This past Saturday (October 10th) I had occasion to harvest a dandy Buck Antelope here in SW Montana. As near as I can figure it was my 60th Buck Antelope brought to bag!
I started Hunting Antelope in 1969 in Montana and shortly spread out to Hunting Antelope in BOTH Montana and Wyoming for many years thereafter.
I absolutely LOVE to Hunt Antelope. I think part of the reason I love it so much is to get out on the open prairie which is so different than hilly overgrown brushy can't see 100 yards country where I grew up and learned to Hunt there on the west slopes of the Cascades.
Anyway this Antelope harvest was notable to me in that it was a one shot kill at the second furthest distance I have ever taken an Antelope (460 Leica lasered yards) and that I used a Rifle I bought some years ago from my life long friend Jack from Yelm, Washington.
Jack passed away this past August (2,020) and that has left a large hole in my life. I will greatly miss Big game Hunting, Varmint Hunting and fishing in Georgetown Lake with him!
Anyway I had planned to Hunt Antelope with a different Rifle this season but after Jacks passing I dug out his old Rifle (Ruger 77 MK-II V/T with 26" barrel in caliber 25/06 with Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope) - I had on hand a batch of handloaded ammunition and last week I re-sighted it in to be 3"high at 100 yards. This due to the fact I would be Hunting very open country and was anticipating the possibility of a long shot.
That turned out to be the case and the Nosler 100 grain Ballistic Tip brought down that Buck Antelope with one shot and the Buck only dashed a hundred yards before succumbing completely - no more movement.
I have never recovered a bullet "of mine" from an Antelope in all the shooting I have done! I always try to place my bullets on broadside, non-running heart/lung shots and as close a range as possible. And up til this harvest I have never recovered one of my projectiles. So I was very surprised when the VarmintWife and I were cleaning hair off of the hanging carcass and I felt a "lump" at the rear of the Bucks shoulder.
I dug out the remains of the Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet which had completely separated from its core. The "mushroomed" copper weighed 46 grains when I later weighed it.
I was somewhat shocked at finding the bullet remains - only thing I can figger is that the bullets hit ribs on both sides of the carcass and the copper "jacket" got re-directed forward somehow to the start of the shoulder blade?
Anyway all the energy from that long shot got absorbed by the animal and his demise was complete in under 5 seconds.
This is the second Buck Antelope I have taken with this bullet/Rifle combo and both were one shot kills.
Lots of Hunters around here use the 25/06 Remington for Deer and Antelope and I can find no fault with that.
Long live the 25/06 Remington!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Nice!

Nice story VG.. Congratulations... My step daughter is using my old .25-06 this fall.. The other one is using my old .270.. No game yet but we see dozens of bucks each day, just not what they want.. That will change as the trip draws to a c;ose.. Great story!!

Very cool!

Good shooting and a fitting tribute to your pard! I would love to see a picture.

Nice story and sounds like a good hunt, congrats.

Congrats. Nice shooting

Congratulations.The thing I enjoy about antelope hunting is stalking them. I need t get back out there and hunt them again.

I have only killed two pronghorn. 130 yards and 280 yards. Both shot with 100 grain ballistic tips from a 25-06 Classic style 700. Good exits, neither buck moved more than 20 yards after the shot. I sight in 3 inches high as well.

