Be curious as to which rifle you would take if you were going antelope hunting in the next week or so.

Choices:

A) I have a Browning A-bolt 22-250 with a Leupold 3-9x VarX III scope shooting 55 grain bullets.

B) Ruger M-77 300 WinMag with a Nikon Monarch 4-12x scope shooting either 180 grain Nosler partitions or 180 grain Nosler ballistic tips.

I've shot prairie dogs in the same country now for about 4 years with the 22-250 with confirmed kills out to about 500 yards. I don't think the antelope with be that far but would expect shots to be from say 100 yrds to 400 or so.

I have no problem shooting either gun with sub 1" groups on both at 100 yrds. So which would you choose? On a side note, I really wish I had my new scope ready to go on the ole reliable 243. I've had the scope for about 2 years now but have yet had time to make it to the range and get it primed up. Sure would come in handy next week because it would be the one going!

Thanks,

22-250 is to small imho and probably isn't even legal in some states. That would narrow your choices.

Loboga,

The 22-250 is a legal cartridge in the state of Oklahoma, which is where the hunt will take place. The only 'big' animal taken with it was a white-tailed doe about 75 yards out last fall. One shot throught the heart about a 20 yard mad dash, a flip through the air and 3 kicks of her hind legs and the rest was history.

I know some people here in MT who have used the 22-250 on antelope at short range. I wouldn't reccomend it at long range, where penetration may become an issue. I'd take the 300 with 150 or 165 grain bullets.

graybird
I have shot a few antelope and seen several others shot. I have used a 308, 7MM Mag, a 300 WBY Mag, and a 30 Herret [pistol].
A 243 works as good as any of them, but I think the 22/250 is too light.
Take the 300.

The .300 is way more than you need. Antelope have thin skin and light bones. They are also pretty small-- a buck won't weigh much more than 100 lb.s on the hoof. I haven't used that small a cartridge on them myself, but have hunted with people who have and have been successful. Have fun! they're a blast to hunt!

22-250 wins hands down.
I shot 5 deer with 22-250 loaded with 53gr Barnes TSX bullets last year. Never recovered a bullet. Shot ranges from 40-300 yards.

When in doubt, go bigger!

I wouldn't give it another thought. But then again my roe deer (50 lbs european deer species) rifle was a 9.3x62 with 285 grs roundnose bullets.

Frans

Here are my thoughts:

I would NOT use Ballistic Tips for pronghorn, at least not if you want to salvage the cape.

I would NOT use the 22-250, because I think it's too light. It's a varmint cartridge, not any sort of big game cartridge, and those light bullets drift too much to suit me, especially in typically breezy antelope country.

I WOULD use your 300 Win. Mag., but I would load it with a good premium 180 gr. bullet, especially the Nosler Partition, which has a high BC in its own right of .474, so it shoots flat, does very well in the wind, and does minimal damage to the meat and cape. The last pronghorn I took in NM a couple of years ago was with my standard 300 Win. Mag./180 Nosler Partition load at 3050 fps., and zeroed for 250 yds. I shot my goat at 275 yds. and he went down instantly, with no more damage done than if I would have used a 270 Win. with good, premium bullets.

In fact, the last goat I took in Montana was with a 270 Win. loaded with 130 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps. The bullet blew up on the entrance side, ruined the cape, and I had to buy a replacement from a taxidermist in Nevada. I will NEVER use those blinking Ballistic Tips for anything ever again except for varmints, and I wouldn't care how well they grouped out of my rifle. Sometimes, accuracy isn't everything, especially if it gets in the way of terminal performance. Besides, most good rifles will shoot Partitions or Accu Bonds well under one MOA anyway, and sometimes a good deal less than that. Plenty good in any event.....

AD

IMO the ideal pronghorn caliber is the .257 roberts.....and that's not a choice.

Of the two mentioned, personally, I wouldn't hesitate to use the .22-250

I second NOT using Nosler BT's. I had too many experiences with them basically destroying meat. But I will say they are pretty spectacular in the shock and awe camp.

The 53 gr Barnes TSX's did a great job on deer and did not cause mass destruction.

