Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Looking to build a new long range antelope rifle

Trying to decide between a 26 Nosler or a 6.5-300 Weatherby. Availability of factory ammo is not a concern since I reload. Barrel life is also not a concern since this is a hunting rifle and not a target rifle. Is there any advantage of one over the other?

Antelope don't take that much killin' unless you really want a gun that big anyway. A .243, .260, 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor or the like would be plenty for long range goat hunting. The 6.5 GAP has an advantage over these smaller, mild cartridges in fighting wind drift if you're looking for a reason to go bigger.

I'd look for something with more case capacity.




Dave

6.5 x 50 BMG ?

Really. I have a 6-284 but was feeling left out by the new high performance 6.5s. Maybe a reason for a new rifle ?

If your 6-284 is twisted right you have a pretty good one right there.

But you don't need to need a new rifle to get a new rifle.

Just wondering why you want to go to such large case capacity cartridges for a 110-lb animal when there are options like the 260, 6.5 Creed, the 6.5-284, etc that will take you as far as you want and can go with the proper twist, optics et al.

Everybody is correct antelope are easy to kill. I looked up the 6.5 Gap and was impressed. Reason for choice is that smith has those reamers. I'll look into the 6.5x284, share some common base brass with the 6-284.

Reamers can be rented fairly cheap. 6.5X284, 6.5-06 (AI) or just plain vanilla 264 WM.

Nobody has suggested the .223 AI? I'm shocked! I'd consider a nice .260 Rem if you want a vanilla chambering. 6.5-06 AI is the direction I'd probably go, personally.

6mm or larger required in Colorado for big game.

25-06 it doesn't get any better

I would think a reamer would be cheaper than powder.

I use a .260 for long range antelope. Out to 700 yds. it leaves a 4-6 inch exit hole if you catch too much shoulder. A 26 nosler or 6.5-300 will only do more of the same.
Bullet selection is more critical with more speed as well. I like 130 gr. Bergers in my .260. Anything strong enough to withstand a close impact with the bigger cases ,has less BC and is there for no real advantage for long range use.....
I real world use, I could have built a .243 for antelope and been happy!!!!!!

260 and 243 all good calipers. I saw that Wy is allowing 22 center fire for goats. Lots of goats out by Baggs

This ^^^^^

Or a 6mm-'06, or a standard 257 Wby.

Good for as far as you can shoot................

MM

6mm-06 = 6-284 already got one. 25 cal is good but 6.5 bullets have better BC.

You can split hairs all day..................

MM

Isn't splitting hairs what the Campfire is all about?

Yes. Let's carry on. How about a 6mmx55 AI based on the 6.5x55 Swede case? I've had one of those on my bench for years and am frequently tempted to switch a rifle to that option, just because it's an oddball.

.260, 6.5 CM, 270, .257, or 25-06 are my vote.