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

I wish my .240 was 8 twist instead of 10 twist.

Seems a 6mm 8 twist shooting 105's would be about ideal for Pronghorns.

I tried 105 Scenars in my Wby, wouldn't stabilize them. Pat (Scenarshooter) sent them for me to try.

DF

A 140gr Berger Hybrid at 2,750fps muzzle velocity beats your 120gr NBT going nearly 600fps faster, from the muzzle on out. As well a paltry 2,750 for a 6mm 105gr Berger VLD matches your 120gr NBT launched nearly 600fps faster at 400 yards...




Of course one could shoot the good bullets in the bigger cartridges as well, but that's not how most seem to run. As always, it's the bullets.

IMO, it's an art, matching bullet design/performance ceiling with velocity.

One size/type doesn't fit all...

I've posted before that Berger doesn't want their VLD Hunting bullets moving over 3,100 fps. It's a great bullet at the right speed. My 6.5-284 does very well with 140 VLD Hunting at around 3K fps over 48 gr. RL-17.

I'm going to check out the 130 VLD Hunting in my 6.5 Creedmoor, currently using 140 AMax factory loads.

DF

In a Vanguard 2, you can get 'right off the shelf', a 240 Weatherby, a 257 Roy or a 270 Roy... turn key... for $525 at Sportsman's Warehouse...

along with a 6.5 Creedmoor... or a 7/08...

Plenty of accurate flat shooting cartridges right there in a real nice package and pretty low cost...

I just picked up my first one.. in 223, but I am going to retire a few other rifles and replace them with Vanguards...

Weatherby Vanguards are also built on a long action, with a space that is easily removed.... looking at a 243, and remove the spacer, and get it rebored to a 6mm Rem....which is a different animal on a long action.. running right with factory 240 Weatherby ammo... only reason I just don't go with the 240, is Brass and its availability... I'm sitting on plenty of 6mm Rem brass...

it has a one in 10 twist, but that twist will stabilize a 105 grain BTHP.. does in my other 243s... as it was mentioned about 105s...

or one could AI a 243, and go the cheaper route.. and have a real good performer....but a fast moving 95 grain Ballistic Tip or Partition... and an appropriate scope....one can easily flatten an antelope way out there.... as long as the shot placement is where it needs to be...

load data with RL 16 looks pretty impressive, although I haven't been able to secure any off the shelves to verify that...

Those Vanguard 2's are good rifles, maybe a tad on the heavy side, but a lot of performance for the buck.

DF

I like the S2's a lot and had a 6.5CM

IIRC the short action was patterned after the L-579 action. Nets a bit more COAL. Sako made a longer action.

Re twist rates in 243. Buddy dumped a goat about 550 yds using a carbine length take off BR bbl. 14 twist. 55 BTs.

Twist at most distance might mean selecting matching weights - I would not be afraid to run sleek 87-95 thinking Vmax and Bergers. Light skin small deer - a 70 TNT would even ruin their day.

Your 6-284 will be fine for Colorado. If you're not twisted for the 105 BTHP or Amax the 90gr Scenar will work just fine too.

If you want something new, I have the 6.5 Creedmoor Kimber Montana on my radar. Would be a nice lightweight bad bitch on lopes.

Caution with the 90 gr. Scenar. I chest shot a WT with one out of my .240.

Very accurate but a bomb, WAY too expansive at those speeds for WT's, or most other hunting IMO.

I'm shooting 100 gr. NPT's out of that gun over MRP, no more 90 gr. Scenars for me.

Maybe at slower speeds, but the 6-284 ain't exactly slow...

DF

Or, you could go for a really "{big" bore like a .270, .280, or 7 RM. But you probably have them already, and need a "reason" to get another caliber. . .

Well you hit the nail on the head. I do have several rifles in factory and wildcat calibers but itching for something new, reason for the post. I don't have a super performance 6.5. Long range ? Well I have a 338 Edge that has killed elk 1 shot at distances "Exob..." Would find amazing, albeit I've put a lot of effort into shooting the Precision Rifle course. Back to the original question 26 Nosler or 6.5-300 Wby ?

Get both of them. I have 6.5 creeds, 264 Win mags, and a 26 Nosler. I'm saving my mad money fit a 6.5x300 Wby. It's not possible to have too many rifles. I do like a 7 rem mag best. It's like Bob says " I have a 7 mag. Why do I need anything else?

As posted before, IMO it's an art, matching bullet construction/design parameters to velocity.

A great bullet for one application maybe a train wreck in another.

DF

In the mid sixties my dad had his 03-A3 rebarreled to 25-06 and I used it to take many Mule Deer and later after I moved to Colorado I used this rifle to bag several antelope.
I then bought a 257 Wby and have since used it for that purpose year after year. I really like the flat shooting ability of this round. It removes a lot of human error in hold over windage etc. I also own an Extreme Weather Model 70 in 264 WM that I hope to use on an Elk next week. I recently received a Wby Accumark 6.5-300 and I haven't decided on a scope yet but I leaning toward a Night Force. I will use this 6.5-300 the next time I draw an Antelope tag and/or a Mule Deer tag. I believe flat shooting cartridges are the key to Antelope and plains Deer hunting where stalking is iffy due to poor cover. So yes I would highly recommend a 6.5-300 Wby for Antelope.

When I am trying to choose, I look at prices and availability of rifles with the barrel length, etc. I want. Then I look at availability and cost of brass. Consider differences in potential velocity, etc. Expect that any of those big .26s will be barrel burners, as you already noted.

Long barrel
Not interested in a factory rifle. Already have a 700 LA Mag. Action to build on

Dusty
There are places in CO and Wy that is like hunting on a huge billiard table, no way to get close

Well, then I`d go Wby...nothing shoots harder...and so on..

30/06 or .308 Win!

Guess my era!!

Nah

B-29 and don't look back. You can thank me later....