best caliber for antelope

[major]

So what would you say is the best caliber for antelope?  243 should do the trick just fine, don't ya think? 

[icefishin]

243 will get the job done just fine. I personally think the best caliber is either a 270 or a 30-06 just because they can reach out there a little farther for the antelope but if you put a little time into a stalk you should have no problem getting within 100 yards where a smaller caliber is just fine. Where are you going goat hunting?

[major]

We're going to try Perkins co., never been there but we're going to give 'er hell anyways.

[icefishin]

That is where im heading to as well this year. Last year we hunted in meade county on but this year we are heading to perkins county.

[eyewinder]

icefishn:
I have shot a 30.06 at deer & varmints for a number of years, but I'm pretty sure the 150 gr. ammo that anchors whitetail & muleys so well is a little much for antelope.  I've moved to Wyoming, and hope to shoot a couple antelope this fall with the .06.  Can you recommend a factory load that you like for antelope. . .and do you have an idea of the difference in where your load would hit, with my scope set on the center of the X for the 150 gr. bullet at, say, 200 yards?

(I hope my wording isn't confusing  )

Thnx!

[icefishin]

hey eyewinder, I had a buddy shoot a few goats with 150 gr 30-06 last year and it worked great. Didnt seem to much and knocked them right down. If you are concerned about it being to much i believe winchester makes 125 and i think 135 gr ammo that would work great for goats as well. Antelope have hollow fur on them which makes them harder to penetrate as well and that is why you can get by with a little heavier bullet. as for where it would hit, you would have to shoot a few rounds through your gun to find out for sure but i wouldnt think it would hit much different then a 150 gr just a little higher because of the lighter load.

[eyewinder]

Thanks icefishin. . .I've been shooting partition golds that have just been putting deer down where they stand.  But along with that comes quite a bit of damage to meat.  I may try 150 gr. in a different tip.

[fishnuts]

Last week I sighted in a 30.06 at 100 yards with a 180 grain feds. using a bench. Saturday I took some old 150 grain wins. my dad gave me several years ago to the same place. The box had a $6. sale sticker from Lewis still attached so who knows how old they were. I was shooting from the same place in an area protected from the wind and the 150 grain shot 31/2 inches higher. That really surprised me . Maybe the older differrent brand had something to do with it also. The lighter grain bullet definitely shoots higher.

[sdstroker]

243 in a 85-100gr would be just fine.  A 30-06 in the 150gr would be a little overkill in my opinion. But if a guy wanted to use a 30-06 he might opt for maybe the 55gr accelerator which has nice trajectory numbers.  A little spendy at about $40 a box, but would do the job nicely.

[Husky Jerk]

I prefer the 25-06 caliber (117gr. bullet) for whitetail and antelope hunting.  It is more or less a .243 bullet on a necked-down 30-06 casing.  It is flat, fast, and accurate, but not too much overkill.

That's just my recommendation?!