.30-06 good for pronghorn?

[Moose_Maximus]

Is the good ol' .30-06 a decent cartridge for pronghorn hunting? As I understand it, pronghorn are generally hunted at pretty good range, so I'm thinking that the bullet drop may be too much.

If not a .30-06, then what might you suggest? .270? .243? .308?

Thanks!

[James B]

The 30-06 is more gun than you need but will sure get the job done. It will shoot plenty flat enough with 150-165 grain bullets. A hit throough the vitals will reduce meat damage. I like the 270, 280 or 25-06 pretty well for long range deer and pronhorns. I have used the 243 as well. It ok with Nosler partition bullets or the new Ballistic tip in 243.

[oldelkhunter]

Tad light for that purpose..I prefer a 338-378 for tough game like that

I can imagine untold numbers of antelope fall to that round every year with a 150 grain bullet.

[Mykey]

My favorite caliber now a days is a 25.06 and thats what i'd use if i ever have the opportunity to hunt Pronghorn. However, even though i've never shot a Pronghorn i have killed countless deer with my 30.06 and a Hornady 130gr Spire point at all ranges and i'm sure it would do no less on pronghorn. That combination shoots flat and i've never lost a deer with it. Sighted in 3" high at 100yds i'm 1 1/2" high at 200, dead on at 250yds and about 6" low at 300. Rest assured the ole 30.06 will do a fine job on Pronghorns as well as about anything else you want to shoot with it.

[ths78]

Although there are flatter shooting cartridges, any hunter who is truly good enough to take a 300 yard shot, should be able to compensate the additional 1 to 3 inches that a 30-06 may drop at that range. I'd opt for a 150 gr bullet, as mentioned above, and never look back. Good luck!

[Virginia7]

ORIGINAL: Moose_Maximus
Is the good ol' .30-06 a decent cartridge for pronghorn hunting? As I understand it, pronghorn are generally hunted at pretty good range, so I'm thinking that the bullet drop may be too much.
If not a .30-06, then what might you suggest? .270? .243? .308? Thanks!

Moose,

I'm guessing that you're planning/thinking about an antelope hunt next year? Don't worry about your 30-06, it's plenty good enough for those prairie goats. I lived/hunted in Wyoming for near 7years, and I got by just fine using either my 243Win. or 308.

Yes, antelope can be seen at very long ranges, and some are even shot at very long
range ( over 300yds to 400+ yds.). But, most can be taken within a couple hundered yards. Most of mine were shot within 150yds., and the longest shot I ever got on an
antelope, or anything else out there for that matter, was approx. 225yds.

Use a good accurate load with 150gr. or 165gr. bullet, and sight in approx. 2-1/2" to 3"
high at 100yds. Then practice - practice shooting at longer ranges, and doping the wind.
Wind is the biggest challenge/problem. That's why I always liked to stalk 'em, and get
as close as possible. Learn where your rifle/load hits at the extended ranges (300 & 400yds.). Know your bullet drop - don't just guess from some ballistic tables.

And, switching to a 270, etc. isn't going to make enough difference in trajectory to matter. Look at some of the ballistic tables - the difference in drop out to 300yds. is just
not that much between these rounds. If you feel you must have something flatter shooting, then I would have to suggest going to a 7mm Rem.Magnum. It will flatten the
trajectory. Or, too, a 270WSM. But, IMHO, the magnums are not really needed.

[Moose_Maximus]

I'm guessing that you're planning/thinking about an antelope hunt next year?

Either that, or looking for an excuse to buy a new rifle!

[Alsatian]

For an antelope optimized gun, people seem to favor the .25 caliber cartridges such as the .257 Roberts, .25-06, and .257 Weatherby Magnum. .243 is also good. .270 is pretty good, but more power than needed. I imagine the .240 Weatherby is pretty good in this application, but I haven't heard it mentioned in this context.

Of course, I was talking about optimized. The .30-06 would be perfectly suitable to antelope hunting. If you have a .30-06 and not one of the rifles above . . . and you aren't just looking for an excuse to buy a new rifle!!! . . . just take the .30-06 and shoot with confidence. The antelope won't know the difference. Out to 300 yards the .30-06 ought to shoot flat enough to bag an antelope. Beyond this range you are a pretty good shooter (or should be if you are choosing to shoot at these ranges) and don't need to be seeking advice about cartridges and shooting from total strangers on an Internet forum.

[luckypunk]

30.06...NO WAY! small arms fire usually just bounces right off 'em. I tried to tell a friend that a few years back..all they found of him was a few peices of blaze orange and drag marks out into the desert..poor guy.

I'd head to your local Military Surplus and pick up some gernade launchers, It's the only way I hunt antelope.

[Virginia7]

Either that, or looking for an excuse to buy a new rifle!

Moose,
Excuse? Well, in that case, forget everything I said. You'll need at least two new rifles for those "goats". First, I'd go with either a 25-06 or a 270Win. Either of these should
take care of the short range stuff, maybe out to 150yds. Next, you'll need a 338Win.
Mag. for the long range stuff. And, some of 'em get pretty tough too, as noted by LuckyPunk. Yep, need that magnum for those big bucks. Heck, they can weigh up to
120lbs. On second thought, maybe a 375H&H. For sure, that ought to do.