Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Flattest shooting, wind defying antelope round

For pronghorn I have always been partial to my 7mm Rem Mag with 140 grain NBT at 3,300 fps, BC @ .485 and zeroed at 300 yds. It’s quite the zip line and flattens pronghorns way the hell out there.

Works just as well as the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Eileen and I have taken a bunch of pronghorns, in several states. Off the top of my head, the cartridges have included the .22-250, .220 Swift, .243 Winchester, .240 Weatherby, .250 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25-06, .257 Weatherby, .260 Remington, 6.5x57R Mauser, 6.5x55, .270 Winchester, 7x57 Mauser, .308 Winchester, .30-06 and .300 WSM.

Of those cartridges, shots of at least 350 yards were made with the .22-250, .240 Weatherby, .257 Roberts, .257 Weatherby, 6.5x55, .270 Winchester, 7x57 Mauser, .308 Winchester and .300 WSM.

I probably have left out a few cartridges and shot-ranges, but in general have found a lot of stuff works, if you know how to compensate for range and wind--and know how to hunt 'em.

“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck

Antelope die easy we used to shoot meat antelope with a 17 Remington for fun it was really neat how fast those goats went down. also shot a few with a old peep sighted Savage 99 22 H.P. watch a old Marine make a bet for $200.00 cash he could kill a doe antelope at 350 yards , i range the herd by the shop. the Marine friend of mine set down on ground used a 5 gallon bucket upside down and leaned that old peep sighted 99 Savage 22 H.P on top of bucket bang and flop . Marine held out his hand for the cash it was funny , part of the bet the guy had to go get the antelope alone , gut it and drag it to the shop too.

Rem 700 Ti in 7-08,

Light & easy for all day carry.............7-08 is not quite in the class of magnums for flatness, but it's plenty flat enough for any sane ranges.

MM

7 RUM a 154 at a fast pace.

Know a fella out Wyoming way that HUNTS speed goats successfully with a flintlock. Hunting skills are useful.

When I was 21 and poor my Grandfather invited me to go out to Wyoming for Lopes. I couldn't scrape up the money to go but I know one of the party used a flintlock, another used a Remington 141 pump in 25 Remington, and my Grandfather used a Savage 99 243. They were all successful. I went on in later years to kill four antelope myself and one year I took the wrong ammo for my .270 along. I showed up out there with Federal 150 grain RN's. My woods load. And even they worked!

Mule Deer gave you a good answer. Up close, a cartridge shooting a lower BC bullet at really high velocity can overcome a cartridge shooting a higher BC bullet much slower. Due to range finders, elevation is easy, but wind is comparatively unstable, I would rather shoot a bullet that has the wind advantage. There are cartridges that shoot high BC bullets really fast but generally those involve more recoil. Of those you listed, and without referring to a ballistics program, I’d guess the .264 Win Mag with 130s or the 6.5 PRC would be the best combo of flat and wind defying. That will largely depend on which bullet you’re using. A bunch of the bullets you listed are relatively low BC, and BC really makes a difference in both fighting the wind at any distance and long range trajectory. In fact, if you would replace the bullets you listed with those that have a high BC, it would be a game changer. Someone here on the fire is fond of saying bullets matter more than headstamps. I agree with him. Remember that the rifle you’re shooting must have a twist rate capable of stabilizing those bullets. That is probably the primary reason the Creedmoor and PRC have been so successful. They come from the factory with twist rates that will stabilize the high BC bullets.

So, out of your list, I’d pick the 6.5 PRC. Factory ammo with high BC bullets is available. Doesn’t burn quite as much powder as the .264 Win Mag, so recoil will probably be marginally less. One you didn’t list that is worthy of consideration is the 6mm Creedmoor. Very good balance of BC and velocity in a low recoiling cartridge. In factory rifles, it’s twist rate, allowing it to shoot high BC bullets, is what gives it an advantage over the .243.

You had mentioned poor accuracy results with the 6.5 Creedmoor. I can promise you it had nothing to do with the design of that cartridge. The 6.5 Creedmoor is probably the most user friendly cartridge I have ever used, easier to find an accurate load for than most I have used and more than once, it has been a struggle to find a handload that shoots better than some of the factory ammo available in it. You really should give it another look.

Edited to add link to JBM ballistics.

http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/calculators/calculators.shtml


John

I'll still work up a fast, accurate load for my 300WM/Barnes 130TTSX as I like to have at least two rifles on a hunt. I read a post 'somewhere" that it was not "unusual" for the 6.5 PRC Hornady brass to develop a "do-nut", even after a couple firings. I hate brass I have to neck ream or turn even. My last cow elk hunt, I used the 175 LRX in my 300WM and the Outfitter was singing the praises of his 6.5/300wby. I am not into that one, and the 6.5 RPM isn't readily available, but I like the extra horsepower of the 6.5/06 level ( and up)

What's the barrel of the 240WBY twisted? If fast enough to use some of the 6mm bullets on the market, that one might be hard to beat.

