Caliber for Pronghorn....

[Rosebud]

Rosebud, I understand your viewpoint...and to a point I agree....I've owned 30-30, Swede 6.5x55 and 30/06's...The "Great open west" seems to get less and less "open". I've hunter areas where I planned on hiking for a couple miles, set up and glass...find an animal and have a great hunt. Then a quad runner would come up a path 50 yards away....or 10 people wanted to hunt where I was. And that is great! That is why we have blm, state land and trust lands, it called public land. At 66 years of age, the days of backpack, 10 lb rifle, and looong hike are in the rearview. And being drawn 3 times in 23 years, with one hunt in an area that the last Pronghorn took the bus out of town, I need to hedge my bet. Plus after all the years raising children, paying bills, and life, I now have some equipment that even 20 years ago was a dream, I will use what I have......and I do understand about the losing the shirt on it when I'm gone, ill do the same thing except for a few, they will go to my grandsons...... Hopefully, they will be able to own them by that time...rsbhunter

Rsbhunter, I know you're going to have a great hunting experience, I went with a quality guide service and got landowner tags. Magnum Guide service out of west Texas. Wish I were going with you but neck and back injuries from 25 years of paramedic service precludes long walks across the open country of New Mexico. That was the fifth and most likely the last antelope I'll take. First was in Wyoming in 1981. Paid 150$ for the tag over the counter and another 75$ for trespass fee to hunt 147 thousand acres. Never see those days again. Good luck Rosebud

 

[richhymas]

Get That thing quartered and on ice ASAP.

 

[ndking1126]

I agr

favorites are 243 and 270 Win! Fast bullets and bigger calibers end up causing a lot of meat and hide damage! Just need accuracy as they don't often weigh more than about 100 lbs!

My favorites are 243 and 270 Win! Fast bullets and bigger calibers end up causing a lot of meat and hide damage! Just need accuracy as they don't often weigh more than about 100 lbs!

I agree completely. My main hunting rifle is a 270, but that's not a choice he gave. I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting an animal that far with a 243. On the other hand I cant think of an antelope hunting scenario where you couldn't close the distance to at least 500, 550.

 

[rsbhunter]

I believe 500 would be very doable, hopefully 150-200. Hope for the best, plan for the worst......usually the biggest problems are the "hunters" who drive around, see animals, jump out of their truck, shoot 2or three times miss, or wound, then drive off for another "hunting experience". Actually had a guy and his 2 sons park about 3-4hundred yards from where I had parked, walked parallel to where I was, and fire 2 shots....in the DARK!!!!!! (am) Public land, and I had been there for 20 min before they drove in.....So, if I can go out for the day, maybe see some animals, NOT see 10 vehicles road hunting, it will be a great hunt...rsbhunter

 

[wildcat westerner]

I see your a competition shooter. If so you know about the winds here and that alone should eliminate a fair amount of your rifles. Likewise one does not need an atomic bomb to kill a fly. I agree with the majority the 6.5 x 284 is your best choice. Some of the images shown are grotesque in their destruction.
A clean kill is always desired, but since Antelope are relatively delicate the need for huge weapons to take one is almost laughable. There are some advantages for using very powerful rifles at extreme ranges, but remember we are hunting, not just shooting here.

WW

 

[nocannons]

The stars aligned, I drew a antelope tag in unit 33 in New Mexico. As this units west boundary is maybe 10 miles from where I live, I know the area well. Hunt coyotes in an area that has a good population of animals, so that is where I'll start. Shots could go from 200- 800 yards so caliber choice is wide open. I have in Savage custom bbl's a 6XC, 6.5X284, a Browning A bolt in 7mag, Custom Rem 700 in 300 RUM, and a Savage long range hunter in 6.5 Creed, as well as a AR 10 custom in 6.5Creed. I wouldn't consider any of them if they weren't capable of sub 1" 100 yd groups, and have shot all of them to 500 meters....trying to balance out bullet weight/energy of each choice for shots that might reach 5-6 hundred yards....I shoot competition out to 500 meters twice a month, so I am practiced at 200,3,4,and 500 meters (547 yards). Any input would be great...rsbhunter

Sticking with your options It would be 6XC or as bad as i hate to say it 6.5 creedmor. Antelope are not especially tough so most any decently constructed bullet will work. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Who built the Two BRONZE Rifles, if you don't mind me asking????

Same rifle. My daughter's 6.5SLR. Tack driver built my Phoenix Custom Rifles in AZ. She has taken 3 mule deer bucks with it too.

 

[jimpickens]

30-30 with a good scope should be good after all if it was good enough for our great and great great grand pappy's it 's good enough for us in addition the 223 and 7mm08 Remington would be great for speed goats.

 

[Dphil]

Put up a white flag they will notice and stay hidden and quiet, those prong horns are curious and will come to investigate. Any center fire will do but I prefer a .270. Old cowboy trick..

 

[Lee Goodwin]

I vote 6.5x284 , have fun.!

 

[Lee Goodwin]

I vote 6.5x284 , have fun.!

 

[Lenny Foffa]

In 1980 my 270 Weatherby Mag performed very well on my First ever Mule Deer and Antelope , in Wyoming. I learned a vert valuable lesson on that trip. My rifle was loaded with the 150 Grn Speer Grand Slam, (Popular at that time ) for Mule deer , so we unexpectedly came upon this nice antelope. The guide ranged it at about 220 yards . I shot and hit it, and it ran. So I shot again, and hit it again, and again a third time. It was still running, so I fired a round intentionally in front of it , kicked up a cloud of dust , and it turned to run the other way. Through the scope ,I could see the blood trails running down its side. Exit Holes!! I learned a lot about using a bullet far too tough for small sized game. The 130 Grn GK I had made for antelope would have been a much better choice. For the past 12 years I have only used the 130 Grn Nosler Ballistic tips in all my 270's Wins or Weatherby Mags ,for Whitetail deer. I have not created an exit hole on the last 8 deer I have shot. Only one ever required a second shot. Three shots to kill an antelope is not right. My suggestion is , what ever caliber you select, ( 6mm ; 6.5mm , the new 6.8 mm Westerner ) do not use the heaviest ,super tough , bone crusher bullet on a 110 pound animal . Just my 2 cents . Good luck.

 

[mnoland30]

You are blessed to get drawn for antelope in NM. My last draw was 1990. I got a chance to hunt last year in some really flat farm country. Even there, it was easy to get withing 350 yards of antelope.

 

[Winnett1]

The stars aligned, I drew a antelope tag in unit 33 in New Mexico. As this units west boundary is maybe 10 miles from where I live, I know the area well. Hunt coyotes in an area that has a good population of animals, so that is where I'll start. Shots could go from 200- 800 yards so caliber choice is wide open. I have in Savage custom bbl's a 6XC, 6.5X284, a Browning A bolt in 7mag, Custom Rem 700 in 300 RUM, and a Savage long range hunter in 6.5 Creed, as well as a AR 10 custom in 6.5Creed. I wouldn't consider any of them if they weren't capable of sub 1" 100 yd groups, and have shot all of them to 500 meters....trying to balance out bullet weight/energy of each choice for shots that might reach 5-6 hundred yards....I shoot competition out to 500 meters twice a month, so I am practiced at 200,3,4,and 500 meters (547 yards). Any input would be great...rsbhunter

Congratulations on your tag .Forget the Needmore and go with the any of the other 3. Bullet weights from 140 to what ever you determine is your limit. Good luck and good hunting.