.300 Win Mag over kill

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wis_sharpshooter

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Do you think a .300 win mag is over kill on antelope. I use it on whitetails, and I'm goin on an antelope hunt in oct 2006 to montana. I know the shots are going to be between 100-500yds But i'm just wondering if the .300 is to much???
 
Well, if that's what ya got, that's what ya got. There are more suitable calibers to be sure. I like to say that it's more than enough, without being too much. Don't hit the shoulder!
 
I do have a .270wsm, but I really like my .300 and I can't decied between the 2. I just got a burris 4.5-14 with the balastic and i can't pick which gun to put it on.
 
Either will work well. Pick which ever you shoot best. Antelope arnt very thick, but to prevent massive blow outs, pick a bullet of good construction and stay off the shoulder.
 
With the distances associated when shooting antelope, I would go with the 300. I would think this would drift less in the wind, but you can't be sure until you shoot both guns in windy conditions and compare them.

Get that scope mounted and start practicing. My dad has one on his 7mm-08 and has hit a ten inch plate at 500 yds using one of the points of aim. Once you get good off the bench, move to shooting off bipods or sticks.

All the scopes with these type of reticles work well, and of course swarovski is the best. Their lines can be used for wind drift too, and they do indeed work as designed. If anyone is looking for the burris scope I have one coming up for sale that is barely used.
 
I agree with what the other posters have said. Stick with a ribcage double lunger.

If you handload, and you can get a good load with Barnes TSX in 130gr that would probably be the best, again I'd still stay away from a shoulder shot.

I was able to get consistent .625 5 shot groups in my Rem 700 ADL in .300 win mag with that bullet(YMMV) in case I ever took it out west for an Antelope hunt (that's what I've been telling myself anyhow). Either way, once you've got a good load at 100 it's time to start testing that load and practicing at 200-400 yards or whatever your self imposed maximum range will be.

Although, my .257 Roberts would be a great Antelope rifle up to about 300 yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Good luck and have fun practicing.
 
I love the performance of my .300 and although I have not hunted antelope, there have been countless deer. Lung or neck shots are my favorite with very little meat damage. Picking a good bullet will help as much.
 
I've got that scope in 3X9 and I was very impressed with it. Sighten the .270 in for 200 yards and was able to hit milk jugs at 300 and 400 yards consistently. would have been every shot had I corrected for windage. Antelope are not tough. Either rifle will do fine. If you plan on using the plex I'd get some practice with it at the longer ranges. Seems to work very well with my .270. BTW, 130 gr. scirrocos at 3000 fps. Start saving milk jugs!
 
The 300 is a great round for antelope out here,practice your 300-600 yard shots before you come out,it may make all the difference.
 
In eastern colorado, it is pretty open and hard to stalk. It is still possible with good planning to take a shot as close as possible. i would not plan on shooting at 500 yards, or you will take that shot with out trying to get closer.

give that antelope your best and I bet you can close that distance.

In some places here, antelope run away at 1 mile. Plan your hunt and stalk and 250 yards is pretty easy and an easier shot too. Maybe you'll get within 100 yards. Yes, it will take more time, but then almost any legal caliber will work.

I shot a muley 3 years ago with the 300 mag, and I won't do it again at 100 yards. It was devestating. Looked like a taco in slow motion, I had it filmed by a friend of mine.

I worked mine in in october from 1 mile to 246 yards. I wanted a closer shot but with shooting around me they were pretty spooked and it was not gonna get any closer.

I commonly shoot 400-600 yards at prarie dogs to the toon of 3-4000 rounds a year. Give that antelope your best, it deserves it.
 
I am a huge fan of the .270, never needed anything bigger. Colorado Osprey makes a huge and good point. If you plan to take a long shot then you will. I spent 2 weekends hunting with my bow doing spot and stalk hunts on antelope this year in WY. I did this during the regular rifle season for antelope and even worn adequate orange. The result from the 2 weekends were tons of blown stalks and I got 3 different shots at under 40 yards. I managed to grossly misjudge the yardage each time as I just finished a month of archery elk hunting in heavy cover. If you make a goal of a close shot then you will get it.

BTW where will you be hnting Antelope at?
 
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Colorado Osprey makes a huge and good point. If you plan to take a long shot then you will.



Excellent summary by elks and co osprey.

