Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game How important is a light rifle when hunting Pronghorn

Bout 15 years ago, 257 Wby ulw. Guess light rifles will work. Grin


175-200 yards

Jud

Maybe so for you..... the wind CAN'T blow you around !



Jerry

If you are SNEAKY....

I have only taken one antelope. It took me 13 years to pull a tag here in Oregon so this is for what it is worth.

There are no mistakes, only choices. I used a M70 .30-06 with a 2.5-8x36 Leupold, loaded with 180 NPT handloads. It weighs 7#14oz all up. Sight in was 3.5" high at 100 yards. It worked fine. Lots of wind in the area I hunted. The extra pund in weight over my Montana helped.

I didn't plan on shooting past 300 yards and didn't have to. Representative buck 15"+. I did turn down a really nice buck at 450+- but he was ass on to me and walking away looking over his shoulder while his does headed out.

I made my shot (250+yds) using a three leg bog pod. Very helpful. Allowed me to shoot over brush and rocks rather than lay on them.

My Ruger M 77 7x57 is 8.5 lbs. all in with 154 grain Hornady InterLocks and after the last Antelope hunt trudging in western gumbo, I just may lighten things up. 120 grain Nosler BT will get the nod.

I have hunted the same way. The weight of the rifle is a non-issue.

For what the OP is describing a fairly heavy rifle is not an issue for me, but I tend to go on short hikes from the pickup that end up being all day excursions.

It happens. I just have to see what's over one more hill. Repeat. Repeat again.
I've gravitated toward a Kimber MT in .223 for my last 10-12 antelope. Light generally equals better though I do still have and use some heavier rifles without too much complaint.

i'd take the rifle i shoot the best. the pick-up you're riding in is doing all the heavy lifting. take the gun you have the most confidence in and enjoy the hunt.

Like!

A heavy ass rifle is no handicap and a big ass cartridge is no advantage for antelope. A buddy uses a 243 varmint rifle. I just use standard weight stuff, but i don’t own any really heavy stuff.

My 13year old daughter used this on her bear last spring and and lope the fall before. Little heavier but no biggie. Helped with recoil. I’d just take whatever your shooting the best




poem about smoking

Fantastic !

1. You taking daughter shooting/hunting !

2. Your daughter interested & participating !

3. Pix !

Congrats to both of ya.


Jerry

nice. Making us look like beginners

Like SBM I went pretty light weight when I finally drew a Hart Mountain tag here in Oregon. I had this gun built just for this hunt knowing that after 18-20 years I would draw the tag.

every hunter is different on what they can carry or want to carry ,size you are can be a factor and if you prepare by exercising for hunting and /or life. i have always worked outside as a lineman digging holes,climbing poles .lifting heavy work tools for 55 some years , so gun weight i never worried about. my Ruger #1 with a 27 inch #4 Brux barrel,5 - 22 x56 Nightforce scope,Harris bi-pod,sling, shell boot on stock would be heavy for some i know its over 12 lb.s ? but this rifle has always got the job done for me ,i also never go without my pack that weighs over 30 lbs and i may even carry a folding chair if ground is wet or snow covered ground. its much easier to be prepared with equipment and have a rifle that shoots well when you out for the day . i even bring a MRE and water always you just never know ? so my answer on a using a light rifle for goat hunting ? no a light rifle means nothing to me,i shoot more accurate with a heavier rifle at longer distances.

Sakoluvr: I have Hunted Antelope virtually every year since the late 1960's and used heavy barrel/Varmint weight Rifles each year. Sometimes I Hunted two states in a year for Antelope.
Last three Rifles I used to harvest Antelope were "heavy" by most peoples standards.
#1: Ruger 77 V/T stainless heavy barrel in 25/06 Remington with a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope and a Harris swiveling bi-pod attached.
#2: Remington Model 700 Sendero heavy barrel in caliber 270 Winchester with a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope and a Harris swiveling bi-pod attached.
#3: Remington Model 700 VLS heavy barrel in caliber 260 Remington with a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope and a Harris swiveling bi-pod attached.
I actually prefer heavier Rifles for Antelope Hunting - list of reasons is long and I advise yo to not shy away from a weighty Rifle for Hunting Antelope.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I've killed a bunch of pronghorns. More than I care to try to count. Most were shot with a 30-06 that weighed 9# including scope and and ammo. Recently I shot a couple with a 25-06. They are all still dead.

7of the last 8 pronghorns I’ve killed the past four years involved 400-700 yd crawls on hand and knees and/or belly through corn stubble, or wheat stubble, or weeds. Knee pads and gloves are de rigueur.

At 64 years old pass me the sub 7 lb rifle.

I can’t imagine trying to accomplish this with a 10 lb rifle......

Should I bring 2 rifles for the trip, one being a "back up". If I do, should they be in separately cased so the airline has less chance of screwing both up?

I wouldn't bring two separately cased as I'd not want to pay the extra baggage fees. A good case that holds 2 long guns has worked well for me. My next case will have wheels for airport travel.