Pronghorn / Goat / Sheep gun

[Maligator]

Well, after having those pronghorn kabobs at the 1st Annual Fishstic sanctioned BBQ last weekend I have decided I NEED to go pronghorn hunting   

I have read past posts about antelope (I know they are really called pronghorns) rifle choices and narrowed it down to two calibers listed in the poll. Since I haven't been pronghorn hunting before I am going to NEED a new rifle 

I want this rifle to be used as I described in the poll: a good all around rifle for pronghorn, mountain goat and mountain sheep hunting. I already have a 300WSM for deer, bear & elk so no need to list anything larger.

So what do you think? If you choose the "other option" please explain why.

[huntnphool]

Curious why you would lump sheep in with pronghorn and goat?

Both of these were shot with a .270

[bearpaw]

Since you already have a .30, I would recommend a 257 Weatherby, I've never seen anything walk away, that includes about a dozen bear, 2 moose, and lots of deer and antelope. A friend has killed grizzly and brown bear with his 257 with one shot. One of the flattest and fastest 400 yard production rifles there is and with very little recoil, a pleasure to shoot. This was inventor Roy Weatherby's favorite caliber. Only major consideration is that its a lot cheaper to shoot if you handload.

The 25/06 is pretty close to the 257 and cartridges are very affordable. But, I would probably use the .30 on the sheep and goat.

[carpsniperg2]

I love the 270 wsm. 140g accubonds and it's lights out. Flat shooting and a great pick for your animals. If you want to go a little smaller maybe 6.5x284 or 25-06.

[Maligator]

I lumped sheep in with pronghorns and goats due to animal size & I guess similar possible shot distances. The two caliber choices are both fast & flat shooting.

[huntnphool]

I lumped sheep in with pronghorns and goats due to animal size & I guess similar possible shot distances. The two caliber choices are both fast & flat shooting.

Sheep are bigger than deer. If you justify using a .300 for deer then you better think about using one for sheep, your shots are likely going to be further on sheep than deer as well.

[bearpaw]

An old ram is bigger bodied than most people think... 

[Maligator]

Sheep are bigger than deer. If you justify using a .300 for deer then you better think about using one for sheep, your shots are likely going to be further on sheep than deer as well.
[/quote]

An old ram is bigger bodied than most people think... 

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate the heads up. I've haven't yet been sheep hunting but its also on my must do list so I guess I should modify the poll to just include pronghorns & goats?

[bearpaw]

The size of an old billy will surprise you too.

[huntnphool]

You might consider 257 Roberts.

[Maligator]

The size of an old billy will surprise you too.

you're killing me Dale!!!    ok ok...so I want to hunt pronghorns and I want an excuse to buy a new rifle...the goat & sheep options were more of an afterthought but I see that I should have put a little more forethought into the animal groupings   

[bearpaw]

The size of an old billy will surprise you too.

you're killing me Dale!!!    ok ok...so I want to hunt pronghorns and I want an excuse to buy a new rifle...the goat & sheep options were more of an afterthought but I see that I should have put a little more forethought into the animal groupings   

 

no worries, any of the guns mentioned will do the job if you put the bullet in the right spot. But these topics are always fun because everyone has their favorites guns.

[wadu1]

So if you want new gun try a 6.5X55 Sweed with 140s it will do the trick

[Maligator]

Btw...beautiful Rams in the pics Huntnphool 

[sled]

  Buy What You Want But You Already Have What You Need.  I Shot 5 Lopes Two Years Ago With My Remington 700 In 30 06.  Shots Were 100 To 386 Yards.  I Don't Think It Was Overkill, And Everything Dropped Where It Stood.

[b23]

Savage makes a pretty damn good shooting 6.5-284 right out of the box.  I personally don't think their receivers are very attractive but there is NO denying how well they shoot right out of the box. 

If I was looking for a medium caliber, factory rifle to shoot the size critters you're looking to shoot, I'd look no further than a Savage 11/111 Long Range Hunter chambered in 6.5-284.  The 6.5 has one of the biggest ranges of bullets I know of.  From bullets that perform well up close to ones with very high BC's.  I personally think the 6.5-284 is at its best with the 140gr. pills and a 140 in a 6.5-284 is some serious "Night Night" medicine.  Especially, for medium sized critters.

[Bob33]

As has been stated by others you really don't need anything special for antelope. If you want to buy a new rifle strictly for antelope, you want the fastest, flattest shooting, legal caliber you can find. Some states like Montana allow the use of 22 centerfire cartridges. To be legal in all western states you need a caliber that is at least .24. You can flip a coin between the 270 WSM and the 25-06. Either will work very well and serve you just fine. My personal favorite is the 257 Weatherby. It will out shoot the 25-06 by a couple hundred feet per second.

Throwing sheep and goats into the mix changes things somewhat. In that case I would choose the 270 WSM.

[jay.sharkbait]

Look at what Defensive edge is doing with the 7mm short mag.

My pick for 600 and in would be .243 1in 8 twist or faster shooting 105 gr amax or a Berger 115 gr VLD

[Maligator]

I appreciate all the advice & info. Living over on the wet side I'm tempted to go SS with synthetic stock but I REALLY like the look of a nice walnut stock and blued barrel.

I've read that temperature and humidity can affect POI with wood stocked rifles but haven't noticed any appreciable difference before 

Don't get me wrong, my rifles are for hunting not to be kept as safe queens 

And btw, do you think the 270wsm is to close to my 300wsm to be negligible?

[yorketransport]

Since you already have the 300 wsm, it seems natural to get the 270 to go with it.

But since everybody else is recommending random calibers too, I'll say you should get a 338. No good reason, just because.

