Pronghorn Caliber

mcseal2

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
2,671
With elk included I’d start with the 270 and 140gr bonded or mono-metal bullets and go up from there. 280AI, 7mm rem mag with a tough bullet of 150gr plus would be ideal.

I like the 6.5’s and they are also capable, especially the ones that can push a tough 140gr bullet for elk. I hunt everything smaller than elk and not in Alaska with a 264 win mag and 140gr Berger. Where big bears live or for elk I prefer a 300 win mag with a 180gr E tip.

If I could only have 1 rifle I’d split the difference with a 280AI or 7 mag.
 
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
886
Location
Montana
Used to use a 25-06 just for pronghorns. Then like other mentioned I went back to just one gun for it all, 300WSM. Lots of wind everywhere we hunt, and easy to grab old faithful out of the safe for everything.
 

HuntnPack

WKR
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
509
Location
The Wilderness
My pick for a versatile cartridge is a 6.5 MAX
156 Berger’s & Hammer Hunter or Hammers New Absolute Hammer for bullet selection.
Rifle: HCA Suppressed
NF 2.5-20 NX8 f2 glass.
 
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Joined
Jun 23, 2019
Messages
1,205
Location
Florida,Dwneast Me,Catskills
Lots of good choices, as others have stated. Can't go wrong with any of them. As for my preferences, 257 Roberts 100 TTSXs, 7-08 or 260Rem with 120 TTSXs (both Montanas), 308 130 TTSX's (Ruger77 Ultra Lite tang).
 
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Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
517
Location
Colorado
Usually they go down quicker with my wife's 243 than my 300 win mag, but it's nice to have the wind bucking capabilities for the longer shots in that Wyoming wind.
 

Milhouse58421

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Messages
193
Location
North of you
No wrong answers yet...maybe any flat shooting rifle with decent bullets north of .25 caliber will do the job? I'm not sure what other states regs are for elk, but in ND, you need .25 caliber or larger.
 

Big Ern

WKR
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Messages
342
Location
California
.25-06
6.5cm
.270
.300wsm
.300wm

All of those would work great.

i am kind of a one rifle guy and use 6.5cm for everything In lower 48.
 

Jimss

WKR
Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
2,074
I'm a 300 WSM fan! Mine hardly kicks and I always have 1 shot kills on everything from antelope to mtn goat to elk-sized game!
 

Jimss

WKR
Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
2,074
I'm a 300 WSM fan! Mine hardly kicks and I always have 1 shot kills on everything from antelope to mtn goat to elk-sized game!
 

IdahoRuss

FNG
Joined
Sep 5, 2020
Messages
10
I don't think you can go wrong with a 7mag shooting a 168 berger vld hunter. I have one in a Bergara Ridge and I really enjoy that gun. Its just the right weight that the recoil is very manageable
 

Marmots

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Messages
298
Location
Idaho
If you are getting a rifle with elk and pronghorn in mind, I would suggest putting together an ideal elk rifle with the confidence that whatever you choose will do a great job on pronghorn as well.
 

boom

WKR
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
3,185
I think the perfect cartridge for pronghorn is the .257 weatherby magnum. If I had to boil it down to one.
 
Joined
Sep 23, 2018
Messages
1,936
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
Got my first antelope hunt in about two weeks, ill be toting my 280AI with 155 hammers and my girlfriend and will be shooting her 270WSM with 145 Eldx. Should do the trick just fine
 

Goatie

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
293
Location
Minnesota
I like 243 best. Flat shooting and enough oomph on an animal that size. Also, I’ve seen heavier calibers doing major damage on almost ideal shot placement with internals causing a mess that shouldn’t have been (tainted hams etc). Marginal shots on antelope with a small-ish caliber still give enough opportunity for Follow-up shots in the terrain they’re in.
 
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