My buddy is getting better every time we go shooting..

[tracker12ga]

Me and my bud have been practicing for our antelope hunt this fall in Wyoming. He is improving every day. This was shot at 400yds prone with believe it or not, a Savage Edge/Axis in 25-06. Two shot group only because after two shots with this short skinny barrel in the heat we have had, the barrel is smoking hot. The load is a 115gr Nosler BT over Retumbo powder. POI was a tad low but we have noted the correction in his data book. Group was 1.5". Absolutely a dead Speed Goat even with the low POI....

 

[nfhjr62]

Were is a Pic of the BUD, will we be SURPRISED

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Good shooting for sure, just make sure to ensure consistency Where out here do you plan on hunting?

 

[tracker12ga]

Were is a Pic of the BUD, will we be SURPRISED

At the risk of sounding retarded, I dont get it, lol......

Oh, the rifle is pretty consistent at 400yds. He was shooting factory loaded 100gr corelokt bullets at just over 2" at that range more times than not. We got drawn for 29. Any suggestions for that area? Second week of the season we will be out there...

 

[WildRose]

There is no substitute for practice and the results show it frequently.

 

[Buffalobob]

If I was you I would move that gong back another 200 - 300 yards. Big antelope are not dumber than your average Midwestern first time hunter. They know you can't shoot more than 400 yards and still hit a bull in the butt and will stand out there just beyond your shooting ability.

 

[matt_3479]

I was told the savage edge/axis is surprisingly accurate especially for the money. Good shooting. I was going to pick one up for a light weight 243. win for coyote but i decided to purchase a heavy remington 700 sps varmint 243. win instead and im increadibly accurate.

shooting less then 1/2" at 100 yards and just shot a 1 1/2" 2 shot group at 500 yards. then fired another 2 and got a 2" group at 500 yards. My barrel was so hot after 2 shots i couldn't go any higher. Im waiting for a cooler day so i can fire a 3-5 shot group

 

[tracker12ga]

If I was you I would move that gong back another 200 - 300 yards. Big antelope are not dumber than your average Midwestern first time hunter.

Maybe you are going for straight trophy book speed goat only. I dont know. But, seeing how this my first time out west and hunting antelope, I did alot of question asking on hunting forums and friends that have gone out there before. You are the only one so far that has suggested that I woud not be able to get closer than 600/700yds for a shot on a speed goat.

I seriously doubt that I could get that Axis to perform to that range consistently even with the Bushnell 3200 fixed 10X scope on it. Maybe, I dont know. Most of the intell that I have gotten has pretty much if your stalking skills are ok and you use the terrain properly 300-400yd shots are quite doable. Guess I will see when I get out there. BTW, We are doping our weapons out to 500yds.

Not all midwest average hunters sit in tree stands in a big hard woods waiting for the deer to show up for the 20yd shot. Most of the deer land I have here in the flatlands of Indiana are several hundered acre crop fields bordered by tree lines and/or ditch lines with very small squares of woods in the middle of the field. 200/225yd shots on whitetail with a smoke pole is quite common. 90% of my hunting is from the ground in a ditch or tree line. Or crawling along those ditch and tree lines getting close enough for the shot. I think my stalking skills will be just fine for WY.

 

[WyoElk2Hunt]

Still waiting on the picture of your Buddy? Most antelope like a 500 yard cushion of safety in the wild on Alphala fields closer probalby 300 yards unless your on the farmers tractor then 20 yards.

 

[tracker12ga]

Still waiting on the picture of your Buddy

The picture I posted is the pic of my buddy. Thats not me in the pic.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Still waiting on the picture of your Buddy? Most antelope like a 500 yard cushion of safety in the wild on Alphala fields closer probalby 300 yards unless your on the farmers tractor then 20 yards.

Ain't that the truth.... you can take out our ranch truck, drive up to the 'goats, club them over the head & load'em up...

You take my personal truck out..... 200-300 yds is as close as you're going to get....

Needless to say we take the ranch truck!

 

[WyoElk2Hunt]

The picture I posted is the pic of my buddy. Thats not me in the pic.

I thought that was you in the picture and you buddy was going to be your rifle and I was waiting on that picture.

 

[tracker12ga]

LMAO, I was wondering if that was what you were talking about. I will see if I can get a pic up the next couple of days. Its a savage Axis in 25-06 with the camo stock. It's topped with a Bushnell 3200 10x mil/mil scope. The rig is resting on a Caldwell XLA 9-13" bipod. From what I am understanding though, using the bipod out west is hit or miss, depending on how tall the prarie grass is going to be. We practice off shooting sticks and backpacks too.

FYI, I will be using a Stevens 7mm -08 pushing 150gr SBTs. I just ordered a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14 x 40 side focus mildot. (my other scope after all these years has finally taken a poo, lol). Before my scope died, I was starting to play at the 600yd marker and was getting 5.5 to 6" grps at that range with just using holdover in the mil reticle.

 

[WildRose]

Maybe you are going for straight trophy book speed goat only. I dont know. But, seeing how this my first time out west and hunting antelope, I did alot of question asking on hunting forums and friends that have gone out there before. You are the only one so far that has suggested that I woud not be able to get closer than 600/700yds for a shot on a speed goat.

I seriously doubt that I could get that Axis to perform to that range consistently even with the Bushnell 3200 fixed 10X scope on it. Maybe, I dont know. Most of the intell that I have gotten has pretty much if your stalking skills are ok and you use the terrain properly 300-400yd shots are quite doable. Guess I will see when I get out there. BTW, We are doping our weapons out to 500yds.

Not all midwest average hunters sit in tree stands in a big hard woods waiting for the deer to show up for the 20yd shot. Most of the deer land I have here in the flatlands of Indiana are several hundered acre crop fields bordered by tree lines and/or ditch lines with very small squares of woods in the middle of the field. 200/225yd shots on whitetail with a smoke pole is quite common. 90% of my hunting is from the ground in a ditch or tree line. Or crawling along those ditch and tree lines getting close enough for the shot. I think my stalking skills will be just fine for WY.

Most antelope are killed at sub 200yds ranges.

The best way to hunt them is to pick your herd/buck scout their routes they normally take, and bed them down.

In the predawn you can move in to be in a good shooting position when they wake up.

Or you can be waiting for them in their bedding area when they come in, in the evening.

Yes antelope country provides opportunities for some really long range shots, but that is not how many are taken.

Four of my first six antelope were taken with .243 rem semi, and 25-06 Ruger number one. The latter two were taken with a .220swift. All at sub 200yds. All were taken before I was 17.