Graybird: I have harvested Antelope with the 22-250. I have also harvested them with 220 Swifts and I have seen NUMEROUS other Hunters harvest Antelope cleanly with 223 Remingtons, 22-250's and 220 Swifts!
If using one of the 22 Centerfires on Antelope be sure to be patient and wait for a clean shot at the heart/lung area (NOT THE SHOULDER!) and squeeze your trigger.
You WILL have your Antelope!
The Antelope I have harvested with the 22 centerfires I have used - all died in their tracks! That is the norm, considering all the Antelope I have witnessed being harvested with the 22 centerfires and the ones I have taken myself!
Have no doubt what so ever the 22 centerfires are deadly on Antelope - EXCEPTIONALLY deadly!
Like someone alluded to - do not shoot the Antelope in the cape! I do not know why anyone would want to shoot an Antelope in the cape, but yes that would ruin your cape, as it probably would having been done so with any Rifle cartridge.
As far as I know Montana is the only state that allows Pronghorn Hunting with any size (caliber) bullet so be sure and check the regs where you are headed.
Careful shot placement (field accuracy) is important in all Big Game Hunting and obviously that should be your major concern if you go with the 22-250 when Hunting Antelope.
I have also killed Antelope with a 300 Winchester Magnum. That is a dandy scope you have on your 300 and maybe you should take both Rifles along and have a back up!
Antelope country is Varmint country and that 22-250 will come in handy whether its your main go to Anteloper or not.
Good luck on the Speed Goats to you - this is supposed to be an excellent year in eastern Montana (where my tag is good for) this year. With published information indicating that the Buck to Doe Antelope ratio as 58 to 100 this year. And with many mature Bucks in that 58!
Use either Rifle!
By the way I have killed 4 Buck Antelope now with my latest "Antelope Rifle" and it is a Remington 700 Sendero in caliber 270 Winchester. I have used the wonderful 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips to make one shot kills on all four of them! I sold two of the four capes to Greybull Taxidermy (1-406-683-9599) here in Dillon, Montana. The other two Antelope were shoulder mounted! I shot all four of these Antelope in the heart/lungs and indeed they were near instantaneous kills. I am well pleased with the 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips (from my 270 Sendero) not only on Antelope but for High Plains Mule Deer as well! Again I have used the heart/lung shot exclusively on Mulies and Antelope so far.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

If you do decide to take the .22-250, make sure you load it with bullets, which are up to the task. It is not advisable to use bullets primarily intended for varmints - as accurate as they may be.

Nosler makes a nifty 55 grs Partition, there is a Barnes TSX of about 53 grs (somebody mentioned that bullet above), Trophy Bonded makes a 50 grs bullet (or is it 55?), and the old Hornady 55 and 60 grs SP bullets with no cannelure, all of these bullets have a decent track record when it comes to taking big game with a .224 cal centerfire rifle.

If you want to be sure, grab your .300 Win Mag. The .300 has one great advantage: it is not nearly as sensible to wind as the .22-250 is. Wind is the great challenge when shooting at long range, not vindage.

I have shot antelope with a .300 Win Mag (180 and 200 grs bullets), and I did not feel particularly over gunned. The .300 WM is not my favourite antelope cartridge, that price goes to calibers like the .257 Wby, but it certainly works.

- mike

I have used both, the goats are just as dead either way. I used a 55gr Vmax on several, awesome kills, just dropped with no exit wound. With the 300,also very dead but someran a ways, one ran off like it had not been hit, I used a 189gr TSX, the bullet made a clean pass through with no expansion very small hole on both sides. Too much bullet for a goat. Any expanding bullet would work on them just fine.

To me this would all depend if it was a fun hunt or a very serious big money hunt.

I've used them both quite a bit and have no qualms using either.

If the reason to hunt was mainly trophy then I'd take a bit more gun (IE the 300), if it were a good ol boy hunt for fun and meat then I'd take the 22/250.

I've no issues taking shots to 300 on lopes with such a outfit (22/250). I've done it to 400 and with a good broadside wack it is gonna take the lope just fine. You'll not have issues with penetration with either round IMO.

Last fall my wife and I took 4 deer one day with a 22/250 and the 53 TX. All 3 of the 4 went right down. The last one took a short 25 yard stroll. We found one bullet, it still weighed 53 grains and it looked perfect! It hit the deer at 140 yds quartering to us on the point of the shoulder. We found the bullet near to exiting the rear far ham. I would allow that this is plenty of penetration.

Just my thoughts guy have a super hunt.

MD

If I were driving all the way from Florida to hunt antelope in say, Montana, I would take the .300 w/ any accurate 150-165gr bullet. The .22-250 needs special bullets, which I doubt you've been shooting Pdogs w/, & you will have to pass some shots. The .300 is overkill (if there is such a term) but it will do from any shot angle & destroy less meet w/ a sturdier bullet. I shot my last one w/ a 7mmDakota & 160grNPs, you could eat up to the bullet hole (middle shoulder shot).

Fred my definition of overkill is when a fella walks up to a downed lope and then empties his gun into it. Aside from that I've never seen overkill. Not even when using a 416 Rigby on them.

In regards to bullet choice a fella wouldn't want to get stupid but most of the soft points will work just fine. And any of the preme's (Noz Pt,TX or the TB) will pretty much run a lope stem to stern from about most all ranges. At least this has been my experience.

Have a good night guys

MD

a 33.350, thats a new one!

beyond that, I would use the 300 Weatherby... All your buddies will thing you are cool.. you'll think you can hit an antelope 2 states away... you bullet will knock the hell out of the antelope...YOU'll go home feeling like quite the STUD.....

of course if you are like me and just use things that will get the job done and are efficient to boot... well I'd haul the 22.250 and tell all my buddies at home how I used the 300 Weatherby and they will nod their approval.....

