Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Dedicated Goat Gun - Possibly Sheep

I have never been on a sheep or goat hunt and for some weird reason don't have the sheep bug yet, but have recently started liking the idea of a goat hunt. If I were to do this, I may try to book a hunt in BC. But with all this goat hunting going through my head, it got me thinking rifles. I have my trusty Win 70 270, but it's 9 pounds loaded up so we need to go lighter on the weight....I got this setup running through my head right now - thoughts -

Tikka T3x Superlite stainless 300 win mag
McMillan Sako Classic Edge
Talley ringmounts
NF NXS 2.5-10x42

Probably around 7.5# loaded up, maybe a touch less. Would be willing to have a heavier scope for pure reliability factor. If I could put this setup together for $25-2600 would it be a good investment or would there be better options for that $$$$ (Keep in mind I'm pretty set on the NF 2.5-10X42)

This rifle would be a strict mountain gun for the occasional sheep/goat hunt.

I'd go with something with a little less recoil. Hard kicking stuff ain't fun when shooting in monkey pucking a jug positions, and you can get into some weird shooting positions in the rocks.

A lighter .270 would work just fine.

Shots aren't usually long. In fact you will be surprised at how close they can be.

This exact setup in a 270wsm?

Never hunted sheep/goats but this seems to be a ballistics question. A 270 WSM doesnt gain much over the plain Jane 270 Win. We're it me, I'd buy a Kimber 84L in 270 Win. Mine weighs a tad less than 7lbs with scope, catridges, sling. A 150 at 3050 should work. I know elk aren't fond of it.

I'd not take a 270WSM over a 270.

If you're worried about shooting far, skip the 270's and 30's and go 6.5mm or 7mm something.

+1

And if you're set on the NF 2.5-10x42 then a SA would be a good choice- 6.5 Creed or 7-08 seem logical. Don't need a cannon to put the hurt on...[

In 75' i used a tang ruger 270win for both dall sheep and mtn goat. And i believe i used plain old corelokts as well. Any reasonably lightweight rifle would serve. If i were returning tomorrow, I'd take a 270win.

Appreciate all the feedback. I know the capabilites of the 270 win as thats been my primary caliber of choice for deer, elk, shiras moose, black bear, and antelope here in Idaho. I was mainly looking at some other options just so as to not double up and have 2 270's.

Also curious on feedback on the rifle/stock/scope choice. I think a Superlite Tikka in an edge stock should be more than lite enough. Again, this setup may only be used on 1-2 hunts and then put in the safe - thinking a scope at the NF NXS level may be a little overkill?

Get a 270, 270 WSM or 30-06 in a Tikka T 3 and go for it. It is was me would go with a Leupold 6x36 with the LR duplex over the scope you are looking at.

I was mainly looking at some other options just so as to not double up and have 2 270's


......not that there's anything wrong with that.


One set up for mountain hunting and the heavy one set up with say, 150 or 160gr NPs sounds like the beans to me, especially since in general you seem happy with the round so far. Don't let the homophobes scare you off. Not a huge Tikka fan, but admire the performance, so all things considered, it seems like the easy way out.

How about considering staying with your .270, but putting it on a diet? Adding a McMillan Edge, Talley LW's, a Leupold VX3 2.5-8 scope, might reduce quite a bit of weight. I have a customized pre-'64 action, rebarreled to .280 Rem., with a Bansner stock, 22" #2 barrel, Talleys, VX3 2.5-8, which is a shade over 7.5# all up. Makes for a great mountain rifle, for about any species you might want to hunt.

The problem with that is my .270 already has an edge...lol SC Win 70 action, timney, edge, talleys, VX6 2-12X42, The reason its so heavy is it has a 24.75" Shilen #3 with nearly 2" of shank. The only way to reduce the weight is to put a new barrel on it. But it shoots so good, thats not happening.

Maybe I just suck it up and loose 5-10 pounds more than my hunt weight and lug a 9# rifle up the mountain....

hiaring -

Another suggestion per Goat Rifle & Hunting.

First I've never hunted goats BUT I've read a LOT about it. One thing stood out is, Goat Guides & Experienced Goat hunters said,

"most hunters use TOO heavy or stout constructed bullets. Goats are NOT thick nor heavy muscled. Don't OVER bullet."

Just passing along a suggestion from reliable sources.


Jerry

Brilliant.

LOL, ever see what a goat looks like under the hide??? Apparently not...

Of all the rifles I own, I normally grab the 338 WM just for the smash crash factor, although the 308 Tikka T3 got taken on my last goat hunt. A 270 would be fine with the right trigger nut. Lighter is good, if you can swing it, and a 300 WM in a T3 wouldn't be a wrong answer.

I've only ever used a 30/06, but then again it was all I owned at the times I went and brown bears were aplenty in some of the places.

A Tikka in 7mm Rem wouldn't suck, I'm assuming they chamber for that?

There you go again: S H .



I said, "I've never hunted goats" !! What I posted came from Goat/Sheep Guides PLUS hunters that have killed them. THEY said it doesn't take a HEAVY or STOUT constructed bullet. Too many Xs there are pass thrus w/o sufficient expansion.
Take it or not FROM THEM.

I'm out.

Jerry

I'd go with a lightweight 6.5 Creedmoor in a factory rifle. When I did my AK sheep hunt I went with a lightweight 260, but it was a NULA with a 3-inch magazine, I'm not sure what Tikka's have. It's much more fun to shoot any kind of volume with a short-action non-magnum 6.5 in a lightweight rifle and it's got enough power and lots of good bullets to choose from to reach out.

I have shot a few goats but that does make me an expert, however I will pass along my thoughts as if I am one.

My go-to rifle was a 30/06 loaded with a 165 gr Nosler Partition. It was J C Higgins (FN Mauser) with a Butler Creek tupperware stock, Leupold 6x36 scope - I am guessing it was around 8 lbs all up, I didn't find it particularly offensive weight wise probably because it handled so good.

If I were going today I would take a Tikka stainless/synthetic with a Leupold 6x36, for a caliber I would take either a 7/08 or 270,with a Nosler Partition. No need for a custom, super light weight rifle, or something that kills on both ends, that combo will work just fine.

IMO tales of goats toughness are exaggerated. If you look at the skeletal make-up of a goat you will see that his hump is quite a bit higher than his vitals. Many hunters center on the body like they were shooting a deer or elk and as a consequence the bullet goes through the lower part of the hump, which is heavily muscled, and the goat keeps going on because the bullet passes through muscle, not vitals.
Anyone who says a goat is not heavily muscled has never skinned one, or have been in the country where they live.

Something else to keep in mind - the Billies are hard to distinguish from the Nannies, a good way to make a quick and fairly accurate judgement of which it is take a look at the eye. A billy's eye will be about the same size as the base of his horn - a nannies will be smaller. Also a good set of horns will be at least twice as long as the ear, twice as long as the ear horns will measure out around 10", anything longer is a real trophy.

My goats have been taken at close range, anywhere from 75 to 150 yds. I have seen a lot at further range but resisted the temptation to shoot them - just because you can see them doesn't mean that you can get to them after they are down.

I am old enough and stove up enough now that I won't be going after any more goats, although a sheep hunt may still be out there for me (if I could just draw a tag).

drover