What caliber for pronghorn and deer?

I really like my 257 WTHBY I shoot handloads with berger 115 hunting VLDs topped with a Huskemaw scope. But you can't go wrong with all the options others have shared too.
 
All are great choices but of the ones mentioned I would pick the 25-06 just for the fact that factory ammo is easier to find if you ever needed it in a pinch. Don't rule out the old 243. With the right bullet it is a dandy little caliber. I just bought a tikka lite stainless in 243 and it is a fine shooting rifle
 
I killed my antelope with a 30-06. It was the only big game rifle I owned then. Most people I talked too said Antelope are not hard to kill, but you may shoot long distance.

I was going to put together a 25-06 for the future, but ended up getting a 257 Weatherbee Mag. Probably way more than needed but a couple of friends love theirs for Antelope and Whitetails.
 
I think the .243 Win is plenty for what you are wanting. It is in no way a handicap and will serve you quite well. If you wanted to hand load, a 6x47 Lapua or the 6,5x47 Lapua would be a great option as well. I love my 6,5 Lapua.
 
Originally Posted By: TripleDeuce660They sell 25-06 at walmart which is a plus.

36 years ago when I bought mine the only place you could get ammo was a gun shop. I wondered if the .25-06 would be around long and I bought everything to reload it.

Here we are 36 years later and you can buy ammo at Wally World. This cartridge has hung on and will probably outlast the 6mm Rem.

If it had one weak point it is the lack of high bc bullets. As a hunting cartridge that doesn't mean much though. It is still my favorite cartridge.
 
Originally Posted By: joed
If it had one weak point it is the lack of high bc bullets. As a hunting cartridge that doesn't mean much though. It is still my favorite cartridge.

90 gr Blitz King is .388

115 Berger VLD is .466

110 AccuBond is .418

I'd say they're doing ok.Real High BC isn't really too necessary in a hunting round, IMO.
 
Originally Posted By: pahntr760Originally Posted By: joed
If it had one weak point it is the lack of high bc bullets. As a hunting cartridge that doesn't mean much though. It is still my favorite cartridge.

90 gr Blitz King is .388

115 Berger VLD is .466

110 AccuBond is .418

I'd say they're doing ok.Real High BC isn't really too necessary in a hunting round, IMO.

I have the Bergers and shoot the Blitzking. The Blitzking will really show you what this cartridge can do. I move that one at just over 3600 fps. It hits groundhogs farther than I would have believed possible.

The Bergers just sit there, I spend to much time hunting varmints as we aren't allowed to hunt larger game with rifles in OH. Maybe someday I'll get to try them.
 

Every cartridge mentioned will work well for antelope. Like many others have stated, the 25-06 seems to shine for that type of hunting. I have taken several antelope and a good friend took a couple with my rifle too. I shoot 100 gr. Speer SPs at 3203 fps and they work great. They work just as well for deer too. So, I guess my choice for an antelope cartridge would be the 25-06, though I have dropped several with a 7mm STW.

This is last year's small 7-point taken with the 25-06, at a distance of about 150 yards.
The rifle is a Browning Composite Stalker.







Here is a 300 yard antelope taken with the 25-06.




 
I was debating this same thing year before last. I already had a 270 and have killed a lot of deer and hogs with it.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2282897

But, I wanted something else just cuz. I was debating 6.5 creedmore or 25-06. I ended up going with the 25-06 mainly because I stumbled on a Rem. 700 CDL at a price I couldn't turn down.

I still kinda want a creedmore, but I am liking the 25-06. I got a lot of input from some knowledgeable guys and decided on the Speer 100 btsp loaded to around 3108 fps from my gun.

First antelope hunt produced a 350 yard one shot drop on a buck and the doe later that same day. Then the next got a triple on coyotes at 200 yards. 3 hogs so far this year.

mypronghornbuck_zps4438b55e.jpg


wyomingtriple_zpsb5351e10.jpg


smyrnaBar2014_zps50367b7a.jpg
 
I'll have to throw my vote in here for the 25-06, unless you reload then I'd give a look at the .257Wby. The higher velocity can be a help on longer shots.
 


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