338 WIN for antelope?

[NJheadhunter71]

I have been sighting in my 243 win for the last couple of weekends and I got it just shooting right and then I started shooting all over the target. I noticed that the barrel on my NEF ultra has play in the barrel to receiver (brake action)when it seats causing inacuracy. To make it worse I am going on an antelopehunt to Wyoming Oct. 5My biggest issue is the only other rifle I have is myRuger 77 338 Wintopped with a Leupold VX2.It is setup to shoot out to 300 yrds and does it well. I have shot 125-150 lbsdeer with it and dropped them in there tracks with shoulder shots. Iwas using 180gr accubonds and handloaded Combined Tech ballistic tips and never had a bullet destroy the meat hide or make a mess ofa deer. So canI take the rifle and not look like a fool?I also called all the local gun smiths and no one can guarentee it back to me by the weekend before I leave.

[ncpreacherboy1]

one thing about it is: dead is dead, no matter how you arrive there. is this an antelope only hunt or do you have a shot at other game? either way i would take and use what i had and felt comfortable with.

[rem 700]

[&:] I guess if there's no choice or nobody to borrow from...go ahead

[ELKampMaster]

Onone antelope hunt I used my 338WinMag in place of my 270, I let my counterpart have two whacks ata fair buck at about 300 yardswithhis 264WinMag and then I just levelled the buck withmy 338. You could clearly hear the sound of the impact at that distance. The results were devastating.Mr. 264 didn't have much more to say about my "too large" rifle after that though he was full of commentary earlier.

[NJheadhunter71]

Lopes are the only thing I am going for while I'm there. Looks like the 338 it is. I can't wait to see the look on the guides face when I uncase it! Maybe it won't be such a big deal to him with me being an Eastener and all. I think I am testing the waters with the "never over gunned" saying

[youngbdv]

I think you will be fine ,but I would try to make a lung shot.

[aimiablerooster]

Well, you sure won't be going undergunned!!! I wouldn't be embarassed though, its what you got available so why not.

[Ideaman]

ORIGINAL: NJheadhunter71

I have been sighting in my 243 win for the last couple of weekends and I got it just shooting right and then I started shooting all over the target. I noticed that the barrel on my NEF ultra has play in the barrel to receiver (brake action)when it seats causing inacuracy. To make it worse I am going on an antelopehunt to Wyoming Oct. 5My biggest issue is the only other rifle I have is myRuger 77 338 Wintopped with a Leupold VX2.It is setup to shoot out to 300 yrds and does it well. I have shot 125-150 lbsdeer with it and dropped them in there tracks with shoulder shots. Iwas using 180gr accubonds and handloaded Combined Tech ballistic tips and never had a bullet destroy the meat hide or make a mess ofa deer. So canI take the rifle and not look like a fool?I also called all the local gun smiths and no one can guarentee it back to me by the weekend before I leave.

First, DO NOT SHOOT243 ANY MORE, you are playing with an explosion. Send to factory or throw it away, a gunsmith will probably not want to fool with it, and if he does it will cost more than the gun is worth.

I see no problem with the 338 if you feel comfortable at 300 yrds. So he will be a little extra dead, meat loss is not that big of a deal if you have ever tasted antelope.

[Roskoe]

Your .338 will probably do less tissue damage to an antelope than a .270 or 25-06. Bullets for the .338 are fairly tough and will generally pass through a lightly constructed goat without opening up much. Only issue here is trajectory and possibly recoil, IMO.

[Carpmaster]

I forsee a dead antelope in your future - any other questions? I wouldnt worry about it...we killed goat with everything from the 30-06 to the 30-378 Weatherby, to the 35 Whelan and some more fitting calibers inbetween....