Gentlemen,

I’m going on my first antelope hunt next month. My hunting buddy offered to let me used his 243, but I have heard I could also use my 223 with an 80 grain bullet. I will be shooting out to 100 to 150 yards max.

This leads to two questions:

1. Is it correct/ethical to take a antelope doe with a 80 grain 223?
2. If the answer is yes, my Tikka T-3 Rem 223 has a 12:1 twist. Not optimal for a 80 gr. pill (which I think likes a 8:1 twist). Do you think it iwill shoot it well and will the slower twist change your answer to question #1?

Thanks,
Kory

Within 100 yards, I think a 223 could do the job. I don't think its a good choice though. I think for a quick kill the 243 with a 85-100 grain bullet is a better choice.

You're right about the stabilization issues that could effect bullet flight. That could effect point of impact enough to make for a poor shot on an animal.

Spend the next couple weeks learning the 243 before you go out. You will be happy you did.

Forget the hotdog trick. Take the .243. If your .223 had a proper twist it might work well but why take the chance.

If you are heading to Wyoming, better take the .243. The minimum cal is .23 there.

Antelope are pretty thin skinned and not that big. Since you're going to be shooting does, I'm assuming that you're hunting for the meat and won't be taking Texas heart shots or taking shots from 400 yards. If you look at what the locals use in eastern Montana, you'll see a lot of 223's and 22-250's. The 64 gr. Winchester Powerpoint is a good choice in the 223. Wait for a broadside shot and stick it through the ribs!

Hello Gentlemen,

Thanks for the replies.

I am hunting in central/eastern Montana (Zone 700) and yes, I'm going after a young doe -- typically around 120 pounds or so. I will use my friends 243 then. Due to physical handicap and problems with my eyes, I generally don't like to shoot anything bigger than a 223, but I suspect a 80 grain 223 has close to the same recoil as a 80 grain 243.

Regards,
Kory

I use my 22-250 for antelope. My longest kill on an buck antelope came in the fall of 2005, killed at 307 yards with a 55 grain soft point place right on the point of the shoulder. It was a bang-flop shot.

I'd use what your more comfortable with.

Good luck

Kory, use your 223.

My son has used the 223 and a Barnes 53 gr TSX to kill two nice pronghorn bucks, both right at 225 yards, both one shot kills. An antelope is hardly much more than a big rabbit and the 223 is plenty gun. Those that think it's a "hotdog trick" haven't used the round on antelope.

If you are more comfortable with the .223 use it instead of a barrowed rifle.
Just because you are using a .223 don't think that you have to use a heavy bullet just use a good quality (= non varmint) bullet that has controlled expansion.
Brad suggests a Barnes triple shock and so do I and use it in a weight that is suitable for that rifle like the 53 grain. Another option is a 60 grain Nosler partition, I've not used them personnaly but I'm sure it would work to your satisfaction.
The main thing with Antelope is hit it right the first time and you will have your animal. If you knock a leg off one expect a lengthy chase or losing the animal entirely.
There is an ammo company out of Rapid City that loads 50 rounds boxes of .223 in Nosler Partition that were surprisingly accurate in my Mini 14. Or go the Barnes route, I've been loading those for a friend whose son has many one shot kills on Whitetails out of a .223 and no horror stories.
Most importantly hit it where you should, use a good quality bullet and forget the heavy for caliber idea.
Good luck with your Antelope!

The .223 with good quality hunting bullets will easily kill an Antelope, and an 80-grain bullet from a .223 is a better choice than the same weight bullet from a .243--slighly higher SD--as long as the rifling twist in your .223 is fast enough for it.

Have a great trip!

quote:

Originally posted by Kory:
Gentlemen,

I’m going on my first antelope hunt next month. My hunting buddy offered to let me used his 243, but I have heard I could also use my 223 with an 80 grain bullet. I will be shooting out to 100 to 150 yards max.

This leads to two questions:

1. Is it correct/ethical to take a antelope doe with a 80 grain 223?
2. If the answer is yes, my Tikka T-3 Rem 223 has a 12:1 twist. Not optimal for a 80 gr. pill (which I think likes a 8:1 twist). Do you think it iwill shoot it well and will the slower twist change your answer to question #1?

Thanks,
Kory

kory - good to see you - hope things are going well.

regarding your questions -

1. i believe that the .223 is perfectly adequate for antelope (assuming a bullet of proper weight and construction). i have taken deer and antelope with it in the past with no problems. in montana, the .223 is a legal cartridge for antelope. having said the above, if you have the opportunity to use a "bigger" rifle, such as your friend's .243, by all means consider it. the final determination should depend on your confidence in yourself and in the rifle you are using.

2. the only way to find out is to give it a try, do plenty of work at the range and weigh the results carefully. FYI, a 60-65-grain pill (winchester, remington, federal etc) should be perfectly adequate. once again, be sure NOT to use bullets designed for varmint hunting; rather, use bullets designed for big game. winchester has the little pictures on the box; remington has the core-lokt. not sure about federal.

when using the .223 for hunting, bullet construction and confidence are key.

i have provided two links below which may prove helpful:

hunting antelope in central montana

field-judging pronghorn antelope


good hunting and let us know how it turns out!

p.s. -

if you want to start a blog/diary of your first antelope hunt, click here.

Hey Ron,

Nice to hear from you. And thanks for the links. I will read up on them.

