Your "perfect" antelope gun

Tagged for interest. Planning on a 2019 hunt in Wyoming. And right now I am thinking it will be a T3 in .25-06 or 6.5 x 55. I do have a T3 in .243 as well, but had not thought about it until reading the REAL LIFE experiences on here. I guess it will come down to which one calls my name after winning the accuracy contest..............(which means the Swede may just prevail..........) ;)

Doug
 
My first hunt with archery for antelope caught me out in the open, and as steaks are more important than braggin' rights, the bow was set aside and the antelope harvested with my back up firearm at a distance of 150 yards; a 7MM STW. Why? Because it is the flattest shooting, most accurate firearm I own and I have supreme confidence in the rifle, having taken numerous big game animals from deer to elk with it over the previous 11 years. Did a fine job!

I built a 250 AI on a Remington 700 CDL LH for antelope hunting after that, but have not had a chance to hunt them again since. I also have a Browning XBolt All Weather LH in 6.5 Creedmoor and a Sako 85 Hunter LH in 6.5x55, either of which would perform admirably on antelope.
 
I have used my Sako AV 25-06 with Leupold 3.5-10X and 100 grain Nosler AB handloads at 3400 fps. Worked as expected.

Not many people like the meat because they don't know how to keep the stinky hair off the meat when they dress and skin, that is essential! And they over cook it, which turns it almost inedible. Antelope meat is wonderful. But you do have to know how to handle it.
 
If I was going this fall it would be my Tikka 6.5 PRC, shooting 143gr ELDX @ 2950 fps. This load does great in the wind. Rifle is topped with a Leupold Vx5 3-15x44 with the ZL2 turret. Great open country setup
 
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?
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Both my son and I hunt antelope with the 240 weatherby. Nosler 85 gr. partition and 90 gr. accubond kills them DRT. My 240 weatherby is custom with a 27" barrel that drives a 90 gr. at 3,625 fps.
 
Longwalker said:
I have used my Sako AV 25-06 with Leupold 3.5-10X and 100 grain Nosler AB handloads at 3400 fps. Worked as expected.

Not many people like the meat because they don't know how to keep the stinky hair off the meat when they dress and skin, that is essential! And they over cook it, which turns it almost inedible. Antelope meat is wonderful. But you do have to know how to handle it.
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Perfect rifle and good advice on Pronghorn meat.
 
I don't know about best and never believed in overkill but what I have used over the years has been 243, 270 wcf, 270 wsm, 7mm rem mag. and even a 30-30. Many good choices out there.

Shoot what you like, feel comfortable and confident with..I think the old saying still applies here - shoot what you shoot best.
 
GMC403 said:
I don’t usually shoot at game much past 300y, so if I was fortunate enough to have a chance at an Antelope hunt I’d likely give my 257 bob the nod.

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As to my “Perfect” Antelope rifle, it would be an M70 Extreme Weather in 264wm with a Leupold 4.5-14x40.
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GMC403 That is one nice rifle there.
Let me know when it goes up for sale.

I would think anything in a 257 to 270 range would work quite well.
My choice would be my 270 Kimber 84L.

David
 
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Doug said:
Tagged for interest. Planning on a 2019 hunt in Wyoming. And right now I am thinking it will be a T3 in .25-06 or 6.5 x 55. I do have a T3 in .243 as well, but had not thought about it until reading the REAL LIFE experiences on here. I guess it will come down to which one calls my name after winning the accuracy contest..............(which means the Swede may just prevail..........) ;)

Doug
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Doug where have you been?
You know the Sweed will take care of your needs.

David
 
I’ll be packing my kimber select grade, .243 with a 80 ttsx at 3400+ when I pull a rifle tag. So far I’ve only ever shot them with archery gear.
 
Spring for a 6 Dasher or one of its variants...getting a rep as a top performer out to 1000 yds.
 
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I would probably use my 6.5X47. Very accurate, low recoil and with a 130 gr Berger carries 1820 fps out to 750 yds. JEC I can't see a 6 Dasher having enough speed or energy to harvest game at 1000 yds. Correct me if I am wrong. Paper punching at 1000 yds I am sure it is good.
 
Beemn ....I was thinking of the “antelope” only scenario...they are not very thick skinned. I suspect the only thousand yard antelopes will be the ones that aren’t fussy about hunters running out a few wind flags anyways:)
 
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