BrentD
Well-known member
.38-55 or .30-30 for those more inclined towards modern cartridges.
Help, I need a new pronghorn rifle!
- Thread starter BobT1105
- Start date
BrentD
Well-known member
Hell we can work with that. $2k will buy some sexy for sure.
Go to Eurooptic and buy a Tikka t3x Lite in stainless or blued in the cartridge of your choice. Take it out of the box, mount a scope, add ammo, and go kill stuff. Pretty simple, really.
Sportsmatch, UM, or Leupold Backcountry for rings/bases. Trow on a SWFA scope and you’ll have a bombproof system.
Sportsmatch, UM, or Leupold Backcountry for rings/bases. Trow on a SWFA scope and you’ll have a bombproof system.
RuRu12
Active member
I love the .257 Wby Mag as a Pronghorn cartridge. I have two rifles chambered in it. One is a Remington 700 SPS Stainless in a Bell & Carlson stock. The other is a Weatherby Vanguard Kings Camo version. The Vanguard has a 26" spiral fluted barrel that is threaded and came with their radial brake. This rifle absolutely loves the Wby factory ammo loaded with the 92gr Hammer bullet. It routinely groups around half an inch with that load. I have tried a couple of other factory loads from Wby and all of them are consistently sub MOA. The Remington is equally accurate, but it is much pickier about the load. I shoot my own handload with a 117 gr Berger VLD sitting on a very near max charge of Retumbo. This rifle is not threaded. I recently purchased a Nosler suppressor so have been considering having the Remington threaded.
I really think .257 Wby Mag is a perfect cartridge for Pronghorn. If you still have your Vanguard I believe I would put some time into finding a load it shoots well. If you can't get satisfactory accuracy I wouldn't hesitate to send it to Weatherby Customer Service.
Best of luck in your search for the perfect Pronghorn rifle.
I really think .257 Wby Mag is a perfect cartridge for Pronghorn. If you still have your Vanguard I believe I would put some time into finding a load it shoots well. If you can't get satisfactory accuracy I wouldn't hesitate to send it to Weatherby Customer Service.
Best of luck in your search for the perfect Pronghorn rifle.
BobT1105
Member
The Vanguard meets the sub moa accuracy guarantee. I have shot a few groups that slid in under an inch. I’m sure if I took the time I could find a great load for it. It’s a cartridge that I’ll likely revisit at some point l don’t know how it would do in a 22” barrel though and I really hate to cut it off.
Caseknife
Well-known member
Probably lose 25-40 fps per inch removed, got lots to work with in the 257 Bee.
1100RemingtonMan
Well-known member
Just look for a Winchester Model 70 standard weight or Remington 700 BDL from around 1980 give or take 5 years. Pick what ever caliber you want Antelope .243 Win to 25-06 are perfect.
BobT1105
Member
Well, I took the Ruger out to the range today and put 10 rounds through it. I started at 25 yards, the first shot clipped the bottom of the target left of center. I adjusted the scope and fired a 3 round group. The first group looked okay so I moved over to the 100 yard bench. The first three rounds landed a few inches high and just left of center. I made a scope adjustment and fired 3 more rounds, the second 3 were also pretty close together. The ammo was some that I had loaded for another rifle, but still shot right at MOA. The feeding and extraction were flawless after a little deburring and a light coat of grease on the bolt lugs. While I still don’t think I should have to work on a new gun, this one seems like it’s going to be a keeper. I’ll get some targets posted in the next day or two.
The top target is my initial sight in at 25 yards on the left edge of the target is my first shot,shots 2,3 and 4 are on the dot. The bottom target, far right group is shots 5-7 at 100 yards. For whatever reason the targets are displayed sideways, the right side of both targets is actually the top, I just couldn’t manage to rotate them. The center group is shots 8-10, the orange stick ons are 2” diameter. The left hand group is my .308 and the outlier is my fault, normally the shots would be touching. There was a young guy on the next bench over that fired a 6.5 Creedmoor with a brake just as I broke my shot.
For the first 10 shots from a new, inexpensive rifle, I’m pretty happy. Many thanks to those of you that encouraged me to shoot this one!
The top target is my initial sight in at 25 yards on the left edge of the target is my first shot,shots 2,3 and 4 are on the dot. The bottom target, far right group is shots 5-7 at 100 yards. For whatever reason the targets are displayed sideways, the right side of both targets is actually the top, I just couldn’t manage to rotate them. The center group is shots 8-10, the orange stick ons are 2” diameter. The left hand group is my .308 and the outlier is my fault, normally the shots would be touching. There was a young guy on the next bench over that fired a 6.5 Creedmoor with a brake just as I broke my shot.
For the first 10 shots from a new, inexpensive rifle, I’m pretty happy. Many thanks to those of you that encouraged me to shoot this one!
Last edited:
BobT1105
Member
The only thing about this setup that missed the mark so far is the weight, at exactly 9 pounds unloaded I’m a pound overweight. I don’t know that I can get much lighter without going to a full custom 
wvhunter304
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2023
- Messages
- 121
I have never heard of a 257 Bee.
Are you referring to weatherby?
I thought maybe it had somwthing to do with the creator of the 218 bee.
Caseknife
Well-known member
Yep, Weatherby
You've had a rough run bad extractors, sticky bolts, extraction failures, and marginal accuracy is enough to make anyone gun shy.
For pronghorn fast, 300–500 yd shots common, wind is always a factor your wishlist is spot on 8 lbs or less, 20–22" threaded barrel, under $1k bare rifle, and preferably a cartridge you already load for.
Strongest real world recommendations right now from guys who actually hunt pronghorn hard
Tikka T3x Lite or Compact Tactical) in .270 Win
6.5–7.2 lbs scoped
20" or 22.4" threaded options exist some dealers thread them, or factory on select models
Legendary sub MOA out of the box, silky action, zero drama
$750–$950 street price This is the #1 answer most serious western hunters give when asked what should I buy for antelope right now.
Ruger American Gen 2 in .270 Win
20" threaded barrel available
6.5–7 lbs
Much improved action over the Gen 1 smoother, better extraction
Sub MOA guarantee, adjustable stock, $550–$650 If your current .270 American is going back, the Gen 2 is a completely different rifle many have switched and love it.
Savage Axis II or 110 Apex Hunter XP in .270 Win
Threaded 22" barrel common
7–7.5 lbs
AccuTrigger is excellent, very consistent accuracy
Often $450–$750 with scope bare rifle cheaper Stupidly good value, especially if you just want it done.
Cartridge quick take .270 Win is still excellent for pronghorn flat, fast, plenty of punch, low recoil and a very good elk backup at moderate ranges. If you ever want a step up in wind performance, 6.5 PRC or 7mm-08 are also great in these rifles, but .270 is hard to beat for all around western use.
Bottom line Go Tikka T3x Lite in .270 Win if you can find a threaded one or have it threaded cheap & easy. If you want the absolute easiest cheapest path that still shoots lights out, Ruger American Gen 2 or Savage Axis II in .270.
For pronghorn fast, 300–500 yd shots common, wind is always a factor your wishlist is spot on 8 lbs or less, 20–22" threaded barrel, under $1k bare rifle, and preferably a cartridge you already load for.
Strongest real world recommendations right now from guys who actually hunt pronghorn hard
Tikka T3x Lite or Compact Tactical) in .270 Win
6.5–7.2 lbs scoped
20" or 22.4" threaded options exist some dealers thread them, or factory on select models
Legendary sub MOA out of the box, silky action, zero drama
$750–$950 street price This is the #1 answer most serious western hunters give when asked what should I buy for antelope right now.
Ruger American Gen 2 in .270 Win
20" threaded barrel available
6.5–7 lbs
Much improved action over the Gen 1 smoother, better extraction
Sub MOA guarantee, adjustable stock, $550–$650 If your current .270 American is going back, the Gen 2 is a completely different rifle many have switched and love it.
Savage Axis II or 110 Apex Hunter XP in .270 Win
Threaded 22" barrel common
7–7.5 lbs
AccuTrigger is excellent, very consistent accuracy
Often $450–$750 with scope bare rifle cheaper Stupidly good value, especially if you just want it done.
Cartridge quick take .270 Win is still excellent for pronghorn flat, fast, plenty of punch, low recoil and a very good elk backup at moderate ranges. If you ever want a step up in wind performance, 6.5 PRC or 7mm-08 are also great in these rifles, but .270 is hard to beat for all around western use.
Bottom line Go Tikka T3x Lite in .270 Win if you can find a threaded one or have it threaded cheap & easy. If you want the absolute easiest cheapest path that still shoots lights out, Ruger American Gen 2 or Savage Axis II in .270.
I don’t know if a lightweight rifle is necessary for antelope hunting. The majority of the antelope rifle’s hunting time is in your truck.The only thing about this setup that missed the mark so far is the weight, at exactly 9 pounds unloaded I’m a pound overweight. I don’t know that I can get much lighter without going to a full custom
BobT1105
Member
My current rifle is the Ruger American 2, I worked on it a little and shot it a few times and I think it’s going to work fine. Target posted above.
BobT1105
Member
I’m going to start doing some hiking with the rifle and my pack, increasing the weight as I’m able to. I like to hike back off the roads a couple of miles to get away from the crowds. I’ve lost around 30 pounds of muscle mass in the last couple of years so it’s a struggle. I’m not going to apply for a tag until next year so I have some time to work on it.