Well maybe not the best or flattest but I had very good success shooting antelope with a 270 pushing various 130 grain bullets some of them (gasp!) were not even boat tails. Longest shot was right at 450 yards, had to hold into the wind about 2 feet.

I’ve shot a bunch of antelope with a 257 weatherby and 100 grain ballistic tips. There may be better, but I doubt it, if you are talking 4-500 yards or less.

You've already been given plenty of right answers, but just for the sake of playing I'll throw out the 270WSM/6.8 Western. Comparable velocity/trajectory to the 6.5 PRC plus heavier bullets. I'll even throw you a link I google fued for you.

https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/68-western-vs-65-prc-amp-270-wsm


Edited to add: I don"t have any of these nor do I want them. Your self imposed range of 400 yards makes all of this, a go buy what you want conversation.

This is a dog turd combo IMO for a 300WM, use a 180gr BT or AB or a 200gr AB. my fav is a 210grVLD............the 130TTSX is for the Lazzeroni crowd

Damned if I understand why anyone would ever think they need a 30 cal on antelope period.

I have killed a pile of antelope over the last 15-20 years with a 25-06 to start then went pro with a 257 Weatherby. That 257 was made for those critters. Furthest shot was 603 yards and everything in between. 99% bang flops as well with 100 TSX at 3700 FPS. I am getting close to putting a new barrel on it as it do burn hot.

I have shot several antelope at various ranges with several rifles. They all worked as well as I shot. But the one that gets the most bragging Is a 540 yard kill with a 750 gr Hornady at 2800 fps from a .50 cal Barrett 99.
I admit carrying the Barrett is a challenge

I’ve shot pronghorn with different cartridges. I don’t think I’ve ever used a belted cartridge so far. 6mm on small side and 280AI on the large side (308 included).
I think a 6mm or 25-06 would be my favorites. Maybe if I re-barrel a rifle I might make it a 257 Wby and try that.
Pronghorns are not large animals. I’m thinking their bones are stronger/tougher than deer though. Hit a leg bone and you’d be happy you used a proper bullet.

I have great respect for 180-200gr in the 300WM. I love the/use the 175 LRX currently. The rifle was a gift ( CA Mesa) and just want to see what it will do. If I can get that 130TTSX going 3500+, its only 6-8" low at 400yds. Now granted, I just got this last .243, and will start with the 70gr HH ( I bought a bunch of Nosler 70 Varmeggedon factory loads last year, for coyotes/brass) then I will start working with the 95NBT and 95SST, last resort I have some 100 NP (I'd rather use them on big hogs, etc) A 243 will work fine where I hunt as I don't have to shoot beyond 300yds, often more like 150yds. I'm just having fun picking you guys brains (yes, I know we are all Loony! ha) ...

Back in the 90s, I bought one of the first Mod 700 ADL SS in 7mm Rem Mag. All I had done was the trigger lightened/smoothed up. I worked up a load with the Barnes 120X (original) never clocked it, but it was humming. Guessing 3400 or so. I had it zeroed for 300yds, and one time (sic) it shot a 3 shot group there into 1 1/8". Many times it went under under 2". Anyhow, I gave that rifle to my Pastor in Texas. We met up in Uvalde for some Exotics. I had a Mod 700 Classic converted from 25-06 to 257Wby, using the Federal 115NP factory load. We both took Blackbuck (his at 200yds, mine at 385yds) I then shot a Black Hawaiian at 250 and he shot an Ibex/Spanish cross goat at a tad over 400yds! Now...a 130TTSX in a 300WM "seems" like a good load for antelope/Mule deer to me? ha what makes it a dog turd?

Rifle was a gift, just an opportunity to get it "bloody", ha. I used my very first 300WM (around '97) on an antelope doe, just to get it bloody too. It was back when the 180NBT was still soft. It really messed her up. I later shot a Mule deer around 75yds and same thing. I then went to the Barnes 180XBT and been a fan ever since, of some iteration of Barnes. I used the 200 NAB in a 300 RUM I set up for long range for my Marine son-in-law "welcome home gift" in 2006. He put a 6.5/20 Huskemaw on it and took a big cow a tad over 440yds. I like the 175 LRX lately, but it still seems "overgunned" for an antelope, even if I don't eat the goaty tasting devils! Whew! lol