Ammo For Antelope

[JustAl]

Now that I've got my antelope hunt in Wyoming all squared away, I need suggestions on bullets. This will be my first antelope hunt and I'll ask my guide about this, but I'm under the impression that antelope are not to hard to kill. I normally shoot the cheap Remington ammo from wal-mart out of my 30-06. Should I look for a premium bullet or will a 150 grain remington core-lokt PSP work just fine? Also, what should I sight my rifle in for? 2" high at 100 yards?

Al

 

[DKScott]

I use Hornady Light Magnums in 150 or 165 grain in my .30-06. Much flatter trajectory and a bit more oomph at the end. If you think your shot may be 200 yards or more, I would definitely consider them.

 

[Colorado Bob]

That's what I use on my Colorado antelope hunts. And yes, I'm 2" high at 100 yards. That puts you about 8" low at 300 yards. I've used 150 grain "Core-Lokt"-----plenty good for antelope. Just make sure your rifle will group them.

Good Luck----CB

Make sure you take good optics. Both binco's & a spotting scope. I think they are more important than which bullet you pick. Have a ball---antelope hunting is just plain--FUN.

 

[handwerk]

I think you got it figured right at 2" high@ 100 yards. I shot a pronghorn 2 years ago with 150 grain core-lokts in my 7mm-mag @ 251 yards; they worked perfectly. What zone did you apply for?

 

[SDHNTR]

shoot whatever shoots the most accurately out of that rifle.

 

[JustAl]

I'll just keep with the 150 grain core-lokts. That ammo shoots great out of my rifle (howa 1500). I have no idea what zone I'm hunting. I'm hunting with Monster Critters Outfitting in Laramie, Wyoming. I just send them the info they need and they will fill out the applications. They run 100% on drawing tags, I'd assume because it's all on private land. As long as I do my part, I should be bringing home an antelope. I'm still a bit nervous though, I've come home empty handed hunting elk and deer so many times, even 100% success is hard for me to believe. It should be a fun hunt though.

Al

 

[Colorado Bob]

Al---you are going to have a "ton of fun" chasing those antelope. Couple words of advise----Don't shoot the 1st one you see-----they are plentiful----look over a bunch of them. Don't worry about blowing a stalk---You will----they are more just around the bend.

Have a great hunt-------Antelope hunting is just PLANE FUN !!!!

 

[Phone Guy]

My experience with Wyoming antelope is that 300 yard shots are the norm. There are occasional closer shots but you need to be ready for a longer shot. Most of mine have been at 275-350 yards. I am about dead on a 300 and use a 7 mag. You need to know where you're hitting at that distance.

 

[jvle95]

I too like the Hornady Light Magnum SST 150 grain. I just used them on my Lassen antelope hunt and I was very happy with them. Very accurate out of my Remington 700 BDL 30 06 with little drop out to 300 yards. I got them through Natchez.com for like $20 a box. I plan on using them for my upcoming X7a hunt as well.

 

[Hntrjohn]

I shot my lope a few weeks ago with my .257 weatherby nosler Balistic tips 115 grain.

Entered behind the shoulder, It made a soft ball size exit hole behind the shoulder.

Problem is bullet pieces also blew a hole out the brisket, damages the cape.

 

[DKScott]

That's the problem with ballistic tips. They essentially explode/fragment and do a ton of damage. I don't use them anymore. The bullet in the goat I took with the Hornady Light Mags (interlok, as I recall) entered behind the shoulder, blew out the lungs and lodged under the skin on the far side perfectly mushroomed about 95% intact with very little damage to the meat.

 

[Schoettgen]

I am getting ready to go on my first antelope hunt also. I have seen a lot of damage with 30 cal ballistic tips, devastating. I would be tempted to use them just because they shoot so good long, but I want a mount and am worried about cape damage. I will probably just use regular partitians or Sierra GameKings if I use my 30-06. I am tempted to go with 165 grn bullets due to the higher ballistic coefficient. Or I could use my 243, its shoots as well if not better than the 06, but I am concerned about the 100 grn bullets not having enough knock down past 300 yards. I killed one X12 buck with it and the bullet stretched the hide on the far side but did not pass through with a 280 yard shot. I am also going to sight in with a 300 yard zero. That will put me only 4" and 5" high at 100 and 200 yards and only 12" low at 400. Do you guys think the 243 can handle 400 yard antelope?