Purpose built Pronghorn rifle

[Nimrod]

OK fellow antelope enthusiasts, help me build a rifle just for pronghorns. I have a couple of stipulations but after that pretty much anything goes. The stipulations are, it must use either a 700 Remington, M70 Winchester or Ruger #1 action, between .25 and .30 caliber (inclusive) and it must fit in a Pelican/Storm 3300 case (max length about 48"). Other than that I'm pretty much open, lets say a budget of $1000.00 for the parts not including a scope or mounts. I already have the actions listed and scopes/mounts. I will most likely do the work myself as time permits. I am currently working with a 7MM Remington Magnum and a 7MM Ultra Mag but am open to pretty much any standard or wildcat cartridge.

What would you pick and why?

Bob

 

[HARPERC]

I'd go one of 2 ways: 1) Ruger #1 300 H&H 26" barrel. I think it would be classy rifle, in a classic cartridge, and evokes a bit of the Lander "One Shot" mental picture antelope deserve and don't always get. I'd put 200 grain Accubonds in it. 2) Model 70 hopefully this is a pre-64, but in this one go modern 7mm RUM. 180 or 195 Berger that will hopefully be available by the time you're ready to shoot.

 

[bigngreen]

What are your range requirements for this rifle?

 

[6.5Express]

I would go with a 264 win mag if you're wanting to keep the mag bolt face - if you're willing to swap bolts, I'd go 6.5-06 improved. 6.5 ballistic coefficient's are kind of tough to beat in windy antelope country and will help keep the energy up at extended range. I hope to get my new 264 broke in this September as long as I draw a tag.

 

[6.5Express]

Here's mine - 27" 8 twist fluted Lilja, Holland lug, Greybull Precision stock. 140 grain vld's and h1000 just over 3100 fps.

 

[Nimrod]

What are your range requirements for this rifle?

I am really just starting down the long range path, I'm confident out to 500 yards or so right now but I would like to extend that out to at least 650 by this fall. Let's say for this rifle 800-1K max.

 

[sp6x6]

I would look at the best wind bucking bullets and calibers, to a point. I was hunting with my 257wby, which I would say a good goat gun, but I have to travel across state to hunt a limited time. And wind calls cost me 2 pushing Boone goats, 2 years in a row. Shoots in 6-800 range.So I took my elk rifle over and shot the #2 goat I saw,could not relocate the #1. Hopefully find him this year. The 7's I like Rem, RSAUM, STW

 

[FEENIX]

What are your range requirements for this rifle?

I am really just starting down the long range path, I'm confident out to 500 yards or so right now but I would like to extend that out to at least 650 by this fall. Let's say for this rifle 800-1K max.

BNG has a kickass set-up with his .270WSM using Matrix bullets for your requirement.

Good luck!

Ed

 

[winmag]

Will this rifle be strictly a Goat rifle? Or will it need to serve dual purpose in another area?

I'm only asking, cause all my rifles have to bridge gaps for multiple critters, depending who's shooting them, & what critter they're after. Me, wife, kids, friends/ Antelope, Deer, Elk, Bear etc.
I'm kind of a 270WSM, & 300WSM fan (especially on a long action). They'd fit your bill nicely, & if you ever needed it, you could cover quite a few bases with either cartrige.

 

[Nimrod]

Will this rifle be strictly a Goat rifle? Or will it need to serve dual purpose in another area?

Strictly pronghorns, I have all my other rifle bases pretty well covered, at least in North America. I had looked very hard at the .264 Winchester magnum and in fact decided on it at one time then I started playing around with the 7MM stuff and now I'm second guessing myself. The 7MM Mashburn Super is looking really good and the .264 is still on the short list, now HARPERC has me thinking about the H&H too. I hadn't really considered the short magnums, I'll have to look at the ballistics a little closer on those also.

Thanks for the replies so far and keep them coming!

Bob

 

[bigngreen]

Just a goat gun, hummm. We use a lot of 22-250's out to 600 yards but they just don't get it in the wind! Wacked one last year with a 338 RUM and a Berger 300gr OTM, very wind resistant and puts them down

I really like the 6.5's, my dad shoots a 6.5 Sherman and it launches a 140 Berger at 3150fps and does a good job all round, I shoot a 270 WSM with 165 Matrix and the ballistics are nearly identical to the 6.5 Sherman but when the bullets land the 270 dominates the 6.5 but goats are practically looking for a reason to die so you don't really need the horse power.

Shooting in the wind is more about shooting a lot in it, hot chamberings just have you chasing lands and rechambering just when your getting it figured out. If I were just starting out with a 600 yard goal and working on getting out farther in practice I think I would go with a 260 with 140gr A-max crammed in them, shoot the day lights out of it with good barrel life and the A-max will TKO a goat even at lower velocity but it has the BC to work with!!
Our gun list for Wyoming is 6.5 Sherman, 250AI, 30-338, 270 WSM and 338 RUM, bullets are 140 Berger, 115 Berger, 215 Berger, 165 Matrix or 170 Berger and the 300gr Berger We'll use the 22-250's in MT gun)

 

[sp6x6]

Montana has wind. My Dad worked for GN,BN RAIL. In 1989 it set records and blew boxcars off the track, and mobile homes across fields. Winds in Browning 117, Choteau 124,Augusta 114. bROWNING HOLD USA record for 100 degree change in temp in 24 hrs. 44F TO -56F, GreatFallls -32F to 15 F in 7 minutes,47 degree swing.

 

[FEENIX]

Montana has wind. My Dad worked for GN,BN RAIL. In 1989 it set records and blew boxcars off the track, and mobile homes across fields. Winds in Browning 117, Choteau 124,Augusta 114. bROWNING HOLD USA record for 100 degree change in temp in 24 hrs. 44F TO -56F, GreatFallls -32F to 15 F in 7 minutes,47 degree swing.

+1!

 

[Monashee]

I had a speed goat rifle built 3 years ago before I went down to Montana.Rem 700ss action,24" Gaillard barrel chambered in .25-06AI in a McMillan KS stock.It's very accurate with 100gr TTSXs.As a backup for windy days I took a custom 7RSAUM shooting 120BTs.This fall for Wyoming I'll be taking the .25-06AI but for a backup I'll have 6.5RM,built on a SAUM ss action,#2 24" Shilen in a Ti stock.I'll probably shoot 6.5 120 BTs or 120 TTSXs,that's still to be decided! Monashee