I have killed about 15 antelope with various fireamrms including .54 ml, 7-08, .270, .308 and 30-06. My "long shot" so far is 280 yards with another having been 243 yards. The rest were all 200 or less with most being under 150 and several under 100.

The 300 is fine, but don't let it become a substitute for making a closer approach for a more sure shot. Definetly use a well constructed bullet. They are too good eating to waste any meat.
 
Ok I'm leaning towards the .300 but I'll take both guns, because thats why i bought them. What kind of bullet do you guys recomend, I have some 165gr horandy interlock loaded right now for whitetail, but I'm not to sure on the peformace of it. I have shot deer under 70yds with them and the bullet totaly fragments. I did shoot a mule doe 2years ago in montana about 200yds and the bullet kept about %80 of its weight. Caan any one else recomend anything different that you have personaly tried.
 
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.300WM shine with heavy bullets, bonus if it's over 190 grain. The ballistics are backward of what most would think. The trajectory with the heavy bullets with high Ballistic Co-effiecients actually drop less than using a 150 grain bullet.....weird huh?

You need to shoot a variety of bullets to see what your particular rifle likes. Fragmentation is not as critical as shot placement.

My rem 700 Sendero likes 180 and bigger, great patterns with Hornady bullits and ammo. Particularly Honady Heavy Mag 180 grain Spire point interlock, fast, hard hitting. Baseball sized exit holes at 100 yards, not in the shoulder. 3100f/sec and 3800ft/lbs at muzzle
2250f/sec and 2025 ft/lbs at 400 yards! And only a 18" bullet drop. The bigger bullets drop even less.
 
you think your gonna get a close shot here in MT during the rifle season?LOL GOODLUCK!Once the first shots of the season are fired the antelope go into perpetual motin,practice those long shots
 
I live in Mt. and I think colorado osprey and elks hit the nail on the head if you plan on a long shot thats what your going to get. lots and lots of Antelope are shot at under 200 yards, it is hunting you know, shooting an animale at 300 yards plus isn't nessary, good way to wound a lot of animals is to take long shots. and I don't care if you think your are a great shot other factors come into play.
 
Anyone with an accurate rifle and a good amount of practice can make long range shots without wounding game,most animals are wounded at long range because the shooter does not know his rifle or he is shooting at running game.If you wait for a standing shot an antelope has a vital area about the size of a milk jug,use one for your practice or go safe and go for the front shoulder shot,they can go for miles with a leg blown off.If you do not feel confident you probably wont hit what your aiming at,practice builds confidence in your ability and your rifle.If you dont feel that you will be able or wont want to shoot this far you better hone your stalking skills and get in good shape.If you are hunting private property you may find some goats that arnt spooky but if you are hunting public ground bet on it.Take along a good range finder,they make goat hunting less of a guessing game,I use one bow and rifle hunting.
 
If you like the 300 then use it by all means. If those 165gr interlocks shoot well then they should be fine (for antelope). But, I've had bad experiences shooting 165 grain bullets faster than I should have(out of a 300). I went to 180 gr scirrocos and havnen't looked back. IMO, fragmentation is just as critical as shot placement. If you put the bullet where it needs to be but it won't penetrate enough to stop a critter then the results are the same as a poorly placed shot. There is some very good advice here. From what I can glean from the posts; know the limitations of you and your rifle and stay in your comfort zone, kill lots of milk jugs, better to sneak than snipe. (I like the last one)
 
Nonya,

Why would MT antelope be any different than WY or Colorado antelope??????? Yes antelope do move alot and are harder to predict than other game animals. If you take the time and plan well there should no reason you can't get a 100-200 yard shot. We in all we killed 3 antelope this year in an area of Wy that is general draw for residents and over 80% success draw for non. Not one shot was taken past 200 yards. Infact 2 of the antelopes were well under 100 yards.

Wis_sharp shooter I shoot the interlock bullets from hornady. they are awesome. The bullets I have retrived typically have 80-85% retention. Try the interlocks. Again any well made bullet will sufice.
 
Have you ever hunted antelope in an area where they take off running the second the see a vehicle or a person on foot?Well thats what they do in the areas of Montana that get alopt of hunting preasure like every piece of public ground in Eastern MT does.Im giving him a heads up on what to expeect if he is plannin on hunting public land,first hand experience,have you hunted goats here in MT?
 
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