Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Big Bore for speed goats

I may have the opportunity this fall to head to WY to chase a few antelopes. It is my first time out west other than AR to chase mallards. Anyhow, Ive liquidated most of my rifles since I don't deer hunt much anymore and have 2 no1's(375 H&H and 45/70) and a classic stainless Winchester in 375 H&H as well. I was thinking of taking and old model 94 in the crazy even I got close enough to take one with iron sights. So my longer range options are the 45/70 and the model 70. Really don't want to have to go buy a new rifle, but instead limit myself to a 200-250yd shot. The 45/70 has the advantage if im having to carry it around but the 375 has a larger scope and a little more range.

Was thinking if I went with 45/70 I could try either the 250gr leverevoliton or work up a lightweight bullet handload of some sort. Im shooting 235gr speers in my 375 and they have performed exceptionally well on deer.

Thoughts? Am I really limiting myself by taking either of these routes? Im really going for the experience and the kill is a bonus. My main goal is to connect with the old 30-30.

I use both a .30-30 and a 45-70 for deer hunting.

A 300 grain .45-70 bullet at 2200 fps will emulate the trajectory of a .30-30 170 grain at 2150 quite well.

To me, it's less to remember.

The recoil of the .45-70 in more noticeable, but not unpleasant.

Your scoped stainless Winchester shooting 235's will be more than satisfactory and will certainly give you more range and options than the 45-70. I do 90% of my hunting up here (including the wolf in my avatar) with the .375 and it will take anything that I point it at. Good luck on your hunt!

The bigger the better. Can't have to much gun.

I would second the 375 H&H. Even a standard 270gr. Load would work. I shot a mule deer doe on a damage control hunt several years ago with a 375 Ruger with factory Hornady 270gr. Load out of my 20" barrel Guide Gun chronographed at 2770fps. 375H&H would be similar. 375 caliber entrance and 1-1/4" exit. 150yds. High shoulder shot. She went straight down and legs folded underneath her. Very little meat loss.375 H&H is almost same trajectory as a 30-06.

The .375 would be fun.. You should bring the .30-30.. I have shot a number of antelope with the .25-35, 30-30, .32 spl. and .45-70.. But in my area there are lots of antelope, and the season is in 6 weeks.. I have time and opportunity.. Bring both and keep them close..

I was kinda leani toward the 375. Id love to kill one with the levergun and would have 375 on reserve. Im just really excited about the possible chance of getting to hunt in a new place and meet new people

I'd take the #1 375 in a heartbeat; stoke it with 235 Speer, 250 Gamekings, 260 Accubonds or perhaps some other and call it good. It's not like you'll likely need follow-ups that require faster reloading than can be done one-by-one.

Phoneman,

I had a Ruger No. 1 .375 H&H for several years, and while I didn't take any pronghorns with it, did kill a number of springbok, which are the African equivalent. They're about the same size, very similar in color, and live in the same sort of country--except the "sagebrush" over there has thorns! It worked fine.

In fact there aren't any big game animals I wouldn't hunt with the .375. A great many .375 fans have called it the finest all-around cartridge, ever since it appeared over a century ago.

PM Shrapnel.

He likes vintage big bores and has killed a bunch of speed goats with those.

He may not have answers, but he'll have opinions...

DF

Phoneman, Moved to Wy. in '85, and have taken quite a few pronghorns. With the exception of one with a .44 629 S&W, and one with a .308 Win.,all of the others have been with a .375(a H&H or an AI).Until the past season,all were taken with a 270 grn. I just started using the Barnes 250 TTSX,and took my little buck with it last season. No complaints with it's performance! memtb

Thanks for the info fellas. Figured the 375 would be the ticket out of my options. I may try and find some 260 accubonds and try them out and see how the gun likes em.

Im excited about the chance to go. Hopefully going to camp and make a week of it. Try and do a little fishing or small game hunting while we are there. If anyone has some advice or tips id be all ears and appreciative.

I would bet that the .375 H&H Magnum rifle would be enough gun to do the job.

Much will depend on the unit that you draw.. Most near here open in Sept. and go til Oct... Some open in Oct. When you have a unit picked out it would be easier to help you.. I would still put the .30-30 in the camper if you have room.. There are usually jacks and coyotes to hunt..

If you have doe permits, it would maybe be possible to shoot a doe with the .30.. I often hunt them with a gun like that or a pistol.. But one thing you have to keep in mind.. The areas I hunt have ranch traffic year around, and they are used to seeing vehicles.. Some units see far less traffic and the antelope are much warier..