Congrats. I love a 25-06

WyoCoyoteHunter: Keep after them!
On my last several Antelope Hunts I have used my "old reliable" Remington 700 Sendero in 270 Winchester (with Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope) to harvest my quarry.
I am sure glad I got my Antelope in the bag because the wind has turned bizarre up this way - high winds to 49 M.P.H. over the last two days and more today (and tomorrow IIRC).
I hope the winds are calmer down in your neck'o the woods (area of the high plains).
Best of luck to you and your brood.
I meant to relay in my original post that the munitions I have used in the past have always passed through the Antelope I have harvested.
I was so surprised to find that partial bullet in my creature.
I think I will look up the "velocity" of that bullet at 450 yards or so - just out of curiosity.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Prairie Dog Shooter: I would LOVE to find a Remington 700 Classic in 25/06 Remington!
My oldest VarmintSon has a Remington 700 BDL (with box magazine) in caliber 25/06 Remington. It has a Leupold 4.5x14 variable scope on it - he has taken Mule Deer, Antelope and Whitetailed Deer with it so far.
Sadly his full time job with the U.S.G.S. out on the west coast over the last 10+ years has precluded him from venturing "back home" to Hunt with the VarmintDad.
I love the looks and performance of the Remington 700 Classics and own them in 17 Remington, 221 Remington Fireball, 222 Remington (2 of these), 223 Remington and 7m/m Remington Magnum.
All of them have accuracy WELL above average IMO, IME.
I have been looking for a "deal" on a Classic in 25/06 for a LONG time now.
Enjoy yours.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Sakoluvr: Sadly I had to leave my "new" whoop-de-doo cell phone back at the truck for my Hunt. I have not figgered out how to turn the dang thing off as yet! My recently upgraded "flip-phone" I had figured out so no pictures taken prior to cleaning and then when I got back to the harvest site I decided no need for pictures just get the ice bags into the chest cavity and head for the skinning spot back home - it was hot here on opening day.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Hanco & All: Thanks for the kudos and well wishes.
I was supposed to be Hunting with another friend from Washington State (taxington!) who is a 100% disabled Viet Nam War veteran. Sadly the results of his war wounds (he has three purple hearts from that "confilict"!) have set upon him in the last couple of weeks and he has had to put off his arrival here for a Hunt to later this season.
I sure hope he can make it out for a Hunt/visit soon.
Seems to me like lots of Antelope nowadays. I have lived here in SW Montana for 23 years now and the Antelope populations here abouts are very strong now compared to when I first got here.
Having said that the populations herabouts are small compared to those in all of eastern Montana and Wyoming.
Long live Antelope Hunting - and I hope every one can get after them or get after them again in the future.
Already planning for next years Hunt.
I am headed for town today to buy a $100.00 restaurant gift certificate for my rancher friend and his family - as a show of my appreciation for their generosity to me.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have a 25-06 on a Yugo Mauser action that has been sitting in my closet, not quite finished, for the last 15 years. I am also smitten with antelope hunting, and I wanted that rifle to be my ultimate antelope rig. Life had other plans. First I was off on a deployment somewhere or other, then I got a wife with three cats, then a real job, then kid number one, and a puppy, and finally kid number two. After that it always just seemed easier to grab the 30-06 rather than finish the 25-06. But as I read this, I’m sitting in a motel in Broadus, Montana with both boys on my eldest’s first antelope hunt. He is going to use a .243 tomorrow but I think I will need to finish that 25-06 before the younger boy starts hunting antelope. Maybe I’ll get after that this winter.

Glad to hear there are more antelope over your way. I used to hunt them south of Alder, Montana back in the early nineties. I’ve seen hundreds of them at a time and they used to sell excess doe fawn tags at the Coast to Coast in Dillon, way back in the day. My brother and I sure had fun chasing them back then. Still my favorite big game animal to hunt.

Great story! My family hunted antelope last year in Wy and 4out of 6 used a 25/06 and ballistic tips! I don’t think there is a better combo for antelope! You’re right there is just something about hunting antelope.

I've been hunting Antelope for the past 25-30 years with my 25-06. Once in a while I have let my 280 Rem. play, but the majority has been the 25-06. My wife and I have taken around 125 Pronghorns in this time. We usually draw 4-6 tags per year on a private lease in WY, and hunt CO also when we draw tags.

My wife and I both use our Ruger Express 25-06s (yes, they made a very few in this caliber) and I also use my Dakota Classic Deluxe in 25-06. She only uses her Ruger Express 25-06. We both use Win. 115 gr. Ballistic Silvertips. We too have never recovered any bullets. This round does massive damage to the internal organs, and usually leaves a large exit hole. Once in a while, the entrance hole was larger than the exit hole.

Last year, I shot my best Antelope here in Colorado with the aforementioned Dakota rifle and 115 gr. round. He was exactly 16" on both horns, officially measured by my taxidermist, after a drying process.

We love the meat, we love hunting them, and we both love the 25-06 for this purpose! PERFECT round for this 80-120 lb. animal. We also use this round for Deer hunting with no problems. I have never used it on Elk, but I have two female friends who use it successfully on Elk. One weighs 90 lbs. and the other 100 lbs., and this is about all of the recoil they are comfortable with. Works for them. Wife and I prefer and use 338 & 358 calibers for our Elk hunting. Works for us.

LOVE the 25-06!

Congrats on your success!!

