Caliber for Pronghorn....

The stars aligned, I drew a antelope tag in unit 33 in New Mexico. As this units west boundary is maybe 10 miles from where I live, I know the area well. Hunt coyotes in an area that has a good population of animals, so that is where I'll start. Shots could go from 200- 800 yards so caliber choice is wide open. I have in Savage custom bbl's a 6XC, 6.5X284, a Browning A bolt in 7mag, Custom Rem 700 in 300 RUM, and a Savage long range hunter in 6.5 Creed, as well as a AR 10 custom in 6.5Creed. I wouldn't consider any of them if they weren't capable of sub 1" 100 yd groups, and have shot all of them to 500 meters....trying to balance out bullet weight/energy of each choice for shots that might reach 5-6 hundred yards....I shoot competition out to 500 meters twice a month, so I am practiced at 200,3,4,and 500 meters (547 yards). Any input would be great...rsbhunter
6.5x284
 
I. Happen to. Really. Like 270,s!! They. Work well on deer sized game , HOWEVER I made a. Huge. Mistake on. My. First. Antelope. Mule. Deer Hunt in. Wyoming in 1979!! My 270. WeatherbyMag was loaded. With the. Very. Tough. 150 Grn. Speer. Grand slams. While we were. Searching for Mule. Deer ! Came. Upon. This. Antelope and it. Took. Four. Shots to. Drop. Him !!! When we recovered him. Barely. 200. Yards. Out , There were. Four shots through the. Lung area. And. Four. Exit holes !! Terrible. And stupid. Mistake. On. My. Part ! The. Bullet was way to. Tough for a. Small animal ! My. Opinion is. 270. Weatherby. Mag. Great. Antelope. And. Mule. Deer cartridge, But. Never. Use. Heavy. Tough. Bullets Again. Since. Then on. Any deer sized. Game ! I should. Have. Unloaded the. Rifle Snd used the. 130 Grn GK I had. With me ! So. Many. Great. Medium and long range calibers that have Plenty of. Energy and. Range for Antelope, Using the Correct bullet is. Also important!!!
 
Looked at Strelok for the 6XC and 300 RUM..the 6XC still shows 1000 + ft lbs of energy @550 yds. I know bullet performance, shot placement, etc ALL come into play, I won't shoot if I'm not 99% sure of where it will go....Like we all know, everybody has a plan till they get punched in the face...will post back....rsbhunter
 
I have been using my fast twist 22-250 with 60 grain Partitions.My furthest shot with that rig was 360 yards,but most under 100 yards.All one shot kills.
 
Yes, the hair is a no-no on the meat...Also, the first thing all hunters do is grab the horns....which is fine, BUT.....if you do, put gloves on to gut and quarter or whatever.... I read years ago that the scent in the horns can also transfer to the meat..and then.....GET THE MEAT ON ICE...!!! AT the temperatures that alot of antelope are hunted at, meat spoilage is a matter of minutes....take your pics, and PROCESS the meat....And then, while the meat is on ice....sit back for a couple minutes and let the experience sink deep into the memory vault.....they will last longer than the meat....rsbhunter
 
The first couple antelope I shot I didn't get cooled down properly and they tasted bad, l mean very bad. After that, with proper care and cooling down, it is very good meat...
 
Yes, the hair is a no-no on the meat...Also, the first thing all hunters do is grab the horns....which is fine, BUT.....if you do, put gloves on to gut and quarter or whatever.... I read years ago that the scent in the horns can also transfer to the meat..and then.....GET THE MEAT ON ICE...!!! AT the temperatures that alot of antelope are hunted at, meat spoilage is a matter of minutes....take your pics, and PROCESS the meat....And then, while the meat is on ice....sit back for a couple minutes and let the experience sink deep into the memory vault.....they will last longer than the meat....rsbhunter
It is really not the hair.There are scent glands on the legs and back that can make the meat funky.If you gut clean the cavity with clean water and pat dry with towels.Get skinned as soon as possible.Better yet learn to skin the animal the gutless method.Don`t drag the animal with the skin on.It will lose its hair muy pronto.
 
It is really not the hair.There are scent glands on the legs and back that can make the meat funky.If you gut clean the cavity with clean water and pat dry with towels.Get skinned as soon as possible.Better yet learn to skin the animal the gutless method.Don`t drag the animal with the skin on.It will lose its hair muy pronto.
Those are all good points. Get the meat on ice is most important.
 
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