos. I think it allows for some really interesting options.

 

[nm.otter]

6mm GT or Creedmoor.

 

[grfox92]

This isnt what you asked for but a dedicated deer and antelope gun would be a 25 Creed or some type of 6mm for me. No reason to burn so much powder and have so much recoil for deer and antelope.

Although if I was shooting monos I would probably want a larger bullet.

 

[elsb0048]

I'd do the 270 or the PRC in your shoes. (I personally did the 270 in a model 70 this year)

270 is probably fine for the bullets your talking about. 6.5 PRC is probably a bit better if you want the option of the super high BC match bullets & similar.

If you want the 280ai just start with a 270 for the re-barrel and see if it shoots first. I considered the 280AI but someone on this forum said comparing it to 270 was like picking fly shit out of pepper which after looking at some ballistic charts feels apropos. In your LRX (factory loads) 6.5 & 280 both have a .468 BC & 3000fps at the muzzle, 270 has .463 BC & 3150fps. They all get ya to the same place expansion velocity wise give or take 50 yds and are within an inch of wind drift at 500...

Seems as if the 6.8 western is more recoil for very little benefit and probably less ammo and brass availability than the PRC.

 

[Hydra6]

I have harvested multiple mule deer and antelope with my Kimber Montana 280AI and Hornady Precision 162ELDX - proven.

6.5PRC might be right choice if buying new followed by 270

 

[TaperPin]

If you have no desire to take hard angle shots it probably doesn’t matter which you go with. I have no issue hunting for meat hunting with a 6mm or 25-06 since if one shot doesn’t work out another animal is right around the corner.