Your "perfect" antelope gun

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gobigorgohome

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I was up late at night a few days ago, excited to see if I finally get drawn for antelope this year, when it finally hit me. Sure I own a couple big game rifles, but nothing I would consider "perfect" for antelope. Being fast and smaller animals, I don't want to shoot something like a 300 win mag or 7mm rem mag. So it got me thinking. If you got a once in a life time antelope tag, what's your "perfect gun"? Thinking, I would probably go 25 or 270 cal, but maybe others? That's a hard choice! 270 win? 25-06 rem? 257 weatherby mag? 250 sav ai? 280 ai? 260? I can't make my mind up!!!! What's yours?
 
If you're talking about antelope on the open plains of Southern Saskatchewan then it's hard to argue with a hot-stepper like the 257 Weatherby. A 240 Weatherby would be another good option, as would the 25-06 or 264 Winchester. Of course, there would be nothing wrong with using a 7mm Wby or Rem if you had one. Honestly, I wouldn't stress over a new rifle unless you just really wanted one. Buying a specialized rifle (or worse still - building one) for a for a once-in a lifetime hunt doesn't make a ton of sense to me unless there is no other option (ie if you're hunting Dangerous Game in Africa or big bears in Alaska).
 
I grew up on the south boundary of CFB Suffield...way flat. Flat as Sask easily ( Combine Pilot by birth myself...Shaunavon ); but real desert, Kangaroo Rats, Scorpians, Rattlesnakes ( closer to the river, of course ) & good things like that. And lots of Antelope!
Dad used a 30-30 Marlin half tube rifle as an Antelope gun for 10 years. So friend :) if you want the new gun buy it. But it's not like Goat hunting in the mountains, or Bear hunting up North (as BUM said before) where you need it.
Remember they are silly small, knockdown ain't an issue. 22 Savage, 243 Winchester and 22-250 were some of the ones frequently seen ( Dad and his brother's were a tad relaxed about caliber restrictions...gotta eat, run what you brung ).
You would be advised to have a large supply of ice at the ready though. Antelope are good eating, but shoot them cold ( standing ) and get them cold ASAP.
And good luck
 
gobigorgohome said:
I was up late at night a few days ago, excited to see if I finally get drawn for antelope this year, when it finally hit me. Sure I own a couple big game rifles, but nothing I would consider "perfect" for antelope. Being fast and smaller animals, I don't want to shoot something like a 300 win mag or 7mm rem mag. So it got me thinking. If you got a once in a life time antelope tag, what's your "perfect gun"? Thinking, I would probably go 25 or 270 cal, but maybe others? That's a hard choice! 270 win? 25-06 rem? 257 weatherby mag? 250 sav ai? 280 ai? 260? I can't make my mind up!!!! What's yours?
Click to expand...

What do you have in the safe right now?
 
A 257 Weatherby satisfies my sense of proportion and utility, and I've got a couple of them.

Having said that, much of my life is centered around long range shooting and I comfortably take shots with an STW or 300 that I wouldn't even consider with a 257 'Bee.

My luck with Sask goat tags is so terrible that I won't traumatize everyone with my tales of woe. There's no way I'd be taking less than the best horse in the stable.
 
I have friends in Montana and have hunted antelope a number of times over the last 30 yrs. I've used a 308 Norma, 7mm Rem, 280, 257 Wby, 25-06 and 6mm Rem. All work just fine. The 308 N & 7mm R are more rifle than you need but are flat shooting and with stout bullets don't destroy any more meat than smaller calibres. The best?? I would have to choose between the 25-06 and the 257 Wby. 25-06 would likely be a bit lighter but the Wby would reach a little further. One other suggestion. I have found the 100 gr Barnes TTSX to be very effective without blowing up and destroying a lot of meat (remember there isn't much on an antelope to start with). Might be the best bullet for the Wby. Hope that helps with your decision.
 
My first Antelope tag was filled with a 303 British, my last with a 375 H&H and in between a 270 Winchester.
My hunting mentor / partner at the time used a Remington pump ( mod. 141 ? ) in 35 Remington as his only hunting rifle and took some really nice Pronghorn with it.
Keep in mind that this was back in the early 1960s and Antelope were really plentiful then compared to now..
 
It's simply an excuse for a new gun..... But I currently have a savage 99 in 308, a few 3030 and a nicer 300 win mag. I've been on q search for an accurate, bolt action "in between" gun for a while now. 6mm, 270 or 25-06 preferably, but I just have found a good, older used one in a left hand configuration. My 99 is a great gun, just not accurate at all out to distance. But that should be expected for a 60+ year on gun that was built to work, not to drive tacks.
 
I have killed pronghorn with a 257wby, and a 7mmstw, but I plan on using my 1885 in 270WSM this fall. to take what will likely be my last pronghorn ever.
 
I believe I would go with a 26" barrel on a solid bolt action platform of your preferred flavour, and in .264 WM, loaded with the 140 grain Accubond... a quinessential antelope rig, but diverse enough to cover a lot of bases... really everything except the biggest and meanest... and pretty cool to boot.

My antelope pursuits are all with a bow.
 
SuperCub said:
I've owned on of those and found it quite too heavy.
Click to expand...

I have the M77-UL in .257 Roberts which is a handy little carry rifle, but the 20" pencil barrel would be a turn-off to many goat hunters... although it shoots much better than it should.
 
The last one I shot with a 6.5-284.
I like a ton of magnification for final examination of the trophy and the ability to shoot long range. And a heavier than required target bullet that is slippery in the wind.
The next one will probably be a 300mag/ 7mag with an amax or berger
And definitely attach a bipod
Good luck
 
I've only ever had three tags, one was a 7mm rem mag at about 350yds DRT, the second was a 25-06 at 125yds DRT, the third was unsuccessful.

25-06 is my go to rifle for everything smaller than moose, I have a series bias toward it.
 
I have gone back to the days of yore when people used one rifle for hunting everything.
Only one rifle now, my Ruger single shot in .303 Brit.
It will do just fine if i decide to go for an antelope, wolf, long range deer, whatever.
Cat
 
For a retirement gift hunt, my Daughter & Son In Law took me for an Antelope hunt on draw in southern Alberta. From what I have available, a Schultz & Larsen in 7x61 S&H 'got the call'. Don't know why that was my choice ;) other than it was the 7x61's 'turn'.



Most likely a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.



We did well. Mine ;) is the 'cute' one in the middle:p. Great guides, great partners and a great experience.
 
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