BCinKS: I am so happy I decided to post/bring this subject up! I have been debating for a few years now if i should "move up" in weight from the 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips to the 115 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. If you or any of your family have used the heavier Ballistic Tips please advise. Yeah I was lonely this Antelope Hunt - no VarmintFamily along and my friend having to "back out" at the last minute.
The "draw" for me to Hunt Antelope has been strong and enduring for 51+ years now - I share that with you and your family.
Keep after'em.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Surefire7: Wow on your record of harvests! Good for you. My family also enjoys properly cared for Antelope meat and summer sausage etc.
In fact two of my four VarmintChildren have already put in orders for this Antelopes trimmings to be made into summer sausage and pepper sticks.
I should look into getting an extra tag next year as the 'demand" for game meat keeps getting stronger each year from the VarmintChildren.
And the VarmintWife is a bit testy in that I have not gotten and Elk in some time now!
She loves Elk liver and Elk steaks. My excuse is I have been unable to hike into our high country Elk camp for the last three years do to a failing knee and then an artificial knee being implanted. Maybe this year I'll get some fresh Elk meat for the clan?
That indeed is a TROPHY Antelope you got there in Colorado.
Congratulations on that accomplishment. In this day and age that is a milestone.
My Buck this year was right at 13 1/2" - My best over the years was 15 3/4" (taken in the Powder River country of eastern Montana 1970'ish).
Enjoy your future Hunts with those classy 25/06's!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have a mint classic model 70 sporter in a 25-06 very limited run Winchester did.. I need to take my buddy up on a deer hunt in Idaho and drag the 25/06 along.

I've used my Ruger R77 25-06 on about 50 deer and antelope. Love the cartridge. Used Speer 120 Grand Slam.RL22.

I’ve killed a rail cars worth of deer an antelope with my 25-06. A couple elk too. It’s very capable.

79S,

Yes indeed, do 'drag' that 25-06 along on your buddies deer hunt. DRT if you hit 'em right.

I too 'had' a Winchester SG in 25-06 until a week ago. It was a beautiful rifle with dark wood and lots of dark contrast grain, plus was super accurate. It's in like-new condition and probably should not have sold it. I sold it to my hunting buddy who is trying to build a battery of American/African rifles. I've taken him to Africa twice, and he has shot about (6) PG and one Buffalo there.

He's never hunted America! I encouraged him to apply for Antelope tags and after three years, he finally drew two tags in WY. He needed a Pronghorn caliber, so I sold him my Win. Super Grade 25-06. I hated to see her go, but I still have my Dakota and (3) Ruger Express rifles, all in 25-06.

He took his first NA animal last week, a doe Antelope. We are now waiting for the 40-60 mph winds to die down so we can return up there for his second tag before the season ends in his unit the end of Oct. He is so happy! A new hunter is born...

VG, nice story and great tribute to your buddy Jack.

Get that new knee limbered up and get back after the elk!

Regards,
Bob.

Surefire7: Maybe some good news - the wind here in SW Montana HAS STOPPED!
I mean it has been blowing like crazy for the last week hereabouts.
But with the lack of wind the weather people say rain is coming - so get in some field time ASAP as "gumbo" may be in the near future.
Best of luck to you all - and I hope that 25/06 gets back in your gun rack some day.
With all the advice I am getting I think I will jump up about 15 or 20 grains in bullet weight.
When I originally set this Rifle up after I bought it from my friend I intended it for long range Rock Chucks and Coyotes mostly thus the 100 grain bullets - I can still accomplish that with the heavier bullets I'm sure.
I am pain free in that knee it is just a bit weaker than the other knee and I tend to tilt/falter under load.
I do know people with horses though and they have packed out Elk for us in the past.
I personally have introduced at least 10 - 12 Hunters to their first Antelope Hunts and harvests.
Long live the American Antelope (Pronghorn).
Headed out scouting (Deer & Elk open soon) this afternoon - more later.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Well sir, those are so difficult to find. No one wants to sell them. I lusted after one for years and could not find any available anywhere. So I had to cheat and build one!

Started with a beat up 270 ADL I found in a pawn shop. Stock scratched, barrel blue rubbed off, but the action was not only pristine, it has a smooth bolt knob and a bolt locking safety. $200 cash out the door.
Purchased a take off, long action, Remington Classic stock off of the classified. Pristine condition except, the inletting for the bottom metal was tilted. Tightening down the action bolts would bend the floor plate. Nothing that a little steel bed wouldn't fix. Next I sent the action to Pac-Nor for a match grade 25-06 barrel contoured to match the factory classic barrel. Put it all together, with the action steel bedded out to two inches of the barrel shank, free floated the remaining length of the stock. Presto! Classic 700 in 25-06!

All the pieces ready to assemble.

The fake Classic 25-06 with the 25-06 Sendero



Sight in target.



Sometimes you just have make it your self.

