Rifle Question
 

What caliber do you guys recommend for Antelope, I am thinking 243 or 25-06??

RE: Rifle Question
 

Either of those choices would be excellent, along with many others, such as the .270, .280 , 7mm-08, 7mm Rem mag., etc...

Any flat shooting cartridge capable of 300-350 yard shots will work fine...

As a dedicated pronghorn rifle, the 25-06 with 100 grain bullets would be pretty tough to beat...

RE: Rifle Question
 

264 win mag is hard to beat

RE: Rifle Question
 

I would say a .20-06. My uncle's friend in Nebraska uses a .25-06 on his antelope, and he loves it.

RE: Rifle Question
 

I recently bought a Ruger 25-06 mostly for antelope and the occaisional yote or fox, maybe deer. I'm topping it with a Nikon Monarch 4-12x40. I've got a 30-06 for the bigger critters. After lots of reading and good input from this board, I think the 25-06 is the way to go for lopes. Guess I'll find out.

RE: Rifle Question
 

Like ShatoDavis said, the 264 was designed for long shots at Pronghorns. This caliber really never made it big. It was harder on barrels that standard 7MM Rem Mag loads which at the time was its biggest competition. I see that Remington is now chambering it in one of their new rifles.

RE: Rifle Question
 

Depends on how far you're shooting. The 7mm Rem Mag is my all-in-one round. It'll reach out and poke stuff from a long ways away with plenty of knockdown power.

RE: Rifle Question
 

7mm STW, or RUM. Good luck.

RE: Rifle Question
 

.270wsm is very hard to beat. But I to like the .264wm, it is a great round.

RE: Rifle Question
 

I shoot a25-06 withwinchester 120 gr positive expanding points and have had great luck on lopers and deer. What guns you may already own would probably do fine too?

RE: Rifle Question
 

I preach that the best gun you can use is the one you have supreme confidence in. I use a .300WM for everything. I select different rounds for the different big game, but all in the .300.
When I was guiding I remember a client came to camp with a .338 for his mulie hunt. We all razzed him asking, "you want to gut him before he hits the ground?", or, "You don't plan on eating any of it do you?" Fact is he did no more and actually less damage than someone with a much smaller caliber might have done. Matching the bullet to the game, I think, is more important than gun to the game. After all, a bigger bullet isn't going to open up and do damage to a smaller bodied animal.

RE: Rifle Question
 

Another sweet one designed for prairie goats is the .257 Roberts. Also good for deer as my wife is proving to me with hers.

RE: Rifle Question
 

I shoot a .308 for antelope, but have to agree with game4lunch.
If you already have a rifle for large game, it will probably do with proper load and technique. If you are looking for a new gun, good luck narrowing it down....=0).
.25-06....awesome
7mm-08....awesome
.243 (wssm) win....awesome
.308 win....awesome
Still tons more to argue for and against, but boils down to what you like, and how you shoot.
My 2 cents. As this is the best site for opinions that I have found yet.
Victor

RE: Rifle Question
 

Strictly pronghorns, my choice would be a 270 win. or a 270 WSM. The 270 WSM is an awesome caliber.

RE: Rifle Question
 

The 25-06 is truly an awesome round, you can use it for deer hunting as well. Super fast and fairly cheap. I would really like to have one. I have done some shooting with them and recoil is limited as well.

RE: Rifle Question
 

Reb, both the 243 and 25-06 are excellent. My favorite is the 6mm.

RE: Rifle Question
 

Thanks Guys I am going with a 25-06, Shado has always given good advice and I liked the ballistics on the 264 but the cost was to much it hangs with the 25-06. I like a little more lead than the 243 as well. So I appreciate the help, now I have to decide on what make.

RE: Rifle Question
 

+1 for 25-06
As for the make, I love my Encore w/ thumbhole stock and a 26'' stainless bbl. The 25 loves the longer barrels!

RE: Rifle Question
 

Not the mention the added benefit of interchangable barrels...:D

RE: Rifle Question
 

DITTO;)

RE: Rifle Question
 

Nah, strictly pronghorns, and if you're serious about it, you get a
6.5x284 Norma Mag.