Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles The ultimate Pronghorn load?

120 Nosler @ 3600 fps is gonna be about as good as anything out to 500-600 yds. probably. I'd like to see what those big-cased 24's would do with the 105 A-Max out that far as well tho.

A 120 Gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at a MV of 3.400 ft/sec out of a 26 inch barrel .264 Winchester will do in a pronghorn way out there.

Use the A-max on targets not game

Exactly my thinking Mark... familiarity with one rifle is of more value than a passing aquaintance with several. My approach to BG rifles, however, is definately NOT the "Golf Bag Approach"... ie, the "perfect club" for every situation.

To each his own but intimacy with one rifle/one load cannot be overstated...

Amen to that!

Personally I feel that the ultimate lope gun/load thing is one of the all time most overrated subjects out there.

And I am not dogging this thread for whoever cares.

Mark D

I would use my elk/deer rifle and treasure the additional experience and association with the rifle.

AGW

Like this John?

http://noslerreloading.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2691

POP,
Without attempting to hijack the thread:
I am guilty of similar varminting habits when I was testing the then new Woodleigh 340 grain Weldcore Spire points back in the early/middle 90's.

Geoff McDonald from Woodleigh told me they were designed for velocities up to about 2700fps which would satisfy most .416 cartridge users for a flat shooting plains game load.

I took them out in one of my .416 Weatherby's handloaded to 2940fps and did some goat culling out to 300 yards. If I connected just right on the spine, this load would blow the goats in 2 halves with assorted bird feed scattered about for easy consumption away from the carcass which was usually devoured same night by foxes and pigs.

I liked feeding the local wildlife.

John

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Man I gotta come down there!

Thanks again to all for the thoughtful input and shared experiences - and graphic photos!

I think you are on the right track. I dearly love pronghorn hunting and can blame that directly to my personal quest for the ultimate rifle, load and optics to hunt them. When the 338RUM was introduced I had a reamer ground for a wildcat necked to 7mm. It is a shortened 7mmRUM. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> And a dandy for this application. I handload the Nosler 140 grain Accubond warm as toast with 7828 and get close to 3700 fps with the 140. Where I hunt the altitude is 6000 ft and a 3" 100 yd sight in puts me 11.5" low at 500 yds. Two years ago I made my farthest shot with a top of the back hold at 530 yds. I love the 7 bore and am here to stay.

I'd put the 7 away, and find a good .257 Wby. Least, that is what I did. Mine has been used with Noz partitions, Sierra boattails, and Barnes TSXes, all with great results. A flatter shooting antelope cartridge will be hard to find. Current choice is the TSX 100 gr., at 3700 fps mv.

POP, the A-Max is being marketed as a game bullet these days.

It is nice to hear that others also regard Pronghorn hunting as a somewhat specialized form of field shooting - and with its own specific and inherent demands.

At least it is for those among us that have long ago run out of credible reasons for having just one more special rifle.

Careful w/ a heavy-tough bullet for antelope. I've never seen antelope alone and it would be hard explaining to Fish and Game why you have 2 or even 3 Antelope down with 1 tag and 1 pull of the trigger!!
I use a 243 Encore handgun w/ 100gr Sierra bullet for Pronghorn. I try to get within 200-250 yards even if it means a 45 minute belly crawl. I know where the gun hits out to 350.
You don't need alot of power, my neighbor gets his at 300-350 w a 24" 6.5 TCU.

Hey Bart-- i like your system. I also use handguns for hunting. My partner and i took 2 does this yr. with my handgun-- a .243 WSSM Savage Striker with 4.5-14X Leup./VH reticle. 200 yd. crawl, maybe farther actually. 2 shots and 2 down.

My experience with antelope have been what statistician friends would call a "bimodal distribution," i.e., it's either a 75 yard shot or a 400 yarder! With that in mind, bullets like a BT can come undone on impacts > 3000 FPS. I'd just be aware of this if I was launching this bullet--or any bullet--at relatively close distances at the very high velocities mentioned.

WhenI got my first 7mm Mag, I immediately grabbed a box of 139gr Hor SP's and a lb of H-4831. When the primers started lookin' flat, and groups were dime size, I headed for a deer in central PA. When a nice 4pt ran up to me at about 40yds, I barely needed a knife to gut him out, cause I could almost pour him outa' the exit hole.

I used 140gr NP's for antelope, so it wouldn't eliminate the front half of the critter if I got a frontal quartering shot. At 3200fps, you can drill 'em as far as you can hit 'em.

3600 seems mighty fast for that bullet.

Are you suggesting it is too fast for correct and closer terminal ballistics - or just not possible?

If you like that 120 Ballistic Tip , try a 140 Partition in a .280 Rem! It'll buck wind a bit better and won't blood-shot the meat as much.