Lots of good points on this topic, but what is really interesting to me is that antelope cannot jump? I never knew that and only assumed they could
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My "antelope rifle"
- Thread starter Danehunter
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Lots of good points on this topic, but what is really interesting to me is that antelope cannot jump? I never knew that and only assumed they could
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Danehunter
Well-Known Member
Thanks Gordo,
I'll test my 143 gr. Hornady ELD-X and some Nosler rounds. If they shoot well I may load some Nosler partition bullets for the hunt.
And thanks for the heads up on the stinky hide. I'll try to keep it away from the meat. I've skinned enough deer that I can manage that.
Hopefully I can find places where antelope have crossed under a fence. Sounds like a good place to ambush them from "a discreet distance" because they will likely stand around a bit for the herd to finish crossing the fence.
Eric B.
I'll test my 143 gr. Hornady ELD-X and some Nosler rounds. If they shoot well I may load some Nosler partition bullets for the hunt.
And thanks for the heads up on the stinky hide. I'll try to keep it away from the meat. I've skinned enough deer that I can manage that.
Hopefully I can find places where antelope have crossed under a fence. Sounds like a good place to ambush them from "a discreet distance" because they will likely stand around a bit for the herd to finish crossing the fence.
Eric B.
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After being impressed with my wife's RPR in 6.5 I bought a RAP in 6.5. Took it out last year fall and got two antelope and a muley.
Mine is super accurate, and all stock, nothing added but a Brake and Scope. I adjusted the factory trigger to suit me and went to town.
Those 143 horanady bullets shot well, but a bit over kill. At 350+ yards it left an exit hole in the muley you could drive a truck through. The Antelope weren't much different.
For deer and antelope I'm gonna fine a load with some lighter bullets.
But I love that 6.5 RAP. I think with 143s it would be an excellent elk rifle.
Mine is super accurate, and all stock, nothing added but a Brake and Scope. I adjusted the factory trigger to suit me and went to town.
Those 143 horanady bullets shot well, but a bit over kill. At 350+ yards it left an exit hole in the muley you could drive a truck through. The Antelope weren't much different.
For deer and antelope I'm gonna fine a load with some lighter bullets.
But I love that 6.5 RAP. I think with 143s it would be an excellent elk rifle.
For the last 7 years I have hunted antelope in the foothills of the Bighorns in Wyoming where the elevation averages 4500 feet with the early October temperatures 40-70 degrees. I have used my 6.5x284 just about exclusively and have had excellent success with the 140 JLK's from 200-1188 yards(my longest shot). Of the 20 or so antelope taken a hit in the boiler room has been a dead antelope within 50 yards, most DRT. Most have been taken between 400 and 800 yards. My 6.5x284 runs at 2975FPS. I figure the 6.5 Creedmore at 2750 FPS will shave about 200-300 yards off my max distance giving me a solid 800 yard antelope. Because of COAL limitations of the JLK for use of the magazine in the RPR I'm inclined to try the Hornady 143 ELD-X that is exceptionally accurate in my RPR(.18MOA/5 shots). I have used a Gunwerks G7 RF since its introduction and it has performed flawlessly in a wide variety of challenging ranging scenarios. 80% of my antelope have been taken from a prone position. Antelope shown taken at 702 yards.
Topgun 30-06
Well-Known Member
Nice buck greyfox! I also hunt antelope, deer, and elk and have every year for the last 20 years in the foothills on the west side of the Big Horns!
Danehunter
Well-Known Member
Greyfox I'm jealous! That's a great trophy antelope.
Your 6.5/284 Norma is likely the perfect antelope cartridge with it's speed and flat trajectory and even greater rnge than my 6.5 CM. The less time a bullet stays in flight the less time the wind gremlins have to mess with it.
Eric B.
Your 6.5/284 Norma is likely the perfect antelope cartridge with it's speed and flat trajectory and even greater rnge than my 6.5 CM. The less time a bullet stays in flight the less time the wind gremlins have to mess with it.
Eric B.
Litehiker, thanks.... Yes, I'm a big fan of the cartridge and have used the 6.5x284 almost exclusively for all my hunting for several years. I'm primarily a whitetail/mule deer hunter, but find the antelope to be the perfect quarry for the long range hunter. They are active all day while the deer are frequently well bedded, offering a full day of productive hunting. The older big guys are a smart, small target, and the mid-day wind can surely test one's skills. Yes, the 6.5x284's full value 10 mph correction at 1000 yards vs the 6.5CM is 5 vs 6 MOA. I shot my first LR antelope(shown) and was hooked! I'm still using the same Cooper 52 that continues to keep its shots in a softball sized target at 1000 yards.