Andrew

[X-Force]

Any of the guns listed are  but for the sake of conversation for a speed goat 257 Robert, 25-06, 257 wby
For all three a 6.5.
For a mt goat or sheep 280, 280 ai, or 7mm wsm, 7mm saum

[jay.sharkbait]

What about re-barreling the 300 to 7mm?

I appreciate all the advice & info. Living over on the wet side I'm tempted to go SS with synthetic stock but I REALLY like the look of a nice walnut stock and blued barrel.

I've read that temperature and humidity can affect POI with wood stocked rifles but haven't noticed any appreciable difference before 

Don't get me wrong, my rifles are for hunting not to be kept as safe queens 

And btw, do you think the 270wsm is to close to my 300wsm to be negligible?

[coachcw]

once in a lifetime hunt ? I would concider a 30-378 you can't have too much gun and what if that giant is just out of .270 range ? really all above calibers are good choices with the 6.5's having some great bc's IF I had a 270 that shot well i'd use it and spend the money on other goodies .

[huntnphool]

What about re-barreling the 300 to 7mm?

I appreciate all the advice & info. Living over on the wet side I'm tempted to go SS with synthetic stock but I REALLY like the look of a nice walnut stock and blued barrel.

I've read that temperature and humidity can affect POI with wood stocked rifles but haven't noticed any appreciable difference before 

Don't get me wrong, my rifles are for hunting not to be kept as safe queens 

And btw, do you think the 270wsm is to close to my 300wsm to be negligible?

Or combining the two into a 7mm/300

[Don Fischer]

Any of the choice's would work. I have the 25-06 and use only 117gr Hornady's in it. I've also got a 6.5x55 mod 70. Like it with 140gr Hornadys but might go with the 129gr. Also have a 6.5x06 that does real well with both 129 and 140gr bullet's, would faze me to use it at all. Shoot even my 308 and 30-06 would probably work real well. But the idea of using this just to get a new rifle works for me. Like to have a 280 again. bet it work well with 140gr class bullet's!

[jay.sharkbait]

Or combining the two into a 7mm/300
[/quote]

7 short mag was a factory offering.

For the price of a new rifle with optic, rings and bases, I would be tempted to take that money and re-barrel the 300 WSM to 7 WSM. For well under a grand you would have a blueprinted rec'r with a quality barrel that's chambered properly. 140 gr bullets at 3200 fps + with a very good BC is pretty hard to beat.

[Maligator]

For the price of a new rifle with optic, rings and bases, I would be tempted to take that money and re-barrel the 300 WSM to 7 WSM. For well under a grand you would have a blueprinted rec'r with a quality barrel that's chambered properly. 140 gr bullets at 3200 fps + with a very good BC is pretty hard to beat.

Jay, not planning on re-barreling the 300wsm. It shoots .51 MOA, is a Tikka with a butter smooth action & I really like it 

Besides, I usually buy myself a nice birthday/christmas present every few years so its about time for that to happen. I figured a new rifle & scope would make me happy and I REALLY did enjoy those pronghorn kabobs    so why not just make it a package deal for this year...that's my thought process at least.

[bearpaw]

I think you need a another gun... 

[jay.sharkbait]

For the price of a new rifle with optic, rings and bases, I would be tempted to take that money and re-barrel the 300 WSM to 7 WSM. For well under a grand you would have a blueprinted rec'r with a quality barrel that's chambered properly. 140 gr bullets at 3200 fps + with a very good BC is pretty hard to beat.

Jay, not planning on re-barreling the 300wsm. It shoots .51 MOA, is a Tikka with a butter smooth action & I really like it 

Besides, I usually buy myself a nice birthday/christmas present every few years so its about time for that to happen. I figured a new rifle & scope would make me happy and I REALLY did enjoy those pronghorn kabobs    so why not just make it a package deal for this year...that's my thought process at least.

The Tikka's are nice aren't they

I like your thought process and was just throwing out ideas

[Fisherdave10]

If this discussion is just to justify buying another gun, go right on ahead. 

I think your .300 WSM with a high ballistic coefficient (B.C.) bullet would be a perfectly fine choice.  Using a bullet that won't fragment at high velocities will help prevent meat loss.  Something like a Barnes TTSX?

Just remember, antelope and mountain goats aren't that hard to kill... 

[arrowflinger]

Used a 257 Roberts for the one in my avatar. 7mm Rem Mag for goats and sheep.

[Maligator]

It's not that I'm only trying to justify a new rifle and I understand that really is no such thing as over-dead...but there is such a thing as over kill. Confuscious say no need to kill mosquito with cannonball 

I do not have a medium bore rifle so I'm leaning towards the 25-06. Brass is a little more readily available and ammo isn't Weatherby prices 

I don't want to hit the pronghorn with my 300 WSM and lose 1/2 the meat to jello. Over exaggeration I know     My reloading manuals pretty much agree that with proper bullet selection I could hunt all 3 species I listed above with any of the calibers listed above (none of which I presently own) so I was looking for a little feedback with the understanding that everyone has their own favorites.

In the end, there is a 99% chance I will buy a new rifle for the reasons listed previously. Now the hard part will probably be getting a composite stock instead of a really nice wood stock which I prefer. I've read a lot about stalking pronghorns & sometimes crawling around to get a good shot.

[bugs n bones]

264 win mag all day long

[Huntboy]

I said other, because I picked up Savage in .260 rem about 4 months ago. And that is what I'd probably use on pronghorn.

[huntnphool]

Now the hard part will probably be getting a composite stock instead of a really nice wood stock which I prefer. .

Actually the hard part is getting the sheep or goat tag!

[Wacenturion]

Now the hard part will probably be getting a composite stock instead of a really nice wood stock which I prefer. .

Actually the hard part is getting the sheep or goat tag!