You must hold the record for the loggest sig line on AR??

Kory

quote:

You must hold the record for the loggest sig line on AR??

possibly, but in light of DaIdiot's comments, it's necessary.

Kory,
Forget the 80 gr. bullet and use the 60 gr. Hornady, either soft point or hollow point, either one will normally give you full expansion and hold together, mostly exit holes of 1" and they kill exceptionally well..I suggest you load it at about 2900 FPS and keep shots to 200 yards or under.

I have shot many Mule and Whitetail deer, antelope, and African plainsgame, with this combination and it has never failed me, or any of my kids who began their hunting careers with the .222 and 223..I fed a crew of Mexican fence workers on a ranch we had in Mexico with a 222 and this particular bullets many years ago..It worked then and has been working lately for my grandson and granddaughter..

Good evening Gentlemen,

Once again thank you for the replies.

OK, it looks like my 223 will work. I'm quite happy about that.

I'm sure I will figure out the answer to my next question within minutes of being out there, but up to now, I've only done varmint hunting, normally with high power scopes. On my Tikka 223, I have the Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40 scope. What power do you normally use for Antelope in the 125 or so yard range? I will most like be shooting off of the hood of the truck.

Thanks,
Kory

I would agree that the 223 would be fine but, at least in my 1:12 twist .224 caliber centerfires, an 80 grain bullet won't stabilize.

I've had excellent results with Speer 70 grain Semi-Spitzers however, including 2 deer last year. One was a 360 yard bang flop with a 22-250 and the other a one shot kill with a 222.

Kory
The rule of thumb around my house as taught to me by my dad was always carry your scope on the lowest setting because if they are close and moving you can get right on them no problem and you may not have the time to turn it down, if they are far away you have plenty of time to turn the power up if it is needed.
With that said you may find that 6x will be just right at 125 yards but if you are able to hold it real steady and want to see more detail turn it up to 9 or 10 but I doubt you will need or be able to use your highest power on that scope at 125 yards on an animal.
Good luck on your Antelope hunt.

I think Nosler makes a 60gr. Partition as well for .224 dia

Kory
Your 1:12 WILL NOT stabilize a 80gr bullet and even if it would it would just put a little 224 dia. hole through it. I have shot lots of hogs with 77-80gr 223s with not good results.

The 53 gr TSX is the way to go. It is by far the deadliest 224 on the market IF you hit the vitals.

Perry

Kory, Having used the .223 for many years, both in the US and Africa, I can tell you it has no problem taking Antelope sized animals but shot placement is paramount to cleanly taking an Antelope. Montana regs allow any centerfire (last time I hunted there) but bullets over 60 grains aren't as viable in bolt action rifles. They are more suited for military rifles. Are you aware of Federal's Vital Shok loaded with 60 grain Nosler Partitions? They do an excellent job on medium to small big game. They tend to shoot accurately in bolt action rifles and penetration is good on broadside chest shots. They cost around $21 per box of 20 and have virtually no recoil. I've taken 4 Springbok in Africa with this load and many other small antelope with one shot. My last trip to Montana yielded a nice 4 point Mule Deer. Good hunting, David

quote:

Originally posted by Kory:
Gentlemen,

I’m going on my first antelope hunt next month. My hunting buddy offered to let me used his 243, but I have heard I could also use my 223 with an 80 grain bullet. I will be shooting out to 100 to 150 yards max.

This leads to two questions:

1. Is it correct/ethical to take a antelope doe with a 80 grain 223?
2. If the answer is yes, my Tikka T-3 Rem 223 has a 12:1 twist. Not optimal for a 80 gr. pill (which I think likes a 8:1 twist). Do you think it iwill shoot it well and will the slower twist change your answer to question #1?

Thanks,
Kory

There is a 63-grain Speer made for that sort of thing, also seems like there might be a 55-grain Barnes X bullet that would work. If there is a Nosler Partition bullet that would be high on my list of stuff to try.

It doesn't take much to kill an antelope. A friend of mine took one from a longish distance with a 22-250, and at that distance it wasn't much more than the 223 offers. You want to hit the lungs, so you don't have to hike five miles after the shot; accuracy counts for more than foot-pounds.

A 6-18X scope should be fine, no one in his right mind shoots at a running antelope (which might need a lower power), and you will want the 18X sometimes to identify the cheek patch of a buck. Bucks will sometimes have miserable little horns that are hidden by their ears, so you need to be able to look for the cheek patch. Does sometimes have horns, so they are not a reliable indicator by themselves

Kory

There is a guy over on 24 hourcampfire.com who uses a 223 ackley for alaskan sitka deer with excellent results. Winchester's 64gr power point is a very good factory load, if you reload i would go with the 53gr TSX would kill any deer with no problem out to 250 or 300yds. Like all cartridges, its only as good as where you put the bullet, hit em in the right spot with a good hunting bullet and it will be yours....

quote:

Kory
The rule of thumb around my house as taught to me by my dad was always carry your scope on the lowest setting because if they are close and moving you can get right on them no problem and you may not have the time to turn it down, if they are far away you have plenty of time to turn the power up if it is needed.
With that said you may find that 6x will be just right at 125 yards but if you are able to hold it real steady and want to see more detail turn it up to 9 or 10 but I doubt you will need or be able to use your highest power on that scope at 125 yards on an animal.
Good luck on your Antelope hunt.

kory - this is exactly what i would say.