I only used two bullets in my old 6.5/284; the Nosler 120BT and the 125 Partition. Both were terrific deer/antelope bullets! neither bullet tore up a lot of meat, yet turned the insides to soup! This was a SA Mod 700 and I set it up for the lighter bullets on purpose. I used a standard 6.5 Adams and Bennet .260 short chambered barrel from Midway.
Danehunter
Well-Known Member
Jim,
Do you have the "wildcat" 6.5/284 or the SAAMI standardized Norma 6.5/284?
I'm going to test some 6.5 CM bullets on wet phone books to see if maybe the Hornady 129 gr. Superformance bullets work as well as the Hornady 143 gr. ELD-X Precision Hunter rounds. I'll test at 100 yards then at 200 yards.
BTW, look at my 1st post in this thread to see photos of my rifle. Len posted them for me but he said LRH has "slick new" photo posting software so I'll try it later.
Eric B.
Do you have the "wildcat" 6.5/284 or the SAAMI standardized Norma 6.5/284?
I'm going to test some 6.5 CM bullets on wet phone books to see if maybe the Hornady 129 gr. Superformance bullets work as well as the Hornady 143 gr. ELD-X Precision Hunter rounds. I'll test at 100 yards then at 200 yards.
BTW, look at my 1st post in this thread to see photos of my rifle. Len posted them for me but he said LRH has "slick new" photo posting software so I'll try it later.
Eric B.
At the time it was a wildcat ( around '2000) but it was same specs as SAAMI. I tried the new Norma and lapua brass when it came out. The 284 win brass I necked down was much better for warm loads ( I was getting 3200 from a 24" bbl with the 120NBT) I couldn't get quite that high with the new stuff.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
They can and do jump but will not jump over a fence. It's utterly amazing to watch one hit a four or five wire fence going full out and slide right under it bouncing up on the other side like they never missed a step.Lots of good points on this topic, but what is really interesting to me is that antelope cannot jump? I never knew that and only assumed they could
If you happen to be hunting a place that has sheep fencing though you can very quickly learn their movement patterns because they will either avoid it completely or find water gaps under it where it crosses low spots.
If you want to eat it and enjoy it don't shoot a buck that's running does or fighting and get the meat out and on ice as quickly as possible.
Be careful not to let anything get on the hair before skinning. The hollow hair allows for rapid transmission through the skin. We once accidentally got gasoline from a leaky Jerry Can on one and four hours later the meat was useless.
Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
Great advice WildRose, especially about not shooting a goat that's been running, very stinky. I've made more than one of my hunters mad when I wouldn't let them shoot a goat that's been running.
The whole jumping thing is a bit of an oddity. I very often watch goats jump our fences but it seems to be an acquired skill. Out of the whole herd of 20, 30 or 50 or whatever only a few will jump the fence. Some go under and the rest wander around trying to figure out what to do... it can get quite comical.
It reminds me of a new hunter I hosted. After harvesting his buck, we walk up to it and he kinda freaked out. "What's wrong with my Antelope?! There a bunch of hair missing above his rump!?". I got a solid laugh about that. I took him a while to believe me that they often leave a good chunk of fur on the bottom row of a barbed wire fence; especially when they're in a hurry.
t
The whole jumping thing is a bit of an oddity. I very often watch goats jump our fences but it seems to be an acquired skill. Out of the whole herd of 20, 30 or 50 or whatever only a few will jump the fence. Some go under and the rest wander around trying to figure out what to do... it can get quite comical.
It reminds me of a new hunter I hosted. After harvesting his buck, we walk up to it and he kinda freaked out. "What's wrong with my Antelope?! There a bunch of hair missing above his rump!?". I got a solid laugh about that. I took him a while to believe me that they often leave a good chunk of fur on the bottom row of a barbed wire fence; especially when they're in a hurry.
t
WildRose
Well-Known Member
I don't remember one ever jumping a fence but I have seen them jump water, rocks, deep/steep draws etc. I've also see them jump straight up in the air four or five feet when spooked by a coyote or big cat that snuck up close enough for a charge.
Should have said this earlier but three of the most ideal rifle calibers for them are the .264wm, .270wm, and 7mm STW and the 7mm Rem is right in there with them.
Beyond 600yds though the 7's and .30's really begin to separate themselves from the rest of the herd just simply due to retained velocity and energy. I have seen one kill at over 800 with a .264 but that's definitely the exception rather than the rule.
If Mario and I can get it together I think we're going to have to find a way to head back to NM for Antelope next year. That's something I really do miss.
