Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Campfire Antelope Cartridge/Rifle

I’ve only killed two.... one with my old .270 and a very nice buck in WY with a 6.5 CM.
I can’t help but feel that the Creed is just about perfect for antelope.
Very light recoil, great bullet selection.

Thanks T for bullet info.

I think between my son and I we have killed 7 pronghorn, and all of them were killed with a 7-08/140 BT combo. No issues.

I use whatever elk rifle I'll be using later in the season, so as a result I've used a variety from the 270 up through the 338 WM.

If just picking a rifle specifically for antelope I'd use my Kimber MT 243, or for good weather a wood stocked Kimber 84M 257 Rob.

Really, any cartridge will do from the 223 up.

Something in the .243" to .257" range in a sporter style rifle with a 3-9x or 3.5-10 scope.

I have used a handgun on all my antelope. Calibers 7x30 waters, 6.5 Bullberry and .357 Max.

All good advice here, cant disagree with any. I personally went from a .25-06 to a 7 Mag 15 years ago because I didnt like the way the wind pushed my 100 gr. Hornady spirepoints around. I changed from the 7 Mag to a 6.5 Creed last year because of boredom--the 7 Mag was just too good at its job. The 6.5 Creed shoots a longer 140 gr. bullet at a much slower muzzle velocity with less weight, less recoil, and better wind bucking ability, and has just the right amount of energy--not too much. Most of my 7 Mag kills went through and through. That said, I think mirage and wind are the two biggest factors in antelope shooting. 300 yards is about the practical limit for me, because holding over 27 inches and into the wind 22 inches at 400 yards in a 20 knot crosswind is fine for paper, but I dont feel confident enough to risk wounding an antelope with that kind of shot. Bottom line is its all personal preference. Use whatever makes you feel good. They all work.

Custom 257 Bob fed with 110 gr. AB handloads is my dedicated pronghorn setup.

A hunting buddy's 25 Souper 'aint too shabby either...

Mulling using my 6.5 CM with 120 gr. GMX next season...

My 89 year old father just gave me several of his rifles so I think this year I'll hunt this Hi-Wall in 225.

My wife and I have been hunting Pronghorns for the past (25) years. We get 4-6 tags per year in CO & WY, both on private land. We estimate we have taken about 125 Antelope over the years, averaging (5) tags a year.

We have used 25-06, 6.5x55, 275 Rigby, 280 Rem., and 338WM.

Our favorite (both) is 25.06.

I’ve shot somewhere between 20 to 30 antelope with a 30-06. There’s about an even split between 165 and 180 grain Hornady boat tails, as well as a few 180 grain partitions. I’ve also shot a couple with the 243, and one with a 338 Winchester. They all work.

My 12-year-old will be hunting them with me this year and he will shoot a 243. I will probably take my 30-06 again, though one of these years I’d like to use my 375 H&H just because. I am currently working up a load with 150 grain SST‘s, specifically for antelope hunting, and though I have 30 rounds loaded and ready to test, I have yet to do the range work. Perhaps towards the end of the month I’ll get to that. If push comes to shove, I’ll probably just load up 165 grain Hornady boat tails over 56 grains of Winchester 760 and call it good.

There is a huge list of good antelope cartridges but if one is headed to the gun store to specifically purchase a rifle solely for hunting antelope it should be chambered for the 6mm Creedmoor or you're doing antelope rifles wrong.

Now if sentiment or other nonlogical emotions are involved then all bets are off.

I say this having never killed an antelope with the 6mm CM but I have slayed a trailer truck or 2 and seen a lot more taken with the .243 Win/105gr VLD/3050fps.

Being able to buy decent factory ammo loaded with high BC bullets and factory rifles that shoot like customs is not a bad thing.

Whichever one you can place the bullet where it needs to go.

I have use 22-250, 243, 270 Win, and 338WM.

If I draw a tag, I might use a 222 or 6.5x55 this year.

I would too....

Good luck CB! All of mine have been with a 30/06 too.

Especially if that's all you have, way more cartridge than needed. Antelope hunt is the perfect place for the 243/25 cal cartridges. MB

What's that old saying----"Beware of the man with 1 rifle"--------Ingwe made me turn in my rifle loonie card at the hog hunt.

No flies on a classic 25-06. 100 grain ballistic tips work too.

Colorado bob no problem, I'm a 30-06 fan myself have shot antelope with it but sure like smaller cartridges for this hunting. MB

Ranger1, 130 Bergers were used, so the offside was not as pretty. Sorry, but I did not take any pics of the wounds. By the time I got up to the antelope, the bastard crows were already pecking at the eyeballs.