I think the plan is going out mid sept if we get drawn. Hopefully some small game will be in season and maybe catch a fish or two. My main thing ive read is be dang sure where you are as a trespass ticket is hefty. Ive got to invest in a good gps and gets some maps and brush up on my orienteering skills

Sounds like you've got it covered, Phoneman. I'd say you should use either of your 375's, but you've already made that decision. Wise choise.

What part of WY are you planning to hunt?

southeast from what im gathering from my buddy that is really planning the trip. Figure it will be a good starter for a western hunt. If this works out maybe next time, we can shoot for a mulie.

375 with 235 grain bullets. (You can change scopes if needed). Antelope is one game animal that I'd be happy using a high powered scope. (6x is about the highest power scope I'd normally use). On pronghorns I usually shoot prone or sitting so using a high power scope isnt as much of a detriment. In my experience, lying down on a knoll and shooting an antelope that is grazing is common.

I could not count the number of kangaroos and pigs I have shot with the 375 and also while shooting side with the 270, 243, 300 Winchester etc.

I have used the 375 for spotlight shooting roos.

If you do lots of shooting the real trick with the 375 is to use the 3031 or 4064 powder burn rates. The 3031 burn rate allows you to closely duplicate original loads in velocity, powder weight and recoil. For lots of shooting the recoil difference between these type of loads and flat out loads with Reloader 15 or compressed 4350 loads is very large.

When loaded this way you easily shoot a 375 from improvised rests in exactly the same way you would a 270 etc. In other words there is no compromise made for recoil.

mike, how much 3031?? I have a bunch of it and need to load some stuff for my .375..

65 grains for 300s and 68 grains 270s. The are about top. 68 and 71 with 4064. Actually old Winchester 270 grain Power Point and 300 grain Silvertips had non canistered 4064 at those loads.

In both cases 270 grainers will be around 2650 f/s and 300 grainers at 2450 f/s

Thanks a lot!!!!

They will both work just fine. I have taken a pronghorn with my Sharps clone in 45-70. Have fun

Seems to me you are missing out on an opportunity to buy a new rifle.

My favorite antelope rifle was a Wby Mark V in .7mmm Wby Mag, shooting 134 gr Noslers, but anything in a flat shooting caliber, with a fast opening bullet would be ideal IMO.

Being overgunned, although fun, might result in wounding secondary animals unless you are careful at picking your shots.

Today, I would lean towards a .243 just for the fun of it.

BH63

No doubt.......

I have taken antelope with the .375. You will enjoy it. I used the Sierra 250 gr bullet and it preformed very well. If you reload the .375 RL-15 is the go to powder.

That sounds like a good plan. I have taken antelope with an iron sighted .30/30 so I know it is doable. Another option is to get a doe/fawn tag also and you could do one with each.

Oh, I'd grab the 375 and leave the others at home!

You'd be well armed with that 375. The longest shot I've taken at antelope was a crazy long shot, but the 375 would do just as well as the 25-06 I was using.

The closest shots on pronghorn could have been done with a bow and arrow but that is rare with them.

I stalked and killed an AZ pronghorn with an open sighted .50 Hawken and black powder. A lot depends on the terrain...

Good choice. If you notice your trajectory on that combo isn't too awful different than that of a 30-06 with 180s....and plenty of antelope get killed with those each year!

Many folks have questioned whether not a Barnes X will open on "smaller" big game. I dug this photo out to show that with poor placement(high on shoulder)and high velocity(.375 AI,250 TTX @ 3130 MV) will do (exit wound) to a Prong Horn at approx. 300 yrds. While the velocity on an H&H (with a similar bullet) will be a little less, you should easily have a 400 yrd. "goat" gun! memtb

The .375 runs rings around the others in terms of capability. It's a pretty fair long shot gun, if you can manage recoil.

To everyone who has drawn a tag in AZ, envy ...

Im still trying to decide what to take. I really wanna take my 45/70 no 1. Its so light and carries well. THink I might be limiting myself on range really bad though. Prob end up taking it and the Winchester 375h&h. Try and get close with the 45/70 and if they don't cooperate, bring out the 375

That is the best plan if you only have one tag.

Take the Ruger#1 45-70. Try the 300 gr HP hi velocity load. Should be good out to 150 yds.
I shot my first antelope at 100 yds with a 30-06.
Have Fun!

well we didn't get drawn so I guess we will try again next season.

Phoneman, All is not lost! Consider using the next year to build a lightweight,long range, big- bore. Screw a light contour barrel(maybe in an AI) on your action,and drop it into a good light synthetic stock. Now you've got a easy to carry, long range(easily a 500yrd.rifle),big bore. It may become your go to, all purpose hunting rifle. Though some may consider it "boring" to be a "one rifle" hunter! memtb

PS: Sorry to hear that you did not draw, "goats" can be fun to hunt!