Pronghorn Caliber

[mcseal2]

With elk included I’d start with the 270 and 140gr bonded or mono-metal bullets and go up from there. 280AI, 7mm rem mag with a tough bullet of 150gr plus would be ideal.

I like the 6.5’s and they are also capable, especially the ones that can push a tough 140gr bullet for elk. I hunt everything smaller than elk and not in Alaska with a 264 win mag and 140gr Berger. Where big bears live or for elk I prefer a 300 win mag with a 180gr E tip.

If I could only have 1 rifle I’d split the difference with a 280AI or 7 mag.

 

[Dust Rider]

Used to use a 25-06 just for pronghorns. Then like other mentioned I went back to just one gun for it all, 300WSM. Lots of wind everywhere we hunt, and easy to grab old faithful out of the safe for everything.

 

[HuntnPack]

My pick for a versatile cartridge is a 6.5 MAX
156 Berger’s & Hammer Hunter or Hammers New Absolute Hammer for bullet selection.
Rifle: HCA Suppressed
NF 2.5-20 NX8 f2 glass.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Lots of good choices, as others have stated. Can't go wrong with any of them. As for my preferences, 257 Roberts 100 TTSXs, 7-08 or 260Rem with 120 TTSXs (both Montanas), 308 130 TTSX's (Ruger77 Ultra Lite tang).

 

[mlevimadden]

Usually they go down quicker with my wife's 243 than my 300 win mag, but it's nice to have the wind bucking capabilities for the longer shots in that Wyoming wind.

 

[Milhouse58421]

No wrong answers yet...maybe any flat shooting rifle with decent bullets north of .25 caliber will do the job? I'm not sure what other states regs are for elk, but in ND, you need .25 caliber or larger.

 

[Big Ern]

.25-06
6.5cm
.270
.300wsm
.300wm

All of those would work great.

i am kind of a one rifle guy and use 6.5cm for everything In lower 48.

 

[Jimss]

I'm a 300 WSM fan! Mine hardly kicks and I always have 1 shot kills on everything from antelope to mtn goat to elk-sized game!

 

[Jimss]

I'm a 300 WSM fan! Mine hardly kicks and I always have 1 shot kills on everything from antelope to mtn goat to elk-sized game!

 

[IdahoRuss]

I don't think you can go wrong with a 7mag shooting a 168 berger vld hunter. I have one in a Bergara Ridge and I really enjoy that gun. Its just the right weight that the recoil is very manageable

 

[Marmots]

If you are getting a rifle with elk and pronghorn in mind, I would suggest putting together an ideal elk rifle with the confidence that whatever you choose will do a great job on pronghorn as well.

 

[boom]

I think the perfect cartridge for pronghorn is the .257 weatherby magnum. If I had to boil it down to one.

 

[257Roberts]

mine is a 257 Roberts w/110 gr. Accubonds

 

[katdaddy2013]

I will be toting my 6.5 Creedmoor with 140 gr Hornady.

 

[sveltri]

.257 Weatherby and I wouldn't hesitate to hunt elk with it at reasonable ranges.

 

[blacktail sniper]

My 280ai or soon to be 6.5 saum

 

[CApighunter]

Got my first antelope hunt in about two weeks, ill be toting my 280AI with 155 hammers and my girlfriend and will be shooting her 270WSM with 145 Eldx. Should do the trick just fine

 

[Sawfish]

25/06

 

[Goatie]

I like 243 best. Flat shooting and enough oomph on an animal that size. Also, I’ve seen heavier calibers doing major damage on almost ideal shot placement with internals causing a mess that shouldn’t have been (tainted hams etc). Marginal shots on antelope with a small-ish caliber still give enough opportunity for Follow-up shots in the terrain they’re in.

 

[Bkusant]

Do you think .223 is too small/ineffective for pronghorn?