VarmintGuy,

Good on you for introducing so many new hunters to our ranks!

Thanks for the tip on the wind. I sure hope you're right and the wind stops down here soon for his sake.

The 25-06 is such a great dual purpose round. Anything from Prairie Dogs & Coyotes, to Antelope & Deer, and for some people, even Elk. I tend to think of it as a varmint to deer round. I have bigger rifles for Elk & Moose.

I think your idea of 115-120 gr. bullets is a good one. I started out using 120s years ago, and then switched to 115gr. Win. Silvertips. Have never left them. They are devastating on Pronghorns!

Good luck on your hunt and take care of that knee.

Prairie dog shooter: Wow what a cool project. And it turned out so wonderfully (shoots great & looks great!).
And that 25/06 Model 700 Sendero makes me swoon as well!
I have a similar vintage 700 Sendero in 270 Winchester and it is just a stunning performer for an all factory Rifle (with Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope).
And great find there at the pawn shop to get you started on that project.
Thanks for the info/incites.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Surefire: I know a couple of fellows who use stout bullets in their 25/06 Rifles to Hunt elk with here in Montana.
I have never tried this myself.
A few years back up in the Missouri Breaks I was along on an Elk Hunt with my lucky tag drawing Hunting partner - I was spotting over his shoulder when he put two quick shots in the heart lung area of a big 6 point Bull Elk!
The second shot was probably not even needed?
Yeah the 25/06 Remington does a lot of things well.
This will be a good project for the coming winter - figgering out a heavier bullet that shoots well in my Ruger 77 V/T.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Nice to hear of the success with the .25-06... It has been a while since I shot anything with my .25-06.. I built it as a long range coyote rifle, an adl rebarreled to 25-06 with a 27 inch Douglas air gauge premium barrel... I have shot many antelope, and whitetails with it and lots of coyotes, and a few mule deer.. For many years it was one of my three favorite calibers.. .22-250, .25-06 and 300wm.. Lately my 270 built similar to the 25-06 has edged it out for the number two position..
This fall my two step daughters were here for 10 days for their moms birthday and antelope.. When they arrived I had the 6mm factory, the .25-06 and the .270 sighted in and ready to go.. Before hunting, we went to a local gravel pit and set up a few plastic bottles filled with colored water and backed off to 200 yards.. I had them rest over the hood of the Tundra, and try what ever rifle they wanted.. No one picked the 6mm!! Surprised me!! The oldest one picked up the .270 with a 4-12 on it and wanted to try it.. two shot two bottles.. The youngest wanted to try the .25-06 .. It has a 12x leupold with dots from 200 to 600 yards.. Two shots two bottles... Great start... The youngest daughters grandson want to try a shot from the .25-06.. two shots two bottles... His first time ever with a centerfire rifles!! On the hunt the gal with the .270 dropped her buck with one shot from about 140 yards... She has shot a few deer in Mi. the youngest had never shot any big game but is an excellent rifle shot.. She dropped her buck with a 100 grain Sierra flat base.. The 270 had a 140 gr. Sierra HPBT.. Great shooting by two beginners...
My late wife and I have shot well over 250 antelope.. Her favorite rifle came to be a 7mm RM with a custom stock and barrel.. I have shot them with every thing from a .22lr through 375 H & H and .45-70.. The .25-06 is a good choice.. I have used 100 gr. BTBT, 115 gr. BTBT, 100 grain Sierra FB
The old 100 gr. FB is super accurate in all of my .25-06 s as well as the .257 Wea. when I had those.. Aside from deer, they are my favorite big game animal.. They make the best jerky of all wild game...

Varmint guy, I use 115 b-tips in mine and they all used 100 you couldn’t tell a bit of difference in the kills. I’ve also used 100 grain Sierras and 117 Sierras with great results. Like I said before the 25/06 is just a great western cartridge!

VG - I enjoyed the heck out of your hunt story! The 25-06 is a terrific cartridge for antelope & deer. I typically use the 115 gr version of the Ballistic Tip with mine.

Congratulations on a quick kill at an impressive distance. You did well.

Regards, Guy

Cascade: That does it - I am going to the 115 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip for next years Antelope, and Coyote Hunting as well as maybe a Whitetail (the ranch I have Hunted for Whitetails the last MANY years is in "transition" and I may not be able to Hunt that flat, very open, Whitetail heaven anymore).
Thanks all for the kind words.
Everyone have a great season and stay safe.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

BCinKS: Thanks for your input as well.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Sounds like you had a memorable hunt with extra meaning using a special rifle from a good friend. Congrats.