If you tell them you used a 22.250 they will give you all sorts of crap of how that round won't work ( even tho it did)... and to not ever pull a stunt like that again, etc etc etc...

a 22.250 is more than enough.. so is a 33.350!

cheers
seafire

the problem is when you are antelope hunting most of the time the wind is howling, in these situations wouldn't a .22 anything be one of the worst choices you could make???

I wouldn't be afraid to shoot a .22-250, don't let anyone say it won't work. I've shot a bunch of Missouri whitetails with the .220 Swift, and have yet to see one take a step. Wind drift with a fast .22 isn't that big a deal, I just looked at a graph for my .220 Ackley with a 55 Sierra at 4000 fps vs. a 7Mag with 175 Nosler at 2900 fps, difference in wind drift is 2.5 inches at 350 yards, no big deal. You probably shoot the .22-250 better than the .300 from a prone position. If you like it take it.

It's the perfect opportunity to buy a new gun! But unfortunately, you already own a .243 which would probably be my go-to gun of the bunch in this case. I'd err on the side of caution and go with the .300 with some non-premium bullets to ensure rapid expansion, maybe a 165gr. Ballistic Tip.

I agree with Allen Day, the 22.250 is at least on the light side, and wind drift is a problem at the range off a bench with them, so it sure would be in the field while hunting. It probably wouldn't put you out of the kill zone, but why even think about it. You shoot the 300 well--take it!

The only time I have ever witnessed a 22-250 actually being used to kill an antelope was last year. The rifle was mine--and the shooter was my good friend/Brother-in-Law after he ran out of bullets with his 300 win....

Hey seafire, that's what happens when you get old & type w/o your glasses on?!

Allen Day pretty much said it all...

I'd take the .300 Win hands-down over the 22-250, there's no comparison. Yes the .22-250 will drop deer-sized game with ideal shots and careful placement but we don't always get ideal handed to us on a platter. You have absolutely no room for error with such a round. Opt for the bigger gun out of respect for the game...

Have used both in the west.I have found the best all around cartridge in the west is a 7mm STW using 140gr ballistic silvertips.3900 fps 0@200 24" drop at 500.Great all around cartridge.

slasher, BST @ 3900fps you'ld have to be almost as carefull w/ bullet placement as the .22-250 so you don't blow the speedgoat up!

quote:

Originally posted by slasher:
7mm STW using 140gr ballistic silvertips.3900 fps 0@200 24" drop at 500.Great all around cartridge.

Wow, that is fast! In fact that is at least 3-400 fps faster than any other data I have seen for a 7mm STW with a 140 grs bullet. Heck of a load you have there!
- mike

Did any of you read what he said HE IS HUNTING IN OK. not MT.and OK. allows 22CF.

Use the 22-250 antelope without a doubt are the easiest BG animal to kill you come close and they fall over dead.

I have shot a fair number of BG animals with a 22-250 and it works just fine, an animal shot in the leg or ass with a 300WM is just as wounded as one shot with a 22-250 in same accuracy accuracy accuracy is the name of the game.

Thanks to all who have responded. I think I have made my decision as to which rifle I'm going to take. Look at it this way, half is either going to agree or disagree with the decision, but in the end it is ultimately mine.

Since I leave early Wednesday morning, I will be packing this evening. Don't want to tell you yet, which gun I have decided to take. I'll write up a report once I have returned early next week. We'll find out if the decision was the 'correct' one or not?

Thanks for all the comments,

Good luck! Whack a big one!
- mike

Enjoy your time out there, and let us know how it goes.

Mark D

Good luck Graybeard, shoot a big one.
US1, he does not say where he is hunting but his handle says Florida? I wouldn't drive to another state & pay a non res tag fee & have to pass shots because the wind is up or the best buch is only showing me a front shoulder on the last day, but others have different opinions. The .300 will shoot flatter out past 300yds & stray less in the wind so why hunt w/ a .22CF or even the vaunted .243?

Well, I got one. He was aged at 13 years old. Not the biggest in the world but most definately one of the most unique. He had a hugh scare and wound where he had been fighting. One tip was broken off. Most definately a speed goat with character.

I'll post a full report Monday or Tuesday when I get back to FL.

Take care,

Well, Weidmannsheil! It sounds like you had a great trip. We shall be looking forward to the story, and to figuring out whether you used the .22-250 or the .300 Win Mag in the end...
- mike

sure sure tease us and make us wait....grins

Mark D

glad you had a good hunt, a teenager huh man that sounds big time old!

plainview - I'm ready to try again this year. See ya tomorrow for opening day.

Will a 22-250 kill an antelope? Sure, so will a 22lr. Is it optimum given other calibers available? No. One big important factor to success in any long range hunting is the wind, and no matter the efficacy of the 22-250 on antelope, it's very succeptible to wind. The 300 on the other hand will buck te wind much better at all practical hunting ranges. I wouldn't use a ballistic tip either. Just nail him in the shoulder with a Partition and you'll get your goat in short order. jorge