ideal caliber for antelope/deer - mid to long distance range?

WyoYote

WyoYote

New member
I know that there are several good choices, lately the 257 Roberts has intrigued me.

Looking to see what cal. you guys suggest
 
The .257 Roberts is a great cartridge if you reload it to its potential, but it overall is a good choice. I'm guessing the "mid" range would be something around 200 yards and I think the Roberts will do fine, but if you are talking 400 plus I would want a heavier bullet to lessen the effects of wind drift since you will be hunting in open country. If I had my choice for what you are asking I would grab a 270 Winchester or one up it and get the 270WSM. They are fast and flat shooting enough, but will carry more downrange energy on the mulies that push 350 pounds. If all your shots are within 200-250 then your Roberts will definitely do the job.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Joel
 
I can't realy find fault with anything in the neighborhood of a .260 or 25/06 on up through say a .300 Win. I have been known to take the .375 H&H out for deer a few times, and actualy ended up with less meat loss than with many of the smaller calibers. If I was going to pick one cartridge just for deer and antelope at mid to long range say 300-600 yards the 6.5x47 Lapua, the 280AI and the .300 Win would fill out the list.
 
Take you pick from any flat shooting cartridge from 25-06 up through the 300 mag's. The last few years I've been using a 25-06AI and 6.5-06. My sons use a 25-06, 6.5x55, and 270.
 
Originally Posted By: RhysI have been known to take the .375 H&H out for deer a few times, and actualy ended up with less meat loss than with many of the smaller calibers.

Like Elmer Kieth said, you can eat right up to the bullet hole........

I agree with the .25-06 to 300 Win Mag as being the range to work with. My current attraction is towards the 6.5-06 AI and the 6.5 STW.
 
well seeing you mentioned antelope
I would say 25-06
but that is base on my own personal selection of firearms
the 257 rob would serve you well too.......
 
Being your from Wy, you probably know plently about hunting antelope and what works well. If it were me the flat trajectory of a 257 WBY Mag or a 25.06 would be about perfect for long range goats and deer.
 
I've taken many mule deer with the .243 and like it for antelope too.

Another good rifle not mentioned would be the 7mm mag. That has enough high and low weight options for bullets that you can use it on most big game in north america.
 
The only thing that lacks in the quarterbores and .277 cals is the lack of high ballistic coefficient bullets. The 6mms, 6.5s, and 7mms rule in this area. If I was you I'd pick a 6.5, like a .260 or .264, or a 7mm, like a .280 AI. They will have lots of energy if you make a marginal shot, and the high ballistic coefficients will help you make a good shot in the high winds of Wyoming. A .243 or 6mm Remington would also be a good choice, but not sure how well they will kill an antelope on a gut shot at 500 yards.
 
My two favorites are 257 AI and 280 Remington. My 257 is the only one where I have taken both animals. Nowdays I am carrying the 280 more.
 
iv'e killed a few lope and some deer at between4 and 500 yds with a 243 and the 270. like both but shot the 243 better!! i don't know how well anything kills with a gut shot at 500 yds. that would not be the factor for what rifle for me.
 
It might be hard to believe that a guy (me) with 20+ guns in the safe would only have 1 high power rifle (other then a .223 and .204 for calling)on the roster. I did have a .243 Rem 742 but sold it last year.

This particular gun is a Ruger M77 in 7 mm. Mag. I'm not sure that I'll have time to research/purchase another deer/antelope rifle this fall, so maybe I'll just stick with the 7 Mag this season. I did take 2 deer and an antelope with it last year.

I'm definately good for elk, but, then, what loads would you recommend for deer/antelope? I might still get something in .257 or .270, etc, but just in case...
 
Well, I haven't killed a ton of antelope, but the farthest I've shot one is 286 yards, which is well within the effective range of a .257 Roberts, one of my favorite cartridges. My wife shoots one with excellent results. I've shot antelope with a variety of cartridges from .22-250 (not legal in WY) to .300 WSM. All worked and made the antelope equally dead. Now I hunt them nearly exclusively with my 13" barreled .30-30 AI Contender. I think antelope get too much credit as a long range species. Rare is the day you can't sneak within 300 yards of an antelope. I shot two of my three antelope last year in WY with my pistol. The buck was about about 80 yards and a doe was at 145. The other I shot with my 6.5x55 at about 150. The wife shot all of hers with the .257 Roberts.

All that said, if I wanted to hunt only with a rifle, and set it only for antelope, I would probably get a lighter weight 25-06 and stoke it with a good 100ish bullet (maybe the 110 Interbond) and be happy. The .257 Wby would be nice, but brass is expensive and they require a longer barrel to get the best performance. In a standard 24 incher, the .25-06 will do nearly as much with less powder.
 
"I think antelope get too much credit as a long range species. Rare is the day you can't sneak within 300 yards of an antelope."

Have hunted antelope for a long time now and that is about the most true statement I have seen when it comes to hunting them. If you take a 500 yard shot, it's because you chose to, not that you needed to.
 
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