Purpose built Pronghorn rifle

If it was me I would build a 6.5-300wm or 6.5STW. 140gr VLD bullets @ 3350-3450fps would do well in the wind and shoot flat.
 
If it was me I would build a 6.5-300wm or 6.5STW. 140gr VLD bullets @ 3350-3450fps would do well in the wind and shoot flat.
There's no doubt that the increased case capacity of the 6.5-300WSM would give you more zip,as would the 6.5 STW,but Mr.Nosler's book says I should get 3300 out of the 6.5RM with the 120gr bullets with a lot less powder and in a trimmer package.That's good enough for me as it's not a dedicated goat rifle and I'll be packing it up hills here in BC! Cheers,Monashee
 
Nimrod, where are you at in the Ozarks? I live in Christian county. As to your question, on a magnum bolt face the 264 WM and the 7mm RM would be my choice due to high BC bullets available. I wouldn't go with the Mashburn simply due to no ammo availability and resale value. If you want higher velocity than the 7mm Rem mag, go with a 7mm STW.

I shot my antelope last year at the mind numbing distance of 250 yards but I was prepared for much longer shots with my STW and 168 gr JLK VLD bullets. It has a #5 Hart barrel and a McMillan A2 stock and at 12 lbs w/scope it is a little heavy to crawl around the prairie with but a slick shooting rifle could be put together much lighter than that.
 
wind cost 2 BC goats.......why not stalk closer??
One of the spots I hunt is a big valley, about 6 miles across. Ridges on each side, force you in view of goats, and flats are big, barren and full of goats as season pressure moves them there. I have taken a handfull of goats w/bow.But not in terrain like this.
 
It has a #5 Hart barrel and a McMillan A2 stock

How do you like the #5 and the A2 combo? I'm building a 300 Norma Imp with a A3-5 adj and a #5 brux.
 
Nimrod, where are you at in the Ozarks? I live in Christian county. As to your question, on a magnum bolt face the 264 WM and the 7mm RM would be my choice due to high BC bullets available. I wouldn't go with the Mashburn simply due to no ammo availability and resale value. If you want higher velocity than the 7mm Rem mag, go with a 7mm STW.

I shot my antelope last year at the mind numbing distance of 250 yards but I was prepared for much longer shots with my STW and 168 gr JLK VLD bullets. It has a #5 Hart barrel and a McMillan A2 stock and at 12 lbs w/scope it is a little heavy to crawl around the prairie with but a slick shooting rifle could be put together much lighter than that.

I'm in Iron County in the tiny hamlet of Viburnum. I already have a 7MM RM and a 7MM RUM, neither one of them really trip my trigger, plenty accurate I just can't warm up to either one. I did not shoot my antelope last year because I was not prepared for the only shots I was presented. Long story but it was my fault.

The STW basically mimics the Mashburn, and I thought hard about the STW but decided I would like the Mashburn better and as long as I can get .300 WM or .300 H&H brass I'm good to go ammo wise.

Thanks for all the input so far, please keep it coming!
 
Nimrod: I have a custom built pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in caliber 240 Weatherby Magnum - I made it specifically for Antelope Hunting.
It has a 27" Hart semi-heavy stainless steel barrel and a wide forend stock.
I have a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope on it and the trigger has been adjusted to 2 1/4 pounds.
Jim Cloward built the Rifle back in 1990 and I believe it holds 6 rounds total.
I simply can not recall ever having to shoot at an Antelope more than once with this rig - it is almost not fair!
I have on occasion used this Rifle for long range Mule Deer and Whitetails along with a Coyote or twenty!
The pre-64 Winchester Model 70 action is wonderfully strong, reliable and handsome - it is also one of the SAFEST actions ever made for Hunting IMO.
I highly recommend you give the Winchester action and the 240 Weatherby some consideration - it has worked wonderfully well for me.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
I have two dedicated antelope rifles. One is a .260, built with a 30" krieger barrel and a Swfa 20x scope. Gun Weights 17 lbs. and shoots like a dream. the other rifle is a 8 lb..243 set to crawl around the gulchs and sneak in close. Both guns 700s and both will serve their intended purposes well. An Antelope is a small frail creature with a limited amount of structure. Any bullet in their vitals is usually enuff. That being said. Antelope seem to attract ALOT more bad shooting decisions than any other animal. The wide open spaces they inhabit and the wind seem to mark 1000 yd. marksmen out of everybody. Just because you can see them does not mean you have a shot................:)
 
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