Caliber for Pronghorn....

[jvr]

Plus one on the 257 bee. Not because I've ever hunted one. But I did by an accumark and now 4 points for Wyoming. One day I will live the dream.

 

[Kpknifemaker]

Congrats for the tag. My understanding, some nice goats from NM.

IMO, its been said here, the gun you are comfortable with and choose the bullet. I am preparing for an OR goat hunt. My top choice is my 6.5CM with 124g Hammer Hunters. My backup guns are a 7mm Mag with 131g Hammer Hunter and a 25-06 with 90g Absolute Hammer. Any one of them is going to work for me. Unlike you, I am 5 hours from home, so I will have all three with me. I suggest you at least have loads ready for two of them. But thats just me.

Hope you get a nice one!

 

[dougduey]

I just worked up a new pronghorn load in my 6.5-284. Was running the 140 gr VLD, but now I've got the 109gr Absolute Hammer at 3511 fps. It's pretty much a "hold on fur" to 400 yards. Going this route after an unsuccessful hunt last year in CO. The lopes were so nervous that I never had time to range and dial, so I resolved that issue with my new load. Can't wait for this August in NM.
Your 7 Mag will work well,too, with 140's. Killed all my pronghorn in the past with my 7STW and a 140gr Etip.

 

[Mike Matteson]

Whatever you want to shoot. A 300 RUM I would think would be a bit big. Somewhere from 6mm to 6.5 will do the job. They shoot a lot of 1000yds matches with 6mm.

 

[Chuckhunter]

My friend on left used a 6.5X284 while I used a 6.5X 47 Lapua. I'm a big fan of the 6.5X47 but you have a 6.5X284, so there you go. Pure poison on speed goats.

 

[Good]

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

Don't be afraid of that 7mag. I'm not familiar with the 6XC, but if it will do the job ballistically at 800 and is your most comfortable rifle, by all means, use that.

If you shoot all of them equally well and they're packable, 7mag or 6.5x284 get my vote. Otherwise, carry the one you can maneuver in the field and you shoot the best.

 

[HLVoss]

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

Have had excellent outcomes to 425yds with my Parker-Hale 270

 

[JC in Calif]

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

I have had good results with the 6.5/284.

 

[Wild_Bill]

Honestly I'd take the 7mm rem mag or the 300RUM.
Whatever you shoot the best and the rifle set up the best for long range. The 6.5X284 would work but the other 2 would be better at extended range.

Bullet drop is easily calculated but wind drift is the critical part. A 168gr minimum in the 7mm to get high by or a 210 minimum in the 300.
Work out the wind drift at 800 with the 7 or 300 and go with the load that will buck the wind the best.

 

[cardon1122]

I agree with a lot of the earlier posts. I've used some of the bigger guns like 300 RUM and 338 Lapua and felt they were overkill. I always go after goats now with either my 7mm magnum or 6.5-284. Work great and flat shooting. My favorite is the 6.5-284 with a suppressor. My wife used it this last fall and found it very pleasant to shoot.

 

[GoatHerder]

Out of your choices, I would pick 6xc or 6.5x 284. Which ever you shoot the best.

 

[Deleted member 107796]

With your practice in competition and with 'yotes you're gonna do well. You also have the correct mindset that this is a small target. Good luck with your hunt... you're going to love hunting pronghorn. Generally where they're at, at night, is where they'll be in the morning. I kill out to about 500 using my 270wsm and a 130gn GMX bullet.

 

[mindcrime]

View attachment 269941
View attachment 269945

Who built the Two BRONZE Rifles, if you don't mind me asking????

 

[chav0_12]

They'll all do the job, the RUM might be a little much. Throw them all in the truck and when the time comes you'll choose the one you like the most. I killed mine at like 140 yards this year with my 243 WSSM.