RedRabbit: Yes indeed the Rifle is special to me.
About 12 years ago I took my friend Jack on a Whitetailed Deer Hunt here in SW Montana. He was using this then brand new Ruger 77 V/T in 25/06.
I put him on a stand and moved off a quarter mile to my open country look out point.
Soon I heard a single shot and decided to head back and see what Jack had going.
He had shot a dandy 10 point Whitetail (four by four plus eyeguards) and was just starting to "clean" it.
I immediately noticed that Jack had (for some reason) slit open the Bucks throat "to bleed it" - not a drop of blood had come out of that slit!
The Buck had bled out internally so completely that the neck slitting was useless!
THEN.... Jack says to me "that is such a dandy Buck I am going to get it mounted".
Well replacing that cape cost him an additional $100.00 in taxidermy fees.
Lesson learned - the 25/06 with proper bullets and bullet placement will forego the need to "slit the throat" of Deer/Antelope - they will be bled out, virtually completely, already.
I may use the Rifle again this coming weekend for the opener of the Deer/Elk season - I will have to bring along an Elk Rifle also as the country I will be Hunting has both Deer and Elk opportunities.
We'll see.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I slit the neck one or twice but never saw an need to. I'd open a deer and gut cavity is generally full of blood unless it was a neck shot or one time I shot one just above the bugger! Neither shot put's much blood into the chest cavity. Have a 25-06 I've killed a lot of deer with and I found a definate difference in bullet's. With 100gr Hornady interlock's, get into a little meat and damage will be huge but deer drop right there. Switched to 117ge Hornady interlock and noticeably lessened damage but still plenty with a bad shot But 90% of the deer I shot with it generally walk off a few yards and lie down dead. I recall one, I was with a rancher friend and shot one just as it jumped a fence. Told him it was dead and he said BS, it ran off. Walked over and about 20yds away the deer was on the ground dead. Lighten the bullet and increase the damage and speed up the death, But also hit the central nervous system with either the light bullet or the heavy bullet and death is instantaneous! Send a 100gr bullet through a shoulder and you'll likely ruin both shoulder's. Send the 117gr bullet the same way and your gonna lose a lot of meat, but not as much.

My 25 06 Ruger #1 shoots lights out with the 117 Sierra and is deadly on deer and antelope, damages lots of meat. If hit in the shoulders and it exits you lose both shoulders. Not much left on those little animals. This year , just for fun I shot my Savage 99 in 300 Savage, I loaded up a few 125 Gr Nosler BT's with a mild charge of Varget at about 2800 FPS. This load proved to be very accurate in the old 99, so much so I was amazed, 99's don't shoot like that. I finally got to about 100 yards and put the shot a little far back clipping the lungs and top of liver. The buck traveled about 25 yard and fell over dead, There was very little blood shot meat This was one of the best hunts I've had on Antelope, and plan on doing it again next year in WY. FUN TIMES! BTW i don't "dial" the old steel tube 4X scope! I've been thinking of getting the 303 out and shooting some cast bullets, with a little practice who knows. Just a thought for now. I still love the 25 06 and the 270 Win, can't be beat for the long shots in the wind,

VG, heck of a report you did. Must of been a great hunt. You asked about a heavier bullet and I see you're going to load some 115gr BT's. I have another one if you're interested. Hornady Interlock 120gr HP, 50.7gr H4831.
This load has been devastating on Pronghorn and mule deer. Again, congrats on your hunt.

I've got a box of 120gr Hornady HP's and have never been excited to try them. Problem is if the jacket is to light you run the risk of blowing up the bullet. If the jacket is fine then you run the risk of the HP closing up and shooting like a solid. Shot some Sierra HP's years ago into some Stacked newspaper and every one of them closed up the HP and bent the bullet. Something I did with some HP handgun bulets was fill the hp with clay. Might work on a rifle bullet to ensure it opens. Winchester put the plastic tip in their monolithic bullet just for that reason.

I love the 120 Hornady HP, and have great success with it for many years in a 257AI. Here’s what a Hornady rep said about that bullet in an email, years ago:


“
The 120 gr hollow point in the .257 was made for heaver game like mule deer and elk. It has a base of .040" and a side wall of .028" and the 117 gr BTSP has a base of .035" and a wall thickness of .021" . But they both are .011" on the nose section so that the bullets can open reliably. You will see more retained weight with the 120 gr bullet.”

Southtexas: Thank you for that insight and experience.
I have put the Hornady 120 grain on my "try list".
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy