I'm hunting antelope this fall in Wyoming, and want to buy a rifle that best fits this hunt. The criteria is simple: what's the best caliber and rifle for this hunt - cost is not an issue, but it must be a FACTORY-PRODUCED rifle. Thanks for your help.
Posts: 1587 | Location: Eleanor, West Virginia (USA) | Registered: 20 April 2002
If cost was not a concern (?) I, myself, would buy a Dakota model 10 (single shot)in 25-06. I'd load up with some 115 gr ballistic tips at 3000-3100 fps or so and call it a perfect antelope/open country deer rifle. My second choice (although nearly as enticing to my taste) would be the same rifle in a 6mm Rem loaded with a decent 100gr bullet. Now if I only had the $4,000...
Keep it simple, Frank. Just get you a good 270. It's as standard as vanilla ice cream and nothing the 270 does any better at than deer and antelope size game. It will hold it's own against any caliber anyone can dream up.
It will also hold it's retail value better and give you fewer headaches in the long run.
Posts: 19677 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 May 2002
Frank, Pecos has my blessing, its hard to beat a 270. Of course their are many many other cartridges out there that you cant go wrong with. I have serious rifles and I have special interest rifles(some of which are serious for other reasons), the 270winchester is the smallest cartridge with the desirable qualities I catagorize as a "serious rifle".
Posts: 2045 | Location: West most midwestern town. | Registered: 13 June 2001
I think we all drowl over the Dakota model 10! They are just a lovely rifle. You said cost was no object, but if you do get sticker shock when you look at the Dakota, go with a Ruger #1 in 25/06. Loaded with 120 Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps and you'll be ready for the 'lopes. If you are not walking much, consider the heavy barrel version and it can double as a long range varmiter with 87 grainers.
BigBullet
Posts: 1224 | Location: Lorraine, NY New York's little piece of frozen tundra | Registered: 05 July 2003
I can't think of anything better than a .257 Weatherby with 100-gr at 3600-3700. It's like shooting .22-250 only bigger. Normally any 7x57, .270, .25-06, .243, 7Mag, etc. will be fine, probably a .220 swift or .22-250, but they're not legal in Wyoming.
Posts: 2788 | Location: gallatin, mo usa | Registered: 10 March 2001
I think anything from the .260.120gr & up. I'm not a .270 fan but is probably about perfect as an antelope rifle w/ 130gr bullets. My antelope rig, a Ruger #1S in 7mm Dakota, just beacause it is so flat shooting w/ any good 150gr bullet @ 3400fps.
Posts: 7752 | Location: kalif.,usa | Registered: 08 March 2001
25-06 or 264WM would be hard to beat. Personally I use my Rem700 classic in 250Savage with 100gr BT's @2900fps and have never wished I had more gun, velocity, or tougher bullet. Hit them in the boiler room with just about anything and you'll get your goat.
Posts: 76 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: 06 July 2002
I'm with Big Bullet, Ruger #1 in 25-'06. If not, go with 264 WM. You've got flat shooting, good bullet weight and sectional density and a sweet varmint rig for wacking prairie poodles when your antelope is in the freezer. The single shot will make you shoot better.
Some time ago I read about a guy who swears by the 7mm Mag or .300 Win Mag with slightly heavier bullets for antelope hunting. WAY too much, I'm thinking. However, his justification was that he was always hunting for horns and wanted something that would drop them in their tracks even if he had to take a Texas heart shot or quartering rear shot. He also wanted something that he could shoot at 500 yards and have retained energy. Can't really argue with that, but don't think its necessary.
.25-06 at most. You can easily drop an antelope with a .243, .257, etc. A buck only weighs around 85 pounds, you don't want to cut the darn thing in half! I have shot several with my .243 loaded with 85 grain Barnes X, and have found that does more than a sufficient job (goes clean through). I have seen many shot with larger calibers, just ruins a lot of good antelope. Besides, if you want to get it mounted and don't make that "perfect" shot, a larger caliber tends to ruin a goats thin skin and blows a lot of hair off the hide.- As far as guns go...I have a Ruger #1, and it rules. Makes you take that extra second, considering you only have one in the pipe. I would at least think about putting the rest of your hard earned cash into a good scope, a spotting scope, and some binos for your hunt.
Thanks for all the great posts ........ so far, all I have decided on is that I'll top the rifle with a Burris, Nikon or Leupold 4X12 power scope. Still thinking about which rifle, but the .25-06, .240 Weatherby or .257 Weatherby are in high contention for the caliber, in the above order.
Posts: 1587 | Location: Eleanor, West Virginia (USA) | Registered: 20 April 2002
Check out the Simmons Whitetail Expedition scopes also. They are a little less cash but some people swear they are as good as most scopes for twice the cost. I dont have one yet but I think Ill try one soon hopefully.
Antelope, Wyoming?? Got it, ..got three answers for you: -pre64 M70 in .264, or .270 Winchester; -new classic M70 in .25-06. You said money wasn't a problem, so go for the first two. All will do the job, if you do your part.
Posts: 594 | Location: MT. | Registered: 05 June 2003
My sign on name should give it away, but the 257wby is hard to beat. The ammo is expensive, but if you reload this should not be an issue. This makes a wonderful deer rifle, recoil is quite tame. A 100 Nosler partition at 3600fps is fast and more than adequate. Good luck on your hunt.
Since others have already recommended the Dakota single shot how about a Blaser R93 in 257 Weatherby Magnum wearing a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x? Good hunting!
