I am certainly not an expert on antelope rifles, but I have done a bit of antelope hunting in Wyoming and my choice of caliber was 270 Winchester. It performed exceptionally well shot flat with one shot kills in various ranges. I use it as my mule deer rifle as well. It’s not sexy, but I have total faith in the round.
Help, I need a new pronghorn rifle! (Update)
- Thread starter BobT1105
- Start date
Charlie Bob
Well-known member
I get it and do the same thing , as far as using a project such as this to occupy my mind .No story telling involved and I don’t believe I ever said I didn’t find a load that works. The only rifles mentioned I didn’t shoot were the Sauer and the current Ruger. The rest of the rifles mentioned are adequate, some are very good accuracy wise. The current criteria are light weight and suppressor compatible. The suppressor because my hearing is already shot and I don’t want to make it worse. The light weight requirement is because I no longer have the strength to carry around a heavy rifle, medical issues have cost me 30 pounds or so of muscle mass. I would like to go on one last pronghorn hunt and be able to truly enjoy it without struggling to carry my stuff. As it stands now, I’ll probably have to make a couple of trips to pack one out. Any of the guns I have fired would be good enough to kill a buck out to 400 yards, my absolute max shooting distance on game. But I like to squeeze every last bit of accuracy out of a rifle that I can get. I gives me a lot of confidence in my equipment. As anyone who’s ever hunted much should know, the more confidence you have the better when it’s time to pull the trigger.
Just as an aside, I was messing with the Ruger last night and I ran several pieces of new Starline brass through it and it ejected them all. The bolt was still balky but I located a few small burrs on the cam surfaces that are probably contributing to that. I’m thinking I’m going to load up some ammo and give a try. I’ll still probably get another rifle though
I also understand offing rifles and buying new ones , for whatever reasons justified the purchase, lol
Really , I sold a Kimber Pro Blak .280 just because it felt “not right” . The same with a Savage 28 Nosler , it shot lights out , after I found the right load , but I didn’t like the way the bolt sounded, had to go .
Good luck with your search , but buy a Seekins , you will thank me later , or not , but at least you will have Pronghorn rifle , so WIN !
mevertsen
Well-known member
I was thinking of this.
I've killed deer, elk and antelope with a single muzzle loader.
Deer, antelope and sheep with a single. 30-06.
Hunted deer and antelope with the same recurve, and one compound once for deer.
My .30-30 is primarily carried for lions.
After reading the OP, I was thinking the thread was a joke.
After seeing the OP's last pic of his rack of rifles, each with a special purpose, it seems more of a humble brag thread to me.
Point Creep
Well-known member
Who humble brags about a stack of lemon rifles or not being able to tweak them into high gear?
Charlie Bob
Well-known member
Dammit ! Now I want a new Pronghorn rifle ...what should I get ?
we need to know your budget so we can ignore it an offer suggestions wildly outside of it.
Wes Mantooth
Well-known member
The custom Moose-Knuckler is in the mail.....
New here?
I mean, comparatively.
Charlie Bob
Well-known member
If I could find a really sexy rifle that shoots lights out for under $2000 I'd be a fool not to pull the trigger , right ?
Hang on , I have to go break my piggy bank , see where I'm at , but I'm close ....
it may be a little outside of your price range, but if you saved 43 avacado toasts & 72 starbucks, you'd be in Rigby territory.
Charlie Bob
Well-known member
Have you actually tried to live without avocado toast ? Whats the point in living then?
TradeGun.62
Active member
$3500 for a factory rifle? Tough sell there…
ovis2
Well-known member
Well, I got a Christensen Ridgeline FFT in the 6.5 PRC this past summer, went through the suggested break-in protocols (PITA). Maybe a couple of tight cycles with the first couple of shots (also Normas), but no problems since. I am currently shooting factory load (Hornady) but will work up some handload loads this year. Shoots just fine. An antelope at a hair under 300 yards and a cow elk at about 100 yards. Freezer full for the season.
BobT1105
Active member
I had to run a reamer in mine, since I was going to rent one anyway I went ahead and got the Alex Wheeler AW2 design. I sold the gun to the shop owner where I was working at the time, with full disclosure of course, and he’s happy with it as far as I know.
Caseknife
Well-known member
I think I am in the process of rebarreling a rifle that could be good for antelope, just need to get drawn to try it out. 127HHT out of a 20" barrel hopefully at 3200fps.
Kimber7man
Well-known member
All of my pronghorn have been slayed with a 6.5mm of some sort or the other, so that's what I'd recommend:
.260 Rem
6.5GAP4S
6.5 PRC
130 VLD, 136 scenar, 140 elite hunter. They all have worked, ranges mostly 230-330 yards.
.260 Rem
6.5GAP4S
6.5 PRC
130 VLD, 136 scenar, 140 elite hunter. They all have worked, ranges mostly 230-330 yards.
